The Invisible War

When the war started, we did not think much of it- at first. Of course, this was folly on our part. However, in our defense, this was not the first time the supposed “war” had broken out. For months, radio announcements had been riddled with faux declarations of war. Blabbering, fired-up radio hosts had been debating the inevitability of this “war” for months.

In the beginning, we took everything much more seriously. Bunkers were built and businesses shut down- all in readiness for our impending doom. Lovers had parted ways with tearful eyes knowing full well it could be their last chance for an embrace.

Then we sat quietly in our houses, waiting for death. It did not come.

By the end of the month, we dared peek through our curtains and when we were met by neither bullets nor canisters, we dared to go about our business as usual. At first, normalcy was embraced hesitantly. In the midst of tilling the land, we would pause and inspect the skies. In the middle of watching the evening news, we’d pause to listen to any looming drone sounds.

There were none.

The second month came and went and even though the radio hosts still debated the onset of war, their tones were much different now. Instead of blaming the political parties and lecturing the politicians on the immorality of war, they too were skeptical now. They made jokes and odd quips and blinded the masses with entertainment instead of information.

The war had a new name now. Neighbours would call to each other, laughing mockingly about the invisible war.

Even the newspapers carried caricatures and mockeries of the ‘invisible war’. The nation was breathing a sigh of relief with just the slightest tinge of disappointment. We had been ready but even sharpened machetes were returned to trimming grass.

When the war started, we were caught unawares- pants down, taking a shit in the bushes. Suddenly, nothing was as funny as it had seemed. The caricatures were suddenly an irritating mockery drawn in bad taste. As for the radios? Nothing. Only silence.