length and breadth of Meghalaya and who indeed has found his pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

“We’re deeply beholden to the Hon’ble State Government,” he said, rubbing his hands in glee, “for allowing us to organize charity shows to raise funds for our schools.”

“Just what do you have in mind?” I asked.

“Well,” he said, “I’m toying with several novel charity show ideas.”

“Such as ...,” I prompted.

“Well, I want to hold a mime show to mobilize funds for my nursery and LKG schools.”

“A mime show?”

The word ‘donation’ has suddenly become dirty in my lexicon and from today charity shows and not donations will be the goose that lays the golden egg

“Yes,” said the sole proprietor, “and I’m sure it would be hugely entertaining. The show will revolve around my surly and unkempt peon entertaining a makeshift classroom set up on the roadside and going through the motions of dusting the furniture and swabbing the floor. Then a nursery teacher will enter and with a silent movement of her lips, she’ll say ‘A for Apple, B for Bat, C for Cat and so on.”

“That would be quite a show,” I agreed, “but what about the tickets? How are you going to price them?”

“A ticket for the mime show will cost Rs.75,000 and the tickets will be sold after office hours in special counters set up under the table. I am also mulling over an idea to stage a fashion show to raise money for my schools.”

“A fashion show?”

“Yes,” said the sole proprietor, “a bevy of my school nannies dressed in gorgeous ethnic ensembles of old blue cotton sarees and white blouses and wearing Hawaian slippers and rubber sandals will parade to the accompliment of lilting music by that well known rock band ‘The Daylight Robbers’. The entire show will be directed and choreographed by my school cashier Mr. Shylock.”

“That would be a mind blowing show,” I said. “What about the tickets?”

“Well,” said the sole proprietor, “the show will be restricted to parents desperately seeking admission for their children into the UKG and we’re going to price the tickets at a modest 90,000 per ticket and as a value add – on bonus, every parent attending the show will receive a fabulous gift hamper of ash, a sack cloth and an embossed address to the nearest bankruptcy court.”

“I’m glad that you’re abiding by the Government order in letter and spirit,” I said.

“Thank you,” said the sole proprietor, “the word ‘donation’ has suddenly become dirty in my lexicon and from today charity shows and not donations will be the goose that lays the golden egg.”