Imagine this scene: A a whole lot of people are waiting outside the entrance to a hall to get in.  Don’t ask me why. I don’t know. They just want to get in and that is all we need be concerned about now.

There is some pushing and shoving happening. Some ringing of the bell. The door remains resolutely shut. The crowd becomes restive. Slogans now rent the air. Open the doors, we want in! The demand gathers momentum. More voices join, some angry: Open the doors, we want in!  They bang on the door insistently.

But, what’s this? There’s another group forming. With beatific smile plastered on their faces, they are standing around singing a different tune. We are ready to wait, it goes. And then again, in a saccharine sweet voice: We are ready to wait!

Those clamoring to get in stop in surprise and stare at the new group nonplussed. Where the hell did they spring from? And that too when they were trying so hard for all of them to be let in. We are ready to wait, the sweet voices continue. We are ready to wait.  Some of those who wanted to get in have second thoughts and are walking back.

Just then, one woman walks up to them.

“You say you ready to wait Sistahs?” she asks in a no nonsense manner.

“Yes, we are ready to wait!” they say jubilantly.

“Then get the hell out of my way and let those of us who are NOT READY TO WAIT move up the line. Geddit?”

Fair enough. Right? 😉

Updated to add:

The context is the ongoing Ready To Wait campaign in response to Right To Pray, and the Not Ready to Wait that followed regarding entry to the Sabarimala temple where women between the ages of 10 and 55 are barred entry.

©Shail Mohan 2016