hidden image

Bob’s Banter by Robert Clements Cat’s Milk and Election Promises..!

Robert Clements Robert Clements
28 Feb 2022
Bob's Banter - Assembly Elections 2022

She greeted me like we were old friends, purring and wrapping herself round my legs, “Hey,” I said, “I don’t know you!” But from her friendly gestures I realized that, that didn’t matter and all she wanted was to know me.
She was a stray, and I’d seen her quite often sleeping on cars and on the warm seat of a scooter in the colony. Lately I’d realized she’d made a landing on my staircase her home, and would look with sleepy eyes as I walked up to my terrace garden.
But today she made bold to follow me.
I decided to do something about the fact she had no home, and no one to feed her. I made my way downstairs, poured some milk into the bowl of my late dog, and put in some pieces of bread. “Hear kitty!” I said, “Come and drink and eat!”
It was fresh milk and fresh bread, and since I’d grown up with cats and dogs, knew cats relished this little treat.
This one didn’t.
She looked up at me after sniffing the food, and walked away. Later, when I sat to read my papers and sip my coffee, there was a purring at my feet and the next moment she jumped on my lap and looked up at me. A look that said, “Give me some affection!” And I did.
I petted her a bit and smiled as her purr grew louder.
Later in the day, I noticed the food had still not been touched. All she had come to me for was love, not food!
Even as the elections in a few states are going on and in some over, I think of what the different candidates promised voters, “We will make your Goa into another Shanghai!”
“Your UP into a modern industrial state!”
“Your Punjab into a Canada!”
And the voters murmur and reply.
Strain your ears my dear political leaders to hear what they are saying.
“We want to live in this country, treated with love and affection, dignity and respect!” they utter. “For this we are willing to sacrifice your promises of Shanghai and Canada!”
The purr on my lap grows louder and I realise she has even dug her claws a bit into me. I know she does this affectionately.
Where’s the political party that can promise respect, dignity and love to their voters? Even Mamata’s party in Bengal doesn’t!
America voted Trump out when the non-whites rose in one huge tsunami and threw him out. Not for lack of food or medical care, but for the lack of love!
“Yes,” seems to whisper the stray, as her purr grows even louder, “Throw your freebie milk and bread into the sea. Give us justice, equality and dignity…!”

bobsbanter@gmail.com 

Recent Posts

Amidst whispers of combating the rampant spread of misinformation, the Government orchestrated an amendment to the IT Act
apicture Aakash
25 Mar 2024
I was pleasantly surprised to receive your letter dated March 15 in both Hindi and English. You mentioned in your letter how you have received trust and support from 140 crore people
apicture A. J. Philip
25 Mar 2024
On January 12, 2024, a couple came to the USM to invite the community to their daughter's wedding. While sitting and talking, the conversation turned to Fr. Varghese Alengaden
apicture Jacob Peenikaparambil
25 Mar 2024
The Church's response to the Indian general election in a pluralistic world should be multifaceted
apicture Dr. John Singarayar
25 Mar 2024
We have seen different ruling styles. China recently concluded its weeklong annual parliamentary meeting in Beijing in an exultant tone.
apicture Thomas Menamparampil
25 Mar 2024
Half a decade ago, a Bollywood movie took the entire industry by storm. The Manoj Kumar starrer "Roti, Kapda aur Makaan"
apicture Jaswant Kaur
25 Mar 2024
Every time, movie lovers can't wait for the release of the latest James Bond production. James Bond movies focus on the titular character, a fictional British Secret
apicture Peter Fernandes, SFX
25 Mar 2024
The supreme iconoclast, Howard Zinn, observed that there is no such thing as impartial history. Even the most conscientious historians are partial in two ways
apicture Mathew John & Annie Mathew
25 Mar 2024
Securing 87 per cent votes in the 2024 presidential election with a voter turnout of 77.5 per cent, the 71-year-old Vladimir Putin will become the President of Russia for a fifth term
apicture Sacaria Joseph
25 Mar 2024
I raise this question mainly in the backdrop of the recent installations of bishops and an Archbishop in some of the north Indian dioceses
apicture M L Satyan
25 Mar 2024