I Live.

By Vasudha Athani

I live in the stories I relate to.

I live in the conversations where both of us come alive or reminisce.

I live in the leaf that stops me in my tracks and demands me to appreciate its intricacies.

I live in the smile of an old man who has figured out how to love life.

I live in the aroma of a freshly baked cake coming from Iyengar bakery.

I live in the words that seems like the only truth that there is until I find the next set of them.

I live in the painting on random normal things like a door knob or around a switch.

I live in that tiny stream of water on the road which might be a whole river for ants.

I live in that tiny white spider which took a min to walk the length of my finger.

I live in the warmth one feels when a stranger shows kindness.

I live in the dark where everything seems to stop except the observation that everything has frozen.

I live in the uncontrollable tears that are urging its way out to release what it was holding.

I live in the thoughts that sometimes spiral down like how a vulture would, to grab its prey.

I live in the empty chair next to you where you wish someone who gets you was there.

I live on the knees that get drawn to the chest to create a foldable safe space.

I live.

I live it all , and some more.

I simply live. And what a life it has been :)

By Vasudha Athani