THE HOURS THAT KNOW ME - By Rohit Bhadricha

Written By: Rohit Bhadricha

Category: Prose-Poetry (Reflective)

Competition: Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

In the elegant prose-poetry piece "THE HOURS THAT KNOW ME," Rohit Bhadricha invites readers into a world of introspection and solitude. This reflective work is part of the Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026, showcasing the nuanced theme of insomnia and the weighty silence of night. Rohit captures the quiet moments when the mind refuses to rest, offering a poignant exploration of the thoughts and emotions that emerge when the world is asleep.

About the Work

"THE HOURS THAT KNOW ME" delves into the theme of insomnia and introspection, portraying the quiet yet tumultuous hours of the night when thoughts and memories surface with intensity. Rohit Bhadricha beautifully captures the mood of solitude and reflection, using vivid imagery and a contemplative tone. The piece explores the absence of escape from one's own mind, highlighting the universal struggle of confronting internal dialogues and regrets in the silence of the night.

THE HOURS THAT KNOW ME

Original Submission by Rohit Bhadricha

THE HOURS THAT KNOW ME

There are nights when sleep does not come.

Not because I am not tired, but because my mind has decided that tonight is the night it will open every locked door.

I lie in bed, staring into the dark, listening to the house breathe. Everyone is asleep. Their worlds have gone quiet. I am the only one left awake, sitting at the edge of a room that feels unfamiliar in the absence of everyone else.

Sometimes I get up.

I sit alone in the living room, sometimes without turning the lights on, watching the darkness gather in the corners. I listen to the refrigerator hum, a distant vehicle pass, a clock insist on moving forward. There is something unsettling about sitting in a room that belongs to everyone during the day and feels entirely mine at night.

And then the thoughts begin.

They do not arrive gently.

They come all at once-people I have lost, people I have disappointed, people who left, things I should have said, things I wish I could take back. Faces appear without warning. Voices I haven't heard in years return with impossible clarity.

And then there are the questions.

What if?

Why did I?

What if I had stayed?

What if I had called?

What if I had noticed?

The mind is cruel at 2 in the night. It takes the smallest regret and gives it an entire room to echo in.

It takes one small memory and turns it over and over until the edges become sharp.

Sometimes I sit there thinking about loss, and I cannot tell whether I am grieving a person, a version of myself, or a life that never happened.

And sometimes there is nothing specific at all.

Just a restlessness beneath my skin.

A heaviness in my chest.

A mind that will not stop moving.

And anxiety has its own way of keeping me company. It whispers about tomorrow while dragging yesterday into the room. It makes disasters out of possibilities and mistakes out of memories.

I check the time.

Put the phone away.

Check it again.

The numbers move.

I don't.

Outside, the city is quiet. Inside, everything is loud.

Perhaps that is what insomnia really is-not the absence of sleep, but the absence of escape.

There is nowhere to hide from your own mind when the whole world is asleep.

So I sit there.

Alone, while everyone else sleeps.

Watching the darkness slowly change its shape, carrying thoughts that feel heavier at night because there is nothing loud enough to drown them out.

And somewhere between one thought and the next, I realise-

the night does not wake me.

It only gives me enough silence to hear everything I have been trying not to feel.

* Rohit Bhadricha

About the Competition

The Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 by Hashtag Kalakar celebrates diverse literary voices, offering a platform for writers to share their unique expressions. This esteemed event invites participants from around the world to contribute their poetry, short stories, and creative writings, fostering a vibrant community of creators. With no boundaries on genre or style, the competition aims to spotlight the richness of contemporary writing.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Rohit Bhadricha for his evocative contribution, "THE HOURS THAT KNOW ME," to the Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. His reflective prose-poetry piece resonates deeply, offering insight into the human condition and the quiet hours of the night. We look forward to witnessing Rohit's continued exploration of such profound themes in future works.

About Hashtag Kalakar

Hashtag Kalakar is a creative platform dedicated to providing artists, writers, singers and other creative talents with opportunities to showcase their work and reach wider audiences through competitions, features and creative initiatives.