Ceremony

You were grieving the loss of your mother
You told us on Facebook.
It was a confusing matter of nettiquette
Whether or not to 'like' the status.
I followed the beaten path
And decided in favour of it
But prudently added "Be strong.She is in our hearts"
To balance it out .
You know.

Rajasthan

The child was looking on with puckered brows at his mother watering the plants. Serious,in his vest and knickers and surnburnt littleness.

The jet of water caught the sun before it broke against leaves.

She glanced back, noticed , and with an impish grin turned the hose on him. Like a startled animal he squawked and ran leaving wet footprints on the ground which simmered and disappeared .I remember dipping my finger into sandalwood paste and drawing such footprints towards our idols on days of pujas.It meant-A god has been here.

But suddenly the game changed.He padded back ,curious, what?she won’t come after me? Another sudden drenching .Giggles.

In retaliation he tore off his clothes.Darting around,now gloriously naked,the water would not leave him be.His mother behind it,relentless and laughing.
What a young mother,I notice.

I will turn off the tap while brushing tomorrow.
Let’s leave some water for others to waste.

You Know Poet

You know poet,
Once you're done
So much is no longer mine.

I feel.
Then think-Why isn't this just what...
Then feel,
But self consciously.

You know poet,
Once you're done
You lose me my voice.

I speak.
Then retract-Why,it's so commonplace!
Then speak
The commonplace.

You know poet.
This,
MY afternoon
Is sun washed?
No...drenched.
I try soaked
Then give up.

You know poet,
Once you're done
So much is no longer mine.

Confession

Sshh...
But last night
I crouched in the bathroom,hidden
Cutting my wrists,gouging for blood.

Sshh...
I shoplift on Sundays
Lacy lingerie,nailpaint.

Whisper in my ear,
You would find me as interesting
Even if I hadn't done these things,
Wouldn't you?

My friend,
Sshh..
But I pretend.
I have no secrets
Really.

Logic

All men are mortal.

Socrates is a man (right?)

So, we killed him.

Everyday Epiphanies

The Sunday market experience was a little bit odd. A little bit problematic.

So we were driving into what seemed like a perfect little slot in the parking area.But just as the car was nosing itself in we noticed a stray dog serenely sitting there.
Honk honk!
Some more serene sitting.

HONK HONK!

“Saala.”Said my father .A single word of wonder and annoyance.What’s the bugger thinking?This is our parking space innit?

It is ,I suppose.(What are my premises?)

At any rate,once in I stand around near the maachwala(fishmonger).He was chopping fish.His job and I’m no Maneka Gandhi.The Bengali in me sees fish solely as something to be eaten.
And he clinically proceeds to put the mouth of this fish on a blade and efficiently delivers a blow with a block rendering it lipless.Quivering edges where a mouth had been.

Funnily enough what popped into my head at this moment is the sophisticated argument I’d been reading in the morning regarding the exact meaning of human rights.I realized that the implicit assumption had been that rights were an inalienable part of life on this planet.Not something just thought up to expend superior intelligence.

Long-Distance

Sudden gleam of happiness,
When I think-So far apart
But still 'in touch'.
Those telephone conversations...

Those telephone conversations
Where I indulge your new life
And you mine.
Then we
Disconnect.
Beep beep.