How Many Decembers?
When I was a child I didn't understand
Why my parents start warning against going out
Whenever the month of December begins.
The growing Khadi – Vardis and leaves’ dress
With guns and Lathis in their hands
Troops start appearing in groups
Around mohallas, mosques but colonies
Indicating that, ‘Anything can happen at anytime’.
When I was a child – I ask nothing, knew nothing
But kept locked myself with my family
Behind the four walls
Till now on every December.
No one allow to go out,
Not even to prayers
As if 144 section implemented only for us
As if, ‘Anything can happen at anytime’.
Where are those naughty chirping birds of crowded boughs?
Why are the empty play grounds
And vacant mohallas which were never used to be…
Why I see today army vans near mosques
Circling the Government’s Carsevaks around.
Then I understand
The fear on the faces of my parents
Fear of those still echoing cries, horror of untold nightmares
Of that 6 December and thereafter Decembers
Then I understand
Why my parents start warning against going out
Whenever the month of December begins.
© Shujaudeen Shuja (Chapparban Shujaudeen Nizamodeen)
