Cascade of poems and Rivulets of fiction

  Lakshmi Darkness provokes sleep to kiss the eyelids They refuse to do Waiting for the one since aeons Lamp in between the palms Bordered in red, step inside the arc Anklets of golden bells Pearls of nathni, the nose ring, waves The jarau maang tika,the tiara, Protects the round crimson powder from the wind The cascade of curls in jasmine fragrance The wick of the lamp  Burning steady, unfazed, uninterrupted Manifest her love  Undeterred, undaunted rendering 'take me in your arms hide me in your eyes only you only you see the lamp of my love'.     

I met him again in my forties through social media. I was taken aback. There was a drastic change. The skinny short timid boy in his teens had become a man with a sculpted body. That shy smile was no more shy but as bright as sunshine. It might have caused a few heartaches amongst opposite gender in his prime. Even at this juncture when burden of experiences had taken a toll, Sree listened to the chords, a different song urging her to be different, like the clouds searching for a rainbow. She wanted colour, dripping in red, yellow, orange, to change the grey canvas of her life. Ronojit Sen sat on a revolving chair resting his head against the head rest. His eyes were shut. Bows of radhachura and krishnachura bent downwards trying to reach the metalled road. Red petals were strewed on it. He was walking towards his school looking here and there to have a glimpse of Sree.  His Sree, two ponytails, each tied with a red satin ribbon, were bouncing as she rushed throug...

Scar from the left cheek down to the chin, A deep gash leaving behind puckered skin, The mirror, exquisitely designed, is shocked! Staring at her distortion, Making her cringe with self deprecation, Mockery trespass her every moment of peace, Denigrating her to lead a forlorn life, Without love cuddling her in its arms. The thought made her believe, Never she would walk the aisle,  In her father's arms dressed in white, Her daydream is a bouquet of white lilies , in her hands; c rumble in a sudden twist,   And the mirror laughs at her foolish tryst. Her wish to dream never subsides, Imploring her to dress in white, A chance to dance secured in muscular arms,   C upid struck; ushering spring of love, The grip never loosens, Somewhere the notes from the flute float through the air, An aura of happiness behold,    Her scar is smothered with kisses, The mirror is shocked! How could it be so foolish! A mere scar could trick destiny...

Photo credit: Srabani Paul The sun sets, The day fades out, Birds fly back to rest, Twinkling stars begin to wink, The Moon shines, Shedding diffused light, Night is born, When conch shell blows, A lamp is lit near Tulsi plant, A prayer for health and wealth. She sits beside the window, Dressed in her finery, A bright red bindi on the forehead, Vermillion dusted in the parting, A new beginning for Bodhu, Dreams of a newly wed, Etched in those smoked eyes, Speaking volumes, Exuding happiness, That shy smile hiding, Her longing for him, Intense; simmering with hope, Home to be built, With pillars of love and trust, Tinkling of a cycle bell, Barefoot, she runs, Blushing eyes meeting his. His coarse hands showing signs of toil, Lifted her with one go, In front of the mirror, Together they are, A garland of jasmine, Encircled it around her braided bun, The fragrance enamoured the man and the woman, in a world of their own, Heralding a new dawn,...

Painting by Sejuti Biswas Rain is in the air, Drenched in its warmth, I frolic my feet, Into water filled potholes, Spraying droplets, My hair drips, A strum of guitar, Waves of 'On top of the world', Inundated in, 'I have a dream', I groove to let me feel, The arms surrounding, Securing me in their fold, Oblivious to skepticism, Alienating the ridicule, Surmounting the obstacles, A knight in shining armour, Swirling me in twists and turns, An aura of rainbow glowing on lips, Waiting for the angels, To place the train of veil, Fastened with a tiara of white rose, A man and woman are born, Ready to surrender, An oath to transcend their love, In an unending territory, Into an eternity. 

Photo Credit: Sudip Bhattacharya Sitting by the riverside, I deliberate and deliberate, Is there a blank in my life? I hear a laughter; taunting, 'Wondering about a blank at this age'? Fifty long years, Sometimes cheers, Sometimes tears, An abysmal void, A sublime urge, To define the indistinct, A shadow looms In search of the unknown, I aspire. Walking along the bank, Nestled behind the Ivy, Peeping through the doorway, The staircase rise, The shadow looms, I rise. Sharp turns, Twisted steps, Sudden fall, I rise, Excruciating pain, Bleeding wound, Trembling feet, I rise. Stars hide, The moon bids goodbye, I rise, Against the rail, The shadow lies, I rise. Crimson is the sky, Seagulls fly, My Strength dies, I rise. Swept me in his arms, I open my tired lids, His exuberant face, That radiant smile, Telling a tale, 'You are alive, You are mine, Waiting ages,...