Yes I Can !

Yes I Can

He came, he saw, he conquered.

Here was this dashing young man with drop dead good looks who didn’t know the meaning of no. ‘Yes I can’ was his standard answer to any and every request made to him by residents.

Initially, a bit chary of this young politician, quick on his feet, answering every call in two rings, and always replying in the affirmative, we watched in amazement. Within minutes of the call being over his trusted lieutenants Harish or Shukla would be there to survey the job, and shortly thereafter, it was carried out.

Was he for real we asked one other? Refreshingly different from the stereotype politician who ran constituencies as their personal fiefdom, condescendingly getting jobs done after sustained doses of ingratiation or gratification, this young man was surely not for real. But real for sure he was.

Residents quickly found this one point call centre attended to their grievances in a jiffy, opposed to the creaky, slow, inefficient redressal systems of yesteryear. Magically the civic body had been energised, efficiency and an air of urgency manifested itself; a new generation politician was rewriting the rulebook. Social media savvy, approachable, affable and ever ready to please; yes it was none other than Abhishek Dutt.

Five years came and went by; all good things must end, and the winds of change swept in; the magic had to move on, to conquer more hearts and build a newer vibrant India.

The Japanese say it the best; ‘Sayonara’ roughly meaning, ‘if it is to be that way’. So Sayonara Abhishek Dutt; go conquer the world, you have left an indelible mark in our hearts.

Defence Colony misses you dearly.

Rajeev Suri: rajeevsuri.cbms@gmail.com