Rain lashed against the grimy windowpane which was powdered on the inside with limescale and mold slush. The frantic rhythm of the patter against the glass mimicked Agent Hunting’s heart. His partner, O’Malley, shone a torch towards the bathtub, crouching by the clawfoot his eyes fixed upon the incessant dripping – a hairline crack snaking…
Letters to a Young Poet
I put down my tattered copy of Rilke struggling to push its width in the overflowing bookshelf. The concrete sparrows at either end bowing down to accommodate yet another memento I refuse to let go. As they disappoint their purpose under the weight, another tattered notebook flops down on the fuzzy carpet, sounding an ever…
Love and other inventions
Paul had survived the funeral. He returned home with a rebellion against the cosmic irony preached by Father Samuels – divine timing. The afternoon was bittersweet, punctuated by sympathetic nods, chuckles through tears, pitying pats on the shoulder, and murmurs of condolences. The pastor droned on from the Bible, weaving tales of Silvia’s kindness into…
Yellow
Yellow is what I feel when I think of you.A thousand nerve endings left openTo feel a thousand different thingsAnd yet I feel Yellow. Sympathy for the Devil is what they call itLove is what I called itThe bed’s too big without you in itAnd still its all Yellow The letters we wrote each otherSitting…
In front of you
“Have you seen the short paring knife?I was sure I saw it here”You rush in the kitchen with the demand,An unopened cat food bag in one hand,In another a bottle of beer. I eye the knife hidden partially under the newspaper,The flowers wilting on the window-sill.A cacophony of cutlery startles the houseWhile you open all…
Today has been okay
You came yesterday and filled my heart with dripping joy.I hope I did the same for you.I expect you to be my crony, but instead you’re the blue moon in my life.Not necessarily exhilarating, but I wait for you nonetheless. Waiting to spend a few laughs with you;While on the other days ignored like a…
Between the lines
It was almost dusk.“What’s a nine lettered word for ‘Damned if you do, damned if you don’t’?”His perfect face lifted up from the crossword in his hand, and he looked at me with eager eyes.I turned away as an answer, because that’s not the question he should be asking me.The crumbs of hints I have…
Universe
Its a strange feeling engulfing me on a bone cold night in JanuaryThe air crisp, brushing my skin in consistenceThe clouds moving in paradoxically slow motionThe sky darkening to a faint violet as a cuckoo cries in the distance Mortal as I am, Insignificant as I am in this universe,I am suddenly aware of the…
Scars and Souvenirs
I open the book of memories and turn to your chapter.Confidants turned to acquaintances turned to strangers.My memories come with a disclaimer: you.You’re the pages in my book I’ve re-read a million times,Just to feel that passionate kiss over and over again.To forget who was breathing for whom. And sure we can fantasize,About another parallel…
Pieces
Does he know you like I do?I couldn’t imagine why.Your every trait slowly revealing itselfas time spent with you passes by. Does he know not to touch your ticklish stomachWith a lunge of cold hands?To embrace your tiny waist, gently firstAnd then intensely, like an hourglass filled with sand? Does he know that your nose…
Help yourself
Months ago, I took the bus home while in an awful mood. I sniffed back tears, trying to hold them in by distracting myself with the scenery outside the window. This kid next to me, dressed in his school uniform, suddenly points outside to a rainbow over the bridge. In Marathi, he started explaining why…
Waiting for Godot
“What’s wrong with you lately?” Eoghan hugs his cardigan tighter as he steps down from the porch with Patrick, onto the sand and in the crisp winter air. They make their way towards the cold beach, foam waves gushing in the distance. Their wives and kids were fast asleep, embracing the creaking house with fatigue…
Knit happens
WIP Prompt – A not so good morning at the yarn shop. Nimble Needles, situated at the crossing between Neal’s Yard and Covent Garden, was observing a rather dull Tuesday. The knitting community had gone overboard ever since the Queen’s death and took it upon themselves to knit Her face onto every conceivable fabric, sometimes…
teleportation
Despite jotting down my address in excruciating detail, I have the urge to over explain through a diagram. So I drew a map at the back of an empty envelope for you to come visit me this monsoon. The envelope previously contained my water bill for the quarter forgotten deep inside the bag with other…
A happy day
Stopped my 6am alarm, which wasn’t a first, but getting out of bed after that was. I was determined to make it a happy day. I had planned the chores in excruciating detail and neatly listed them down in my notes app, down to the minute. 6:47am: Get out the door. I started making my…
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