Summer is still far away
From the heart of the forest
Occasional gust of cold wind blowing
The old lady is sitting alone on the balcony
The cold wind enters her bone
She is unfazed.
Her tears, her worry about her son deserted her.
She lapsed into grey zone
Her son was a bright young boy
He was never scared, never cowed down
He told her mother of fulfilling her dreams-
Of brighter days and greener earth.
Of teaching a lesson to the criminals
Of restoring normalcy and peace.
End of torture, end of painful days
That fateful day assailed her
A bursting crowd gathered outside
They attacked his son with a sharp razor, bloods flowing
Into the dirge of a dark river.
Someone even emptied his revolver on him.
She had seen his mutilated bodies.
She could not recognize him.
Her eyes could not believe such a cruel act
No one came to rescue her son
All the lumpens disappeared in the dark.
No one was arrested, nothing could be done
All the killings, violence, losses
That happened in the year of turmoil
She remained cool and calm.
She did not utter a single word after that.
She was shell-shocked, her nerves broke down
Her anger, frustration, outburst slipped into silence.
Tall trees lined up along the river bank
Mustard crop laid a carpet on the distant field.
The sun cast its mellow warmth all round.
The soft cool breeze blowing over the field
Red twilight-a dash of colour-settled on the balcony.
She has sub-merged in her own world
Only tears rolled down on her cheek
She is waiting for the boy to set her dreams free.
