It is 7: 45 am on a surprisingly mild Saturday afternoon, in an othewise scorching Chennai.

I am in office. Writing this post.

The ruling party called a 'bandh' on Thursday evening, at the last moment. And I used to think 'Just-in-time' was just a management philosphy.

Not that the bandh is having much of an impact. Autorickshaws are plying. Only difference is that their drivers are probably charging the hapless passenger some double digit multiple of the normal fare. In Chennai autorickshaws do not charge a fare, they extort an amount.

I saw an odd aircraft streaking across the sky furiously trying to leave the Chennai airspace. It need not have hurried, the Indian politician has not yet figured out how to obstruct the sky.

In office I am currently the only one present. The usual din is replaced by a surreal silence. No raised voices, no animated conversation, no booming laughter, no ringing telephones.

And no work! At least till 10 am.

By that time the enforcers of the democratic tradition of protest will become active. A few roadblocks will be set up, couple of vehicles will be stoned. There will be some sloganeering, expressions of shock, anger and disgust against the Supreme Court order staying the implementation of reservations. Effigies will be burnt. There will be some mob violence.

And after all this, the bandh will be proclaimed a 'success'. An unqualified success in snatching away a days earning for the small shopkeeper, the vegetable seller and numerous other insignificant but honest men and woman. The silent suffering majority.

No point in complaining. A better thing to do will be to tuck into those turkey sandwiches that my boss got for me. Breakfast beckons!