People Vs King Monsters !!

I came out of a shopping mall watching film in a multiplex cinema. Crossing the road, I went towards an old lady selling ground nuts . While leaving the place after buying a few of them, I was stopped by her question. “Babu, you are coming out of this building?”, she asked pointing towards the mall. I replied in positive and she returned a smile filled with sadness and sarcasm. I asked her, “Amma, why did you ask?” She replied, “once upon a time, thousands of people like me lived there with families. We were forcefully evicted from our place by some rich people. Big monster vehicles came and collapsed our houses in minutes. Our local leaders and all Sarkari people supported them. ” I asked, “what happened, then?” She said, “My son left city with his family. I did not go anywhere as this is my home. I live in a nearby colony and make livelihood out of selling ground nuts here. I do not know what they achieved by disturbing our lives like this. Sorry, Babu ! I will not trouble you with my sad stories. Please carry on!” I started walking with a disturbed mind and turned back to see the mall with its board, “The King Size Mall!”. I felt as if the glitz, glamour in and around the mall were vanishing and it resembled just like a burial ground to me!

Though I never forgot the old lady episode, with passing time, I hardly recalled it. Later, getting a better job offer, I moved to another city. My office was at a distance of 25 KM from the city. After becoming familiar in the city, I started commuting to office on my motorcycle. I had a general habit of having my breakfast either in city or in office cafeteria. One day, because of rain, I had to stop at a small hut selling breakfast. It was managed by a middle aged man and his wife. As I was standing at the entrance of the hut, she offered me to sit on a bench. Not willing to sit there without eating anything, I ordered for Idli and Dosa. While serving, he asked what I was. I replied that I was a software engineer working in the nearby tech park. While serving chutney, his wife looked at me with disgust and anger. He signaled her to control herself and said, “Babu ! my family owned a piece of agricultural land and house in the large area, where your office stands now. One day, Government officers came there saying it was sanctioned to something called SEJ or SEG, and asked us to vacate the land.  They said we would get money or land for compensation. We all protested against the decision and visited every politician in the district and top leaders in the state also. Nobody helped us. On one bad day, police force came to vacate us and the fight turned violent. In police firing, 4 men died and my son was one among them.”. The, his wife suddenly intervened, “Babu ! they said it was part of development of country. Lives of people like us are to be sacrificed not for country but for monsters? ”

I could not answer her question. With head bowed down, I asked for the amount to be paid. He replied it was Rs.32/-. I had Rs.30/- and so gave Rs.100/- instead. He said, “It is ok. Please give Rs.30/- and you can give Rs.2/- later.” I gave an embarrassing smile and looked outside. It was still raining and lights were illuminating the board of tech park reading “Development through Technological Excellence!”

I forgot to tell you that, after meeting the old lady, I started avoiding King "Monster" mall . If I had to watch a film, I used to go to a normal theatre. But, now what should do with this "necessary" monster?