Publisher's Synopsis
Billu, Appu & Democracy and other short stories......... Billu and Appu were best friend. They were born on the same day but were not twins. Oh, it's only because they had different mothers. Nonetheless they shared many things in life. Both used to gulp milk, compete in eating faster than each other and sleep together. Both used to go out together, run in fields, on roads and with other friends. But similarities end here. Billu grew smarter day by day and Appu never caught up well. Billu was very quick in catching the ball but Appu failed to keep up the skills. Billu was great in treasure hunt and could almost search anything hidden with slightest clue and buddhu Appu could never understood the clues in spite of repeated hints. However life has never been fair to Billu. Appu got admission in good school and Billu used to wait near the school for his friend till evening. Time started flying. Both grew stronger but started participating in all town activities including Swachh Bharat. Though school could never make Appu smarter than Billu and it was always Billu who used to crack all the life puzzles thrown at the friends, be it saving someone from drowning in the nearby river or facing criminals or bullies or even getting house chores done smartly. But when the day came for enrolling in Aadhaar, Billu was refused and Appu got one. Appu got easy entry in cinema halls, restaurants and parks but Billu got rejection, hatred and refusals. Nonetheless Appu always loved his friend Billu a lot and so was the case with Billu's love for Appu. One day they applied for voter list enrolment and Billu got thrown out of camp while Appu got his Voter ID made . One day Appu fought election and became MLA and minister of the state. But Billu got nothing except the satisfaction that all his efforts in election campaigning and good work paid for his childhood friend Appu. In next few months the thicker walls of assembly brought a bigger gap in between the friends and Appu got busy with his ministry. As part of a health ministry's clean movement scheme, Billu along with many others were sent to detention centre. Appu got disheartened to note that her government's action only forced his friend away from him. He got his friend back using his ministerial powers but a scar developed between them perhaps unknowingly. Appu with strong believe in democracy, brought a private bill in assembly to amend the constitution to grant equal rights to animals and pets just like any other citizens of the country. Will the dream of Appu to bring back his friend close to him in assembly and sit together to script a brighter future of the country ? As he knew to the core of his heart that only smart Billu can bring the change this country needs because he knew limitations of his own grey matters. Appu admitted silently that Democracy just like life could never appreciate the MERIT else Billu should have been sitting on my chair today! Read on to get many other interesting short stories............
