Eid Mubarak

After whispered dining table conversations about ‘those’ people.
After handing out character certificates to the ones considered exceptions.
After needing to place your stamp on their patriotism.
After believing your faith is under threat because another is following theirs.
After rejecting them as tenants because this is a good neighbourhood
and we don’t want trouble.
After making an inventory of their kitchen and peering into their fridge.
After believing this is your country and they just live in it.
After having a nervous breakdown because your precious child
has fallen in love with one of, them.
After believing in the superiority of your faith that actually teaches you
there is no, them.
After defending your bigotry with that one friend you made in high school.
After scanning the names of people involved in any crime in any part
of the country, hoping to find the names that will reveal their faith.
After irony dies a hundred deaths,
Eid Mubarak. Send Biryani.