"Are you Sure? Do you realize the implications of what you just said?"
"I am very sure. There will be an unprecedented high tide on the 26th of July in Mumbai. One that we haven't seens in centuries. That in itself, will give us enough trouble, because the tide is large enough to flood low-lying areas like King's Circle, Milan subway etc. even if it just drizzles for a few hours steadily. But the low pressure area developing off the coast promises to bring in heavy rains at around the same time. That means practically the whole city will be submerged under water for three days."
"How much time do we have?"
"This is the weather. I cannot pin point the hour and..."
"How much time?"
"We don't have the equipment to make an accurate forecast. This is the met office, we're a low priority office..."
"Cut it, Sawant. Just give me an estimate. We need to get information out there fast and do a lot if we are to ensure that minimal life is lost. Will you please give me an estimate, man?"
"We have maybe five days, maybe less, sir. That is the best I can say at this time."
"Thank you, Sawant. Send Alka in on your way out, please."
Khobragade rubbed his temples. He could feel the beginnings of a headache. It promised to be one of those irritatingly severe ones. Normally, he would have called it a day and gone home to sleep it off. But today, he couldn't afford that luxury. Why did Sawant have to tell him, of all people? Why couldn't it be one of his other colleagues? There were enough of them at his level in the organization. Why single me out?
Anyway, this had to be dealt with. No Options.
Sonali Hudar
27th June 2009.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Baby Angels
"That is simply not fair! Do I have to do as you say?"
"Come on! I am god. I shouldn't have to argue about this. Let my will be done."
"This "Thy will be done" stuff is for Humans, God. I am an angel..."
"...and I haven't forgotten it. Angels have jobs to do. I have just assigned you yours. Go to earth and be the guardian angel for those two babies. The arrive nine days apart. That should give you time to get things in place."
"I haven't done this before. I can be a guardian Angel for a grown up. I did that and I can handle a bunch of grown-ups together. They can walk and talk and fend for themselves. Babies are different. They mean a lot of hard work. Why can't I have some adults instead?"
"It is time you took on some more serious responsibilities, Leo. We've been through this a hundred times if we've been through it once. This is just a waste of time. You can use this time more productively by preparing for the babies' arrival on earth. You have precious little time already."
"My point precisely. I am not ready for this. I don't have time to prepare."
"LEO. I am NOT discussing this any further. Your task has been assigned. You will be the guardian angel to two babies arriving on the 20th and the 29th of November at 1:00p.m. and 3:21 a.m. Indian standard time in India on planet earth in the year 2005. You are to look after them until they are eighteen years old and I can assign them to other angels. Now, Leo, GO."
Sonali Jayant Hudar
27th July 2009
"Come on! I am god. I shouldn't have to argue about this. Let my will be done."
"This "Thy will be done" stuff is for Humans, God. I am an angel..."
"...and I haven't forgotten it. Angels have jobs to do. I have just assigned you yours. Go to earth and be the guardian angel for those two babies. The arrive nine days apart. That should give you time to get things in place."
"I haven't done this before. I can be a guardian Angel for a grown up. I did that and I can handle a bunch of grown-ups together. They can walk and talk and fend for themselves. Babies are different. They mean a lot of hard work. Why can't I have some adults instead?"
"It is time you took on some more serious responsibilities, Leo. We've been through this a hundred times if we've been through it once. This is just a waste of time. You can use this time more productively by preparing for the babies' arrival on earth. You have precious little time already."
"My point precisely. I am not ready for this. I don't have time to prepare."
"LEO. I am NOT discussing this any further. Your task has been assigned. You will be the guardian angel to two babies arriving on the 20th and the 29th of November at 1:00p.m. and 3:21 a.m. Indian standard time in India on planet earth in the year 2005. You are to look after them until they are eighteen years old and I can assign them to other angels. Now, Leo, GO."
Sonali Jayant Hudar
27th July 2009
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