On a busy road with blaring horns and traffic police apparently in camouflage, the rush within the people and a sense of urgency to move away that you’d only see when Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code has been implemented in a political protest brought attention to the ambulance running to save a poor man’s life. But once the ambulance was moved by another vehicle, you could finally see a convoy that was actually important and not just taking up space like the bothersome ambulance. The government official was going to a charity event and had 9 cars behind him and 7 ahead of him, all filled with gifts for the orphan kids. This generosity brought tears to even the stuck student who was rushing for an exam.
The leading piece of this arrangement was a battered police mobile van, which carried uniformed officers holding batons and also holding them in their stomachs so their shirts’ buttons wouldn’t break. Their van’s sirens helped fellow municipality workers clear out a road they found difficult to do amidst the perpetual ‘construction underway’ signs. Behind security was the intelligence vehicle, filled with people of impressive qualifications, with hand-made degrees and imported connections. A few more cars behind it were eventually rendered invisible in the glare of the shiny new SUV designated for the VVIP minor government official. ‘Minor’ doesn’t mean insignificance of the rank but more of an ‘interested in’.
The SUV was a type of sophisticated luxury only available in Panama, trailed by closer escorts for armed backup. Although this line of cars, spread out between the two lanes of the road, was barely inconveniencing anyone, the low patience level of the citizens around started a trend of creative sentences muttered under one’s breath. Some daring horns and road ragers could also be heard in rhythm; all the honks, mixed with the perfect balance of beeps and some not-safe-for-children language, quickly created a musical environment. And what better combination for music is rain?
On a road that didn’t just disregard precious rainwater and send it away into drains but actually held on to it for everyone to enjoy. Now it was personal. The ordinary commuters needed a plan to overcome two obstacles in their way: the rain and the glares from armed men on duty. Some thought to simply overtake the honourable public servant and run home before the overfilled and open gutters decided to join the party. They pressed the accelerator and began to move towards their aim, but motorcycle riders were faster in their fury. It was their time to shine, and if a few white clothes of others had to be sacrificed along the way, then so be it.
The largest moving SUV in sight was now slowing down along with its convoy. At first, it seemed like a safety concern, but its windows began to roll down, and a figure emerged holding a microphone. The perfect image of a responsible government representative, there to engage with the people. As he began to address those around him, standing on the platform of an abandoned fountain, vehicles started to stop in hopes of hearing about aid packages for those stuck here.
Before getting to the point, he stated how they were all in this together. With no man left alone or unassisted, they all will get through this difficult day together. And as it seemed that he would now finally announce the aid packages for people, an overbearing sound took over. A large helicopter came from the sky and hovered inches above the ground to let him on. He dropped the speaker and jumped to sit in the helicopter, with the speaker splashing into the water and leaving an attentive listener’s white clothes with a stain closely resembling the shape of the SUV.