Its February 18, 2008 – an Election Day in Pakistan. They have already been delayed by 41 days in wake of Ms Bhutto's tragic death. The nation has just passed a tempest of anguish.
But now with much fanfare the politics is back in the streets. The political parties have shown great patience during the holy month of Muharram, which itself passed without any further bloodshed.
The parties are contesting, what Mr Musharraf believes, Mother of All Elections. Mr Musharraf is about to fulfil his promise of completing "free, fair, transparent and peaceful" elections.
The establishment is ready for the redemption of its sins against the democracy. The intelligence agencies are not playing any role in elections' manipulation. The independent observers and journalists have confirmed that all tools of rigging are nowhere seen.
The opposition parties have complained against some isolated incidents, but they themselves are satisfied with the overall process. The former ruling party is itself in a state of shock.
The exit polls are showing liberal and pro-democracy parties taking the lead. The reactionary and pro-establishment parties are taken aback.
The People's Party appears to be in a position to form the government. However, it requires PML-Nawaz support that it will surely get under some power sharing agreement.  
What a perfect situation! But may only be a figment of one's extreme optimism. One may dare say nothing of it has a close relation with the reality. What is the reality is not unknown.
The opposition parties have denounced the delay in the general elections, originally scheduled for January 8. The political cronies of Mr Musharraf have taken a sigh of relief. Their so-called popularity graph is all time low.  
Both Mr Musharraf and Chief Election Commissioner have appeared on the state-run television to justify the delay. They have a long list of arguments in their defence, but fewer would believe them.  
Fearful is the general public over dilapidated law and order situation. The upcoming holy month of Muharram has added to their concerns. And the establishment does not possess a best track record of holding election on time.
Under 1973 Constitution, the country went through seven general elections. Ironically, most of them were held when best suited the powers-that-be. Ziaul Haq kept on postponing the elections before and after the death Mr Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. He was scared, the People's Party would manage a landslide victory and he would be guillotined. Today, the history seems to be repeating itself.  
Zia took eight years to fulfil his promise of holding the general elections in three months. The 1988 elections were held after the unnatural death of Zia. However, 90s was the decade of palace intrigues against every incumbent government. Both Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif twice faced dissolution of their governments.
Lastly, General Musharraf took three years – since the forced ouster of Nawaz Sharif – to give his cronies a politically congenial atmosphere for the elections.
Now how a pessimist observer would portend the situation? First, Mr Musharraf would fall short of fulfilling his promise of holding "free, fair, transparent and peaceful" elections.
Secondly, the establishment that is still adamant of keep a tight grip on power would promote its favourite parties and players. The foreign observers' missions would report countless instances of rigging.
The opposition would reject the results while the winner – most probably the pro-Musharraf parties – would claim it the public confidence in them.
The intelligence agencies would use every available tool to create divisions within the ranks of opposition. Loyalties would be bought and all previous records of horse-trading would be broken.
The King's men would form their government swearing to protect his kingship. The opposition would vow to launch street agitation, but would be suppressed by the state machinery.
It sounds like betting on the weakest horse in Derby, but the nation would be limping towards the genuine democracy. And who knows if the powers-that-be realise the time has really come for the redemption.