Pain

...................

Ankita Ghosh

Did you know that pain and pressure follow the same neural path to your brain?

Silly, that’s why when you are in pain,

and someone presses your head or feet or arms

you feel relieved.

Temporary, yes, but still, relief.

I crave that relief NOW.

My soulmate from a distant land; she talked about a probable death the other day.

Tell you what, she’s the pragmatic one in our relationship.

She’s the one who has already started saving money and time

for our fictitious trip to Cuba;

where we plan to wear red dresses

and dance on the streets till wee hours.

Silly, right?

The way she talked about death was like the way she talks about most things except heartbreak

calm, matter-of-fact and piercing.

As if she knew exactly how deep a wound that would create

but was nonchalant about it.

I want that relief NOW.

Because I am pained by violence, debauchery, recklessness, emotional bankruptcy and sundry.

The list is long.

More importantly, dry.

Just like my itchy throat and mouth.

I want to scream, but all that’ll come out is a hollow sound.

The safety of this bubble I live in, hurts my limbs.

My arms want to reminisce about the days when we could fly, pretending they were wings.

Alas, no one can fly anywhere now.

We are in an eternal lockdown.

I need that relief NOW.

Because death is so inevitable that it’s boring.

For everything else there's Mastercard.

I mean the reaction buttons on social media,

that's the only currency that is gaining strength.

Those tiny little faces showing frivolous, animated reactions

are stronger than bitcoin, if you think about it.

I want my soulmate to live.

I want us to dance together before we get Arthritis.

I want her whole commune of friends to laugh out loud, just like her utensils do when we talk on the phone for hours.

Silly, right?

May all people who meant harm to others, die.

May all who listened patiently and gave only love and care, live and dance

before Arthritis strikes.

May we hold each other's hands so strongly, that the pressure makes the pain go away.

May we get to cup our palms around each other’s faces in loving embrace,

before time dies.