A Lesson

She was quiet young. I still remember her smiling face. I was new in the area. And trying to set up my business. I had a newborn baby, Wife still comes to share my burden. I got up early in the morning, And got in late to bed. Never thought about botheration. Only responsibility was my ego, Few months relation was in progress Suddenly my neighbour gets change. They have two shops, Didn’t tolerate my prosperity. They started to provoke young lads, And offer them free alcohol, And cigarettes, to steal From my wife, in my absence. I never forget When she was victimised On her pregnancy time, And robbed a jacket. It was a day of Dusehra, A Hindu festival, Early in the morning, They had broken few eggs, At my front shop door. Diwali came and also They wrote few Mantras at the door, And left few dirty things, When she comes to my shop, Once she walked into my shop, Always left a piece of iron Or few red and black threads, Customers never entered into the shop, The whole day, I waited for them But all in vain. I also felt pain on my heart I told my wife, She also mentioned that She is feeling a pain on her heart. I was fully disturbed, I Closed down my business and went away. Few years later, That lady went to my friend’s shop And asked about me, And told, ‘convey my message to him’. ‘I got blood Cancer’. I had sold my business Going back to Gujarat. I worship to a Hindu God,’ Kali’ Until he left his shop, My God Kali also didn’t spare me. Please ask him, to excuse me. I am no longer than six Months. I want to die at home in India. It is a lesson of my greed. I teased an innocent.