Avhi turant maran

Winter brings many surprises
On a wintry evening
As I watched him load the magazine
Once more, and there he goes again
Before I could imagine the knelt down fell forward like a sack
The next fell sideways
I was stoned with excitement
As he scanned the rest of us
He was not even wearing a kerchief over his face
Daring I would say
You! What’s your name?
Ram Janam
Now, call your Ram
I was standing as was not asked to kneel down
He pointed the gun at me
You, what is your name?
Avhi turant maran (Die instantly)
Are you joking? In a slow voice
Why would I?
I was born in these lands some decades ago
My parents had to name me Avhi turant maran
As they knew that in the times to come
This is what might happen
No matter I did something or nothing
I might die helplessly
Wondering why I was born here
With growth I understood the philosophy of fear
Told through the logic of bullet riddled bodies and blown up body parts
I am without fear, as I was born to die wondering, eyes open
He granted my wish
I lie there with my back to the ground, eyes open…