PAHALGAM

Is this the first? ... No!

Seen, suffered, cried,

Many a times … our nation, our people!

Shot, burnt, tortured,

Many a times … our nation, our people!

26/11, Pulwama, Reasi,

Many names … our nation, our people!

But I had been the same.

Read them, scrolled on,

Watched them, on big and small screens,

Sipping my morning cup of coffee;

Made meaningless sounds;

“So Sad! Oh No! … God Help Them!”

7 killed, 10 injured,

30 killed, 60 injured,

Mere numbers, a deep sigh!

Tallying the sheets,

Getting back to “My World”!

“My World” was untouched,

Unaffected, Immortal,

Living in a HORCRUX

Until today.

“What changed? Isn’t it the same?

Only 26 so far, still within two digits,

I