Love Thy Enemy

He was the worst of them all. The others in the party were conservative too but not like him. He had taken hate to extremes. He hated infidelity. He hated westernization. He hated public display of affection. He hated Muslims. Period

There was no negotiation. He beleived what he beleived. To hell with anyone who dint share his views.

Muslims were divisive. They were the reason for disruption of the peace. They caused terrorism. They were the reason for everything wrong in this country. They had to be stopped

When the party supremo needed a communal riot he was the one they called. Sunil. He would throw pigs on mosques. Anything.

His hate was all pervasive. A deep unrepentant hatred. Even the other hardliners in the party were scared of him. How could anyone hate like that? They questioned. He hasint even met most of the Muslim people he hates.

What have Muslims done to him? Maybe he was harmed by a muslim when he was young. They speculated

But Sunil was untouchable. Because he was successful. We won the election because of him. They whispered

Even the Supremo was afraid of him. Infidilety was banned he would roar. That is gora culture. Not ours. Those debaucherers. Men should not speak to women before marriage.Women should not dress provocatively and Valentines day is western


'Premarital Sex is sacrilege. Anyone found indulging in Intercaste marriages would be beheaded', Sunil thundered to anyone who would listen

People from different sections of society should remain separated for harmony he pontificated. Mixing will cause disruption. Disruption was dangerous to society. Mixing between religions or castes could not be allowed

We need a homogenious society. So we can all live in peace. Each caste and religion have to stay within their own ranks!

He would fight tooth and nail for this ideal society he swore foaming at the mouth

He destroyed shops selling Valentines day cards. He destroyed pubs where bar girls danced. He destroyed American establishments. (they were the cause for young people doing outrageous acts like holding hands or girls wearing short skirts). Why did we need hamburgers and pizzas when we had wholesome Indian food?

He revelled in the fact that he had killed more muslims than anyone else. He boasted that he had seen a Muslim burn before his very eyes. ' His eyes bulged and he exploded', he bragged

Even the Supremo was afraid of him. One day he stormed into the Supremos office. He was cheating on his wife. With a gora woman. No less. The Supremo did not have the courage to tell him to mind his own business. I will stop it immediately, the Supremo assured Sunil

Sunil was out of control. He was more than opinionated. He had become a law unto himself

One day he went to a muslim slum to see what damage he could do. He had heard reports of nefarious activity there. Everyone trembled and ran at the sight of him. Except one girl. Fatima

Fatima was innocent and brave. She stood her ground. Sunil saw her and stared

He had never seen anyone like her.

'Who are you?', he thundered

'Fatima', she said softly

He left in a huff

'Why have u left , Sir?', his aides asked. 'We are here to destroy something. Anything'

'Shutup!', he screamed

He could not forget her. Fatima. Those big beautiful eyes. Looking at him in curiosity. Not even fear like everyone else. Everynight he thought of her. Why had she stayed there? Why dint she run away like the others?

He went there again. Alone

'Where is Fatima?', he asked a girl he saw

When he saw her again he had the same feeling of exhilaration. he invited her to see him in the city

When her father asked her what Sunil the devil had told her she lied. Nothing she said. But she felt a strange feeling inside her. Her father told her that he was the worst specimen of humankind. That he was a scourge on the face of the land. But for some strange reason she dint care

She went to meet him

They began to meet regularly. Fatima excited him. She made him feel like he had never felt before. He couldint get enough of those lips, those eyes, her gentle laughter, her smile that he knew did not come out often

They travelled together. She made him do things he had never done before. She did things with him she had never thought of doing with anyone else

He travelled with her in disguise. She made him feel feelings he had never felt before. He experienced emotions he had never experienced before. And so did she

He went to the Supremo. The news had already filtered through. Sunil the evil devil was having an affair. With a Muslim woman

'I am resigning. I am married. But I am having an affair with a Muslim woman. I do not deserve to be in my position. I have violated every principle I have lived for in this party. I am going to change'

The Supremo was silent. Then he laughed. And laughed. And everyone laughed with him

'Sunil. You have been an example to us all. But now u have proved to be human. Let me tell you something. None of us really hate muslims. We cannot. Since we have not even mixed with them. We do not even know most of them. But we have to hate them. For business reasons. Our party follows the theory of divide and rule. The more we anger the Hindus who are the majority the more Hindu votes we will get. We tried to tell you. But you would not listen to us. You need not leave. Have your mistress. We dont mind at all'

'No Saheb. You dont understand. I am divorcing my wife. I am marrying Fatima. I cannot remain in a senior postion in our party with a Muslim wife. Hence I have to leave'

As Sunil left everyone thought the same thing. He had transferred the same passion of his hatred to his love for Fatima. The dreaded Sunil was now their enemy number one. Everyone shivered