In the Twilight She didn’t say a word! But all of it he heard. In the dark their eyes flamed! All alone in a crowd. Her hair, he did brush with, His hand all gnarled and veined; She did heave a sigh of anguish, As if she had lost the skill to wish. They sat huddled in the twilight, Huddled in the dusk of their life! A pair of wizened mortals living, The fleeting images of the past. Gone were the days of their blossoming, Gone were the excitements of living, Gone was the confidence from winning, Their spirited wars and coveted glories. They started young toiling with soil and tears, A hut they had and it grew with passing years. Amina, Rafeeq and little Abu were born, And came the harvests rich and strong. Happy were those days of honest sweat, In a Hindu neighborhood they got respect! Nature’s bounty, with all they did share, and got cheerful welcome and lots of care. The Khan siblings grew up frugal in comfort, Yet they did have sumptuous meals in concert. Raf