Altered State
Good morning, sir. About your recent passport
application. May we come in? We feel sure
that you’d prefer to talk inside. There are - difficulties.
Thank you, sir.
There’s no problem at all
about your birth, only it was
abroad. You say that at the time
your parents were serving
this country there, sir,
but times have changed -
It’s this lie about your father’s place of birth.
Have you tried to find his birth
certificate? All your life you’ve thought -
Your mother always said -
But that’s not evidence.
No, sir, we found no trace -
Why, yes, your mother’s birth
in Delhi’s quite established,
but Delhi is not here, sir.
We don’t intend to prosecute
this time, but it’s a serious offence
to make false claims. Your application
is refused. About your father -
we suggest more searches. Where?
That’s not our affair.
Are you all right, sir?
Page(s) 61
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