Scarlet

[ Holi is a festival of colors played mostly in India, during the onset of Spring ]

Air smelled of Holi that morning
freshly coated faces around
beamed with a hint of Spring

Hari, vendor in a roadside tea-stall
was merry
humming a tune

as some stout, burly figures appeared
"Hand over the cash"
"Be a good boy, or else . . ."
Hari mumbled something.

A sudden blow brought him
on his knees
"There, see how we teach
disobedient boys!
Guys, color him up."

Strange howls submerged
cries for help

he lay smeared with blood
and Holi powders.

At sundown, police van turned up
white uniformed arms
removed the body

small plastic cups, one slaughtered bench
and other junks remained littered
on pavement stones

a white line contoured the scarlet.