Mother! Tell me what is behind those doors br Late father averred there is a treasure br A microcosm of whole world’s splendour br An extravagent elegence of nature’s allure br But warned me not to open the doors br Unless and untill I am doubly sure br br Mother wept and said, “It is a deadlock br By blunders of your forefathers; did choke” br br Mother tell me what is behind those doors br I hear deadly thunders, shrieks and shouts br And plangent whimpers of unseen spirits br I smell something noisome and nausiating br As if coming from a mass burning of pyres br Whenever I look at those queer doors br My heart hammers with unknown terror br Why mother? Why? Tell me! Why? br What is behind those doors? br br She sobbed and sobbed with wild shiver br And said, “It is our own Kashmir! ! ! ”br br sathya narayanabr br