DESERT FLOWER

Like a desert flower she came,
Alone.
Walked down the concrete path
Holding something
Close to her chest
Like a mother holding
Her kid close to her heart.
Mother’s heart always beats rhythmically,
musically to keep the
Kid always calm
Quiet and happy.
Like a somnolent effect.
The guests in the shamiana and in
The marble mansion
Seemed like a colour world.
Familiarity writ large on their faces
She was the cynosure
Of all eyes
Neither looking right nor
Left, straight she moved,
climbed up the steps
Confidence and poise personified.
Entered the drawing room
His sister ran to her
Like a butterfly and hugged her
She beamed a smile at her
And kissed her forehead
The butterfly led her to
Her brother’s room
Who was getting dressed to the occasion -
In front of the mirror
The butterfly flew somewhere else
Leaving him and her alone inside
Both glanced at
Each other
With searching eyes
Without blinking for minutes
“All the best” – she handed over the gift to him
Nothing further came out of both
No tears, no adieu,
She turned away
Neither looking right nor left
Looked straight stepped down and moved along
Got inside the car
Turned the ignition key
Car started with a whimper and sped away
The gift was her heart itself.