After the bizarre yet successful resolution of the Bahadur the Goat Minister saga, Roy K was on a roll or at least, he thought he was. With newfound confidence in his unconventional leadership, he decided it was time for Cahaya to embrace bold, out-of-the-box ideas.
"Cahaya needs innovation!" Roy declared during a cabinet meeting. "And where do innovations come from? Ridiculous ideas, that's where!"
Aziz immediately regretted attending the meeting. "Sir, ridiculous ideas aren't exactly a sustainable strategy for governance."
Roy ignored him. "We're establishing a new ministry the Department of Ridiculous Ideas! We'll call it DRI for short. Their mission? To dream big, think crazy, and make Cahaya the envy of the world!"
The Founding of DRI
The announcement of the Department of Ridiculous Ideas sent shockwaves through Cahaya. The public was equal parts amused and horrified.
Critics called it a waste of government resources, while Roy's more enthusiastic supporters saw it as a stroke of genius.
"I mean, why not?" said one citizen during a street interview. "Our Prime Minister is basically a walking ridiculous idea, so this makes sense."
The DRI headquarters was set up in an unused government building with peeling paint and a mysterious smell of durian. Roy personally attended the opening ceremony, cutting the ribbon with an oversized pair of novelty scissors.
"This," Roy proclaimed, "is where dreams come true!"
The crowd applauded politely, though most of them were just there for the free refreshments.
Recruitment Chaos
The first challenge was finding people to staff the department. Roy insisted on an open recruitment process with no qualifications required.
"We want dreamers!" Roy said. "No boring resumes. Just passion!"
The recruitment drive attracted an eclectic mix of candidates, including:
• A man who claimed to have invented "self-cleaning socks."
• A street magician who specialized in vanishing mangoes.
• A conspiracy theorist convinced that Cahaya's flag secretly contained a treasure map.
• Someone who introduced themselves as "Dr. Potato," dressed in a full potato costume.
Aziz stared at the line of candidates outside the DRI building. "Sir, are you sure about this?"
"Of course!" Roy said. "Innovation comes from unexpected places, Aziz."
Aziz sighed. "I think this is more like a circus than a ministry."
Project Brainstorming
Once the DRI team was assembled, Roy hosted their first brainstorming session. It was every bit as chaotic as Aziz had feared.
"Okay, team," Roy began, pacing in front of a whiteboard. "What's the craziest idea you've got? No limits!"
A man raised his hand. "What if we trained pigeons to deliver government documents? Think of the savings on postage!"
Roy nodded thoughtfully. "I like it. Next?"
Dr. Potato raised a gloved hand. "Cahaya needs more monuments. How about a giant statue of a potato because potatoes are the future of agriculture!"
Roy clapped. "Brilliant! We'll call it the Spudspire!"
Aziz buried his face in his hands. "Sir, this is madness."
"No," Roy corrected him. "This is vision."
The Disaster Spiral
The first few DRI projects were, predictably, disastrous.
1. Pigeon Post
The pigeon mail delivery system was launched with great fanfare, but it quickly fell apart. The pigeons couldn't tell the difference between government documents and fast food wrappers, resulting in numerous diplomatic incidents.
One pigeon accidentally delivered a confidential trade agreement to a fast-food chain, who responded by offering a free burger for every mango exported.
2. The Spudspire
Construction on the giant potato statue began in the heart of Cahaya City, but the project was plagued with issues. The materials used to make the potato-shaped structure started rotting in the tropical climate, turning the monument into a giant, stinking eyesore.
"Sir, the Spudspire has become a health hazard," Aziz reported.
"But it's a symbol of perseverance!" Roy protested.
"It's a symbol of poor planning," Aziz replied.
3. National Anthem Remix
One of DRI's more "creative" ideas was to remix Cahaya's national anthem into a techno version to appeal to younger citizens. The remix, however, was met with widespread ridicule, with critics calling it "an assault on patriotism and eardrums."
The Public Backlash
As news of the DRI's failures spread, public opinion began to turn against Roy. Protesters gathered outside the DRI building with signs reading "Stop the Nonsense!" and "We Want Real Leadership!"
Even Roy's most loyal supporters were starting to question his decisions. During a radio interview, a caller asked, "Prime Minister, when will you focus on actual problems instead of chasing ridiculous ideas?"
Roy, ever the optimist, replied, "But ridiculous ideas are the solution! We just need to think bigger!"
Aziz's Ultimatum
Aziz had had enough. Storming into Roy's office one evening, he slammed a folder onto the desk.
"Sir, the country is falling apart. The farmers are angry, the economy is in shambles, and people are still complaining about the pigeons!"
Roy looked up from his latest project sketch—a plan for glow-in-the-dark streetlights powered by fireflies.
"Aziz, you're being dramatic," Roy said. "These are just growing pains."
Aziz glared at him. "Sir, if you don't shut down the DRI, I'm resigning."
Roy froze. Aziz's resignation would be a disaster he was the only person who could handle the day-to-day chaos of running the government.
"Fine," Roy said reluctantly. "I'll… consider scaling back the DRI."
The Pivot
To appease Aziz and the public, Roy rebranded the DRI as the Department of Practical Innovations and tasked them with more realistic projects, such as improving public transport and supporting small businesses.
The pigeon mail system was quietly shut down, the Spudspire was demolished (after much public celebration), and the techno anthem was buried in a government vault.
Despite everything, Roy managed to salvage his reputation once again. The public appreciated his willingness to pivot, and his approval ratings even began to climb.
"You see, Aziz?" Roy said smugly. "I told you I had it under control."
Aziz shook his head. "Sir, you stumbled your way into a solution. As usual."
Roy grinned. "That's called leadership, Aziz."
Meowster, lounging on the desk, let out an approving meow or perhaps it was a sigh. Either way, chaos in Cahaya remained as entertaining as ever.
End of Chapter 19