One fine morning, it started to rain

I hurried with my umbrella to catch the train

The 8 AM express one with the same old crowd

With the daily chitchats and announcements so loud


I got a seat by the window, I looked outside

She was standing on the platform wearing a pretty smile

Hair all drenched and an oversized red coat

And yet she was trembling, wet and cold

A warm cup of coffee I wish we could share

But at this distance, all i could do was stare


And all of a sudden her train arrived

I couldn't see her, I lost her sight

Will I see her again?

At that platform in the rain

The thought didn't leave my mind

I played the morning's events, pause and rewind


Come morning, I hurried down the stairs

I reached the platform, she wasn't there

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Took me an hour to study, a minute to forget
God knows what the hell will I score in my test
It's just maths they say, just follow the steps
Who will tell them that I hate it with every inch of my breath?
A daily task of mugging, still I can't remember the theorems
Trigonometry is just a big jigsaw puzzle
Every now and then, I am supposed to find the value of 'x'
And of course, it always leads to a mess
Two alien words- integration and differentiation
Are the two reasons of all my frustration
And why should we prove if LHS= RHS
No one knows and nobody really cares
Still, I study for the whole night, in the morning I forget
Unprepared and least bothered for this dreadful test

-Elora

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I wake up to that aroma of ginger
The thought of hot cup of chaai lingers,
In my mind as I walk to the kitchen
With half closed eyes I smile at my husband

In goes the cardamom enhancing the flavour
I keep the cups ready, on the tray, with sugar
As I sit beside you, sipping the hot tea, so nice and sweet
On this cold winter morning, this is all the warmth I need

-Elora

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We celebrate every mother's day, then why not the fathers too
A mother sacrifices as much as a father sacrifices for you
He may not cook your favourite dish
But he toils day and night to fulfill your every wish
Every time you paddle that bicycle, he runs by your side
Even if his legs ache, he won't confide
Every time you fail, he will be there to guide
And still if you can't win, it won't hurt his pride
For he has been proud since the moment you were born
So give it all you can for him and nurture this bond

-Elora

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Today
Let us pray
For the daily wagers
Construction workers
And the wailing mothers
Whose children eat grass
Empty stomach, they walk
In this scorching heat they go
Even as the skin peels off their toes
They don't fear the infection
Here, hunger is the bigger demon
They don't have money in their hands
But are compelled to return to their land
They don't know if they will survive
How harsh and cruel is their life
Oh god please have mercy
I pray you will help them reach safely
I urge you to pray with me too
Because what else can anyone of us can do?

-Elora

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Deserted roads, empty malls
It was chaos yesterday, now silence falls
Where nights were alive, now days are dead
Lockdown imposed to stop the spread
Of Covid -19, a mutated virus
Which has led to all this ruckus
Some beg for food but the food is scarce
Others want water, tired and parched
The homeless wander for clothes and shelter
They say,' if we don't die from virus, we will die from hunger'
Trains, buses and planes are stalled
Amidst this global crisis, economy also falls
There's not a single soul outside
But the doctors fight to save the lives
Of people from this deadly disease
Without a moment of rest and proper sleep
The confirmed cases rise
And the death toll piles
Trucks loaded with coffins, the whole world
cries
As we wonder, how long will this go on
One can only pray, hope and be strong

-Elora

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I was a little girl
Alone in my little world
Dreaming of my man
With who I will plan
My today tomorrow and future
I will hold him close and nurture
Our love and bonding
Pure and never ending
So when you came along in my life
And made me your wife
All my dreams came true
Everyday, I fall more and more, in love with you
Like a cute kitty you move your palm paws
And say sorry even when I am at fault
Saying only 'thoda sa' you fill the bowl with scoops of ice cream
And add in cream of veg generous amounts of cream
Now and then there's a butter chicken craving
A reminder: tomorrow you have to do shaving
Waking up to your kisses every morning
Fills my heart and my yearn for belonging
It ain't just good luck but a privilege to be your soulmate
And your company makes it all worth the wait

-Elora

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8 am in the morning I heard a knock
With half closed eyes I snoozed the alarm clock
A blurred vision of the door ahead
I almost stumbled, wary of my steps

The delivery boy greeted with a Colgate smile
Diwali presents from family, it had been a while
Shoes from Dad, a pen from brother
But the one present I was searching was the one from mother
Finally my eyes laid upon a note
A note which read- Reminder: Mommy is gone

-Elora

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There is no greater regret
Than the one you have of failing yourself
Again and again you think
What else could have been
Where did you go wrong
And why did it take so long
For you to know the mistake
The only one that maybe you did make
So now repent and let go
Of the regret that's put you on hold
For it's not the end yet
And you can again take the test

-Elora

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So say a prayer today
Today, tomorrow and everyday
For the ones who have had a lot to go through
Who knows one day you might too
Face the hardships that come your way
Won't you then again silently pray?....


-Elora

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