Names

Names intrigue me the most. Even mine does! Come to think of it, I was named even before I knew About it. Later, I was cleverly consoled - What is in a name? Now I know, How names manoeuvre life. I choose not to vouch for others, But for me my name contradicts: My belief, My faith, and most importantly My face. Let me explain. Once upon a time, In my homeland, a king changed his name, With a tutored name, and With him we lost our names, Our belief, Our faith, Our language, and most devastatingly Our faces. Now I don't know, What my name tells me About me. But it has told others All about me. It betrays me every time I say it to someone. But for my father, Who gave me the strange name, I was keeping it. Father died on a Christmas day. His head was resting on my chest. His breathing was slowing down. His eyes were struggling, infrequently, To remain open, and I heard his feathery murmur - Son, say a prayer! With my fingers gently pressed Beneath his jawbone, feeling his pulse, I bent down to his ear, and Said the Lord's Prayer, and he closed his eyes. The neighbourhood Brahmin came along, And (re) christened father - Bhakti Mohon Das. My father was never known with that name - I protested rebelliously. The revered broker of names grinned and replied - What is in a name? And I changed my name.