Upsh...Your Chameleon Color Mr. Election
- Part 1 -

Louriyam Bebica *

It was on 8th February, 2012. I messed up a kitchen while trying to finish cooking as fast as possible. My mom and dad were already there at the school ground for casting their vote. I was left home so that I could finish cooking and joined them as bit latter. After putting off those stuffs, I rushed out.

After all, it's my right to choose the right representative. The sight I had was a weird scene. It was so crowded. They were line up into two queues, one for the men and another for women. Those people who were at the end of the line were pushing each other and complaining that the line never got shorten even though they were standing for hours.

One lady just screamed at the people in the front.

- Are those people at front cooking or what? Can't your ass be moved?

- Ibemma Sanagumbi, do you think we are standing here waiting for our passionate lovers? Even we want to leave as soon as possible. Yadadana Touri-ne.

Another lady replied in an argumentative manner.

It was so boring. My eyes began to search for odd things around. It was the only way to pass my time analyzing those things. Unluckily, my stupid eyes fall on Tampha Angaobi. With no conscious mind, I smile at her. Then, that's it, there she comes towards me.

- Are they mad?

Her question perplexed me more than she does. Iche Sana took her back. Her hands were across Tampha's back holding her carefully. I am sure Tampha Angaobi might have found it very confusing as I am at this sudden love and care. She was often chase out from hotel, home and gate whenever she came seeking a morsel of meal.

Village kids would stone her calling Tampha Angaobi, Tampha Namthibi and so and so forth. Once, village folk beat her up because she tried to run off taking a 'Tal' from a hotel. Today, the very same people are like disciples of Shakespeare who broke the classical rules of a drama.

Tampha scratched her head with her long and dirty nails, and then sniffed them again. She lifted her hands to the sky and bend down her head to smell her armpit. She looked around again as if trying to search the stink somewhere in the air or trying to understand whether her villagers have begun to love her. But she did not seem to get any answer. Yet, she could not stop smiling or muttering.

-Ei Tampha Angaobi Nattre, Ei Tampha Namthibi Nattre. ( I am no longer mad Tampha with stink)

I stretched by lips towards their ends with great feeling at her sight. The queue was no longer as the largest and longest Python that was lady enough to move. We were boiling up by the winter's sun. Anyone can guess the duration we were standing when I mention 'winter's sun'. After much waiting, I reached the middle part of the queue.

-What the hell...

My tired and dry tongue tackles to vomit this reaction into words, seeing the scene which was going on at the front end of the queue. Some people had formed another gathering, no queue, at the door of the polling room. I swear, I had never seen that much sick people even in our health centre.

It was painful to see those black hair ladies trying to act granny. Some of them were borrowing kids from each other. It was a shame to watch. When we were pushing each other to and fro, I saw my Mabok (big mom) coming out from the polling room.

-Mabok, when did you come? When were you in the queue? When did you enter?

-I came just now.

She was covering her hair which dyed with brown colour only yesterday. She must be of 45 years but loves to try any new fashion traits. Her passion is driving uncle's new cars and she practices Yoga regularly to maintain her figure. And today, she became an old lady from nowhere.

- Oh! But leaving now?, I asked her with an irritating expression on my face.

-Oh! Yes, As you see, this old age has taken toll on my health.

-Yes, yes, I can see it very clearly.

It was the hardest part for me to impose a smile, yet I did it.

I came to the polling station after my breakfast. But my stomach began to make noise. It made me worried of my parents who went out without even a single glass of water to cast their votes. They were standing in the queue with no complaints though I know the heat and the time were killing them. I decided to make them either sick or old or make them carry my niece and nephew for any other future elections. I felt so helpless whenever I saw my mom swallowing saliva with such a pain.

I am not saying that a sick person, an old fellow or a woman with young baby should not be given priority. Of course, they must get it. They deserved more attention than we normal people. But it does not mean they should take advantage of it. Those women with kids of one year and above should let the fathers to cast their votes early morning or afternoon, so that they can arrange the timing to look after the babies. We can have an arrangement.

Something like a) women with kids of below one year, b) women and men above 70-75 years old and c) Really sick persons, should be allowed to enter the polling room without following the queue. Else, they borrowed babies to avoid the seemingly endless queue. Some people had formed another gathering, not queue, at the door of the polling room. I swear, I had never seen as much sick people even in our health centre.

It was painful watching all those black haired ladies trying to act granny. Some of them were borrowing kids from each other. It was shameful to watch their conduct. When we were pushing each other to and fro, I saw my Mabok (big mon) coming out from the polling room.

- Mabok, when did you come? When were you in the queue? When did you enter?

- I came just now.

She was covering her hair which she dyed in brown colour. She must be around 45 years of age but she loves to try out any new fashion traits. Her passing is driving uncle's new cars and she practiced Yoga regularly to maintain her figure. And today, she seems to have an earnest desire to look old.

-Oh! Leaving now?, I asked her with an irritating expressing on my face.

- Oh! Yes, as you can see, this old age has taken its toll on my health.

-Yes, yes, I can see it very clearly.

It was the hardest part to put on a smile, yet I did.

(To be continued..)