The accused is shivering in a corner of the big hall. He is known to all gathered there and they have come there to hear the proceedings of the Court of Law. The Jury on their bench, the judge has occupied the highest seat.

Most of the people present there are working class people, dressed in the tatters which they have specially patched at various places for this special occasion.

The accused has never let them smile and that is why they are quite anxious to listen to the unprecedented verdict.

Hunger was arrested when he was about to escape from the mouth of a pregnant woman whose unborn child had already died in her womb and she was hardly able to move, counting her last breath. Hunger had not suffered her to eat even a morsel of food for three days. He was triumphant that his motive had been finally achieved.

He was about to escape when he found a new victim, a little boy who had stolen a bread from a baker and was about to  swallow the first piece. The shopkeeper caught him and Hunger felt delighted because he could very easily find his place in the body of the little boy.

The judge began the proceedings, “How can you identify yourself?”

“Didn’t you see the bitch outside this court, that has borne nine puppies but has no milk in her hanging dry teats? She was looking with greedy eyes at the people who were enjoying tea and biscuits at the shop. I was present in her loosely hanging tongue which had hardly any saliva left on it…”

“You are accused of inciting people to commit crimes, theft, robbery, corruption, and the inhuman acts which are not worthy of civilized human beings!” said the prosecuting lawyer.

“It is my nature and if they want to appease me, they have to arrange food no matter how! I leave options open: either bring food to keep me calm, or die so that I could go somewhere else,” said Hunger in his defence.

“You don’t even spare little children!” accused the prosecuting lawyer.

“Nature has made me so and I distinguish between young and old. I am unbiased and righteous in this respect. What do you say, Mr. Judge? Are you unbiased like me?” Hunger gave his cruel laughter.

“You have killed millions of people in the underdeveloped countries?” said the Judge.

“You have so many great scientists and you invent so many machines and gadgets but can you invent a gadget to appease me? Why don’t you create something so that I won’t trouble you in future?” said the Hunger.

The judge began to ponder and then said, “You are mad! How can a living being live without nourishment?”

“Yes, that is what I am saying. If you provide enough nourishment, I will continue to sleep and never trouble you but you people are so busy in your petty quarrels over material and comforts that you have completely forgotten about increasing the production of food items and giving more importance to agriculture….”

“We don’t want to learn from you!” shouted the judge.

“Wait and see what happens! Soon you will be more than ten billions and then I will rule the world. You will try to make me go away but it will be late by then. You have been tolerating me for ages but you have never concentrated on me! I am a part of your existence, though unwanted and disliked,” said the Hunger and smiled.

The jury members looked at each other and began to discuss the issue. The people present in the court were stunned.

Finally, the judge spoke, “The jury has given the verdict. At present we can’t do anything so we will let you go but we will seriously think about it. You have made us realize that how dangerous you can be if we don’t mend our ways. This is the unprecedented verdict in which the accused is acquitted and the accusers are found guilty. Every single human being is accused and I am going to write to the Heads of the States to decide a future course of action so that we never see you…”

Hunger’s voice went away from there and he found his comfortable place in the stomach of a factory worker whose factory had been shut down and he had spent many nights without eating anything. Hunger was comfortable and satisfied that he was going to rule the world with more powerful hand in the coming years. He began to smile at the folly of human progress and development.