~PLACID~

CHAPTER 2

"Sahib the dignitaries have arrived", Sher Singh informed Bhanu Pratap Singh Thakur.

Haasilgarh had been nominated to be the potential venue for the upcoming " Food Festival" that year.  The food festival comprised of native food items along with the delicacies from the west.

The people from the embassies of the USA, Italy and Turkey had proposed to inspect the nominated location. Unlike previous festivals which had become an integral part of metro cities especially Delhi, the small town of Haasilgarh was chosen for the honours this time.

Fast food had been gaining popularity among the youth especially in the rush of city life. This will be probably for the first time that the taste buds used to kachoris,dal baati, samosas would relish the taste overseas.

"Whatever that might be but firangi food lacks flavour. What is the meaning of taste without spices and chillies? I think this is some political game the firangis are playing with us. Weren't their past attacks enough that they come again decades after? Independence is a big thing and we have earned it but see our authorities are so naive that they are being fooled by the west again." mann old man told other as they strolled the streets in their "good-for-nothing-but-doing-something" days.

The response to the upcoming festival was cold. Nobody from the small town seemed interested.

"Years ago they took the golden bird from us and now see we invite them to loot us more", the old man whined about the " pathetic" situation of the nation.

Politics, foreign affairs, administrative system were miles away for the common man but none hesitated to throw tantrums whether time came or not. Freedom of expression after all is a part of democracy which they themselves were a part of.

Sher Singh happened to hear their 'interesting' conversation on his way to meet the Royals.

"Kakasa, why do think they will loot us again? We have nothing to lose", Sher Singh happened to rub salt on his invisible wound.

" When we have nothing to lose, they try to win our minds and this they do by such festivals: food, music, clothes, films.", the old man lighted his cigarette and 'puff' the smoke went up.

"Thoughts" were definitely like the vision through this smoke. Conceptions of the west by varied sects of the society was a clear indication of how much the imperialism had ingrained into the minds rather "budding minds". May be the old man heard stories from his ancestors or himself was a witness to the atrocities of the Indians during the dreaded rule of the Britishers.

"But even Indian food festivals, clothing, films are popular in the west", Sher Singh crossed his views once again.

" It has to be. Because they came and stayed here. We didn't go and bark into their territories ", Came another puff with the reply.

"The only aim of this festival is to appreciate, admire and improve global connections"

"What's the need? Oh!! yes we are poor and don't have money so when we keep such feasts they might be promising us to lend money from their bank.. What's that called???", came a powerful puff as the brain cells agitated to recall the name.

" World bank?",  the other old man now joined his colleague in the crime of increasing toxic gases in the atmosphere. The environment department should be soon informed of their stunt of emitting such harmful gases in the air causing global warming to speed up at unbelievable rates.

"Keep that smoke away!!", Sher Singh coughed as the two smoky dragons happened to enter his lungs through his nostrils.

" You act as if you don't take this", the old men ignored Sher Singh's request.

"Anyways which countries coming to show their food?"

"USA, Italy and Turkey.", Sher Singh grinned.

" USA understood bush's country. Italy is Sonia. What's Turkey man? Never heard of it.", the old man now thought seriously as he pressed the cigarette butt on the compound wall in a hope that the fire will die soon.

" Its on the border of Asia and Europe", was Sher Singh's quick reply.

"Means neither West nor East. That's unfair.", the second man screamed.

" What's to scream about it?", Sher Singh raised his eyebrows.

"How can we know which side they are: East or West?", the man questioned in his reply which made everyone silent for a while.

" I don't understand what's the issue with East and West", Sher Singh rubbed his eyes yawning due to lack of sleep.

"How would you know? The Westerners split our country into two. They did 'divide and rule' and you want us to relish their food."

"Kakasa first point, they might have done anything but we had a choice. Our ideals fell short while acknowledging our unity and we split coz of our stupidity. No one to blame."

Sher Singh recalled the encounter as he watched all of them seated in the study of Bhanu Pratap Singh.

Mr. Paul, Miss. Deniz and Mr. Abramo sat in the order of USA, Turkey and Italy.

"Beer or wine?", Bhanu Pratap asked them.

Funnily enough all of them zeroed on Beer, maybe because they wanted to stay awake for inspecting the site.

Sher Singh followed the order and instructed the servants likewise.

Meanwhile Thakurain's maid informed her of all the happenings.

" They will now drink beer", Malti rushed to the old woman who gestured towards her hookah.

The woman had probably lost all of her to the old age except for keeping track of ongoing things in the palace and her world famous hookah.

"Which is better? Hookah or beer?", the lady asked Malti to which the latter only blinked.

" Hoo...kah", Malti stuttered.

"Okay", the old lady went on smoking.

The world was weird. It's a small world indeed. Beer was being made in India since thousands of years ago yet it is attributed as a foreign thing thanks to the name. Who would love to call it 'sura' in the 21st century? Hookah rather is an invention from the mughal empire or some dynasty of Persia. But who cares? Shouting and ignoring coz of lack of information was human err.