At The Year's End

Memories, their threads of vibrant hues,

Weave our story of this year's journey through, 

Rainy nights, fleeting car lights, eyes cast a shy glance 

They watch on as fluttering hearts together dance.

Tales fragrant of jasmine tea unfold with glee, 

A smile blooms, while your poems carry me,

Into their deep warmth, where cool winds find ease, 

And the painful chaos of the souls cease.

Spellbound nights, whispers in the air, 

We remain entwined, in a world beyond compare. 

Mountains conquered, storms faced, hand in hand, 

No fear or doubt live in this promised land.

Stream of memories flow, and another year takes flight, 

We will write new songs, bathed in the brightest light. 

My hand in yours, hearts close together, this love stays, 

One that transcends time as the pendulum quietly sways.

Home - A Secret Wish

At 7, home meant the cozy, warm house where mother in her pink cotton saree would be preparing potato fritters while father, in his white kurta pyjama would be busy calculating the monthly expenses. While brother played with his 'hot wheels' in the living room, I would be watching the newly hatched baby sparrows on the electrical box at the verandah with dreamy eyes, fantasizing about a new home.

At 19, home was the shared hostel room where I would be lying inside a blanket, embraced by white noise created by the rain, reading the mushiest romantic novel of the time and fantasizing about a new home.

At 29, home was a cozy apartment, with a partner. A warm abode where school friends and family came over to play poker, and remember old days over a drink and a warm meal. Home was a space which was carefully created with a lot of love knitted into every corner. But this time, I did not fantasize about a new home.

At 37, when I handed the reins to the divine while I rested to heal; it took me to a new home, yet again. Home was stillness, but this time it was within me. Can I say I am finally home? Not yet. I wish for all of the above in this new abode. When I say all, it means the warm, fuzzy shared love, dreams and companionship, along with the stillness within.

You Were There...

You were there...

When I walked into this strange world; an unfriendly, indifferent world

You held my hand when I stumbled

You noticed the tears that stubbornly refused to spill out,

Ones that created a mayhem deep within me

You were there...

You protected me from the bone chilling storm

And created a safe haven...

You gifted me happiness and peace, once elusive dreams

You were there to lift me up into the skies

You were there to pull me out of murky seas

You were there...

And even without words, you made me feel loved...

When you were vulnerable, when you prayed for me

When my pain made you restless...

When your soul engulfed mine in darkness,

When you strewed happy stories all around

When you listened to a hundred unfounded fears

Without budging, to let me know, how much I meant...

You were there, my love. Always.

As long as I extend my hand and find you, I shall live

Because if I lose you, I will be lost too.

One Step Closer

Life takes us to places that we never thought we could reach. A month back I had a perfect career; I had 6 months - 1 year - 5 years - 10 years plans around it. Today, I stand bare, watching the grains of those huge plans slipping out of my fist. Not that I believe it's a tragedy. On the contrary, I believe, I am being pushed to something greater. Something more aligned to my life purpose. I am a creature of delicate emotions. I thrive on affection and the dreamy promises of eternal love with a counterpart who would want me because that's his only natural state - in love, standing right next to me. The affection and promises do cross my path sometimes, but only to remind me that they hurt, by setting me on fire. They bring me to life only to kill me later. Oh, what wouldn't I have done of they came to stay! I will run away, yet again, for I have hoped for far too long. There is this constant dull ache. You see, grapes are sour.

Trauma

Imagine living with a ticking time bomb inside your body that might explode anytime. To that, add living alone in an unfriendly city with no friends because the introvert in you doesn't allow it. And then add being involved in a forbidden romance that pushed you to the disaster. Absolute disaster! Now imagine not being able to confide about it to anybody for one whole month. Imagine fighting the darkness all by yourself while toxins are being pushed into your body. Do you know what happens when you are in a constant state of agony? You get bored of it and are prepared for just any outcome whatsoever.

And they say, I shouldn't run away from reality! And they say, I am insane to contemplate leaving behind everything I know!

Her #4

She is tired of being called brave for fighting her battles alone. She no longer wants to do it. She no longer wants to entertain half-assed presence of people in life. She no longer wants to have secrets or be someone's secret. She is done. All she needs now is some plain, old-fashioned, 'till death do us part' kind of romance and a partner who would hold her hand (not just in the metaphysical realm) when she fights against all odds. She's exhausted. Maybe all this trauma is meant to bring into perspective what surrounds her in the name of love is not enough. Reality check!

Him #6

He is thirty minutes ahead of her tonight. And how she misses him! She tugs at a few delicate threads of memories that she has woven with him. Like the way his hair falls on his forehead and the way she unmindfully sweeps it across with her fingers. The soft skin of his back... It responds to her random, gentle caress. She remembers the two of them standing close, discussing how she is tall enough to hear his heartbeat while he does not have to bend much to kiss the top of her head. Do you see that thread to the right? That is the memory of the first time he held her hand when she was bawling her eyes out over something silly. And, the one to the left... Well, that is the memory of him looking at her slyly to check if she is watching while he takes the prohibited overdoses of sugar. She pauses and meditates on these moments. She is happy as it dawns on her that he is a part of her. Wherever he is and wherever she is, he is loved with all her soul.

Him #5

She looks at the clouds and wishes he was there with her, thousands of feet above the ground. She could have shown him those cottony pillows that promise of the tenderest of dreams. Dreams that turn into reality. Dreams that bring out the tenderest of emotions. The tenderest of emotions that engulf the two of them. Tenderest of love... She wishes to promise him that. She wishes to rest her head on his shoulder as she drifts off to sleep. And then, dream about more such moments of togetherness.

Him #4

He wonders what makes her stare at him. She looks at him like a curious kitten while hoping to see a tiny little smile to brighten his face and to catch a glimpse of the most spectacular sparkling eyes when he is lost in his thoughts. Apart from those, she looks on in daze when a wave of his essence touches her. She wonders about a certain thing.. Would it feel like watching the sunrise in the mountains or like the first sip of water after being parched for long or would it feel like rain-laden dark, voluminous clouds covering the scorching sun... How would it feel when she holds him as close as she can. And, never let go.

One that escaped the subconscious prison...

Traveling is a pain because when I am shutting out the sea of strangers and thoughts of possible mishaps, a lot of unaddressed trauma, repressed memories come to the surface in quite an unexpected manner. People who know me know that I am an anti- natalist since forever. Well, I am what I am for reasons that make sense only to me perhaps. I do like children. Only when they belong to others. Back in 2018, for a small fraction of time, I did contemplate having one of my own with a man I loved. It was just before lightening struck our marriage and annihilated it. I envisioned having a perfect little daughter, calmer and stronger than me. A happy girl capable of being the brightest sunshine in whichever life she touched. I used to watch a lot of Murakami movies. They have an ethereal quality to them. One of such movies was called Ponyo. Ponyo means soft and squishy. Ponyo was the perfect little girl that I thought I wanted as a daughter. Bright sunshine, a beautiful empath. So, when I conceived late winter, within no time I planned a whole life around my Ponyo. I was ready for the leap of faith and for everything, good and bad that was to come along. Most importantly, I was ready to compromise on everything precious I ever held on to, including sleep, for the rest of my life. And sleep is the ikigai for me! I know it sounds strange. Anyway, getting back to the strand of memory, I lost her in early spring. When I began bleeding, the doctor said I'm having a miscarriage and asked me to take a painkiller. I refused. Despite my professional knowledge, I hoped for a miracle. I prayed to any power that might hear me, was even ready to sell my soul to the devil, to stop this devastation and bring everything back to normal. I kept hoping till I expelled her out completely. It was barely three months but I had formed one of the strongest spiritual bonds with the life growing within. I don't even know if it was a girl but that's one child I truly wanted. For the first and the last time. For the first time, I writhed and screamed in pain, crouched on the floor, bleeding profusely and did not let anyone come close. I have a good pain threshold but this wasn't the physical pain but the mental agony of something that meant the world to me, getting snatched from my closed fists by ruthless sharp claws. In this chaos, I saw how much my parents loved me. My mother is very intelligent, calm and logical. She expresses herself better through warm gestures rather than words. I saw her break down looking at my state. I saw her crying out my pain. Though he looked quite composed, my father stood there as a steady support, waiting for the storm to pass. It will be unfair to not mention the former partner. He was there too. A broken man who held my hand while I was inconsolable. He tried to be strong for as long as he could and once we got home, exhausted and empty, he cried. He held me and he cried. We mourned. Together. For the last time. After that, events followed which pulled everything apart. 

I am glad I got this off my chest. For years, I did not even acknowledge something like this had happened and that it almost killed me. I am no longer the same girl. This snippet of the time gone by was painful to address. But now it's just another event that has shaped my present self. The residues are some fragmented pieces of a narrative, some scattered, shapeless shadows and some life altering realizations. Most important of the realizations being, people come, people go, but there are some who stick along till the end. They are the ones life is worth living for. Sadly, they are also the ones who are taken for granted. So, as an apology, I send a warm energetic hug to all those who have lingered around. The next question is, do I feel sorry for myself? Absolutely not. I am exactly where I am supposed to be in life. It is better to let things unfold in their own time. I trust the Universe.

Her #3

He is beautiful. Even if his words have bruised her. Words implying there is no reciprocation of her tender emotions for him. She doesn't know how much of it was a reaction to past wounds and how much was the truth. But she has her own history of trauma which is why she would want to see it as the complete truth of the situation. He makes her feel cared for, valued, every single day. Yet she wants to believe him when he says he has no emotional attachment to her. That means she can no longer be emotionally vulnerable. Should she close up, play dead and let him have his way till it is time for her to leave? Maybe, yes. One-sided attachment is agonizing. To escape this agony, she must run away.

2024

Obstinate, he calls her... the love that refuses to budge

The love that came unannounced to his doorstep

Disrupting his equilibrium

But she will leave one day

Breaking her own heart, before he can tear her apart

Till then, she will love him the way she knows

Deeply, insanely...

June to June, every phase of the moon

In chaos, peace, joy, or gloom

Till he realizes...

He is her soul

She may leave yet she will remain

In the shadows of crowded halls where he speaks

Amidst the thunderous claps honoring his victories

Right next to him when he overthinks

Holding his hand when he is frail

Kissing his lips, when words fail...

Her #2

Mo knows her well. Better than she herself does. 

She loves an emotionally unavailable man and has yielded to his condition of emotional detachment if they are to get involved. She thought it was a good arrangement to keep the heart away, yet have the opportunity to know him closely. He's a beautiful person afterall. When Mo got to know of this, she warned her saying it was against her nature to be friends with benefits. And eventually, she will get heartbroken and heartbreaks are extremely agonizing for her.

She told Mo, adequate safeguarding measures are in place. She is taking a few steps back on the emotional front. The rules now are: No unsolicited care, no initiation of a conversation, no usage of the word - love (written and verbal), and all of it needs to wind up in a year. She will leave and no question must be asked. Individual intentions have been conveyed to one another, quite lucidly.

Sad, right? The girl who wrote about tender romance, matured love, finding the one, eternal togetherness and many more such things has surrendered. Not really sad. She never was meant for those quixotic ideas. She was delusional and she has learnt it the hard way. The present situation is the best she can have. Transparency, and absolute autonomy!

Her #1

An overthinker, she has a notorious mind that ruminates on two million thoughts per second. It works independent of her soft but sluggish heart. Naturally, they are always in conflict. The mind works 9 AM to 7 PM after which it hands over the reins to the heart to mull over things, cry and write mushy poetry. So, the other day when she was supposed to meet someone both mind and the heart are smitten with, the two showed up together and chaos ensued. The summary of the evening is worth jotting down:

Mind, unabashedly vocal: Here it is, the childhood in brief, the unsettling college years, the messy relationships, hidden scars, crazy plans...

Heart to Mind (quietly): Are you bloody insane? Couldn't you consult me before blurting everything out like that? He will run away! Now you let me do the talking and do not interrupt.

Heart to herself before speaking out loud: The rain, the open road and the beautiful evening are spellbinding. Shall I ask him if I could give him a hug? Would it encroach upon his personal space?

Mind overhears and says: He will give you a tight slap and all the romance will get out of the window.

Heart: Fine, you talk. I'll sit in the corner. Never, ever accompany me anywhere beyond 7 PM!

Him #3

It seems like a dream. Or was it a dream that was exceptionally lucid? 

She sought to bask in his beautiful essence. She longed for it, she was parched. But when she did absorb some of him, the longing grew. The thirst remained unquenched.

She holds on to the memory of his calming presence, the heartwarming conversations, and the comfortable silence punctuated by a wish. The wish for the rain kissed evening to remain etched on her heart till only a fraction of a moment beyond eternity.

The Retrograde Season

After ages of silence,  the devil tried, yet again, to corrode her light. The same pattern. The same sequence of using an innocent soul as the bait followed by a glimpse of his earthly appearance sans a soul. There was a time, she would forget all the torment he inflicted and fall at his feet so that he felt loved. But this time, she was out of his reach. If he elevates to where she is and touches her, he will lose his essence. He will no longer be the devil and that will go against the law of nature. She does not hate him. He just ceased to exist when she directed all the love she had to give inwards. She watched quietly as he walked away. Her light was painfully blinding for his darkness.

Mulling, yet again!

A couple of days back, I was asked if I sought a partner. I gave a vague answer because it's been ages since I thought about it at all. Two years back, the answer would have been a resounding yes. Not today though. I grew up with a dream to share myself with a like-minded individual who would understand me, support my dreams and be there unconditionally by my side. And vice versa. It never happened. Perhaps, I was too quirky for everyone. Men get smitten with my eccentricity; eventually it begins intimidating them. They then try changing me. Trust me, I have tried to help them in that quest too but you cannot draw a whole ocean into a 2 mL syringe, right? We would fail in the exercise and part ways. I got exhausted. Then came self-acceptance and self-love. And I stopped needing people exclusively. What would an additional person contribute to? I have everything I need including my nine hours of sleep, a happy heart and a calm mind. If we try looking for more, there is no end to it. I know some people, who even if I don't stay in touch with on a daily basis will drop everything and be by my side when needed. I would do the same for them. My space is absolutely sacred. I'm not sure if there is an individual who can treat me as good as I treat myself; getting treated better is way too far-fetched. I cannot go through more of emotional trauma as healing from it wastes a lot of tears and time. This is a state of equilibrium. It's going to take a lot for anyone to touch it. I have a plan for myself till the end of life and that doesn't involve a partner for sure.

Her

She forgot to ask if it makes him uncomfortable or sad to see her have the feelings he does not reciprocate. She should have asked if it was offensive when she told him that she would like to continue feeling the way she feels despite his indifference, garbed in understanding and appreciation. Now what!? She can only hope the ground beneath her feet parts and swallows her whole. Hills it is! And soon!! Bloody mercury retrograde!!!

Him #2

One day, they will part ways...

With the promise to find one another again. 

But he is the air she breathes. How would life move without him? Suffocatingly sluggish, perhaps? He is the gentle ocean wave that calms her fearful heart. Would it freeze when distance creeps in? 

Memories... They'll suffice. Sufficient to keep her calm and joyous. She will remember those kind eyes, loquacious sometimes, thoughtful and lost at other times. His eyes shine differently when they look into people's souls. Then there are the three types of smile... One that's forced, another when amusement creeps up to his eyes and the third, absolutely precious to behold, is when he brings his guard down to let his affection show... She will remember the warmth of his gentle touch that pacifies her screaming demons...

She will remember. Forever. Not all journeys have destinations so while they walk together, she will collect all the memories that would fit into her soul, for later.

Him #1

She wishes to be his home where he puts the sword and armour down. The home which has the gentle fragrance of unending affection, and a warm hearth at the corner to nurture his visions. She hopes to keep him protected deep within her heart, for the world would not understand his elysian essence. What he means to her will only be known to her. Not everything can be touched. Not everything can be named. She has a beautiful treasure chest for them. The one that is tucked within the deepest recess of her dreams. He is the key to the chest.

Him

She waited, almost expecting it to disintegrate with time... Everything earthly does. When it did not, she knew it's his essence; not the appearance, not what is apparent to the world. Not the past, not the future but that one moment when they are next to one another, talking without words; it becomes the vacuum that holds the entire universe... He has shown her the elusive multiverse but he is oblivious.

Where Am I From?!

That is a frequently asked question. An easy one, yet, I don't have a proper answer to it. I keep saying things on my whims and fancies. Let me write down while I mull over it. India has 28 states and 8 union territories. Every state and union territory has its distinct culture and many have a unique language as well. When do you belong to a state? That's the confounding question here. Do I belong to the place where my forefathers lived? Do I belong to the place where I was born and brought up? Do I belong to the place where I earn my livelihood? Who decides? Is it subjective? I thought it was, but, people kept correcting me. Rather rejecting me. If I told that I belonged to the place where I was born, brought up, finished a major chunk of my education, spoke the language with the perfect accent, assimilated the culture and heritage to a T; many would cut me short saying, ''Pattanaik" doesn't belong here'. But that is just one kind of people I encountered there. Therefore, it is not the whole truth about how the so called 'people' of the land that I once, proudly called home, perceived me. For some, I was and still am more than family. They will always be treasured. However, being the sensitive being that I am, I decided to move out of my birthplace for good.

Then comes the place where my parents grew up. The language they speak is apparently, my mother-tongue. When I talk in my mother-tongue, a strange accent creeps in because of the other languages I have been speaking most of my life. My demeanor, attitude and thought process differ from the local inhabitants of the place. So, people out there, including some family members end up saying, 'you are not like us'. Fair enough! They don't understand me, I don't understand them. Unconditional acceptance is almost an impossibility, globally. Everybody keeps a score of similarities and dissimilarities. And that becomes the foundation of being human. Isn't it? The pathetic truth. This doesn't feel quite homely. I am glad that the Gen Z and beyond are doing much better in that domain.

Finally, let us talk about the place that where I completed my higher education and am earning my livelihood. A new region, new people. They often ask me, why haven't you learnt the language of the land? I jokingly answer, 'That way I'll not understand if you say something nasty to me. It's just a strategy to safeguard my peace'. The second part is true though. I do not wish to get attached to places (people?). Attachment brings in pain as evident by my experience in the first place I tried calling home. The next question put to me is, 'Are you planning to live here all your life?' 'Don't you wish to go back to your 'own people'?' The right answer is, 'I don't know because I have nowhere to go. I am without roots. A hippie by soul. So, I'll go wherever life takes me'. But what I tell them is, 'I will eventually move to the place where people with my surname have their roots'. This particular answer hits the nail on the head. They get their joy, and I retain my peace. For the sake of that peace, I will omit a few other things spoken around that make me realize, I am not welcome here. This is not my home.

Now, getting back to the original question? Where do I belong? Should I say I am just an Indian? But that's not the answer people look for when they ask about my roots. If I become philosophical, people get intimidated. Should I say, 'Nowhere'? That would make me sound arrogant. Though I have always been a quiet rebel, I no longer want to rub people the wrong way. Peace is precious. You appreciate it more and more as years get added to your life. Since there's still no answer to the question, let me continue honoring my whims and fancies! Anyway, who cares! The purpose of the question is just to propel the conversation forward. I appreciate all the fine people around and I do know, it's only a handful that hurt, and that too, perhaps, unknowingly. However, I cannot help being wary. Home should be a safe, comfortable and happy place. Though I don't find it in a land with boundaries, I do find it in some people. Again, that's not the answer expected of me! Sigh!

By the way, happy pana sankranti/ happy bihu/ happy ugadi!

Love #7

Love is not enough. It took me about 37 years to figure that out. Literature, cinema and even the well-meaning people with rich life experiences, very conveniently forget to mention that the perfect glue to relationships is something else. Definitely, not love. Love, perhaps is the icing on the cake but the very base is something else. We get so dazzled by the colorful, tempting sweet cream that we begin romanticizing about relishing it and forget about the sponge cake beneath. What happens when the sponge cake is too soggy? It breaks. The romance comes to a halt. I don't like eating a cake (icing? who cares!) with a bad texture. How about you?

Respect is the fundamental requirement for any sort of a relationship. That's the cake beneath the icing. If that's perfectly baked and is drizzled with the right amount of syrup, even with a bad topping it is quite edible. Remove the icing, and you shall still enjoy it.

Let me elaborate. Where does it fit? In every nook and corner. Respecting an individual means absolute acceptance of the good, the bad and the ugly that comes along. Respecting is non-maleficence if not beneficence. Respect doesn't waver; it is not fleeting. Respect is non-judgmental and empathetic.

It is the most precious gift that can be given or received. Autonomy is a beautiful thing and respect empowers you with it. Earn it, keep it and you'll know incredible peace. 

Respect is non-negotiable. 

How would these respect-infused relationships be? Cakewalk! 😉

(PS: Before you ask, lately, I did deliver a lecture on bioethics and had a piece of lousy cake)

C-21

Close your eyes, you will hear it

Her heart beating for you

Infinitesimal, insignificant, like

Raindrops on the canopy

A lunatic's laughter

Never receding

Jargon-laden poems

About a thousand emotions

You will hear it, if you want to.

C-20

Candle on the ocean bed

Hidden from the world

Iridescent, lucid

Rainbow in the sky

Allurement of fireflies

Nibbling on the dark

Joyous sparrows

And their chattering

You embody such beauty.

C-19

Chaste, her unadulterated affection

He looks at her, questioningly

Introspection clouds his mind

Reasoning evades hers

Answer to why he is on a pedestal

Nascent, yet fiery in her heart

Just lies in the gloriole he exudes

All of which is not tangible

Yet there's no truth more palpable.

C-18

Confounded sometimes, like the zephyr

Help me absorb these tides of emotions

I know that the heart is stepping into fire

Raging to consume it in trifling portions

Allow me to adore you from a distance

Needless to say, it will be fair abundance

Juvenile dreams, they often shine bright

Apologies to your heart for the fright

You must forgive their impertinence.

C-17

Cerulean, a tinge of vermilion above

Hyacinths, poppies and lilies below

If I were to never see you again

Remember, you'll forever remain

An ancient soulful dream within

Numinous, my heart, rushes ahead

Just when it is close, you turn

Alarmed, it wonders; what if

You do not want to be touched?

C-16

Charmed, she listens, her eyes bright

He narrates an old story from long back

It tugs at her heart, his dreamy smile,

Redolent as the petrichor kissing the earth

As memories clasp his soul tight

Nudging him into a different realm

Journey of a billion miles begins

And when he strings images into words

Yesterday comes alive serenading her.

C-15

Connected inexplicably

His soul and mine

Infinite lives entwined

Reincarnating,

Ascending into the sky

North star shines,

Joy radiates

As the divine incarnations

Yearn for a union.

C-14

Conversations by the ocean

His hand in mine

I dream of stillness

Raging in the air

Away from the chaotic world

Night sky, the stars

Just the few of us

Absorbing all of sentience

Yielding to its luminescence.

C-13

Charismatic visionary

He emanates empathy

Intelligence is his armor

Reason his strength

A devoted leader

Nurturing and guiding

Jubilant minds 

Awakening the fiery

Youthful, undying spark.

C-12

Convulsing rhapsodies

Heavenly symphonies

I fall in the rabbit hole

River flowing in him

Asks, 'do I know you'?

'No', I say, 'but look'!

'June and its aura,

Aura of varied hues,

Yellows, reds and blues'!

C-11

Chimerical hers

Hallowed his

Incorrigible both

Rational none

Amicable hearts

Needing love

Jade green

And orangish

Yearn together.

C-10

Constellations in the infinite sky

How they whisper of eternity

I know, we are ephemeral beings

Racing against the cadence of time

A full moon on a dark night

Nemesia blossoms

Jazz, its unusual accents

Along with them, you are eternal

You, beautiful soul, all of you.

C-9

Could we have a moment together?

Hidden far, far away

In the pristine mountains,

Reliving the joys of childhood

Away from the mundane

Nesting in the realm of magic

Joshing, laughing, singing

And then when the daylight fades

You and me shall count the stars.

C-8

Cacophonous; hasn't it been?

Heart breaking in silence

Icy cold, sometimes, blazing hot

Riding through the roads of hell

Amidst the darkest clouds

Naked and raw, it sears

Just when you think it's over

And breathe, it comes back

You, my love, must still breathe.

C-7

Conspiring Universe

Hacked through

Intense eye-locks

Raging emotions

Aligned stars

Nudged her

Juvenile dreams

Almost lost, to resurface

Yet again and forever remain.

C-6

Caged behind impenetrable iron walls

He sits with the agonizing secrets

I see his tears and the scars at times

'Reach out', my heart whispers to his,

'And tell me what haunts you,

Not because I can lessen the pain;

Jaded soul of yours has fought wars

And won, but it need not be alone.

Yes, I will be around if you'd let me'.

C-5

Cradled in my heart,

Hazed, your image resides

I can see the smile you suppress

Regal yet child-like

A slight hint of depression

Nonchalant, on the right cheek

Jabs at my heart that flutters

Along with the million butterflies

Your smile ruthlessly conjures.

C-4

Captivated, the audience listened

His aura radiated a golden hue

Intelligence cloaked the spoken words

Rewiring numerous receptive minds

A true maestro of science

Nourished the seekers

Jazzed, with infinite patience

Always steady, he was the light

Youth followed his inspiring brilliance.

C-3

Can I tell you

How important your beating heart is?

It brings in infinite bliss

Rain-like paradisiacal peace

And the warmth of sun's kiss

Nurtures my core

Just like the Universe

Always near, despite the distance

You are the soul of my existence.

C-2

Casting a few spells

His smile transforms her darkness

Into bright pastels;

Red, its different shades

And sometimes hues of green

Naïve heart heals

Joyous, peaceful 

And brimming with gratitude

Yesteryear's agony is subdued.

C-1

Candescent eyes;

His soul within, weary and wise

Inspires her dreams,

Rapturous, like flowing streams.

A lingering moment of bliss

Never fading, ushers in peace,

Just like a warm, soulful kiss.

A breath away, her empyrean presence

Yearns his heart, his mind, his essence.