We all carry stories in our heads
Stories about ourselves, about others
About events, people, race, faith
Black, white, not so black, not so white

One story denotes one theme
One idea
One leg of the elephant
One singular focused definition

Good boy, bad boy, good girl, bad girl
Good religion, bad religion
Good leader, bad leader
Good country, bad country

Building fear or ecstasy
Love or hatred
Depending on which leg of the elephant is in your grasp
Which story you have read

That is why it is necessary to read other stories
Stories about the same people, faith, race, country
So that your opinion is not based on just one story
Repeated multiple times over in your head

So that you know, that along with light the sun also brings heat
That along with faith a religion also demands conformity
That along with invincibility also comes failure
That along with love also comes sacrifice

Subir Chakraborty
7th May 2021