Kochappan,Obama and his umbrella.

This is the story of a convicted criminal and The Sultan Of Persia ; and to an extent Kochappan.
Let me come to the nuts and bolts of the matter without aplomb.

The criminal was sentenced to death. He, to escape the death sentence pronounced on him, gave a promise to the Sultan that he can train and make one of the horses owned and loved by the Sultan to fly in one year. Enamored by the dream of flying around the world on horse back the Sultan agreed to the proposal. On being asked by another criminal as to how he can achieve the fete the condemned criminal said '' There is the possibility of four things happenings in this one year. The King may pass away in this one year. I may die a natural death. The horse itself may die .And for all you know the miracle of the horse flying can also happen !!. My life is saved for now.''

Where is Kochappan in this story?.

When Kochappan left his job in the UN organisation in Hyderabad in a hurry people were discussing about various possibilities. He may have been sent out because of inadequate performance, was one. People who overestimated him felt that that job was below par for his competencies. Those who knew about his romantic bent of mind felt that he may have got himself into, what one might call romantic entanglements not approved by the Telegu society that made him flee the country; to the US of A.

The truth is none of these. It's Obama the first 'Black Precedent' of US that beckoned him to US.
'Precedent' because there is no precedence of a black holding that office.

Kochapps is the Adviser Media and Press connect of ' Oba' ; the a fore mentioned romantic bent of kochappan doesn't allow him to reel out the name in full; hence 'Oba'.Who henceforth will be mentioned by me also only thus.

The first feather in the cap of Kochappan was placed by Oba when Kochappan termed him the 'Precedent' and not the usual 'President'. The second feather placed by Obe was for a press release Kochapps wrote the title which read:
'' The president promises a great budget ; more lies ahead''.

I called up Kochappan at New York to find whether the wrong English which alludes to the precedent being liar has caused any resentment from the Americans.

''Aniyan'' he spoke to me from U.S.'' This usage in English is known as 'Double etendre' which one in India calls double meaning. When you read a caption '' Local high school drop outs cut in half'' doesn't mean that drop outs are physically cut into half. Learn proper English aniya. Learn.'' He severed the tele connection mercilessly; the only connection he had with mercy was with Mercy George of II nd year Bsc Zoology in Maharaja's College; after that he has not shown any mercy to any body; he has been Merci less since then.

I rang him up yesterday night. My anxiety to know more about Oba and English language made me call him. We spoke thus.
Normally I address him as 'Edai, kochappa'; that was when he was in India. things have changed a bit , you know.
''Americans are upset , according to paper reports, about two things Oba has done recently. He bent in front of the Emperor in Japan and bowed in front of King Abdulla of Saudi Arabia.'' I waited solicitingly for his comments.
''That is to respect History. By bowing in front of the Emperor ofJapan Oba was reminding the people of America that had Nippon won the war which started with the attack of Pearl Harbour
this emperor would have been the emperor of the US.''

''Oba'', he paused,stuck his neck out through the window, took in a fresh volume of Oxygen from the Rego Park area of New York,and continued. ''Oba did not actually bow to King Abdulla. Oba being taller had to stoop low to shake hands with the short version of the King. This is being given adverse publicity by a columnist of Fox TV who bears an ill will against Oba's 'Precedency'.

'' Do you know that the Chinese have been bowled over by Obama's visit there. They were wonder struck to see the 'Precedent of United States of America' emerging alone from the
Air Force one carrying an umbrella' . Nobody held the umbrella for him unlike his Chinese counterpart.He walked alone with a smile on his lips and an umbrella in his hand. that did it Aniyan, that did it.'' Kochappan ended the soliloquy . Then there was silence; pregnant one.

We Menons may fight but coming to appreciating talent we never cringe

'' Kochappan you are great. your advise of the umbrella did the trick.Papers say that shops in China are selling T shirts with Obama's picture of emerging from the aircraft with the umbrella with a caption '' Serve the people like Oba-Mao''

There was silence at the other end of the phone; for the second time in few minutes.
'' Be in touch. Iam the same old Kochappan for you''. I was touched ; in the heart.

We went to bed with heavy hearts; he in Apartment 5B, Rego Park, New York and I in 44/2977c, MCB road, Kaloor, Kochi.