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ROHIT, PRAVEEN -- Hai Varun! (handing over a bouquet) Here you are. We wish you a very speedy recovery!

VARUN -- Oh, thank you!

ROHIT -- How did this happen? Is it bad?

VARUN -- No, nothing serious. Just a slight dislocation in my right knee. I was returning home in my bike when I failed to notice this pothole. The bike skidded and I fell down. My right leg was caught under the vehicle and thanks to some auto drivers nearby, I managed to move my portly frame and extricate my leg with their help. But there was intense pain when I tried to stand up on my feet.

PRAVEEN -- How did you manage to reach home? You could have called one of us on your cell phone. Why didn't you do that?

VARUN -- I thought of, but before I could do that, my neighbour happened to pass by and he brought me home in his car. Then my father went and retrieved my bike for me.

ROHIT -- Did you see a doctor?

VARUN -- Yeah. He tied this bandage and has advised me to take two weeks' rest. It has been just one day at home and I am already feeling restless. Thanks to potholes.

ROHIT -- One must be an expert driver to ride through these humps and bumps on our city roads. Even a slight drizzle is enough to create such potholes. And added to this is the work undertaken by electricity and cable workmen who dig the ground to do the repairs and leave the pits either open or half-closed. Totally unprofessional!

PRAVEEN -- I agree with you. Only recently the corporation workers came to our locality and re-laid our road which was in a shambles. Two days later, a few men came and dug the road to do some repair work. After finishing the work, they just shovelled some rubbish into it and left.

VARUN -- Leave the roads, even the pavements are not properly laid. I feel that it is more hazardous to walk on the pavements than on the roads. And to worsen the situation are the cars from the travel agencies which occupy most of the space. Pedestrians have a tough time negotiating the way through.

PRAVEEN -- I think the fault lies with the public. They are too tolerant and never raise their voice in protest. We pay tax and what do we get in return?

ROHIT -- Receipts!

VARUN -- (laughing) You asked for it, buddy.

ROHIT -- I wish I had power in my hands. The first thing that I would do is lay new concrete roads which are much more stronger and reliable even during heavy monsoon. Safe and sound roads, that will be my motto.

PRAVEEN -- Did you hear about the plastic roads? I read that it is very dependable and long-lasting than our regular tar roads. And they make it out of waste plastic materials which makes it cheaper in comparison.

VARUN -- We don't know how it will work in the long run. We have to wait and observe the roads which have been laid using plastic.

ROHIT -- My vote is for concrete, which is highly reliable. I wish our Corporation realises our predicaments and spruces up our roads as early as possible. It would be a dream to walk on pothole-free roads and reach home without any mishap.

VARUN -- A tall order Rohit! Why don't you form a 'civic awareness' club and fight for it? You are so good at making inspiring speeches that people may fall in line.

ROHIT -- Oh, that's one of the things that I am good at.

PRAVEEN -- What are the other things, by the way?

ROHIT -- (grinning) I am yet to find out!

Radha N.