It was one of those nights where I didn’t feel like being at home. Instead, on the way back, I fabricated an insensitive ‘goodnight’ text and sent it to her, before driving to definitely my most favorite bit of Bangalore.

Cubbon park, for me, holds many special memories. Some bitter, some sweet, some bitter-sweet, and some … er … sexual. But I usually go there late Sunday nights, or on public holidays, just to see Vidhana Soudha illuminated, spectacularly symbolizing the might of the government. I have a special sentimental attachment to the building, and in particular, to the lighting.

And I was in for a surprise when I drove to Vidhana Soudha last night.

First off, why did I go there? Solitude is my best buddy - has always been - and I love to sit across the building, looking at it, and the surroundings, and contemplating my past, present and future. Perhaps it’s a personal thing, but that stretch of the city - for me - is Bangalore. Wide roads, decent traffic, greenery all around, no pungent stink of urine in the air. A very early 90s ‘Karnataka-ish’ feel. Something I might look back, and say, ‘home’.

And you probably know, that for someone who drives through a snail-paced M.G. Road, an erratic Airport Road, a hostile Ring Road and a jam-packed Koramangala - such a sight is rare.

So here I am, the Corsa’s parked on the main road, the parking lights are flickering, Richard Marx has spent about a minute and a half crooning ‘Right Here Waiting For You’, when the lights go on. And this wasn’t a half-lit Sunday midnight special. Nope. This was the full lighting. Every single one out there.

It lasted for less than a minute. Bliss, albeit momentarily.

I might add, I was thinking about myself, another unrecognizable blip on the radar of this state. I’m just another soul amongst the millions in this state. A state that was first orphaned, and now bastardized, without a stable leadership. Devegowda, who swims in a whirlpool of betrayal and yet manages to be the cause of it, has simply ruined any hopes of a stable government in this state. While his ’secular’ initiatives make sense, he’s well on his way to converting Karnataka into a monarchy, where only a Gowda can rule.

It’s horrible, because even when an able leader like M P Prakash attempts to form a government, with the support of the Congress (who is certainly more secular than the BJP), they’re wary of forming a coalition with the likes of HD.

I then tried to recall everything I saw through the day. Beggars on the streets? Rickshaw guys complaining? A cow wagging it’s rear on the center lane of the ring road? An old woman with as many wrinkles as her years, sweeping the streets? A modified Maruti Zen speeding past a signal that was counting down? A deadlock traffic situation between a Qualis and her cousin Innova? The slums, where power and water are as frequent as Halley’s comet?

Now, in the distance, I looked at Vidhana Soudha again. As strong as a fortress it stood, guarding both filth and gems. It was now plunged into darkness. Like the state itself. Like its people. Like … moi.

I then remembered what is inscribed on the entrance of the fortress. “Government Work is God’s Work.”

Well, there’s no government anymore. And the way things are going for my people, I’m wondering if there’s no God anymore either.

And if He is around, He’s left this state ages ago.