Vikram seth's poem is based on very old fable narrated systematically in verse .Once a king ruled over a city state. He only pritended to be a peace loving man. For his own satisfaction and qualification he got a victory arch built over the highway .One day as he rode down the road ,his crown touched the low arch and fell to the ground .The king got annoyed.He made up his mind to hand the culprit .He sent for the builder , workman, the mason, the artichect each of them passed on the blame  to the other person. Then the king called the wise man of the city. He was a old man and he avised that the arch itself should  be hanged .

The Tale of Melon City
The story of Melon City, penned by Vikram Seth, is a whimsical tale that highlights the absurdity of governance and justice through humor and irony.
Setting and Context
- The tale is set in a fictional city ruled by a king who is obsessed with justice and fairness.
- The king’s decree is that anyone found guilty of wrongdoing must be punished, regardless of their societal status.
Key Incident
- One day, the king passes under an archway that is constructed too low, hitting his crown.
- Angered, he demands that the chief of builders be executed for this offense.
Chain of Events
- The chief builder shifts the blame to the workmen, claiming they were responsible for the arch's construction.
- The workmen then point fingers at the masons, leading to a chain of blame that continues down the line.
- Finally, the masons accuse the king himself for approving the construction plans.
Resolution
- In a twist of fate, the king decides that since he is ultimately responsible, he must be hanged.
- However, the king asks for a more just punishment: he suggests that the execution should be carried out in a way that the people of Melon City can see justice served.
Conclusion
- The people, not wanting to witness the king's execution, demand that a decision be made.
- Ultimately, they decide that the king should be spared, and instead, they declare that the city deserves a new ruler—a melon.
- This absurd decision symbolizes the whimsical nature of governance, leaving the people to govern themselves under a "melon king," leading to peace and harmony in Melon City.
This tale serves as a satirical commentary on the nature of justice and the absurdities of authority.