Korok said he had eaten a samosa at the court. Then he shuffled around nervously. Korok being Korok, the best idea he had ever had in his life so far came out not as an idea, or even a suggestion, but as a question.

‘Can the villagers vote for the mine?’

‘Vote?’ said Jadob.

‘Yes.’

‘For the mine?’

‘Yes.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Can there be an election where the villagers can say whether they want the mine or not? And also if they should move out or not?’

Jadob sighed. It was a long, tired sigh.

‘Korok, that is not how elections work.’

The boy immediately regretted his idea. Of all the people in the area, he did not want Jadob to think he was a fool.

‘See, this is how elections work in India. People are supposed to vote for other people. Such as, for an MLA, who goes to the state assembly at Bhubaneshwar. Or an MP, who goes to Delhi. That is what the law says. Mines, or buildings, or other such things do not work that way. The government says, this is where a mine should be, and that is what happens.’

‘Okay,’ said Korok.

Jadob was silent for a while. He knew Korok, so he decided to question the boy some more.

‘You thought of this idea on your own?’

‘No. The lawyer in court today said there are some places where people can vote for judges and lawyers. If someone doesn’t do their work, people can vote for someone else.’

Jadob nodded. ‘That is true. But they are still voting for people. Why did you think we could vote over a mine here?’

‘Because I thought …’

‘Yes?’

‘You said this was a forest area, and the government shouldn’t ask us to leave, and start a mine. So I thought …’

‘Go on.’

‘I thought, we should be asked to vote if we want a mine. If we vote against it, the government shouldn’t ask us to go.’

Jadob leaned back.

‘I wish that was possible. Then everyone could see this is not what we want. The government keeps telling us this is for our own good. But if we could vote, yes, people would see we don’t want this. It is a very good idea. But that is not what the law says, Korok. So it can’t happen. It has never happened like this. But it was a very good idea.’

Korok burst into a smile. He began edging out of the room. He had to go back to his garden. At least there he knew what he was doing.