The Light and the Leaving

by Vikram Bhaskaran

I sit by her bed, the air thick with waiting,

machines whispering their steady song.
Night presses in like a great black wing,
but somewhere, far off, light spills
through a high cathedral window,
gold drifting like dust over stone.

I do not know how to hold this—
the weight of her hand,
the hush of her breath,
the way the world tilts
between staying and leaving.

Outside, the streetlights flicker.
Inside, I close my eyes and see her
young, laughing, lifting me high
beneath a Bangalore summer sky.

A tambourine shakes in the wind,
a sound like prayer, like longing,
like something rising beyond what I can name.

And then—her lips part,
her voice, thin as a thread,
finds its way through the hush.
*Yes*

A single syllable,
but in it, a whole life—
a promise, a surrender,
a hand reaching toward the light.

God, if you are here,
if you are anywhere,
let your light spill over her,
let it pour through the cracks,
let it carry her gently
into whatever waits beyond the dark.

I open my eyes.
Her fingers are warm in mine.
And for now, just for now—
she is still here.

Wake up, dear

Wake up, dear

The sun is shining,
The birds are singing,
A gentle breeze whispers your name.
The world is waiting to say hello.

Wake up, dear
There are words to share,
Melodies to hum,
Prayers to send skyward like drifting petals.

Wake up, dear
Your coffee is brewing,
Its rich aroma filling the air.
The dog waits by the door, tail wagging—
He knows the morning is incomplete without you.

Wake up, dear
There’s a wedding to go to soon —
Laughter to share, memories to weave.
What will you wear? Where shall we stay?
These moments, and more are waiting.

Wake up, dear
Little voices call your name,
Eager to tell you stories of school and play.
There are videos to watch, pictures to admire,
Messages of love sent just for you.

Wake up, dear
There’s a book half-read and a song half-sung,
A story only you can tell.
We’re waiting, listening, hoping—
For your voice to bring them to life again.

I Am Not Alone

I've known the shyness of saying hi

I've known the sadness of saying goodbye.
I've known the fear of boarding a plane,
I've known the gloom of being drenched in the rain.

And I know I am not alone,
In all I've felt, in all I've known.

I've known the impatience of waiting in line,
The flush of fever, the ache of decline.
I've known the sting of being told I'm not good enough,
The shame of mistakes, of losing or breaking stuff.

And I know I am not alone,
In all I've felt, in all I've known.

I've known the weight of a love unreturned,
The ache of a dream that crashes and burns.
I've known the silence of having no one near,
The shadow of longing that never disappears.

And I know I am not alone,
In all I've felt, in all I've known.

I've known the shame of being let go, or fired,
Despite my efforts, exhausted and tired.
I've known what it is to have my hopes worn thin
To find my place, but to lose once again.

And I know I am not alone,
In all I've felt, in all I've known.

I've known the pangs of words said in a fight,
The whisper of regrets stealing my nights.

I've known the pressure of time racing fast,
The wish to hold on, to make moments last.

And I know I am not alone,
For every heart has felt its own.
Through loss and doubt, through fear and pain,
We rise, we heal, we smile again.

Lessons in Enough

I thought I needed to earn more money.
Until I realized, I needed to do better things with my money.

I thought I needed more time.
Until I realized, I needed to do better things with my time.

I thought I needed more friends.
Until I realized, I needed to love and appreciate the friends I have, more fully.

I thought I needed more vigor and health.
Until I realized, I needed to make the best of the vigor and health, I already have.

I thought I needed more possessions.
Until I realized, I needed to cherish what I already own.

I thought I needed more thrills.
Until I realized, I just needed to look at the sky, to listen to a piece of music, or to watch a pet, to feel those thrills.

I thought I needed more wins.
Until I realized, how I handled insults, failures, and losses was far more important than wins.

I thought I needed more status.
Until I realized, respect comes from character, not titles.

I thought I needed more sophistication.
Until I realized, authenticity is the truest form of elegance.

I thought I needed more attention.
Until I realized, true fulfillment comes from giving attention, not receiving it.

I thought I needed more love.
Until I realized, I needed to show more gratitude for all the love and blessings I have received.

I thought I needed more control.
Until I realized, peace comes from letting go.

I thought I needed more of everything.
Until I realized, instead of yearning and grasping, all I truly needed was to appreciate what I already have. And that, in itself, is plenty.

Sandcastles by the Sea

I need a place to play,

I need a place to pray.

I need a place to talk,
I need a place to walk.

I need a place to sow,
I need a place to grow.

I need a place to read,
I need a place to bead.

I need a place to think,
I need a place to drink.

I need a place to dance,
I need a place to prance.

I need a place to breathe,
I need a place to grieve.

I need a place to eat,

I need a place to meet.

I need a place to dream,

I need a place to steam.

I need a place to move.

I need a place to groove.

And then I realize,
That all is exactly as it should be.
Joy, abundance, awe, and love surround me—
A life that fits me perfectly.

And so, dear reader,
I live each day quietly and simply,
And I let the waves of life wash away the sandcastles of longing,
Leaving fresh shores behind for me.

With a friend by my side

The road is less bumpy

With a friend by my side.
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The hill is less steep

With a friend by my side.
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The day is more sunny

With a friend by my side.
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The sky is less cloudy

With a friend by my side.
__

The stars shine more bright

With a friend by my side.
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The music is richer

With a friend by my side.
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The sights are more fun

With a friend by my side.
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The meals are more pleasurable

With a friend by my side.
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The adventures are more engaging

With a friend by my side.
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The darkness is less scary

With a friend by my side.

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The shadows are not so spooky

With a friend by my side.

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The world is a warmer, friendlier, place

With a friend by my side.
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Stay well, my friends, stay well.

You are truly, one of life's treasures.

Stay well, my friends, stay well.

Knowing you has been one of my life's greatest pleasures.
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Stay well, my friends, stay well.

I am so grateful life threw us together.

Stay well, my friends, stay well.

I am so glad we've known each other, like almost forever.
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Stay well, my friends, stay well.

Look after yourself, please do.

So we can continue to meet, talk, say hello, or do things together.

I look forward to plenty more of that, with you.
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Stay well, my friends, stay well.

Look after yourself, please do.

For if truth be told, I would not alter.

A single word of the history, of me and you.
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Stay well, my friends, stay well.

Look after yourself, please do.

My world would be - well, I cannot even imagine what it would be.

If not for the presence in it, of friends like you.
__

Stay well, my friends,

Stay well!

There's a comfort in the familiar

There's a comfort in the familiar
Which to each of us, is understandable and plain.
The worn sweater, the frayed nightdress
Someone calling us by a special name.
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There's a comfort in the familiar
The favorite chair on which we sit.
Our favorite tea, the first thing we do, when we wake up
The flow of our daily routines and habits.

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There's a comfort in the familiar.
The sights and sounds of our day.
The tv stations we watch, the music channels we listen to
All we do, as we work, and as we play.
_

There's a comfort in the familiar
Tending to the plants and animals in our care.
Opening the blinds to let in the sunshine
Opening the window to let in some air.
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There's a comfort in the familiar
The people we run into regularly at different places.
The gal at the grocery store, the person at the pharmacy
The strangers in our lives, who have become well-known faces.
_

There's a comfort in the familiar
In talking to, or meeting, those who know us best.
Those who know the victories we have celebrated, and the losses we have mourned
And whose knowledge, wisdom, support, comfort, or company, have seen us through life's ups and downs, and its tests.
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Yes, there's a comfort in the familiar
And it's time to give thanks, where thanks are due.
So without further delay, let me express gratitude for all, and everything, that's a familiar part of my life
And guess what - that includes you!

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Thank you for being a part of my life, and wishing you the very best for 2025!