Two Biological Clocks - By Hiral Mankad

Written By: Hiral Mankad

Category: Poetry

Competition: Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

Hiral Mankad's evocative poem, "Two Biological Clocks," is a poignant addition to the Poetry category of the Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. Through the lens of two women at a train station, this work delves into the complexities of life choices and the paths not taken. With the competition celebrating diverse voices and themes, Mankad's piece stands out for its emotional depth and exploration of the human condition.

About the Work

"Two Biological Clocks" captures the lives of Maya and Isha, two women whose paths intersect momentarily. With vivid imagery and heartfelt reflection, the poem explores themes of ambition, sacrifice, and the bittersweet nature of choices. Mankad uses powerful contrasts and introspective narrative to portray the inner conflicts faced by women in balancing personal dreams and societal roles.

Two Biological Clocks

Original Submission by Hiral Mankad

TWO BIOLOGICAL CLOCKS

The station clock struck 6.15,

A sharp, steady chime,

Two biological clocks arrived right on time.

The train arrived,

Its windows stitched with weary stars, heavy in the gray,

Caught two women frozen at the crossroads of the day.

Maya wore the scent of polished rooms,

Of deadlines finely kept,

A leather bad against her knee,

And dreams that never let her sleep.

At 37,

She had won the summit and the crown,

The city took her name,

In envious tones.

She had mastered every corporate game.

Across from here sat Isha,

With tiredness in her bones,

A sleeping child upon her chest,

Her lap was a place called home.

Two children whispered over screens,

Their small hands,

Pulling sleeves,

Cinnamon and dishwater,

Still lingered in her every breath.

Her husband stood beside the aisle,

One hand upon the rail,

The other reached her

Each time the train would sway.

In the pause their gazes crossed,

As two ghosts,

Of unlived lives had recognised someone.

Maya saw the dark circles,

Beneath Isha’s eyes,

The softness of a woman loved,

In ordinary life.

She thought about her penthouse view,

It’s walls of glass and chrome,

A masterpiece it was everyone said,

It was indeed a masterpiece of loneliness,

Disguised to look like home.

She had flown above the ocean’s blue,

Walked Alps beneath the snow,

Yet every table she had known,

Was set,

For one alone.

“What use?” she thought,

“Of owning time if silence fills its place?”

The nights are long,

Inside a life,

No heartbeat comes to break.

I built myself,

From sacrifice,

From hunger,

From pride,

But sometimes all this freedom,

Feels too echoing inside.”

Isha watched Maya’s posture,

The grace she carried,

A woman with no asking eyes,

No mouths left in between.

She thought about the bills at home,

The laundry undone,

How 12 long years had slowly blurred,

The edges of someone she had known.

Her name once lived,

On brighter lips,

Before it turned to “Ma”

Before her dreams grew frail and thin,

And folded themselves small.

She thought,

“I live for everyone, each breath I give away,

And though I am surrounded by love,

Parts of me decay.”

“Could I have worn that formal coat?

Could I have travelled the world?

Could I have been more,

More than just the keeper

Of this world?”

The train reached Bombay Central,

And all at once,

The fragile spell,

Returned them to their own.

One walked towards a waiting car,

A tower draped in glass,

The other to a crowded car,

And toys beneath the seat.

One faced a night of quiet rooms,

A city at her feet,

The other faced the storm of home,

Its chaos is loud and sweet.

Yet, both of them looked back,

Once,

Before they disappeared,

Not out of envy, of regret,

But something far more strange.

A grieving for the lives unlived,

The selves they could not save,

For every choice of a woman,

Becomes a knife,

That carves and takes away.

And somewhere,

In the stations light,

A question lingered in the dark,

Too human to grow old:

Is happiness the road we choose?

Or one we leave behind?

Do we spend all our life,

Just mourning our unlived lives?

Perhaps,

The paths we miss are not that cruel,

But knowing we could love them both,

and still be given this is cruel.

About the Competition

The Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 by Hashtag Kalakar is a prestigious event inviting writers to express their creativity and share unique perspectives. This competition is a platform for emerging and established writers to showcase their talent across various categories, celebrating the power of words to inspire and connect.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Hiral Mankad for sharing "Two Biological Clocks" with us in the Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. Her insightful exploration of life's choices and the lives we imagine enriches the tapestry of narratives that this competition seeks to showcase.

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.