THE GULMOHAR

The twilight Sun remindful
of a red-circle was about to
go down the western
horizon.
The giant gulmohar like
a spelling mistake
displayed glittering red spring like
blood-drops.
Under the red shade of
the gulmohar
in a concrete bench with
tired sunken eyes sitting
along he was casting
empty looks.
The sprawling sanatorium
cries of pain, agony and
lamentations could be heard
outside.
The veil of darkness
like a serpent was swallowing
the last vestige of twilight
at last draping the surroundings with
a dusky blanket.
Bulbs opened their
eyes inside the sanatorium
and he woke
up from the
bench.
With intermittent painful
coughs and gasping for
breath walked inside
and lay on his
cot still gasping.
Suppressing the severe pain
in the chest, shut
his eyes.
Upon recalling his days
of glory
with family members
including his wife and
children, friends and
relatives, loved, respected
and worshipped him
who in his hour of
helplessness and deprivation
deserted him
and left him in the
sanatorium.
Tears ran down
the two corners of his
eyes.
He gasped with deep effort
coughed out blood and phlegm.