A Mourned Celebration Poem by Bashyam Narayanan

Just four days back
It was all a celebration

The only son in the family
Got baptized in the Hindu way

He was decorated with
A three-stringed twine
The three strings representing
His henceforth pursuit
For understanding the Brahman, the supreme power
Through his thought, word and deed

Yesterday it was reception
The grand finale of this celebration
With people and relatives
Joining the occasion
And enjoying an auspicious dinner
Wishing the boy
A successful bachelorship
And in the understanding
Of the traditional ways

A couple and their only son
Have to offer excuse
And leave the celebrating scene
As there was a call
From the worksite of the
Male breadwinner of the family
To attend an emergency break down

They rushed and managed
To get into a train
Not in its originating station
But at the next stop
After a successful chase in a cab

The train left carrying this family
Who were denied being a part
Of the celebration

They slept in the train
But not to wake up again

It was sabotage that
Derailed the train
Particularly dislodging the bogie
In which the family travelled
On to the adjacent rail
And in seconds a hurrying
Goods’ train ran over the same

Within six hours of a reception dinner
And within ninety six hours of a celebration
Everything ended with mourning

It will remain ever in the family
For long, quite long
A mourned celebration