CALL-SHEET

Walking down the

elongated, tarred road resembling a thick, dark sheet

under the blue starlit moonlit skies

in this misty, festive night of X’mas days

with the stars glittering

on the flats lined upon

both sides of the road.

They

holding each other’s hands

throwing glances at each other with lustful eyes

both wearing cultivated smiles

often marvelling at their immense ability

to conceal their true selves

playing man and wife

thus the residents of this colony think of them

they feel proud of themselves

like two tinsel stars

signed up a call sheet for an upcoming film.

None knows for sure

he is on a contract

hired to play her husband 

and she is on a contract

hired to play his wife

exclusively for this festival season

and with the festival

coming to an end

each of them is set to part ways

with none of them willing to shed a

drop of tear.

Listen to the local trains

speeding along the tracks

hooting sirens

to and fro

they’ve a lot 

to learn from that

to and fro.