Educating Sasikala

Sasikala, the Loyal, sighed as she sat in her residence at Poes Garden, Chennai’s most important address as of now. Her desk was littered with books of all shapes and sizes — required reading for a chief minister-in-waiting, or so Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa had informed her brusquely, as she had slammed the books on the table...

Swamy kadavule! I am trying and trying to read Constitution of India, as Akka, big sister, is instructing me to, but somehow or the other my mind is keeping on wandering. Inge and ange, here and there, it is going and I cannot be helping it... First I am thinking of how hot only the weather is — so hot only that I am feeling like I am in the engine of a rayil, train, only.

Then I am wishing I am on that rayil itself and it is taking me somewhere far away from Chennai so that I am not having to learn Constitution by heart. But Akka is not leaving me, only, she is saying that anything could be happening in Delhi Supreme Court and then, I — aiyyo, swamy kadavule — may have to be sworn in as the Tamil Naad chief minister only. Even thinking only about it is giving me talai vali, headache.

See, I am not like Akka, I am only being simply housewife. I am not knowing how to be behaving in Assembly — aiyyo swamy kadavule — if they are asking me questions and laughing at me I will be getting narai, my hair will be growing grey only. But Akka is not understanding only. She is just telling, padi, read and get something into your thalai. She is not knowing that my thalai only is going in vattams, circles. What to tell her how I am feeling?

See, I am wanting to help Akka. She is looking angry sometimes on television and people are misunderstanding her only. Inside she is very nice nice. Only yesterday, she is giving me sivapu podavai, red silk sari, with little, little roses in embroidery. I am loving it very, very much. ‘‘Rombum thanks, Akka,’’ I told her. ‘‘Lots of thanks.’’ I am also giving her podavai — pachchai, green colour, since she is liking that colour only.

I am knowing she is having plan — what they call it, backing up plan? — because the Supreme Court can be so cruel and can be telling that she should not be chief minister at all. If this is not being cruel, I am wanting to know what is being cruel? How can they be doing this to such an unique personality as Akka, I am not knowing only. Now, all of Akka’s enemies are bursting crackers, and dancing like mayils, peacocks, Karunanidhi and all his rowdies.

But Akka is simply not bothered. She just told me at kaalai, morning, if anybody is asking me about Supreme Court, you just say, ‘‘Will of people is paramount’’. Aiyyo, swami kadavule, suppose TV camera is asking suddenly, I must say, ‘‘Will of people is paramount.’’ These words are being so difficult, so I am practicing, ‘‘Will of people is paramount, will of people is paramount, will of people is paramount’’, I am repeating to myself so I can be remembering when somebody asks me about Supreme Court.

Akka heard me doing this and even she is smiling,‘‘Thangai, little sister, you are a real kurangu, monkey, you have no manam, mind,’’ she is saying. Not meaning, of course. Luckily, no TV is asking about Supreme Court to me so far today but I am still fearing.

Don’t mistake me, I may even be liking being chief minister, because all this is only naadagam, drama. Akka will be chief minister really even if I be sitting in chief minister’s chair. Akka is explaining to me with help of TV remote control. She said, ‘‘See, Thangai, I will press right button, you will flicker on screen in front of people.’’ It is very clever idea but then Akka is a very, very unique personality and she is knowing many, many things about politics. She is telling me case of Bihar chief minister, where he is calling wife from kitchen and telling her to prepare Cabinet like she is preparing curry. Akka is telling, ‘‘If Rabridevi can be chief minister of Bihar, Thangai, you surely can be chief minister of Tamil Naad. Don’t worry I am the real chief minister, you are the bommai, dolly-chief minister, understand?’’ I’m only nodding, but inside all I am very, very fearing.
My goodness, it is already 7 o’clock. Akka will be coming back anytime now and will be asking me what the ‘Preambleee’ is. ‘‘India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States’’, ‘‘India that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States’’. ‘‘India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States’’. Aiyyo, swamy kadavule! It is rombum difficult to be chief minister, I say.

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