Death of a King

While I was walking through the dusty roads of Delhi. I saw a man with shabby and torn clothes. He was running here and there on the street, displaying the crown made from golden paper to everybody on the street and saying out aloud, "I am King of world."

Everybody who was passing by was cursing," He is mad. He has lost all his senses. Why do people like him are left on the road to roam?". There was a lady in red Saree passing by, holding her kids hand and trying to protect her school going child.

Since I was waiting for my friend at a tea stall nearby, I kept watching the man and asked the owner to provide me a cup of tea. The shopkeeper said while handing me a cup of tea,"Sir, what are you watching?". Instead of saying that I am watching that mad man, my reply came,"I am watching King of the world." Shopkeeper laughed out loud and said,"You have good sense of humour". In a way to defend myself, I said,"He is real king of world. King is one who can go anywhere anytime he wants. Do whatever he wish to. And that is what he is doing". Shopkeeper was smiling at my reply and was maybe thinking that I am another mad person. I paid the shokeeper four rupees for the tea. I left with my friend who arrived just in time.

After a couple of days, I was again at the same place for some work. I do not know why, but my eyes were looking for the mad man. Not finding him nearby, I went to the same tea stall. While drinking tea, I asked,"What happened to the mad old man who used run across the street?". Recognising me, the shopkeeper said,"Yesterday he came under a bus and died on the spot. Later he was taken away by the Muncipal people." While I was leaving the stall, the shopkeeper said,"Sir, Your King is Dead!!".

P.S. This story is a work of fiction.