FranKophone

Dear Love, Hope you have reached safely. Now that there is snowfall, you won't have to venture out for long. I have set the photograph atop the mantel. The fireplace looks deserted. As if it is missing someone. You know who that is. Emmy's cheeks turned pink today. Her cheeks look like those apples. For some reason, she doesn't smile anymore. Did you notice it while you were here ? I also see some random children walking about in the house. Emmy says they have always been here. I do not understand. Its you who has always been there, my love. I have this feeling that I am getting old. Did you notice any grey hair ? Or even worse- wrinkles ? Tell me if you have. We must be together. We are young, Emmy is a kid but she needs a sister. Or even a brother. You must come back soon. Or I shall go there with Emmy. Life has been kind to us but we can't take anything for granted. I hear someone calling me. Oh my God ! That looks like you. You're back ...

I found one of your pictures today. Pressed in one of my old wallets. Also a few pieces of paper, I guess stained with your lip colour. Had locked the stuff and kept it away. I'm changing houses, So I had to check all cupboards. Leaving them here. Forgotten. ________________________________________________ New house.To forget an old love. Found an old wallet with pieces of paper. Stained in lip colour. Brilliant red. Must be forgotten. Love is everywhere, ain't it ?

In an effort to understand what she meant by 'walking by the lake', he ambled along the promenade. He saw the birds flying across the horizon, the fishermen on their boats and the children playing nearby. Nothing out of the ordinary. What did all this mean to her ? He noticed her approaching. With a smile. As she reached him, she asked, " Shall we take a walk together ? I want to show you my favourite place on earth."

Hey ! You know, I never meant to hurt you. I love you ! I think I hit you last night and I am sorry. I won't drink anymore. Never ! That man ! What does he think of himself ! Is he my lord ? I'll leave that goddamn job. But then, I again think of you and Ela. Does she know  ? I hope not. I want to be a good father. I shall give up drinking. _______________________________________________________ I am sorry ! I hate myself when I see you with those stitches on the lips. How could I ! I broke my promise. I shall kill that man. He has ruined my life. ________________________________________________________ You ran away... with Ela. Am I a devil ? I shall drink tonight. To stop this pain. To stop this madness. I shall..... _________________________________________________________

Someday I would like to grow old. Take a feel of how your limbs give up before your mind. To see men,women,children and others younger than you. To feel used to the world at large. But before that, I would be young for a long, long time.  Hold my breath on viewing the beauty around. Shout loudly at parties, cry my heart out in a stuffed room. Live, love and leave just as I have always liked. Someday I would like to grow old. 

We find after years of struggle that we do not take a trip; the trip takes us. -John Steinbeck It was a cool January dawn when we started on a journey to Shravanbengola. My parents and I are heritage freaks and were super-excited to visit 'quaint nooks ’ of Karnataka.  We boarded a Volvo along with 30 other people. After a couple of hours, I saw a barren granite hill. A tiny flight of stairs carved on it. People climbing upon it like ants. I thought to myself “What on earth ! Fools ! Why climb mountains !” Simultaneously, my mother thought, “This is the place. There must be some other road around to take us. Tourists don’t climb hills, devotees do.” My father was thinking to himself, “Will they be able to climb this ?” The bus came to a gradual halt. The tour guide announced “This is Vindhyagiri hill. Gomateshwar statue is located on the top. You have to climb 620 steps, see the statue and come back in an hour.” I was surprised. I never ever thought a sweet “off-beat” ide...

She : When will you stop sending me roses ? He : As long as I live. She : Why do you have to tell it everyday ? He : You ask me everyday. She : I give you a lot of trouble. He : You make me happy. She : You too, in ways you shall never know. He : I want to. She : To know ? He : Yes. How do I make you happy ? She : You make me feel loved and cared for. He : Come on, you are worth it. In fact, you deserve much more. She : Maybe I shall get some more. He : Really ? Even if I ... She : You might leave but you shall always love me.