Belonging

I look for you everywhere I go
And when you're not around
There shadow is there, I know
My nemesis, my friend
My only hope, or the lack of it
As I like to pretend

Walk with me along the bend
Hold my hand as I tread over my fears
Comfort me in your arms
Lift me through the storm

For I will be there
Through your pain and hardships
The days when the sun shines upon you
And the trees canopy your path
When the rays of light touch your face...
I will kiss you good morning
Today, tomorrow and forever more.

Shadow

Dreams come easily.
With open eyes,
With the incessant clutter and noise,
Through the hustle-bustle of routine life
Even when the mundane practice ensue...

And then you stop by
Frozen frames from moments ago enliven
Drawing me close
Closer to an ever inviting estrangement

I ask my self why
Rhetoric as it may be
But I know where the answers lie
... Beyond the reach of even my dreams

If only I were not afraid
To speak the truth, seek solace
Shut the dreams and for once, sleep.

But your shadow never leaves...

2 a.m

Your name flashed on the screen
Lightening up the dark around
Hopeful, against the dead of the night
I answered... Hello?

Now I stand facing the sea
Dirt and muck making the view
As I try to gather what we left behind

Much is lost
The pieces don't fit
So I stitch up my heart
And wait for the insoluble threads
To cease

Paper Cut

Straightening every fold
Making firm every loose end
Holding it by the edge...
Lashed against the white of skin

No stain on parchment,
No real wound to show,
But oh! How you hurt
Its the papers' blow.

Scars remain
Hidden between the lines
A tiny part of skin
Hanging loose

Oh! It's the papers' blow
To heal, new skin must grow

Anguish

Have you ever felt your intestines twitch?
Did you have to stand barefoot of sharp pieces of glass?
Were you subject to ridicule?

Ah! The sweet piercing, nagging, tormenting lurch in the pit of your stomach...

My companion.

Pain!

1095

That was the number of days she'd given it. All those days. They were breathed in the name of one.

Not much has changed since.

Anticipation could kill her.

Put an end to her misery. Please!

Poster at Corner House

It was where they first set eyes on one another. He was tall dark and handsome. So good looking, he was almost too good to be true. She was no less. With skin as fair as Snow White and a soft body, she was most sought after in whole of Dessert Land.
The minute he looked at her, he began to melt. Since then, he has been called Hot Chocolate. He fell head over heels for her. She, was hence called Nuts.
It all happened in the house on the corner of the street. Their love was Cupid's gift to not just their race, but to mankind as well. Everyone now yearns for Hot Chocolate and Nuts!

Outside a Classroom in a School

Amma sent me in with a packet of Prale-G. No, it was no ordinary packet. This was the one which came with the butterfly sticker. She promised to wait outside till I was done. There were others inside, just like me. Most of them were crying, some wailing even. I thought it was because their Amma didn't give them Parle-G.

I offered mine to the girl sitting next to me, but she looked sternly at me and said "I cannot take anything from strangers". But I was no stranger, I thought. I looked out of the window to see Amma smile at me. She was proud, I could tell. She held her chin high, above all the others standing beside her.

Ms. Bhanumitra walked into class. She looked pleasant yet many of the kids wailed, louder than before. One ran towards the door, Ms. Bhanumitra tried to stop him and he bit her! More kids wailed. Pandemonium broke out.

Why were the kids crying? She was a nice lady, I promise. Yes, she did show us the wooden scale once in a while, but that was only when we disobeyed. My Amma did that too when I didn't listen to her. They didn't seem to understand. I think it was because their Amma's didn't show them the wooden stick, instead told them they would be sent to Ms. Bhanumitra.

One day, Ms. Bhanumitra announced that there would be a Story Telling Competition and we could recite stories from books or we could make up stories.

I won. This was the story I narrated.

Poster next to the clock. On the wall

Tick tock tick tock

I watched as the hands moved

Gliding almost



10.30!

I was still sitting there

Mesmerized by its movements



11.00

Not budged!



11.05

Trrrring!

"You had to be here over an hour ago! Where the hell are you? No, not that wretched place again. How many times have I told you not to go there? Are you listening? Don't hang up on me! Get home NOW!"



11.15

She breathed her last.

This is why I sit here everyday.

Poster On Staircase

Slurp! She tasted good! I love it when people stumble-crumble-tumble on me. Its my favourite drink, human blood! Muhahahaha!

Pimple! Go wash face
Ah! Nice eyes
Too fat! Change out of it
Hoot! Sexy bra
Er… Wrestler’s arms
Yes yes, looking just fine
Naah, not for this occasion

All of these described him.. No wait, He’s a her now.


(poster next to the mirror in the lady's loo)

Reality

Something about them intrigues me. It's how they feel what they do. And they live it. We all dream and eventually, we wake up. But them, the dream is their reality. It's as if you and I, this chair I sit on, the room I live in, the coffee mug on the side table, its all a bunch of things that accentuates their being. We are all mere accessories designed to decorate their reality, the one they think is real at least. For them, we are dreams. We float before their eyes, we move in and out of their space as if in space, sans gravity. Nothing about us, not even our touch, is real to them. No, I am not scared of them. I know I am part of their reality. Somehow, I managed to get in. And their world is beautiful. It's got all that I ever wanted to have. Everything there is magical. Its only when you step in, they turn violent.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING? take that thing off me! Chains! Chains? Why? WHY? Oh God! Why are you doing this to me?? They need me, my patients need me! I am their only solace! Please! Let go, let go of me! Please...


Mom, dad, me... We were all fragments of her imagination, she thought. In her world, she was a Psychiatrist, treating patients with various abnormal psychological disorders. Its been three years since we were told about her condition.