The Prayer

By Suchismita Mandal

I idolized your character,

Admired your intellect,

Loved your vigor,

You always had your head held high,

You were a role model.

Suddenly things changed, apathy struck,

Everyone whom you loved, nurtured, dominated,

Was praying for the ‘silence’, for you to be pain-free.

I didn’t.,

Because I believed in you,

Because I thought these wounds are but small things to put you down,

I thought you would surely emerge as a winner,

I expected miracle.

But soon I had to…

I prayed to God,

Because I could not see your strength breaking down,

I could not the pessimism in your eyes,

I could not see my idol turning feeble,

I could not see you pleading for every smallest of things, to be dependent.

I could not see your pleadings turned down.

I prayed to God,

Because I could not see the dejection in your eyes,

I could not see your self-esteem losing, dignity breaking down,

I could not see you man-handled,

I could not see you screaming with pain,

I could not see you disabled, bed-ridden.

I prayed to God,

Because I could not withstand rejection of yours,

Ill treatment of yours,

Ostracization of yours,

I could not see you pray for your end,

I could not see you losing.

So, I prayed.

I prayed hard that day, just once with tears and a broken heart and my wish was

granted.

Next day, you drew your last breath…

(My idol is still my idol, a fighter till the end)

By Suchismita Mandal