The month of May

The month of May began on a Sunday.

I got up early to catch the fresh breeze and do some exercise. The dim light in the eastern sky and the sound of rustling leaves, dogs barking of and birds chirping made me feel happy.

At 7am, I drove my daughter to UCKG church for her early morning prayer session. On the way a light drizzle lifted my spirits because I saw this as a blessing from the Lord and a sign of good omen.

At 9.30am we had breakfast and were preparing for our day’s activities. I planned to do some work on my computer, and my daughter Prameeta decided to do her laundry. But lo and behold, EFL (Energy Fiji Limited) switched off the power in the area, and our plans for the day went out of the window!

I decided to take a nap. When I woke up at 1.30pm there was still no sign of power. My frustration was building. However, at 3.30pm or so, power was back on, and life seemed normal. However, black clouds had gathered, and rain was threatening. At 4pm, it started raining and this built up to a heavy downpour. The incessant rain, thunder and lightning sent shivers down my spine.

The Russian-Ukrainian crisis flashed through my mind and the possibility of a nuclear war. I shuddered to think of this! Yes, humanity is sitting on the brink of a nuclear war. The USA, touted as a ‘Super Power’ is caught napping, unable to bring the situation under control. NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) is making sanctions and sending aid to Ukraine; it all sounds so hollow as the food crisis skyrockets.

The month of May is also historically important for Indo-Fijians because the first group of indentured Indian labourers arrived here on May 14, 1879. The pain and dislocation that they experienced is a painful story to tell.

I sincerely hope that our 2022 General Election will be peaceful and without any upheaval. May the best political party win.