01c. 1952 ADWho would want to enter the soiled Temple of Justice, wherein lies the corpse of justice, slain by her very guardians? And now her killers make mock of the sacred process, selling replicas of her blind virtue to the highest bidder.Rohinton Mistry / quote ↗
03c. 1952 ADWhere was the line between compassion and foolishness, kindness and weakness? And that was from her position. From theirs, it might be a line between mercy and cruelty, consideration and callousness.Rohinton Mistry / quote ↗
04c. 1952 ADdemocracy is a see-saw between complete chaos and tolerable confusionRohinton Mistry / quote ↗
05c. 1952 ADMultilate. Ha Ha Ha,' said Nusswan, avuncular and willing to pretend it was a clever joke. 'Its all relative. At the best of times, democracy is a see saw between complete chaos and tolerable confusion. You see, to make a democratic omelette you have to break a few democratic eggs. To fight fascism and other evil forces threatening our country, there is nothing wrong in taking strong measures. Especially when the foreign hand is always interfering to destabilize us. Did you know the CIA is trying to sabotage the Family Planning Programme?Rohinton Mistry / quote ↗
06c. 1952 ADHe winced at her efforts to mollify him. Why didn't she say she was disgusted with his behaviour, with his long absence, his infrequent superficial letters? And if she did say it - would he defend himself? Would he give reasons, try to explain how meaningless every endeavour seemed to him? No. For then she would start crying again, he would tell her to stop being silly, she would ask for details, and he would tell her to mind her own business.Rohinton Mistry / quote ↗
07c. 1952 ADDoes it stand, but not straight enough? Is there a bend in the tool? Leaning left like the Marxist-Leninist Party? To the right, like the Jan Sangh fascists? Or wobbling mindlessly in the middle, like the Congress Party? Fear not, for it can be straightened! Does it refuse to harden even with rubbing and massage? Then try my ointment, and it will become hard as the government's heart! All your troubles will vanish with this amazing ointment made from the organs of these wild animals! Capable of turning all men into engine-drivers! Punctual as the trains in the Emergency! Back and forth you will shunt with piston power every night! The railways will want to harness your energy! Apply this ointment once a day, and your wife will be proud of you! Apply it twice a day, and she will have to share you with the whole block!Rohinton Mistry / quote ↗
08c. 1952 ADA lifetime had to be crafted, just like anything else, she thought, it had to be moulded and beaten and burnished in order to get the most out of it.Rohinton Mistry / quote ↗
09c. 1952 ADFlirting with madness was one thing; when madness started flirting back, it was time to call the whole thing off.Rohinton Mistry / quote ↗
10c. 1952 ADYou fellows are amazing,' the sweaty cook roared over the stoves. 'Everything happens to you only. Each time you come here, you have a new adventure story to entertain usRohinton Mistry / quote ↗
11c. 1952 ADAnd the further they go, the more they'll remember, they can take it from me.Rohinton Mistry / quote ↗
12c. 1952 ADI almost forgot to tell you - you have the right to remain silent, but if you do, my boys at the station will process your bones to help you confess.Rohinton Mistry / quote ↗
13c. 1952 ADI made up three lists: Candidate's Accomplishments (real and imaginary), Accusations Against Opponent (including rumours, allegations, innuendos, and lies), and Empty Promises (the more improbable, the better). Then it was merely a matter of taking various combinations of items from the three lists, throwing in some bombast, tossing in a few local references, and, there it was - a brand new speech.Rohinton Mistry / quote ↗
14c. 1952 ADThat's the secret - to distract the senses. Have I told you my theory about them? I think that our sight, smell, taste, touch, hearing are all calibrated for the enjoyment of a perfect world. But since the world is imperfect, we must put blinders on the senses.Rohinton Mistry / quote ↗
15c. 1952 ADMoney can buy the necessary police order. Justice is sold to the highest bidderRohinton Mistry / quote ↗
16c. 1952 ADThere must be a lot of duplication in our country’s laws," said Dukhi. "Every time there are elections, they talk of passing the same ones passed twenty years ago. Someone should remind them they need to apply the laws.""For politicians, passing laws is like passing water," said Narayan. "It all ends down the drain.Rohinton Mistry / quote ↗
17c. 1952 ADTraffic in the streets of Bombay is chaotic at best. Riding a bicycle is a dangerous occupation. However, there are hundreds of them on the streets competing with the cars and buses and lorries because it is the poor man's mode of transport.Rohinton Mistry / quote ↗
