GOD

It was a small town, moving into the 21^st century, around 10 year after it had started for the rest of the world. Everywhere there were sign of change. Landlords were selling their land to property developers; construction firms taking up projects to build offices and residential complexes for the IT City which was to come up near this sleepy town. It was as if the residents of the town had suddenly woken up from decades long slumber.

Both of them were residents of the same town, one was born here, the family of the other had moved in when he was 5, and they had been best buddies ever since. The ground near their houses, where they had played cricket, football, and what not with the other kids, where they went whenever they felt down had just been sold by the landlord to a construction company for construction of a residential complex cum shopping mall. The sound of bulldozers, earth movers and the chatter of the labourers was a constant pain in their ears.

One day, one of them had a plan, a plan to have some fun at the expense of the fiercely religious neighbours of theirs. So, both of them went at the middle of the night, and buried the things in the construction area. One contained a rosary and a figurine of a Hindu God with some red powder sprayed liberally over it, the other packet contained a cloth, the kind which is offered at shrines. Both were buried within metres of each other, such that both of them would be discovered the next day when the work resumed.

As they expected, both items were discovered the next day, and the news spread like wild fire in the town. People of both sects began to assemble at the site, wishing to offer prayers. The construction work had to be stopped; police was called to control the zealous public. The next day, it was announced that the construction work would continue, and people of both sects could move the items to any location they desired. This was just what the local leaders needed just before the approaching elections, especially when the hugely popular and undefeated sitting representative had announced that he would not be contesting the next elections due to his old age and falling health. Leaders from both the parties saw this as an opportunity to stake claim to the party ticket, and then a victory in the elections.

One party leader expressed his shock at the fact that the company and government were so callous in their outlook towards places of worship and the religious sentiments of the majority of the public, adding that to him the items looked like the remains of a centuries old temple there, which might have been destroyed by the rulers of the other religion. The leader of the opposition camp declared that a shrine had existed there, and in fact, his grandfather used to tell him that their family used to offer prayers at the shrine. Both the sides staked claim to construction of a place of worship there, and obtained a court order prohibiting the company from further construction there.

Both the parties started to ask for support of the public to build the temple or shrine, and staked claim that it should be the sanctuary of their religion that ought to be built. The government was quick to interfere, primarily because it was afraid that any unwanted occurrences in an election year would severely hamper its chances of getting into office again. It proposed that both the communities divide the land into two equal parts, and construct the temple and shrine, hoping to please all. But, the parties did not agree. Both claimed that they should be given the full land for construction; each began to mobilize their cadre for strikes and shows of strength, each declaring that the community it represented had a better claim over the land and that the land should be transferred to it.

The meeting of one party was attacked by the followers of the other, and this incident got blown up into full scale riots, with both sides asking people to fight for their faith. The police were unable to control the riots, so army had to be called. The media found a good opportunity to boost their TRPs and sent journalists. Within a week, 14 people were dead, and over 42 injured.

Both the friends were shocked at this development, never having expected the consequences to be such even in their wildest nightmares. They immediately organised a press conference and admitted that it had been their action, explaining how they had planted the items to have some fun at the expense of the public, and had never imagine the outcome would be this. They apologised for their actions and pleaded for both sides to stop the hostilities.

Contrary to their expectations, their claims were not accepted by anyone. Both the warring sides pronounced them as liars and cheaters who were just trying to sell out the interests of the community to the other side, for both of them belonged to different communities. The enmity continued. Visits by the top leaders of both communities further fuelled the fire, and mercenaries were brought from outside to help the cause of both the sides. Each week saw death toll rise in double figures, with property destruction on the rise.

Seven years have passed since this incident. Both the boys move out of town, unable to watch the outcome of what they did as a gag. One of them committed suicide two years ago, unable to cope up with depression; the other has become old before time, and suffered a stroke last year. He still is asking both the factions to ease up the hostilities, pleading that it all had been their handiwork. But there is no one to listen to him. Both parties are busy reaping the benefits of communal tension. The town still is locked in the 20^th century. The IT City project has been allotted to another city. Even today, each year many die due to the riots. The location is still surrounded by wires and guarded by the army.