I am the one outside the group br outside the circle br the one who fell through br the holes in the net br The stranger br the outsider br I came close br and you said come closer; br and I made every effort - br eager, naïve and persistent - br but you had sophistication; br you always have sophistication; br and you played with me; br you needed bodies and responses br to fill in forms and information br and your Bureau of Statistics br and I was there - guided, directed br and you knew br all the while, br I was the stranger, the outsider br And you whispered to one another br while your smooth talk was practiced and distinct br I was the stranger, am the outsider br which you knew all the while br which I only saw late in the hour br and so I live now at the borders, at the periphery br and now when we walk past each other br we gaze at each other with caution br with careful disregardbr br Raj Arumugambr br