I had been waiting for you,
From the past few months.
You didn’t show up nor send any letter –
So I climbed up a mango tree,
Counted till three, but there was no sign of you;
Mom sat below screaming my name
I thought she needed a mango, so
I plucked one and dropped on her head.
I thought she would stop but her volume increased
So I plucked a few more and dropped on her head,
Now she was silent, probably happy with the fruits –
I climbed down a little later.
She was lying facing the ground
My house was on fire;
I couldn’t save my house, mom lay in hospital
But you never came, when my need for you was dire.
©Paramita