Please, stay

Death did not bring loss with him -

She came two weeks later.

When many items of the to-do list were done,

Flesh transformed to ash and put in a jar, sealed

With an official certificate

And I cut my hair to say the words in Sanskrit after the priest.

The mid-conversation awkward silences

And the visionless ramblings of the mind

Gave way to a gentle and longer calm.

I ventured into her room, accidentally, almost

Like a tourist who happens to enter

A locals-only bar and all conversation

Stops for only a second or so.

I saw her, poring over the appointment letter, and then

Moving towards the pile of books

That were sorted to be taken along.

On the desk, to the left, stood

The collection of ball-point pens, in four large pen-holders.

I saw her gaze move.

She looked towards the balcony door, but

Decided not to open it.

Slowly, she trudged to the bed, still ruffled

A bit, sheets crumpled.

Then, she curled herself up.

She was here to stay now, in her room.