I Am 1

Bewakoof.

The Punjabi word for

stupid.

I.

Am.

Stupid.

Nikame.

The Punjabi word for useless.

I.

Am.

Useless.

My name is

Amber Rai.

Amber.

The stone of

courage.

The soul

of a

tiger.

Rai,

from the Sanskrit raja.

A title of honour.

A leader.

A king.

A chief.

But

at home

I am

stupid

and

I am

useless.

© Manjeet Mann, from Run, Rebel, Penguin, 2020