Aiyo, I was just reading about this Cockroach Janta Party and thinking—naa vuru lo election time lo oka leader came, promised concrete road for our street, but after two years still only mud and stones. My younger sister calls from college saying, “Anna, latest news lo cockroach politics antunnaru, adi mana village road la undi—sounds big but nothing moves.” I laughed, but chala nijam. Even my mother says, “Pilla, aa party kakapothe, anyway our local panchayat also does same—makes big noise but then sleeps like winter lizard.” I just wish they fixed my shop’s drainage pipe before starting new slogans.

Umar Khalid na, it reminds me of our village kabaddi team's loss in the panchayat tournament last year—the referee made a wrong call that everyone knew. That same helplessness of rules being bent. But I just listen, sell bangles, and play old ghazals to calm down. Bottle caps don't argue, at least.