I’ve seen pious faces,
in holy places.
People standing in rows,
with folded hands,
waiting for their turn,
to mumble their wishes,
to lie prostrate on the ground,
to touch their brow to the floor,
to smear 'tilak' on their forehead,
to throw a few coins,
in front of the ‘Almighty’,
for sins to be pardoned
and wishes to be granted.
And I’ve seen those very faces,
coming out of holy places
and getting “worldly” again.