Happy Independence Day

My 8 year old grandson seemed very happy today. He gave me sweets to eat. “Happy Independence Day Grandma!”

I still remember and shall forever remember that day of history when we got Independence. It was supposed to be the happiest day of our lives, but I was not happy at all. I had to suddenly leave my home in Lahore and come to Delhi. I didn’t get the time to say good bye to my friends. I couldn’t get my doll along. I missed my home and my friends so much that freedom didn’t mean any good thing to me. I was not free. I was bound in my childhood memories. In my whole life, I could never meet my friends again. I could never go back to my home, my home in Lahore.

Was it so necessary to divide India? Why couldn’t independence come without division? I didn’t like that freedom at all, that independence snatched away my home, my friends from me.

I paused, looked at the flag hoisted with utmost respect and felt proud that we swept away Britishers and with mixed emotions, I started eating sweets, “Happy Independence Day beta.”