by Shaurya Pathania
I have kissed cigarettes on my skin
It has left plenty of dark marks
on my arms. Living alone is hard, it’s a task
in itself, I’ve mastered
it over time. It’s easy now.
My father asked my mother to visit me. She didn’t
have to but she did. Surprised,
she questioned;
how did I get such marks on my damp skin.
I told her I don’t remember right; it must
have been some insect. I might
be bitten in the night.
She didn’t reply…
However, she looked into me,
piercing my eyes & waited, till her eyes
fulfil themselves with tears.
She stopped. I yearned for her words. She yearned
for mine. Both of us spoke silence.
She slapped me right at my head & then placed
my head on her chest, she let me listen to
her heartbeat. I focused really hard to count
the beats right. 15,16,17.
I heard sobs & I lost count.
I couldn’t remember how much
did I count last but it raced fast & I
waited slowly for a minute to pass.
My bags were packed.
I live in my village now & the marks
are still there but they’ve stopped reproducing.
Shaurya Pathania holds a Masters in English Literature from University of Delhi and currently stays at his home, doing nothing under the sun throughout the whole day.
He can be contacted @shauryapathani4 on Twitter and @shauryapathania__ on Instagram.