The garden outside my bungalow is
beautiful. There is a big rain tree in a corner. I had put my garden chair
under the tree. And I was sipping green tea when Jack, my Great Dane, stood up
as if he had seen something unusual. ‘Whuffff!’ Quite obviously something was
not right. My Siamese cat, Jill stood on her four legs and purred. She looked
at something on the ground as if she was looking through a microscope.
Something moved away quickly in the grass. Jack and Jill watched the snake go
away. They relaxed only when the snake was out of sight.
“This is the year of snake – black
snake. That snake in the grass reminded me.” Jack said.
“So what?” Jill asked.
“Must you always be rude to Jack?” I
asked Jill.
“Oh forget her. Some souls just
won’t improve. To answer your question Jill, 2013 which is the year of
the black snake, begins on February 10th. This 2013 year of Snake is
meant for steady progress and attention to detail. Focus and discipline will be
necessary for you to achieve what you set out to create. This is what I have
read on the internet.” Jack said.
“Are you
suggesting that we require a different formula to succeed in each year?” Jill
asked. “That would be interesting.”
“Ha,ha! When
Jill talks says ‘interesting’ it can convey many meanings. Why don’t you just
say ‘nonsense?’ It goes well with your personality.” I said.
“Boss! Boss!!”
Jack shouted. “Watch the news on TV. Afzal Guru has been hanged. Oh, what a
travesty of justice!”
“You can trust
Jack to speak nonsense. He should have been hanged much earlier. In our country
it takes twelve years to hang terrorists, isn’t that ridiculous?” Jill asked.
“Look, please
don’t get emotional. When Indira Jaising, Justice Suresh sign a petition saying
the trial was not proper, when People’s Union for Civil Liberties say that Afzal
Guru was undefended throughout the case, we must study before we speak on this
issue.” Jack argued in his baritone voice.
“Look, Jack,”
Jill said ignoring me completely, “he should have been shot dead. They dragged
feet for twelve years! I think there is too much of a democracy in our country.
May God save us from these intellectuals!”
“You want a
trial by public opinion! That’s travesty of justice.”
“Oh big words!
People like you can only encourage more terrorists.” Jill shot back. “The
Chinese year of Black Snake is a reminder to us. There are too many black
snakes in the grass.”
“Look, Jill. Due
process of law is the foundation of justice. The Chinese also say that ‘this year
is meant for steady progress and attention to detail. Focus and discipline will
be necessary for you to achieve what you set out to create.’ Where is that
attention to detail and discipline if you do not stick to the due process?”
“Ok, ok, ok! Please
stop this.” I intervened. “People quarrel when they can’t argue.”
[Also see http://www.pucl.org/Topics/Law/2007/afzalguru.html ]