The wrath

Down the temple road, past the post office, the second shop on the right- painted on the yellow board in red and black, ISD, STD, Local calls.
Balamani collects coins from people who makes calls. Her late father had named her owner- manager of the booth. She was all of 18. On her forehead is sandal wood paste. On the way from home before opening to the shop she visits guruvayoor appan and collects her share of his prasadam. Daily without fail.
Only times she misses out that is on the day of bandhs like the one that happened yesterday. Most shops remain closed. She does not know why there was a bandh yesterday. She complies with all the bandhs the left calling or the right. She loses that day's income from the booth that her father left for the family. But that loss gets washed away by the collective helplessness of her society. She is not much bothered if she is not able to open the shop on that day. She is only too happy. She gets a day off to catch up on her life that she misses out on, laze around, watch television, catch up on some gossip... But the little Krishna in the temple missed her. He is a jealous god. The dark clouds rolled in at noon and it poured down very heavily.

Parashu warned that the parties should be careful about this little guy's wrath for lately they have been testing his patience a bit too much. For if his wrath falls on them they might not see the seat of power ever again.