What’s Your Number? | Sagari Chhabra

Last night a man
knocked at my door.
‘Open up!’
he demanded with authority;
I complied;
although I do not deny,
it was dark;
I was perplexed,
but still, I did not remark.
‘Your number!’ he commanded.
I hastily obliged by giving him my cell phone number.
But he threw it back;
‘Your number!’
Befuddled, I gave him my Adhaar card
with my biometrics
but he seemed eccentric,
he defaced it;
‘Your number’ he said grimly,
throwing it back at my face.
I did not take umbrage,
instead I rummaged
and gave him my voter’s card
the identity of my citizenship;
but he was getting angry.
‘Your number!’ he shouted,
although I had done my best to oblige,
I had absolutely nothing to hide.
‘The one that you have earned!’
he said by way of an explanation;
so I gave him my Pan card number
where my taxes are duly deposited.
But now he was furious;
he clasped a handcuff to my wrist,
holding me so close,
I could not resist.
‘Your prisoner number!’ he shouted.
‘But I am not a prisoner’, I protested.
‘You are all numbered’.
‘How did I earn it?’ I asked with naivette,
‘By being silent’.

Sagari Chhabra
21st September 2024