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.