Water Colour Sunset

By Shruti Mishra

It’s been months

since I broke my first promise to you,

I have been breaking promises ever since.

Of walks along the bay and

tight lipped secrets spilling out

in our togetherness

of a morning breakfast and a night full of love.

Of friendly banter tossed around

every now and then,

culminating in warm hugs

and stolen T-shirts

in the pleasant sluggishness of winter mornings.

Of frantic attempts

to make up for jokes

that don’t land too well.

Of monkey back rides

I promised I would choose

over rikshaw rides

every time we go on a budget date.

If I can make up for

these times we are locked in quarantined spaces

Apart, in different cities

and in different brick-mortar structures

we can’t call home

I shall give you

Our walks

on a sheet with a water colour sunset

and letters for each day

where all my rhymes speak of you

and our love.

By Shruti Mishra