The little boy stared in awe at the small porcelain cup in the museum. ‘Ma, you could actually use this for many things in the past? I don’t believe you!’ No one could blame him. It was a thing of disbelief in the year 2050. In that cup, stored were the last few drops of water.
That night he thought about the border again. Gun slung on the shoulder, feisty eyes and an aura of power. He picked up the injured, brought down the enemy. But the war claimed his pride, passion and legs. Now, all he wished for, was to feel the floor with his feet. One last time.
He was anxiously waiting with a bated breath. Countless things crowded his mind. When he heard the approaching footsteps, the heart skipped a beat. He looked at the criminal, pulled a noose over his neck, said a small prayer, and pulled the lever. Yet again, he had to kill someone to make a living.
Your thoughts fill my day. Your memories occupy my mind. Your image blinds my eyes. I want to feel your touch and listen to your voice all the time. Every smile revolves around you. You make me weak-kneed. Sad that it’s just an infatuation. Won’t be long before I feel the same for someone else.
He had only one vice. Only one addiction. That four-lettered vice made him live in a web of sin and illusions. He bound himself to strange women and loved their company. He was happily entangled in a world of red and blue. Never wanting to be freed from its tempting clutches.
Entered the world kicking away to glory
Trying to fight the unknown with those tiny frail ones
Took a little help to graduate from four to twos
Initially awkward but walking replaced crawling for ever
Squeezed into the squeaky shoes and jumped into puddles
Climbed never ending trees, jumped over countless fences
Stepped into converse and soon began to run
Conquered all the tracks and cross country challenges
Slipped into stilettos and sashayed with pride and confidence
But ran into a shell every time the heart broke
Coloured nails peeked out, tattooed ankle displayed proudly
Balanced well on the pencil heels, after all the extra ‘shots’
Entered into corporate and up the ladder they ran
Ran away from life, ran away from self
Lost track of time but not the way
Tired, they just want to slow down
Finally they meet someone who promise to share the journey
Not in the unseen seven lives but in this one for sure
Journey becomes simpler and complicated
Yet worthwhile all along the way
Soon many tiny ones join them
Struggling through kicking crawling and walking
Guided through the way
Warned about the thorny paths by the experienced
Steps are now slowly taken
Enjoying every memory that was made
Soon the awkward walk revisited, it was time to say goodbye
Looked back at marvelled at the footsteps left behind
They weren’t sure if they trod a forbidden path
But were reassured that it was the most travelled path.
Creases crowded her hand
And crevasses in them were filled
With dirt, loss and abandoned dreams
Staring intently at them
And trying to understand why
Each line that resided in her palm
Lied to her about everything
With a blank face she continued her work
Swept the dry leaves from the side walk
As a kid she loved autumn and dry leaves
Her dad would sweep and pile them
And she jumped right into them
With leaves creating havoc
Her giggles filled up the air
How she would give anything to have
That moment of carefree bliss once again
Each stray leaf she swept seemed like an old dream
That slipped through her fingers noiselessly
The voices in her head created a fury
Each screamed that she couldn’t do it
That she wasn’t strong enough to nurture her dreams
Every time those voices filled her up
She sunk a little lower and silently screamed a little louder
Always wished to muffle those voices to death
Helplessly she clasped the warm blanket around self
And mustered all strength and will to
Protect whatever little hope that was left in her
The cries of the lost life kept her awake all night
Arrival of morning was an ugly reminder to her
Of yet another failed day welcoming her
But, next day, there was something new in the air
There was a desire to turn into a new leaf
Found strength she forgot she had,
Picked up the broom to sweep the fallen leaves
And gather all the neglected dreams
Safeguarded them back in the eyes
She muted all the voices that told “she can’t”
Cut all the links that weighed her down
Took baby steps in the unknown, forgotten path
Challenged everything that was thrown at her
Started enjoying every fight she was up against
Undeterred she kept on moving ahead.
She was ready to own all the abandoned dreams
And all that it took was, that courageous first step
Towards a life she always dreamt
I was found on the sidewalk
Wearing minimal torn clothes
They said my face was dirty
So were my hair, nails and body
Stomach was grumbling loudly
Eyes were darting in all directions
When they asked where my mommy was
I told them she told me to wait there
She went for some two days ago
I was still standing there waiting for her
She didn’t come back, she never came back
Yet my wait for her return never stopped
Because I was five and I was scared
I guess mommy forgot her way back
She was always bad with directions
These people were kind enough to
Give me something to eat and drink
I’m sure mommy sent them for me
They said there were going to take me
To some house with good people in it
Said that we’ll wait for my mommy there
I was glad that to go some place warm
Sat by the window to see when she’ll return
The good people did not seem to like me
Because they sent me away soon
I was seven and was still waiting for her
I was sent to many houses with good people
But everyone sent me out, they said I was difficult
They made me wear clothes I didn’t like
Sometimes gave me peas to eat which I hated
And sent me to a big school that I loathed
When I said I didn’t like that, they scolded me
They never answered when my mommy was returning
How can mom lose her way in such a small town
I thought of running away to look for her
Maybe these people who lived a comfortable life
Didn’t care about her absence, but I did
Why didn’t they understand that my mum was lost
I was ten and I was really confused.
I grew up a little more, faded picture became clearer
The brutal reality of mum abandoning me
Smacked me hard on my soul, I changed
Returned to the streets, tried to make sense of everything
But these people kept taking, to many more houses
They tried to reform me, I kept on rebelling
Many people opened their house for me
But they could not open their hearts
They said they wanted to take care of me
That they wanted to give me the best they could
How was I supposed to believe and trust them
My own mother left me on the street
Why would some strangers wish good for me
I was thirteen and very tired of life
Eventually everyone gave up on me
Concluded that I would never have a good life
If they really wanted me to do good and be happy
Why didn’t even one of them ask what I wanted
None of them tried to understand that
It was just not the clothes and food that I needed
A warm hug and loving words would have nourished me more
Scolding and harsh words couldn’t do
What a gentle encouraging nudge would have done
They always gave what they wanted, nothing that I wanted
Wished that they would have just understood that
Wished someone, anyone would have just noticed me
Here I am, no knowledge of my age, abandoned, yet again
I’ve heard many guys ask this question so many times, ‘Why do you girls take so much time to get ready? Why do you always keep us waiting?’ Well, I don’t know the answer to that question, but this is what happens behind the scenes. Sorry boys to keep you waiting but I guess you will find it in the end of the poem why we take the liberty to do that again and again and again. 
Psstt.. Please take it with a pinch of salt 
Waking up from the dreamy nap
Eyes tightly shut and a tiny smile intact
She stretches her hands wide
Gazes out of the window
Procrastinates leaving the bed
Cuddles and plays with her beloved puppy
Finally decides to quit delaying
Dramatically she puts one foot down
And then the next
Tippy-toed till the stereo
Selects her favourite song
Confused she re-considers her choice
And shuffles the playlist
Once, twice and many times more
As the beats fill up the room
She can’t help but dancing
Like a child, she’s ecstatic
Jumping to the songs’ tunes
And singing out of chord
Stepping on the cold tiles, she turns the tap on
The stomach grumbles and rampage begins
Shelves are searched, fridge is ransacked
Munching away happily, she gets lost in thoughts
The noise of overflowing water on cold tiles
Snaps her back out of the fantasies
And thus begins the session of beauty bath
She manages to cram up everything
In that hour of bliss
Dreams about her future,
Wonders about the evening ahead
Mulls over the past
Until she realises it’s getting late
Avoiding the calls that need attention
She attacks the over-flowing wardrobe
Peels out layers of clothes
She dresses and undresses
The wardrobe’s level lowers
And that of bed increases
Finally she’s happy with the assemblage
Struts towards the footwear collection
Only to realise in horror that
Nothing, in the room full of shoes, matches
The process starts again
She undresses and dresses
The wardrobe’s level lowers
And that of bed increases
Eventually clothes and shoes match
Smile widens, eyes sparkle
Need for caffeine triggers
Back in the kitchen, fiddles with the coffee machine
A peppy song comes up
Again the prancing begins,
Coffee in one hand and stereo remote in other
She dances balancing the hot one
And continually switches songs
Till a call from him breaks the flow
He’s about to reach in a few minutes
Panic strikes, coffee spills, curses emit
The hair styling starts
Hair misbehaves, she tries to tame it
Third time lucky, the crowning glory
Decides to stay as directed
The kohl define her eyes
The shadow adds colour to them
He’s already there, waiting
She sweeps the gloss
From the depths of her bag
And adds a tinge of shine on the lips
The cell keeps on ringing
Avoiding it conveniently
She dabs perfume out of the fancy bottle
Picks out a colour she likes
And paints her nails with it
Standing and posing she scrutinises herself
When the cell rings the fifth time
Snatches her clutch and keys
Just to listen to the opinion, once again,
Of her faithful and truthful mirror
She turns back and stands in front of it
Happy with the mirror’s answers
She smiles
Blows a kiss to the pup
She races down the stairs
Smiles to herself when she sees him
Pacing, irritated, outside his car
She knew he was rehearsing his dialogues
To ‘scold’ her to keep him waiting
Mischief twinkling in her eyes
She went behind him
And softly said, ‘Sorry to keep you waiting’
Angrily he turned around
One look at her and words failed him
All that came to his lips was a smile
Brushing aside a stray hair off her eyes
He just managed to say, ‘It was worth it’
She smiled a mischievous smile
And knew just like that,
That getting late would never be a problem ever again
They met. There were intense sparks between them. Little did they know it would turn into a raging fire, engulfing them. Their passionate love turned into ugly possessiveness fuelled by obscene fights. All they wanted was each other, for ever. All it took was just two bullets, to keep their promise of living and dying together.
