June Editor's Choice: "Even the Death Feels Ashamed"

You were the twelve-year-old twins from

Poonch district in Jammu and Kashmir,

but you weren't intelligent enough, Urba

and Zain, to visualize fangs of death coming to

take both of you in her deadly shackles.

Yes, how could you know on that fateful early

morning of 7th May, when you both were busy

preparing to go to school with pleasure?

But the arrows of death reached you both

through cross-border shelling, silencing

your purest smile and playful antics.

Though the shells from the guns don't know

the names of their victims, they are guided by

the destiny's secret instructions.

Till the time your parents, teachers and

your dearest pals are alive, they will miss

your infectious presence throughout.

There will be no takers of beautiful and tasty

birthday cakes carefully planted on a china

clay platter; surely, there will be no return gifts

anymore in future times. Also, no birthday songs

will reverberate in the small drawing rooms

of your rented house.

This is the insane killing which the Lord of

Death too, will not be happy to receive.

He will certainly cry secretly in his closed enclave.

Wars will be fought, innocent people across

the border will be killed overnight, and the guns

will sing as usual, the dreadful dirge;

the future will be the same without carrying

any imprints of the horrendous past.

But let me assure you, poor Urba and Zain,

that despite all this, humanity will survive

the tough times; your enchanting smile

and innocent glow of your faces,

will always waft over the gentle winds;

the stories of your blind murder will be told

from generations to generations,

reminding everyone that violence has no place

in our lives.

Rest in peace, where you both are,

we will pray for you till dawn of a new

and vibrant morning.

© RAKESH CHANDRA

India