23rd December 2050
Aakash Ramcharan Podi, Prime Minister of India was sitting in his office. He held a cigar in his right hand while reading his speech for today.
PM Podi was 63 years old good-looking man with dignified personality. He was intelligent and opportunistic. He had found success through his sheer determination and hard work. He rose to power even when he had very humble beginnings.
President of India had called the joint session of Parliament, today. The session was scheduled to be broadcasted live. PM Podi was going to present the colonization offer made by Saans in front of the joint session of Parliament. He was also going to brief the nation about the strategy of the Indian Government in the wake of impending disaster.
India was the biggest population of world and a nation that was expeditiously advancing in all walks of life. In the current scenario, India held the power to crumble the world order. India joining Saans meant that "The Association" would become a force to reckon with in space. Today's joint session of Indian Parliament was a significant event and whole world had their eyes set on Indian decision.
PM Podi was all immersed in reading his speech for today when his phone rang. He was dumbfounded. He stared at the phone for a few moments to realize that it was not his office phone. The voice was coming from his lower table drawer. He put his thumb on the drawer and it opened with a click. There lied an old-fashioned phone ringing. He was surprised. He took it out from the drawer and examined it for a few moments. He did not recognize the phone.
"How the hell did it come here?" He murmured. He was really surprised. He accepted the call.
"Yes?" He was curious and cautious.
"Oh. How did you know this number?" He was confused. It took him a few moments to grasp the situation. Suddenly he felt silly and the embarrassment spread all over his face.
"Hello. How are..." He tried to redeem himself with his signature charming tone, but the caller interrupted.
"Well then. How may I help you?" His tone suddenly got subservient.
"Wh-Why? Why, of all people, you? Why should I do it?" PM Podi was too flabbergasted to decide what to ask and How to ask.
PM Podi was frowning, and he started smiling as he listened to the other side.
"What if I do not do as you say?" It's like he was testing waters.
"I will tell you about my decision by today evening." He said.
"Okay. So, how did you…" The call was disconnected. He looked at the phone like it was its fault.
He exhaled and put the phone on table, took the Cigar from Ash tray and had a long soothing puff. He seemed to be pondering hard about something.
PM Podi had made up his mind concerning the offer from Saans. He met the leaderships from across the country as soon as he returned from UAE and presented the offer. In his speech today, he planned to state his opinion as a prime minister and request the whole Nation to stand with him in this history making decision.
But this phone call made him reconsider his decision. It was an offer; he would never get in his lifetime again. He thought long and hard about it and finally made up his mind.
PM Podi pressed a button on the right side of table. His eyes gleamed with conviction.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Trisha was sitting in sofa in the lounge of same presidential suite. She looked as heavenly as ever in her low-neck red sleeping gown.
"Hey!" Johnson jumped at Trisha from behind. She got startled a little. Johnson was in his briefs.
"Hey." She casually said and went back to watching television.
It was not enough to discourage Johnson. He leaned closer and kissed on her cheek and then on her neck while his hand found its way down her neck opening.
"Don't be disgusting." Trisha frowned and pushed him away.
"Wha-What's so important on TV?" He got angry.
She ignored him. He stared at her angrily for a few moments, got up and walked towards wine table.
"Pour me some too." Trisha said as he was pouring wine for himself in the glass.
He looked at her: She was still staring at television.
"Pour me some too." He silently imitated Trisha with a funny face.
He poured her a drink and sat beside her.
"So…" He tried to speak again.
"Shush. It's starting." She interrupted Johnson and raised volume of television.
"Prime Minister of India is addressing the Joint Session of Indian Parliament. Let's take a look." Anchor said and the scene switched. They both sat quietly.
"Respected Mr. President, Mr. Speaker, Members of the Parliament and esteemed guests. Welcome." PM Podi paused.
"Yesterday, I, as the representative of every Indian, met Mr. Daniel Z. Youssef, CEO of Saans in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. There, he offered us, alongside many developing and under-developed countries from Asia and Africa, to join the project called "Peoples' Association" or simply "The Association"." PM Podi paused strategically and glanced at his audience.
"He proposed that to join The Association we will have to meet three criteria: Firstly, we must become Colony of Saans. Secondly, we will have to renounce democracy and adapt republican style of governance as per requirements of Saans and lastly, they need our answer within one year." PM Podi smiled with a tinge of sarcasm.
"Now, let me set a few facts about India and Indians straight for you Mr. Daniel. We might be a developing country by your HIGH standards but we are a nation who has already set foot on the moon; we are the biggest human force on the face of earth; we inhabit 5 out of the top 50 billionaires in the world; We have the highest number of PhDs in the whole world; we are leading the world in the fields of mathematics, software technology and Industrial research and…��� He was slowly getting sentimental.