What if.. - By Hiral Mankad

Written By: Hiral Mankad

Category: Poetry

Competition: Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

In the evocative poem "What if.." by Hiral Mankad, we are invited to delve into the intricate emotions of love and longing. Part of the Poetry category in the Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026, this piece captures the tender hesitations that accompany heartfelt confessions. Mankad's work eloquently reflects the theme of exploring deep, personal emotions and the universal question of "What if?" that many face in the realm of love.

About the Work

"What if.." is a beautifully crafted poem that intertwines themes of love, doubt, and longing. The poem's rich imagery and introspective mood guide the reader through the narrator's internal struggle of unspoken emotions and the fear of vulnerability. Mankad's use of vivid metaphors and rhythmic flow allows the reader to feel the intensity of unrequited love, wrapped in the fear of rejection and the hope for mutual feelings.

What if..

Original Submission by Hiral Mankad

What If…

I love spending time with you,

It’s frightening,

How easy you make time disappear.

The hours started at the sun,

And suddenly the moon is here,

I’ve laughed with people all my life,

I have watched the seasons come and go,

But no one’s ever felt like this,

Felt like home.

I love looking at you.

It’s almost rude,

The way my eyes forget their cue.

The world keeps speaking,

People,

Keep breathing,

But every road I take,

Leads me back to you.

I have memorized,

The freckles on your skin,

The way you pause before you break into a grin,

The way your eyes hold storms,

That somehow always pulls me in.

If loving looks could leave a stain,

You would wear gaze,

Like summer rain,

Because I swear I have spent forever,

Looking once,

Feeling shy,

And looking again.

I want you beside me,

I want your voice,

To fill up my silence.

I want you through the midnight blue,

Through afternoons of coffee too,

Through boring Mondays,

That become extraordinary.

Simply because they are shared with you.

I want you all to myself,

How selfish does that sound?

Like locking all the stars away,

Cause they are prettier around.

I know I can’t own whom I love,

But for once,

Cause you are the only one,

Can’t I own you as my priced possession.

I want to get jealous,

When someone steals your time.

I want to roll my eyes,

Pretend I am fine,

Then lose my calmed rhyme.

I want to get mad at you,

For things that don’t deserve a fight,

Just so we can makeup,

And hold each other twice as tight.

I want to scream,

To cry,

To laugh until I shake.

I want to be unreasonable,

The beautiful kind heartbreak makes.

I want to lose my careful mind,

To let my guarded heart unwind,

To be the version of myself,

I have spent my whole life trying to hide.

Because with you,

Every feeling grows,

Until it brushes heaven’s doors.

The quiet,

becomes thunder,

The little becomes more.

But then,

The words arrive, they stand at my lips,

And suddenly refused.

They dress themselves as confidence,

Then panic in my shoes.

So I smile,

I joke,

I changed the subject.

I look away, I tell myself,

That silence is the safer thing to say.

Because what if I am mistaken?

What if I have built a sky from smoke?

What if your heart

Is somewhere else,

And mine is the only one that breaks?

What if you hear my “I love you”,

And call it childish,

Call it strange?

What if I become the story,

People whisper just to laugh between the pages?

What if I am begging?

What if I am too much?

What if every little hope I have,

Is built on wishful touch?

What if I have mistaken kindness,

For a love that isn’t there?

What if I have planted gardens,

In ordinary,

Empty air?

So I rehearse conversations,

That will never leave my head.

I say the words,

A thousand times,

Inside the room beneath my bed.

You always answer perfectly,

In every dream I write..

Funny how imagination,

Is always kinder,

Than real life.

Still…

What if…

What if you count the hours too,

The way I count each one with you?

What if your favorite part of the day is wondering,

What I am up to?

What if you linger by the phone.

Hoping I’ll be the name,

That glows?

What is you read my little texts,

Far slower,

Than anybody knows?

What if you look at me,

The way I look at you,

Pretending not to, cause pretending,

Is all you know to do?

What if you are terrified as well,

Wearing courage like a mask?

What if you have loved me all this time,

Just too afraid to ask?

And maybe,

Just maybe…

While I am folding hands,

In prayer,

Asking heaven what to do,

You are somewhere with your eyes shut,

Whispering prayers about me too.

Maybe every night,

Our hopes lie side by side,

Two fragile little prayers.

The darkness cannot hide.

Maybe God’s listening smiling all along,

Watching two stubborn hearts,

Mistake silence for being strong.

Maybe he sighs,

“if only you knew”,

I have answered every prayer they pray.

The miracle they are waiting for,

Is the only one brave sentence away”

What if we never say it,

If fear guides us,

We will spend forever wondering,

What if..

Waiting on the other side.

And years from now,

I’ll still remember,

The way your laughter filled the air,

And wonder if, for just one second,

You wished that I was there.

I’ll wonder if my name,

Ever escaped your lips,

Only to be swallowed back,

Before it reached your fingertips.

But what if,

Somehow,

One trembling day,

One reckless heartbeat,

One impossible breath,

One of us looks at the other,

says, “I have loved you louder than death.”

About the Competition

The Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 by Hashtag Kalakar is a celebration of literary creativity, inviting participants from around the world to express their unique voices through poetry and prose. This competition provides a platform for writers to showcase their talent and explore diverse themes, enriching the literary community with fresh perspectives and artistic expression.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Hiral Mankad for sharing the poignant poem "What if.." with us. Your participation in the Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 adds a unique and heartfelt perspective to our collection. We look forward to witnessing more of your creative journey and literary contributions.

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.