Mooshik's quid pro quo and et ligare upgrade for Ganesha:

 “Set aside, the fear of reprisals and boldly stage a disappearing act. Use your divine powers and simply change Mooshik’s colour from grey to black to brown and white and then back to grey, in a cyclic manner. This miracle will surely bring back all and some more devotees, to your door steps. Try it and, you will come out a winner!” As Chitragupta’s words echoed in his mind, Ganesha resumed his solitary stomping-in-the-garden routine, confused and cursing Mooshik for contacting Chitragupta and fuming within himself, for hitting a cul-de-sac at every turn! He wondered, how in heaven, Brahma tolerates this so called protégé!

Ganesha’s worry took another turn in to another cul-de-sac.  The dwindling crowd of parents and examinees started a merry go around in his mind. The ever-present Mooshik, was nonchalantly inspecting his tail - a misleading act. Though, he was actively searching for signs of aging, the act was intended to create a false impression that he was earnestly attempting to come up with a solution, to stop the merry go around.

 Unable to bear the suspense, Ganesha asked, " Mooshik, got any ideas?"

Though, Mooshik was actively working out the menu for his next meal, he blurted out, “My Lord, I am working on it." Another curve ball, which Ganesha missed to catch. Having committed, Mooshik swished his tail a few times and said, "The days of queuing up in front of you has gone out of fashion. Nowadays, the crowd gathers in front of coaching centres and persons who could deliver tomorrow's question paper today."

" Mooshik, this a surprising news to me! Why did you not alert me to this state of affairs?"

" My Lord, I took a neutral stand on this issue, that is why!"

" What are you saying? Why would you remain neutral?”

" I beg for your indulgence. The fact of the matter is, your devotees never considered me worthy enough and never offered to break coconuts prior to or after the exams. With no teeth in this game, and no broken coconuts to gnaw at, how could I take sides?"

" Mooshik, still you could have raised an alert. What happened to your loyalty to me?"

"I pondered over this dilemma of loyalty, in depth and became confused, like the student trying to choose the correct option for a multiple-choice question."

Ganesh getting annoyed asked, " Why at all your loyalty should pose a dilemma and what was the need for the pondering?"

"My Lord, for my small brain, it was a ponderable dilemma. I chose to remain neutral to avoid getting overloaded."

Respecting their long-standing relationship, Ganesha accepted the explanation. He asked, " Now tell me how the situation could be remedied? Will a failure analysis help?”

Sensing an opening, Mooshik answered, "What immediately comes to my tiny brain is this. People have matured enough to expect the quid pro quo should have an et ligare element also. Their reasoning is 'a deal without a guarantee clause is not worth the paper it is written on'!"               

Ganesha had not anticipated this devious condition, probably a fine print, in the minds of the pious and innocent people, queuing up in front of him. He wanted to kick himself, for not having judged them as Mooshik with his tiny brain had done.

" Mooshik, is this not a backdoor entry they are after."

" It certainly is. But when the front door has restricted entry, what else is there, except the backdoor?"

At this reply, Ganesha started having a nibbling doubt about Mooshik and wondered "whose brief is he holding now, mine or theirs?"

"Mooshik, how does this quid pro quo and the et ligare element  works?"

"From the depth of my limited knowledge, what they are saying is " upfront guarantee with a back-end assurance. The quid pro quo is for them to start putting in some effort and the et ligare is for the assured  fruit of the labour."

Ganesha became annoyed. “Mooshik, enough of the diplomatic talk, from the depth of your tiny brain. Cut through the clutter and tell me what should I do now?

Mooshik fearing for his tail, becoming an object of cutting through the clutter, replied, " I have a glimmer of an idea. But you may face  lot of resistance while implementing it."

"Explain it in a nutshell"

“We should hit the roads.”

Why”?

“Remember all the non-mandated idols, doing the rounds as deemed gods”?

“What do they have to do with my problem. Is it another of your diversion tactics?

“No. I mentioned them because they might be your solution.”

How?

Mooshik elaborated, “This is part one of the plan. We get closer to them and sell the idea of getting them an upgrade.  I can easily manage it and bring them to your door steps.  The second part requires your active participation.”

Showing interest, Ganesha asked, “In what way?”

“By getting in touch with your kith and kin, and ask them to help you out”.

Exasperated Ganesha asked, “What sort of help they could extend to me?”

Mooshik replied, “By way of granting small rights to a select few of these non-mandated, street-dwelling idols.”

“I am not clear. What will happen, then”? 

“The rest of the non-mandated idols will form a queue in front of you, pleading.  Coming to know of this, the absentee devotees will race each other, and arrive panting to beseech and seek your blessings.”

Ganesha shook his head vigorously and said, " Mooshik, I should not become a salesman and neither you. Don’t you have any other bright ideas?”

“No, My lord. I give up. My very small brain is not willing to cook up another plan!”

Ganesha shouted, “Then get an upgrade for your little brain and then think of another logical plan. O.K”?

At last, Ganesha decided to think of a solution, for that matter any solution that promised a reasonable chance of succeeding.  How could he blame Mooshik’s tiny brain for sinking so low to dig up an idea, which at best, should have been left buried. Stampede or stragglers, he sat by my side, with unflinching loyalty. How can I punish him now? After doing all these analyses by himself, he ran out of stamina and decided to call a halt.

The next day, he announced, “Mooshik, I have found out a way to turn the tide in our favour. From this instant, let us turn our backs to them, exactly by 180° and park ourselves."

The confused Mooshik asked," What has happened to you? How turning our backs to them, by 180° will turn the tide?”

Ganesha in a calm and reassuring voice explained, "The news of us turning our backs to them will spread like wild fire. People will erroneously conclude that I have been greatly wronged and very angry. To cool my anger down, they will descend en masse with offerings and vows, to resume regular visits. How do you like this alternate plan"?

“My Lord, the master plan you have just revealed is way beyond comprehension of my tiny brain. I am worried.”

Ganesha said in a consoling tone, "You don't worry. I will soon arrange a sharper brain implanted in your head."

Giving in to a sudden impulse, Mooshik blurted out, " Do I owe you any quid pro quo and et ligare for this"?

Ganesha had half a mind to thrash Mooshik, but realising the futility of such an act, he turned his back, by exactly by 180° on him and his reluctant devotees.