A Wish at Wagah

Image attribution: Stefan Krasowski, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

As we watched the evening 'parade' at the Wagah-Attari border crossing, which was more of an exercise in sabre rattling than a parade or a flag-lowering ceremony, I saw a stray dog cross the fence from India to Pakistan towards one side. He did not need a visa to cross from one country to the other. I envied him. I have friends in Pakistan whom I would love to go and see as and when I please.

I sat on a balcony facing the gate between the two countries across the Grand Trunk road. As the gates opened during the flag-lowering ceremony, I could almost imagine thundering down the road on my Royal Enfield bike from India into Pakistan, riding down to Lahore and Peshawar, stopping at various places on the way. Perhaps I will someday when the jingoism gives way to more friendly relations between the neighbours.