Rascal!!

She hasn’t yet arrived

And already speaks of leaving.

All I could do was

To just sit on that high wall

Reading her text after text.

‘It’s been quite late, isn’t it?’

‘Been waiting since long?’

‘Am just on my way!’

‘I couldn’t help it...
Was confused about which saree should I wear!’

‘It’s the chrome, green bordered one...you’d like that won’t you?

‘I got to be back home by 6; Ma’s home today.

Any later, she’ll be suspicious.’

‘We made chikki* today!!!!!’ Will bring you some tomorrow. 

You’ve never tasted my cooking after all!’

‘Sitting on a wall today, you Rascal!
How am I to climb it up in my saree?!’

I jumped down smiling to myself.

The watch was merely 5 minutes away

Before it had to reach 6.

She appeared elegantly mature in saree,

Till the moment her smile broke out,

Eclipsing her maturity

With a priceless naughty blush.

She sat down on the lawn just there,

I walked towards her.

Amidst the fresh green grass

A bright sunny blossom in full bloom.

She held my hand firmly in hers

Soon as I sat down next to her.

Trailing her dainty fingers tenderly

Across my tremulous fingertips, she said-

“Rascal!! Now come on, drop me back home!”

*Chikki is a traditional Indian sweet generally made from groundnuts and jaggery.

A Muse, if ever...

Deep

    Black lake,

    Inky night,

    Your eyes.

Steady
    Warm sigh,
    Deep light,

    Your gaze.

Bloom
    Spirit touch,
    Tender red,

    Your lips.

Caressing
    Warm moon,
    Tender rain,

    Your smile.

Stealing
    Coy dawn,
    Hued thrill,

    Your blush.

Sweet
    Chaste dew,
    Honey gold,

    Your voice.

Listening
    Steady wisdom,
    Eloquent whims,

    Your speaking.

Shy
    Tremulous lips,
    Halting breath,

    Your whispers.

Enchanting
    Nectar notes,
    Fragrant stay,

    Your singing.

Reveals
    Silk wave,
    Ink locks,

    Your hair.

Porcelain
    Cloud step,
    Dainty fair,

    Your feet.

Hold
    Sure warmth,
    Soft promise,

    Your hands.

Sure
    Pure belief,
    Waiting fire,

    Your touch.

Primal
    Pacific expanse,
    Rhythmic vigour,

    Your heartbeats.

Unhesitant
    Heady light,
    Tender true,

    Your kisses.

Flaming
    Giving desire,
    Willing dive,

    Your passion.

Walk

Pages keep going by
Lives keep turning over.
Moments fall layered like white snow,
Time freezes right here instead of passing.

Feet await the arrival of horizon,
Sleep flows dry off of aging eyes.
It has been an age since it has rained here,
The breezes too are caught tangled in old branches.

Moon’s silver still shines just as
The sun warms luminous.
The days however arrive at wrong addresses,
While the nights keep missing their turns.

The voices are kind of heard in the calls,
Their meanings but, are no longer understood.
The touch of feelings has been numbing,
Nerves tired out, are leaving to go sleep.

The dreams of the hands which were held till now,
Fingers have begun to peel them off.
The eyes which as such were never felt with a gaze
Wonder why now their face can be seen.

What had begun like a page, blank
Crumpled and folded within wrinkles,
That yellowed scrap of paper walks on to
​​​​​​​Drown away oblivious in the ink.