Ch 17; A promises
Few Day later, after the reforms passed.
The evening was warm as crowds converged on the impromptu stage set up in the middle of the city. The air was alive with expectation, the ruddy glow of street lamps mingling with flashes of cameras and bright screens of handsets. People from all walks of life came to hear the Prime Minister speak to them: peasants, shopkeepers, students, employees, and families.
Animesh stood backstage, his heart was already in the turmoil, to know this will be his first speech after that oath ceremony that he had took. He took a brief glance at the team around him and nodded at Mahesh as if in response to affirmations in the signal, that simply gave him a silent pat on the back for confidence. Taking an another breath, Animesh walked towards the stage, with the murmuring of the crowd getting louder as he stood under the lights.
There was a pause, gazing out across the sea of faces to him, before he began to speak, his voice steady, clear.
He hold in the mic, in his hand and somewhat nervously, spoke.
"My dear country fellow, tonight is not just any other evening. Today is a new beginning."
There was complete silence all over the crowd as every eye was fixed on him, hanging onto every word.
"Too long our nation's wealth and progress shared by only a few. But that is yesterday. I come here today to pledge you a fairer, stronger, and more united future—a future where prosperity is not just words, but realities for each one of you.".
Pointing to a group of farmers in the crowd, he said, "To farmers who work day and night to feed us, our reforms will provide you modern tools, better irrigation facilities, and fair prices. We will stand with you when the weather turns against you, and you will not have to worry by your self. We shall construct a new system where the farmer is respected, valued, and uplifted."
A wave of applause rolled through the audience, and he could see hopeful smiles on many faces.
Animesh continued, his voice picking up in strength: "To all the small business owners who break their backs for ends to meet, or the ones who dream of growth and meet themselves in a new wall every day-this is for you, too. We are chopping down the roadblocks, making processes easier, giving you access to resources you never got before. We will make it easier for you to grow, to hire, to build, to dream. This country will be a land in which every little idea can grow into something big."
He paused to let the words feel in, where he could see nods and murmurs of acceptance among the business owners in the audience.
"And to our workers, our laborers, our craftsmen, and every hand that builds our nation," he said, his voice warm, "we know your hard work is the backbone of this country. Our reforms will ensure you are protected, opportunities open to you, and you can build better lives for your families. We are creating more jobs, more security, and a promise of respect and fairness."
Crowd was responding now, cheering, clapping, some raising fists in the air with renewed pride.
"These reforms, are not for a few; they are for all. Be it the far-flung village or the prosperous city, be it young or old, rich or poor, these changes are meant to take us all up and take us all along. And let me make one thing very clear," he said, looking straight into that camera that would go live to the remotest corner of the country, "we will not rest until every single one of you feels the touch of this change in their daily life."
He leaned forward, his voice softer but intense with sincerity. "This is my promise to you: a promise of fairness, of opportunity, and of a nation that grows together, not apart. I will be there by your side, make sure that no one is left behind."
Taking a deep breath, Animesh's heart pounded at the feeling that his words had touched the people in front of him. He paused looking at the sea of faces, letting the moment settle.
"My friends," he said, his voice firm but full of determination, "it will not be an easy trip. We will face challenges, doubts, and setbacks. But together, united in vision, there is nothing we cannot achieve. Let us walk forward with faith, with hope, and with the unbreakable spirit of a united nation."
He raised his fist as he concluded, "This is our time. This is our future. And we will build it—together."
The crowd roared in applause—a wave of sound that echoed across the square and into the city beyond—people cheering, some clapping, others shouting his name, a few crying; they felt seen and heard by their leader.
As he steps off the stage, Mahesh greets him with a look of high regard. "That was intense, sir. You were in the lot of pressure."
Handing a towel to Animesh, to wipe his sweat, Mahesh said to Animesh.
Animesh gives a little nod, humble but determined. "I believe in them too," he said. "This is not my promise, after all, but it's our shared dream."
After that, when the everything was over. Animesh and his team left that place.
The next morning, Animesh walked into his office with a more definite stride. He had imagined a clean, transparent government at the very beginning of his tenure, but the path showed him just how deep and systemic corruption is in the arteries of bureaucracy. The recent success about economic reforms has revitalized him, and he realizes that for any actual change to become sustainable, the next needed step is to organize a powerful agency focused on rooting out corruption.
It would not be another watchdog of the government. It would be an entity working in dark secrecy, with the level of intelligence, sophistication, and confidentiality like that of RAW. It would instead observe and address an external evil perpetrated within a state by some of the very abusing officials-who pocketed public money for no purpose at all.
He had spent half the night on drafting an outline for the agency. The agency was to be a secret service outfit; the members would undergo rigorous training in counterintelligence, surveillance, and moral code. Only the handful of trusted cabinet members and topmost officers would know of its very existence. Accountability measures would ensure that it did not sway to influence or bribery.
He had deputed Mahesh, his chief secretary with whom he was extremely comfortable, to help him finalize the details. The next morning, while Mahesh entered his office, he could notice the intensity in the eyes of Animesh.
"Mahesh," Animesh began, "we have come to a point where economic reforms and social welfare programs are just not enough. If we want change, if we really want change, we need to get rid of corruption. Now, this agency can't work like the anti-corruption bodies do. It needs to be surreptitious, and it needs to be able to go hidden while getting evidence."