Destined Meeting
By Sanjoy Dutt
Manjit Singh Gill never thought he would ever violate his promise to never return home after fleeing from the clutches of death as a child. Now he finds himself at standing in the arrivals hall in the Delhi airport searching for his uncle and cousin who are there to welcome him. Their eyes fill with tears of emotion as they greet each other. This is the first time he is meeting his cousin Yashpal.
As they greeted each other Manjit’s uncle shared a surprise about Yashpal’s upcoming wedding. “Yashpal has chosen his wife from a different community!” Manjit smiled, “Congratulations! We are happy with what makes Yashpal happy.”
As they drove through the city, Manjit gazed out of the window. He could not recognize the Delhi of today. So much has changed! Images from the past flashed in front of his eyes. Sikh’s running, chased by a mob with swords and daggers, iron rods in their hand shouting, “kill those swine!”
Manjit remembered the day all those years ago when he and his brother were sent home from school early. As Manjit and his elder brother walked home, people were giving them strange looks. Groups of men at various places were not allowing cars and buses to drive on the road. The atmosphere was tense in the streets. It was October 31, 1984 and the Indian Prime Minister was just killed by her Sikh bodyguards.
That evening a mob attacked their neighborhood, pulling out the Sikh men from their houses and killing them. Manjit and his brother ran out of the house to save themselves. In the crowds and confusion he and his brother were separated. As he was running through a ghetto, Manjit saw an open door and snuck inside. He saw a middle aged man was preparing food. “Uncle, please save me.” Manjit pleaded. The man pulled Manjit in and locked the door from inside. After a few minutes, there were loud knocks on the door, people shouting from outside. The man, finger on the lips, instructed Manjit not to make any noise and hid him under his bed. Manjit shivered in fear as the man opened the door. Two men rushed in, someone from the crowd shouted. “Did a swine hide here?” “My door was locked, I don’t know what you are talking about. Get out of my house!” the man said to the mob and they left. The thought of this kiss of death haunted Manjit for many years.