A MODERN-DAY FABLE FROM THE KINGDOM OF INDISTAN
THE CROWN-PRINCE MAGICIAN AND THE HECKLING PARROT
(BY JAY BHATTACHARJEE) May 6, 2016
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The ancient country of Ind is now officially designated as the Kingdom of Indistan, ever since an Empress from Europe anointed herself as the all-powerful ruler of 1.25 billion Indistanis a few decades earlier. In recent times, the Empress Sonia and her ruling coterie have been facing widespread protests from the overwhelming majority of the population, reeling under appalling poverty and corruption. The protests have become more strident in the last two years, after an indigenous populist leader was elected as the chief of the Senate, by a huge majority of the population.
To keep the desi hoi-polloi in good humour, the Empress asked her crown-prince son, whom she loved to address as "Baba", to have regular magic shows in the Imperial Palace, which is located atop a small hill called Raisina, in the capital. The crown-prince, Raoul (who liked to be addressed in private as His Exalted Royal Highness from the Tiber) held regular shows at the Palace, where he sought to display his skills as a magician before large audiences, which were drummed up with promises of exotic European snacks (read "pasta and sphagetti").
However, Prince Raoul faced one major problem. Although he was quite a good magician, his routines were invariably ruined by the Palace's official parrot who would fly around squawking, and giving away Raoul's secrets by shouting :
"IT'S UP HIS SLEEVE, IT'S UP HIS SLEEVE!", or
"IT'S IN HIS POCKET, IT'S IN HIS POCKET!", or
"IT'S IN HIS MOUTH, IT'S IN HIS MOUTH!"
"IT'S IN HIS POCKET, IT'S IN HIS POCKET!", or
"IT'S IN HIS MOUTH, IT'S IN HIS MOUTH!"
The Crown Prince was getting pretty sick of this and threatened to kill the parrot if it ruined his act once more.
A delegation from the European Court of Justice was scheduled to visit the capital to investigate charges of corruption against the Empress and the Crown Prince. The evening before the arrival of the burra sahebs from Brussels and Strasbourg, Raoul baba put up an immaculate show - he had meticulously practised how to bump off the wretched parrot during the climax of his act. Suddenly, the Durbar Hall in the Imperial Palace, where the magic show was being held, was struck by an enormous explosion and just disintegrated.
There were only two survivors, Raoul baba and the heckling parrot. When Raoul woke up after a few minutes and opened his eyes, all he could see was the parrot staring at him through its beady little eyes.
"I give up", the wretched bird squawked, " where did you, Mama and Ahmedi Prattle hide the helicopter money ? "
Jay Bhattacharjee MA(Cantab), FCS
Advisor (Corporate Laws & Finance)
Member : Delhi Stock Exchange Ltd.
Tele : (91-11) 4182-8165 / 2651-0174
Mobile : (91) 98102-39986
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Advisor (Corporate Laws & Finance)
Member : Delhi Stock Exchange Ltd.
Tele : (91-11) 4182-8165 / 2651-0174
Mobile : (91) 98102-39986
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