Who Is a Padma Shri? (Nikki Kahani)

“Who is a Padma Shri?”
the child asked.

The father smiled :
“One is someone honoured for doing good work for the country and society.

But in my satire, there is another kind :

one who stays at the feet of power, state or politicians for ‘Shri’—wealth and fortune;
crawling for favours, grovelling for rewards!

That, my son, is my version of a Padma Shri!”