Satya, Bhubaneswar, 26 October 2024
Sanctimonia, that bastion of bureaucratic bewilderment and spiritual shenanigans, is once again awash in a sea of confusion, this time thanks to a rather colourful sartorial decree. Our esteemed king, in a move that has left the city’s fashionistas flabbergasted and its cynics chortling, has declared rainbow hues the official colours of the realm.
The first victims of this chromatic crusade? The city’s traffic sergeants, who now find themselves sporting rather flamboyant raincoats and mackintoshes in a kaleidoscope of colours. The sight of these once-dour officers directing traffic amidst a downpour, resembling a troupe of psychedelic peacocks, has become a source of both amusement and alarm for the citizens of Sanctimonia.
This sudden embrace of the rainbow, as the grapevine would have it, is a not-so-subtle nod to the king’s newfound allegiance to the biggest political party in the land, a party known for its penchant for vibrant hues and even more vibrant rhetoric. The king, ever eager to please his political patrons, seems to have overlooked the fact that Sanctimonia’s citizens are a rather conservative lot, more accustomed to the somber shades of piety than the flamboyant flamboyance of political pageantry.
Meanwhile, the king has expressed his relief at the lack of casualties in the recent cyclone that battered the city. However, the ensuing flash floods have wreaked havoc, leaving many citizens stranded and questioning the efficacy of the city’s disaster management system. The king’s inner circle, ever eager to spin any situation to their advantage, is reportedly spreading the rumour that the cyclone was a cleverly orchestrated publicity stunt designed to boost the king’s popularity.
Speaking of popularity, the king’s relentless pursuit of followers has reached comical proportions. Not content with the dwindling number of human subjects who still pay heed to his pronouncements, he has now resorted to wooing stray animals, snakes, and even fictitious creatures in a desperate bid to bolster his social media presence. The sight of the king chasing pigeons in the royal gardens, smartphone in hand, pleading with them to “like and subscribe,” has become a regular source of amusement for the palace staff.
As Sanctimonia navigates this latest chapter in its long and illustrious history of absurdity, one can’t help but wonder: will the king’s rainbow reign usher in an era of peace and prosperity, or will it simply add another layer of ludicrousness to the city’s already vibrant tapestry of chaos? Will the citizens embrace the new colour scheme, or will they stage a revolt, demanding a return to the more traditional hues of piety and prudence? And most importantly, will the king finally realize that true leadership lies not in the number of followers one can amass, but in the well-being of the people one is entrusted to serve?
Only time will tell. But one thing is certain: in Sanctimonia, even the most mundane matters can take on a surreal and hilarious hue. And as the citizens of this hallowed city know all too well, sometimes the best way to cope with the absurdity is to laugh, even if it’s through tears of bewilderment.
