We have won the war, but have we won the battle?

By Rypvanwinkle

"Thaaththa," Bindu Udagedera asked, "is the war over?"
"Why, Bindu," Bindu's father Percy asked, "what makes you think it is?"
"Why, thaaththa," Bindu said, "there are all these celebrations about capturing Sampur…"
"But Sampur is only a small village, Bindu…" Percy explained.
"But, thaaththa," Bindu protested, "they make it sound as if we have won the war…"
"Well, I am not sure whether we have won even a battle yet…" Percy observed.
"Why do you say that, thaaththa?" Bindu wanted to know.
"Why, Bindu, there are still so many hurdles to overcome…"
"What are these hurdles, thaaththa?" Bindu asked.
"Why, Bindu, the rest of the world is saying the government is also attacking civilians…"
"But that is surely not true, thaaaththa…" Bindu protested.
"That may be so…" Percy agreed, "but what matters is what other countries believe…"
"But thaaththa, what are the other hurdles?" Bindu queried.
"And then, India is not so happy with what Mahinda maama is doing…" Percy noted.
"Is that why Anura maama is publicly criticising some of the Indian tactics…" Bindu asked.
"That maybe one reason…" Percy said, "and that Pakistani chap saying that India was trying to assassinate him certainly does not help…"
"But surely, thaaththa," Bindu said, "these are minor issues that can be sorted out…"
"Not anymore, Bindu…" Percy said, "not with the threat of a war imminent…"
"Why is that, thaaththa?" Bindu asked.
"Why, Bindu, people are being killed, thousands are fleeing their homes and those who remain have no proper food…" Percy explained.
"Then," Bindu said, "the situation is not as rosy as it is supposed to be…"
"That," Percy said, "depends on how you look at it…"
"Why do you say that, thaaththa?" Bindu was puzzled.
"If you look at it from Mahinda maama's point of view, things do seem quite rosy…" Percy suggested.
"How can you say that?" Bindu argued, "you just said that there is a long way to go to win the war…"
"But for the moment, Bindu, Sampur has been won and that is all that matters…" Percy pointed out.
"But is that enough?" Bindu asked.
"And the Greens are split right down the middle about joining the government and they do not know whether they are coming or going…" Percy said.
"But will that too be sufficient?" Bindu was sceptical.
"Then, Thonda has also joined the team and it is only a matter of time before Rauf joins the bandwagon…" Percy pointed out.
"And, even Nandana from the Reds may soon join…" Bindu suggested.
"So, Mahinda maama can breathe a little easily, at least for the time being…" Percy said.
"But thaaththa," Bindu said, "there is one little problem that he hasn't settled yet…"
"Are you talking of Satellite?" Percy asked, "oh, I'm sure she will soon disappear into retirement…"
"No, thaaththa," Bindu said, "I am not worried about Satellite…"
"Then, what are you worried about?" Percy wanted to know.
"Why, thaaththa, the petrol and diesel prices that keep rising every week, even though Uncle Fowzie keeps promising us that they won't…"
"Ah I had forgotten all about that war to keep fuel prices under control," Percy said, "and I'm sure Mahinda maama had also forgotten about that too…"Bindu knew he couldn't disagree.