The sudden change dazed YBK
It was only yesterday
Just before he went to bed
He wondered when he would be a bona fide employee
Waking up to chase the fast-moving bus bound for the Ministries
Working to earn a real regular salary
Not the casual, menial jobs he did for a fee
Now YBK works at the Ministry of Human Resources
He works as the Special Assistant to the H.R.
His white shirt and black bow tie matches his job title
No, not as the Chief Chef with a golden tulip
His office desk is as large as his pay packet
No need to shuttle to settle at a table
Now YBK traces his name to a payroll
Now he has a fat bank account
Now he signs a branded cheque book
Now he owns an ATM card
This New Year is promising him a new look
His new house is a dream-come-true
Situated in the middle of somewhere
Where he commutes easily to everywhere
His dream house makes him want to live nowhere
All a house needs to be a home is here
Soon he would qualify for a car loan
He would ride and ride on asphalted lanes
First to his friends
Who doubted he could ever rise
Next to his kinfolk
Who prayed for his rise
Then to his enemies
Who wished he would never rise
The fuel he buys is so cheap
Sponsored by a coupon
What did he do to so reap?
Where had he sown?
“Oh yeah,” he remembers
The oil find is dripping to its peak
The oil rigs are widening deep
It was only yesterday
His wife was whining and sighing
Complaining and quarreling
Over a womb so barren
Now she is singing melodious tunes
Now she is bouncing bouncy twins
…and counting
Now YBK enters the Pizza Hut
Through the maim door
He had not come this far before
He is in for a pizza hunt
Now he enters the Grill House
Through the main door
He had not done so before
He is here for a full chicken party
It was only yesterday
He was yearning for a bite
Now he has a pizza and a full chicken at his side
Now YBK felt a tap on his shoulder
It was so light at first…then heavy
He had been sleeping…and snoring noisily
The sudden jolt to reality saddened him
Then he began to shiver… and shudder
Why did this new life in a New Year take an early shower?
