This entry 'Unmute' is a sequel to the film 'Mute' in which a speech-impaired young man spoke in sign language and urged people to vote in the Indian General Election. He didn't have a voice because he did not vote.

In 'Unmute' he has a voice and is now talking to the newly elected Prime Minister of India because he is tired of being taken for a ride after every election.

You know, Iqbal bhai, there is a wall between our homes…

But it’s not thick enough.

On most days the noises in my home drown everything else.

But when it is quite here, I can here you… your good days and your bad days.

And when it is really quiet inside me, I can hear you as well as I hear myself.

It’s sad that the wall fills up our vision completely, we don’t notice the mirror hanging on it that shows what we truly are, Iqbal bhai: a reflection of each other.

We have similar homes, similar lives, similar worries and we are ‘similar’ in so many ways, just that it has been 67 years since a family became two homes, brothers became strangers and we became you and me.

What’s more saddening is, in all these years there have been times when a door of hope opened…

But the wind changed direction to shut it again.

I am writing this letter to you today because doors are attached to walls Iqbal bhai and the only true open door is the lack of a wall.

I pray this letter goes over the wall and finds you, a person like me, who believes, our future need not be our past repeating itself. A person like me, who believes, right now can be the beginning of a world, where conflicts are resolved with words and not weapons.

A person like me, who wants what I want too… quiet days at home with no worries except who will win the cricket match between us, you or me.

It has taken 67 years for this letter to be written because I didn’t know what address to post it at.

But, Iqbal bhai, if you are watching this then I know this letter has reached its address.

And if you too pause to think and write back then every word of yours will help in breaking a very old brick, on a very old wall.

Your friend,

Your neighbor.

“ ” Chat up?