Even now after so many years...
Every knock on the door startles me,
Creaking of the hinges allows hope to sneak through the gaps again,
Rustling of the withered leaves makes buds of desire shoot in my heart,
When the morning breeze whispers in my ears, I wonder why it sounds like you?

Sound of every approaching step sends the blood racing through my veins,
When the rain patters on our tin roof, my eyes begin to well up,
When the winds rattle the windows at night, I feel it’s you outside,
Knocking on the panes of my heart,
Only to realise you haven’t come home in years...

And I don’t know, if you ever will!

Yet, every crowing of the rooster,
Every morning tweet of the birds,
Every ray of light on the horizon,
Pulls the strings of hope in my heart,
And makes me believe you will come back,
Even if it is in your coffin...

Shafaat Shahbandari is a Bangalore-based storyteller, journalist and poet who recently launched a digital media-based documentary platform called 'Thousand Shades of India'.

Featured image credit: Reuters

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