Soulmate

It was raining heavily the day when I first noticed you,

dismounting from your mortal mount they called a bike

rain-drenched clothes enhancing your musculine beauty,

helmet in your hand - a reminder of the battle-weary shield back home.

You just returned from your daily earthly wanderings,

shaking tiny droplets of rain from your hair,

which when caught by the nearby light 

gave you a halo made of thousand shining stars

Sitting on the porch, watching the birds returning

from their day-long gruel for sustenance,

I was singing the song of rain to cheer them up and

to celebrate the first flush of youth and innocence.

That very moment you looked my way

remembering and acknowledging our age-old celestial bond

That caressing look is now archived in my heart

to be re-lived during every rainy season.

That entire summer we communicated silently

either through the window of your mortal abode

or shooting covert glances in otherwise busy street

but the shackles of our bodies kept us apart

We both remembered the time spent together 

in a faraway land, centuries ago

When the cursed fate tore us apart

to mind our earthly business separately.

I wish we had spoken the day

your bike splashed me devilishly 

with muddy water from the road-side puddle.

Instead you sped away laughing like mad.

I wish we had kissed the day

you asked me for help on a mundane matter

instead we just gawked at each other like a 

love-sick teenager on their first date.

I wished, you wished, we both wished

and yet again, the cursed fate intervened

You left with your soon-to-be mortal partner

and I kept reminiscing about our short summer together. 

It’s raining again today evening 

and the birds are returning home

Your window and my porch is now gone

sacrificed at the alter of development and greed.

But I will sing again today with the hope 

that the breeze carry the notes of my song to you

reminding you of your eternal soulmate who is waiting

patiently for that time when we meet again - in some other world.

Copyright: Shukla Banik 10/6/2016