Salutations of Grief

We strummed the guitar strings till our fingers bled,

Sang our favourite songs at night when mom and brother were asleep,

You let me use the majority half of the blanket and shivered yourself to sleep,

And now I’m alone gaping at our dingy music room; “I’ll always be by your side,” you had said.

So, this is grief.

The kind that seizures your body till your heart throbs inordinately and mutilates slowly.

The kind that greets you while you stand gawking at the mirror and lays its head on your shoulder till your knees buckle and your tears cascade profusely.

The kind that lets your coffee run cold on a dazzling, sunny day and wilts the petals of the dainty flowers from your backyard garden cruelly.

The kind that spoons you in bed and sings ballads of painstaking memories to you only to make sure your salty tears stain your cheeks and you stay awake till they stab a million holes in your heart, hastily.

We’re blasting songs on the radio again,

~“Although loneliness has always been a friend of mine
I’m leavin’ my life in your hands”~

What a shame I’m standing alone watching the winds blow the curtains

And picturing your attempts at pirouetting along the room again.

Who’s going to pet my head and tousle my hair again

When I am home with an accolade once more?

Who’s going to reprimand me for my wrongdoings again?

Who’s going to give me advice on girls again

When I botch-up my attempts at proposals once more?

Who’s going to take me to late night drives

When I’m ladened with work again?

Who do I talk to now?

How am I supposed to find you again?

So yes,

This is grief.

Grief with its two arms blanketing my soul assuring me that I’m not alone.

Grief with its two ears listening earnestly while I ramble about memories foregone.

Grief with its two eyes giving me company at eyeing old pictures and videos archived in my phone.

Grief with its two lips parting to duet with me as the special star in the night sky shone.

This

 Is

 Grief.

~ Riddhi Chakraborty

Notes: This was inspired by a real incident when one of my sister’s friends lost his father.