Meet the Demons

एक दिन मेरी जां 

मिलना पड़ेगा 

उन सब भूतों से 

जिन्हें गद्दे के नीचे छुपा रखा है 

महंगे मोमजामों की तरह। 

One day, you have to face, 

the monsters under the bed. 

The only way out of a haunted house

is through it. 

ਮਿਲਣਾ ਪੈਸੀ ਕਾਕਾ 

ਓਣਾ ਸਾਰੇਆ ਹੌਕੇਯਾਨ ਨੂਂ 

ਜਿਨਾਨੂ ਲੁਕਾਏਆ ਸੀ 

ਕਵਿਤਾ ਦੇ ਹਰਫ਼ਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ 

Milna paisi kaka, 

onna sareyaan haukeyaan nu, 

jinnanu lukaayaa si 

kavita de harfaan vich 

We have to meet our demons. 

Slay them. 

or Be slayed. 

I did not tell my son about 1947. or 1984. 

Then we went to see a play where the violence of 1947 was shown. In reasonable graphic detail. 

After we came back, I asked him if he found it disturbing. 

He said, "I was curious, so I found out what happened in 1947. And 1984. I already knew." 

I did not attend a wedding for almost 3 years after mine, and even now, it's not a favourite thing to do. One gets by, but that's about it. 

Hiding does not work for demons. Or monsters under the bed. One has to meet them sometime. With age, the time to meet them comes closer. The inevitability of the interaction becomes more and more apparent. 

Not looking forward. But getting ready. Very. Slowly. Someday, there will be enough courage. Amen.