5th Column

"Thaaththa," Bindu Udagedera asked, "are we winning?"
"We thought we were winning until last week..." Percy said.
"Why is that, thaaththa?" Bindu wanted to know.

"Why, Bindu," Percy asked, "weren't we all surprised at the setback we suffered last week?"
"Of course we were," Bindu said, "but even then it was a close finish..."
"What do you mean?" Percy asked, "I thought we were all caught quite unaware..."
"What was unexpected was the close finish, thaaththa," Bindu said, "I thought we had almost given up..."
"Oh," Percy said, "you are talking about the cricket match, aren't you?"
"Of course, thaaththa," Bindu said, "what were you talking about?"
"Why, I was talking about the air attack on Katunayake..." Percy said.

"Well, that was perfectly timed too..." Bindu said.
"Why do you say that?" Percy wanted to know.
"Why, thaaththa, our people couldn't care less about any attack these days, so long as our cricketers are doing well..."
"I don't quite agree with that," Percy said, "people were very upset about the attack on Katunayake..."
"But thaaththa," Bindu argued, "they increased the price of petrol by seven rupees and no one seems to care and I think it is because of the World Cup..."
"I don't think the two events are connected, Bindu...." Percy said.

"All I know is that the Chairman of Selectors in the Cricket Board is also the Chairman of the Petroleum Corporation..."
"That is pure co-incidence, Bindu..." Percy assured, "I am sure they are not waiting until the World Cup to raise petrol prices..."
"But there are other co-incidences, thaaththa..." Bindu suggested.

"What are these other co-incidences that you are so concerned about?" Percy demanded.
"Why, Mahinda maama has said that he is looking for a few more batsmen to hit out at his critics ..." Bindu observed.
"I thought he has already stolen eighteen batsmen from his rivals..." Percy said.
"It is true that they are batting better than most of his own players," Bindu agreed, "but he seems to want even more..."
"But what are the co-incidences?" Percy queried.

"Why, thaaththa," Bindu pointed out, "Now Mahinda maama's most important batsman is Jayasuriya, just like in our cricket team..."
"Does it mean that he will lose, whenever Jayasuriya fails to make an important contribution, just like with our cricket team?" Percy asked.

"We will have to wait and see…" Bindu said.
"Then, Jayasuriya should put in a good performance for Mahinda maama..." Percy said.
"Yes, but that's not all, thaaththa..." Bindu declared.
"Why do you say that?"
"Although Jayasuriya is being used to open the batting by Mahinda maama," Bindu noted, "it is Jayewardene's tactics that he is using, just like in our cricket team...."

"What do you mean by that?" Percy queried.
"Why, the tried and tested Jayewardene tactic of dividing the opposition..." Bindu said.
"Let us hope then that the Jayewardene tactics work, at least for Mahinda maama..." Percy said.
"But thaaththa," Bindu said, "what about the real World Cup?"
"Why, what about it?" Percy asked.

"Why do you think we lost the last match against South Africa?" Bindu wanted to know.
"Ah, that's easy," Percy said, "it is all part of a conspiracy to discredit the government, Bindu..."
"What do you mean by that?" Bindu was puzzled.
"I think Mangala and Sripathi must be responsible for encouraging the South Africans, just as they are supposed to be responsible for encouraging the Tigers to stage the attack on the airport..." Percy reasoned.
Bindu wasn't quite sure whether it was an April Fools' joke or not.

Playing the Js' game of cricket and politics