Early this morning, when I heard A knock on the door in a dream, I opened the door and looked out.

And saw that some guests from across The border were standing there, travel weary. Their faces looked familiar. So I welcomed Them into the courtyard, gave them water To wash up, made some thick maize rotis For breakfast on the coal stove, and laid Out cots for them to recline. These guests had brought my share Of jaggery from the past harvests.

When I opened my eyes I saw that There was no one here, yet the coals Were still warm, and my mouth was Still sticky with jaggery.

It must have been a dream. Yes, it was a dream.

I heard that at the border, last night There was gunfire. I heard that at The border last night, few dreams Were summarily executed.

Translated from Hindustani