2 days since the fighter jets
zoom thunderously over my building,
raiding the seasonal migratory birds
and their unblemished skies,
2 days since the fighter jets
rehearsing the act of a republic,
2 days since the fighter jets
reminding me of the speed
with which the farm bills were
passed in the parliament.
It is the 21st day of January today,
58 days to farmers relentlessly protesting,
243 days of Natasha Narwal in prison,
5 days to 72nd republic day in India,
and no sign of this dense blanket
of fog lifting from the streets of Delhi.
~Deepanshi Balooni
New Delhi, India