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