The Campaign Part 3

Trisha’s father looked at her as if she had aroused his worst fears. ‘Never!’ he shouted

‘Don’t even think on those lines, and its better you stay out of this’ and he stormed out.

Trisha didn’t say anything; her father was in bad temper. But she couldn’t figure out the reason for her father acting like that, there was something he was hiding, she wanted to know what. The next morning Trisha decided to keep shut as her father was still mad at her.

‘Why is he still angry?’ she asked her mother

‘Trisha, what you said was the last thing he wanted to hear. He won’t tell me the reason but he just asked me to make you understand that you should stay out of this situation’

 ‘Why? This is my place too and I will do anything to save it’

‘Yes, but this is not the thing. Now don’t say a word and take this tea for your father’

‘Where is he?’

‘Must be sitting outside’

Trisha lifted the tea tray and went outside. She served her father tea; he still refused to speak with her. She tried to talk but he wouldn’t respond, when all attempts failed she decided to leave him alone. But before she could enter the house, six white SUV’s entered the estate premises. They all bore the sign of the Raj Mandal Party.

‘What are they doing out here?’ Trisha murmured. Trisha’s father welcomed the party people. Yogendra Singh, the party secretary sat next to him. Trisha’s father asked Trisha to bring more tea.

‘So Yogendra ji, how may I help you?’ Trisha’s father asked

‘You have been quite out of touch, what is the matter? I hope you have decided to stand with us in these bad times’

‘Yogendra ji the thing is…’

Before Ajit Rao could finish his sentence, Trisha came and served tea.

‘So what have you decided? And I am not taking no for an answer’ said the party secretary firmly

The pressure was building up for Trisha’s father. He was not able to find the words to say, Trisha could easily understand of what he was going through so she decided to intervene

‘How many female candidates do you have?’ Trisha asked the party secretary in order to change the topic

‘Seven and who are you?’ he replied

‘Oh I am sorry, Yogendra ji this is my elder daughter Trishala’ Trisha’s father introduced.

‘I see, so Trishala have you asked your father to support us, I am sure he will not say no to you’

‘Actually I was thinking of contesting the elections on my father’s behalf’ Trisha said

‘Trisha, go inside’ ordered her father

‘Ajit ji let your daughter finish, if she thinks she can do it then why not? And have you forgotten that if we lose, your land will be annexed. Continue Trishala, what were you saying’

Trisha’s father was in a complicated situation, but he was definitely furious at her daughter. Trisha explained that why she wanted to join the party, the changes and reforms she wanted to introduce through the campaign, the party secretary was impressed by her (Thanks to her extensive research that she did in her spare time). He praised her for all the knowledge she had about the political system. Trisha gained some confidence.

‘Ajit ji, your daughter is perfect for the position and she seems to be very interested too, I will put her name in the list of nominees. Trishala you are very promising, the party has full confidence in you. Send in sweets everywhere, it’s a matter of extreme joy Ajit ji!’ exulted the party secretary.

Within few minutes all the party people departed. Before leaving Yogrendra ji had asked Trisha to read some party guidelines and terms. Trisha couldn’t believe of what she had done and as expected there was a big fight at her house. It was Trisha versus her parents. Her father shouted at her, Trisha’s mother begged her to change her decision. But Trisha kept on saying that it wouldn’t be all that bad and it was all in order to save their land. Trisha’s parents cooled down a bit after she pleaded to them; she listed them the pros and the cons.

‘But what if you lose? They will still take away the land’ her father said

‘Then at least we tried, papa I am not going to give up on this’ she determined

Later in the evening, after the tiresome day she wanted a break. She decided to meet Abhay. She told him about what had happened earlier…

‘You got some guts Trisha, but are sure you want to do this?’ he asked

 ‘Damn sure man, that’s why I am here. Finally life has fallen back into place. You know after coming back from England I was clueless about what to do but somehow entering politics seems the right thing’

‘Good for you Trisha, I hope you are able to win this battle of yours and don’t worry I will vote for you only’. Trisha laughed and thanked him for being so generous.

‘So when does it begin?’ Abhay asked

‘In a month’s time’ Trisha said