we are in the background of every commercial
if you look hard enough
you can see us
we stand in the movies too
shopkeeper
the teacher
never the main role
not even the best friend
when they all say to
diversify
that ugly, meaningless word
we stand but are not seen
why choose us
when there are better shades of brown
in restaurants
in the lives of the colonizers,
you can still see us too
whether you know it or not
golden milk? haldi and dood
chai tea latte? say chai
yoga? you don’t even know the history behind it
we are useful at least
in the backgrounds of commercials
in restaurants and as gimmicks
standing next to a politician
grinning wide while their hand grips our shoulder
on the streets
we are harassed and
spit on
(Sikhi won’t let us fight back)
but it’ll go unsaid too
after all
we’re the side characters in this country’s eye too