A Burning

by Megha Majumdar

Then we hear that Sonali Khan is being kept under house arrest, which means that she lives, as before, in her own house. Even the meaning of “prison” is different for rich people. Can you blame me for wanting, so much, to be—not even rich, just middle class?

But he said, in a scolding tone so as not to embarrass me, “Are you eating properly?” I tried to smile, as if it was a silly concern. “It was too hot, sir, that’s why I felt weak.” He looked at me for a while, and I waited to be punished. When teachers called me, that was usually what happened. But PT Sir took me up to the staff room, and handed me a tiffin box from his bag. Inside, there were several pieces of ruti folded in triangles, and vegetables. “Sit and eat it,” he said. I did, all those pipes in me clamoring for food, their need louder than my embarrassment.

Beware of trial by media, says the article. This is a different paper. Where is concrete proof that this young woman had involvement in the attack? Everything the police tells us is circumstantial evidence. The woman is being sacrificed because of her Muslim identity. “See?” says my mother. “Kalu told me this newspaper is speaking up in your defense. People are listening. Nothing is decided yet. Don’t give up hope.”

PT Sir feels that he is vibrating with energy. Let the old-timers try to challenge him. Just let them. Hasn’t he been a teacher? Doesn’t he know what life in the school is really like? He knows, more than these career bureaucrats who have not seen the inside of a school since 1962! He continues, “With all respect, we have to take care of the people before taking care of the ideology. Through people is how we will spread ideology, not by neglecting them.”