he is "dead"

there were so so so many rumours flying around that the old man died on national day eve. first there were rumors going around that he had a fall a few days back, got hospitalized, and then died on national day eve. and then, the news went on that everyone was keeping mum so that the national day parade will go on... cannot announce such news on a day of celebration... well, i supposed when a person is so influential, every little chance a person can or have, to spread rumors, he/ she would do so... and i can imagine how small insignificant news can grow as it spreads and by the time it crosses a few people's hands, the sentence would have been totally distorted and grown out of proportion.

let's see... it can be as simple as (scenario 1) old man had a minor fall, went for a check up at the hospital... and then some one (nurses, doctors, patients, etc there can be so many possibilities) saw, and then text his/ her friend... and the friend mass text his/ her friend, after a few mass smses, it becomes "old man is dead" and then after a few more smses, it will sound like some conspiracy up there to withhold information for fear of... or (scenario 2) old man felt sick, went for a check up, some ministry took out some old plans to review how to do some funeral, and people involved along the line, that although they swear to secrecy, told their spouse, and the sms chain start....

there can be just so many freaking scenarios... bottom line is, you cannot stop people from spreading rumors. what you can do is, parade the old man. and when people see him, they will shut up. and the one who spread all those smses will look damn bloody stupid.