He did not come!

It was my first day at school, I was scared and way too nervous.

The building was too tall and the playground, absolutely hideous.

Nothing looked too alluring, neither trees, nor those birds,

Caged, helpless they seemed. Their pleas went unheard.

I clung to your hand, I was afraid to ever let go,

To be here on my own, with people I didn’t even know.

And there were things on my mind, apart from our separation.

I had a feeling too bad, some kind of premonition.

The bell rang, I snuggled up to you. You patted me gently on my back.

“Time for class. Come on, kid”, said a man dressed in white and black.

So you pushed me away gently, my first lesson awaited me.

But more than anywhere else in this world, in your lap I wanted to be.

You bid me good bye with the biggest smile on your face.

I stared at you leaving. I wanted your embrace.

I was moving towards my class, but my heart stayed back with you.

I entered a room full of colors, and all I could feel was blue.

Kids, dressed alike, laughed and played, but were no help to my distress.

i found no fun, no urge to learn, rhymes being recited by the mistress.

Finally, the school was out, and I waited for you with a smile.

With a bag heavier than myself, I had waited for quite a while.

You did not show up, daddy. You promised, at one, you would.

I looked for your car everywhere, I tried the best I could.

I felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned to see if it were you.

You had sent aunt Geeta for me, too strange for me to be true.

“Where is Daddy waiting for us? Is he stuck in the traffic somewhere?”

“We’ll go in my car, Disha.” “So now Daddy doesn’t even care!”

She did not speak a word. Neither did she look me in the eyes.

“Can you make a call to my Dad?” And all I could hear were sighs.

My heart sank, even skipped a few beats. It was the fear of the unknown.

It had been silent for long, suffocating it was, to be with someone, yet alone.

We reached my home in an hour. Still no words, no clues.

She escorted me inside, hand in hand, so tight, they could almost fuse.

“Mommy, I am tired and hungry,” saying so, I ran into her arms.

She faked a smile, she’s bad at it. Her face had lost all charm.

“Why did not daddy pick me up?” A question I wish she had not answered.

“He won’t ever, my child, not in this life.” A truth which could no more be altered.

Men with guns, unlicensed and lethal, had done their job well, again.

One more child rendered fatherless, few more hearts cried in pain!