STARS
STARS
That night
The two of us
Lay on our backs
Upon the terrace
Huddling in the mat
For some space
Holding hands tight
In the faint moonlight,
He pointed his finger
Right up at the sky
And began playing
A game of
Counting stars.
He started from one
And reached to none
For he kept counting
The same star
Again and again
Game or no game
They all appear same.
My eyes were moist
I giggled.
He sniggered.
And we ended
Hugging each other tight
Upon the terrace
Under the faint light
Of the moon
And the forever
Twinkling stars.
The warm and cosy hug
Lasted for only a moment,
But I had consumed
By then
All the warm breath
Stimulating my mind
I experienced
That love is blind
This resulted in the
Adrenaline rush
And I devoured
That momentary treat
Of love and fulfillment.
It's night again.
My hands are clasped
So tightly,
That I gasped
I feel strangled
And suffocated.
Lying on my back
Upon my mat
I think of those knickknacks
He got for me as gifts.
To this day I treasure
They give me pleasure.
I'm gazing at the sky
The eyes now dry
Trying to search
That one star
Which he claimed
Resembled me.
The warmth of the clasped hands
Left them sweating.
I rose from the mat
Gently placing
My palm upon my heart
That didn't palpitate
It was calm
Beating in its own pace
While I was alone in the terrace
I concluded
It has ached enough
And the condition
Would further worsen
If I let it all alone.
I inspected the sky
For one last time
Dusted my shirt off
Mud and grime
That he'd smeared
On my body whole
The lies and deceit
Accumulated in my heart and soul.
The star my eyes hunted for
Was covered by floating cloud
Like the carcass of
My blind belief
Covered by shroud.
Today,
All stars look alike.
They are heavenly bodies
I conclude,
They aren't the dead souls,
The lost hopes,
The shattered dreams,
They are no more
Foolish stories
Tantrums and pranks.
They are just the luminous objects
And
Navigate the travellers
In the desert, sea and land.
He used all the baits
To own me
And walked past
Guilt free.
He must be lying
Again with someone
On her terrace
Holding her hands
Smiling at her beautiful face
Pointing at the sky
And once again
Counting stars.