Lady Flora looked distraught. She was in the news, and for all the wrong reasons. Sir PM treaded cautiously towards her pedestal. It was the first time since they started their midnight stroll, over 14 years ago, that he saw her in this downcast avatar. This newspaper broke the news about the stoppage of water from the fountain’s spouts, and that stagnant water with algae had accumulated in its basins. This was the condition of the city’s most famous fountain for nearly two weeks. The reason for the neglect was that the structure had no maintenance contractor despite conservation work having been undertaken by the BMC some years ago. After the Page 1 reportage, the civic body swung into action and ensured the heritage structure received some much-needed TLC.

“That a Grade-I heritage structure has to undergo such neglect is most humiliating. I recall that it was restored six years ago by the civic body. That no maintenance contractor has been tending to your upkeep is upsetting. I can only imagine your state of mind, my Lady,” Sir PM sighed. “I’m going to request my former bosses for an assurance to ensure that you are safeguarded at all times. If this is your plight, God help the other heritage structures that are not in the public eye. Luckily, mid-day spotted this gross injustice, and called out the decay that you had to silently bear,” he comforted her, trying to look at the positives from the situation.