Shail reviews the news of the week in verse. Bengaluru witnessed a unique rangoli protest and a warning for the CM, in the US, after Covid, a Salmonella attack was reported because of eating raw onion, Syria executed 24 people guilty of causing wildfire in forests and destroying mother nature, and a freak gunshot in a movie setup killed a person raising question about the bullet there. An exclusive for Different Truths.
Pothole Puja
Potholed disasters waiting to happen; a harsh reality of many cities pepped up with technological advances plunging headlong in slush and grime. Financial expenses spent on roads, not worth a dime. Bengaluru, like many other metros, victim of such tragedies waiting to happen finally witnessed a different kind of protest. With no response to the needs of the citizens a political party drew rangoli and offered puja to potholes and their pathetic state. Also accompanying the unique ritual was a deadline meted out to the chief minister asking him to sort out the matter, verify the 20,000-crore spent on road repair or else, face the court in despair.
Onion Warpath
After COVID, now what? Something else to spread rot?! Over 650 people in the United States Ill, many hospitalised due to a Salmonella attack many facing flak in Texas and Oklahoma as onion eaters fall sick after consuming the reliable veggie. Raw is what affects more, state authorities. This batch, what a literally sickening catch imported from Chihuahua in Mexico, who would think this all reliable vegetable would see such a day when its very name would turn people into panic bay? So, until further notice keep off white, red, or yellow onions from Mexico ProSource letting nature take its course.
Syrian Wildfire
Wildfires, verbal or physical, Invariably kill. So, what better punishment, decides Syria than use the kill bill! Syria executes 24 guilty people for terrorizing forests, destroying plant life, burning to ashes thousands of acres that belonged to Mother Nature. Wildfires set by cruel people unmindful of leaves, flowers, even beetles now face the Lord to speak for their act of insensitivity. Sounds cruel, I know. But imagine a place full of life burning for months September to October, It’s stated! Roots, fruits, pollen, insects, birds- all devastated in a burning woodland. The punishment shall bring back not all that has been deprived of life. Maybe, leave a stern message behind- to love nature, to be more kind.
Props Kill
The prop gun killed Brandon Lee. It killed again. ‘Rust’ movie cinematographer, Halyna Hutchins shot accidentally by well-known actor, Alec Baldwin on a film set, during the shoot. No justification for a shot gone wrong, for a bullet that wasn’t to be there in the first place. How is this to be traced? Investigations are on. The actor cries And someone dies. Eerie how words uttered in the past, ‘I wonder how it must feel to wrongfully Kill someone’ come alive?!
Reference
Shail Raghuvanshi is a poet, freelance journalist, copyeditor, voice actor, and artist with 30 years of experience in various media. She has worked as the Cultural Correspondent for India’s first integrated media company, PLUS Channel, and has written course material for Madurai Kamaraj University’s Post Graduate Programme in Advertising and Public Relations. She has also been a coach of Communicative English. She has published poems, short stories, and articles in leading magazines and anthologies.
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Love your writing Shail…. You are able to touch a chord and establish an amazing bond with your readers. Feel proud to have been your classmate in school…..