A day in the life of a candidate
This is a fictional piece written from the perspective of a secy candidate for the TSG elections chronicling what would be an ordinary pre election day of campaigning. The article is not a reflection of any real person or events.
I woke up at six today, it was way too early. I looked outside from my room, the sun was orangish. Why had I never noticed this particular brilliance of the sun before? My head was swimming, last night had been momentous. I was close to a breakthrough. Most people who needed to be placated seemed close to being convinced. Sitting around in that circle late at night, it felt like I could finally belong somewhere. There seemed to be great responsibilities to shoulder and glorious parts to play. If I play my cards right I could be through. I was thinking I could actually turn out to be a gymkhana post-bearer.
The next few hours passed in a blur. I took a quick bath, picked up some breakfast and walked briskly to class. If I’m late again — I’ve had it, I thought. I did manage to catch a few winks in class though; they would prove to be handy as the day progressed. Going to class is important, I get to meet my batch mates — they will remember me and vote for me. I’ve to grow up now, none of this juvenile thought process will do. I need to be on the top of my game. I leafed once again through the all-important diary which was to be my bible for the coming days. I practiced my introduction: confidence is the key. It was almost four thirty and my day had just begun. I looked into the score of the ongoing world cup, another world far away. Today, I had a date with three important people and then another ‘Hall day’, and it seemed to me that these meetings could be the key, I would have to impress them with my malleability and adaptability, because that’s what the job’s all about — being mentally strong and dealing with a hundred things without losing your cool. I had heard strange, wonderful stories about these people. What feats they have achieved already, already I could see success crowning their heads and their names take wing in fame and influence. There’s a path laid out in front of me, I can recognize it and this is the road I must travel on.
I met with two of the three people I had planned to meet today. This time, my companions were not walls and fans; they were the open sky, the crescent moon and the twinkling stars, such perspectives. This took longer than I thought. It was tougher today, I’m not sure I won them over. What strange people you meet serves as good lesson for life, I’m sure. Some of the questions you’re asked really baffle you. I mean, what is the point of these questions; is it essentially a test about your resolve in front of the absolutely ridiculous? How far does one have to travel to actually ask such questions with a straight face and expect answers? As I walked from one bastion to another, several thoughts flew through my mind. What if I lost? What of it then, I would have learnt. No! I must not think of losing, this is where mental strength comes into the picture. All the hard work, everything, is it worth it? Yes of course, I am different, I have drive, and I want to get somewhere. I picked out the doubts from my head and eliminated them. There’s no place for doubts. I was almost there, the final one today. I noticed the strange painting on the foyer, a regular feature here and it gave me goose bumps. This was going to be not very pleasant. I had heard stories, anyway. Giddy glorious waterfall, down I went.
I don’t know how many people I’ve met. Is that really “meeting” though I wonder? How much of each other did we recognize, what did we exchange and by ‘we’, what I mean essentially is me and the other, the vast majority. Then you have these functions that are orchestrated for our benefit — vast gatherings, with music and gyrations, with ‘frolic and fun’. On these days, everyone has their own games, the only difference is — some have rules, some don’t. You walk through the same people, over and over again. They have slightly dissimilar features, their faces morph a bit, their hairstyles transform, their costumes are different and their memories have been altered, but the people, they remain the same.
Today’s been a strange day. I have travelled so far in the span of such a short time; every day’s a revelation, every day the realization of the foolishness, the grand catastrophic foolishness of yesterday. A man used to science, to parameterize results cannot rest comfortable with the premise of elections. There are way too many things to take into account. Apart from the rough cut of the present, there’s the nasty greenish fermented past. There are spices and herbs and deceit and lies and nobility and truthfulness. There is egotism and apathy and there is me. Trudge on. Trudge on. Tomorrow’s another day. Such is life.
