There is my father’s Parna:
It has sweated throughout his life,
It doesn’t say anything
But lies there–
Faded, betrayed and afraid.
It has bruises–
The toil of
Many years.
It thinks of another master
Who can embrace it,
Love it, or use it for the same purpose.
Parna- a kind of thin towel used by Punjabis to mop their sweat while working. It is also used as a turban by Sikhs).
Sunil Saroa is a short-story writer, a poet, and an essayist from Punjab, India. His short story “Roohi” is published by Tell Me Your Story biz.
Featured image (editing): Ujjaini Dutta