Book Review of A Cage of Desires

(I was sent this book for review by the author)

“Solitude brings isolation and sometimes that’s all you need to gather your pieces and put them back together.”

Renu is a middle-aged Indian woman whose life comprises of her husband, kids, and her father-in-law’s endless taunts. But beyond this veil of the ideal, devoted family woman, is a person who has several unfulfilled dreams and desires of her own. So, what happens when Renu finally decides she no longer wants to remain caged?

The narrative opens in the present-day scenario where our protagonist is in her late forties, and is being visited by her two kids, Aneisha and Avi. It is established from the very beginning that the mother and daughter share a deep, emotional bond. A scene in the prologue leads us to Renu taking the reader through her journey, back to where it all began. We’re introduced to the patriarchal atmosphere she’s subjected to: A nagging father-in-law, a distant husband, and the monotony of domestic life. Renu finds momentary peace in her kids’ laughter, but she desires so much more from life. She craves love, and wishes her husband would see her as someone more than just the woman who looks after his household. A crumbling marriage becomes the cause of the events that unfold eventually and what follows is a woman discovering her own self.

Renu is an archetype of a lot of Indian women her age. These are women you’ve met or known your entire life. The author has very carefully crafted her so as to let her audience see a glimpse of themselves in her actions and behavior. Behind the demure aura lies a feisty being who isn’t afraid of exploring her sensuality. Shuchi Singh Kalra has presented a true picture of the middle-class Indian society which is still pretty steeped in age-old traditions. Although Renu’s naïve decisions and doormat tendencies are not so prevalent these days, the representations still hold true to a certain extent. It’s clear from the onset that the author wants to portray Renu’s growth as that of a phoenix rising from her ashes, and she manages to accomplish that quite decently, albeit not without some unmistakable cringe-worthy episodes.

The novel has an abundance of serious flaws. Touted as an erotica, some of the so-called erotic scenes are absolutely unnecessary. It almost feels as if the writer was going for a mix of Danielle Steel and E. L. James, but ended up on a stranded island instead. One of the relationships in Renu’s life is way too instantaneous to be believable; not to forget the overtly cheesy lines that pervade the pages every now and then. The mystery is predictable and too convenient. Kalra truly tries her best to incorporate feminism wherever she can, be it through the endearing friendship between two women, or the unspoken understanding between Renu and Aneisha. I personally wish we got to know more about the daughter and the friend, since they were both very affable characters. The pretentious and over-the-top emotional drama is what bothered me the most about this story. But overall, I do have faith that the author will produce much better work in the future.

Rating: 2.5/5.

Book Review of Leah on the Offbeat

“If Katie Leung sweetly rejecting Daniel Radcliffe in a Scottish accent wasn't your sexual awakening, I don't even want to know you.”

Leah Burke is a feisty girl who is a talented drummer, loves to draw and yet is too apprehensive about her own talent, and is bisexual, but isn’t exactly ready to tell anyone yet. Not even her gay best friend, Simon. The only one who knows her truth is her mom, who is suddenly interested in introducing her daughter to her new boyfriend, and Leah couldn’t be more uncomfortable. In the midst of all this chaos, her seemingly perfect friend group is beginning to crumble just a few days before prom, and Leah has no idea how to make it all right, especially when she has secrets of herself that could hurt a lot of people, including the ones she loves the most.

A sequel to the supremely loved YA debut, Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda, author Becky Albertalli takes her readers back to the world of Creekwood High. This time, the character that takes center stage is Leah Burke, a.k.a Simon Spier’s snarky bestie. Leah is sarcastic, cynical, confused, and hilariously raw. She has dialogues like “RIP Leah Burke. She died of acute awkwardosis.” with herself, and you can’t help but laugh along at her royally witty soliloquys. Becky gives equal flesh and space to all the minor characters. Each individual has their own struggle, and you just want to wrap them all in a blanket and protect them from the storm that every young being faces at the threshold of growing up.   

If you’ve read Becky Albertalli’s previous books, you must be aware of the fact that she herself is a certified nerd. She sprinkles her fangirling elements in all her novels, and Leah on the Offbeat is no different. In fact, it should be crowned for its fangirling extravaganza. The entire story is filled with pop culture and Harry Potter references that are bound to win the hearts of millennials and beyond. Becky’s writing is refreshingly funny and deeply earnest, which in turn creates an honest world that you can most definitely relate to. There isn’t one dull moment in this tumultuous ride of teen angst and drama. She pulls you in from the very beginning, and you soon find yourself sharing laughs with the squad, panicking during their breakdowns, and rejoicing at their victories. As far as stellar YA novels go, Becky Albertalli is surely a class of her own, and her heroine, Leah Burke, will stay with you long after you’re done swaying to her kickass playlist.

Rating: 5/5.

Book Review of A Study in Charlotte

“I began wondering if there was some kind of Watsonian guide for the care and keeping of Holmeses.”

Charlotte Holmes and Jamie Watson seem destined to be best friends. So, when the great-great-great-grandchildren of the iconic Holmes-Watson duo end up in the same school, people expect them to get along on the first go. Instead, things go a little haywire, and Jamie and Charlotte don’t exactly start off on the right foot. But they’re almost forced to come together when a student, someone they were both not particularly fond of, is found dead. They’re being framed in a crime where the killer is aping mysteries from the Sherlock Holmes series, and they only have each other to rely on.

Brittany Cavallaro chooses one of the most beloved set of stories to take her readers to a crazy ride down the memory lane. She shifts the crime scene from Victorian England to modern-day Connecticut, and builds a thriller that’s very rare in the genre of young adult contemporary fiction. We’re immediately plunged into a world of nostalgia, and Cavallaro blends it with the freshness of the 21^st century to create an ambience that’ll enchant ardent fans and newbies alike. The writing is crisp and smooth, and the plot hooks you instantly. The narrative is fast-paced, and the dialogues keep you gripped. While the ending might leave you with the feeling of a slightly haphazard and almost too convenient solution, you’ll have to settle owing to the willing suspension of disbelief attached with crime thrillers.

Out of the many things to appreciate about this novel, the initial striking factors are the skillfully delineated characters. You’re bound to get attached to Charlotte Holmes and Jamie Watson, and the minor sidekicks, too, are well-written and interesting. The camaraderie between the lead pair is sparkling as well as endearing. If you’ve grown up reading Sherlock Holmes, then you’ll most definitely find yourself drawn to Charlotte, whose lineage is reflected in her razor-sharp wit. Jamie serves as her comparatively level-headed counterpart, and together they make a pair that you can’t help but root for.

Rating: 4/5.

Movie Review of Veere Di Wedding

Friendship, fashion, frolic: Welcome to the Indian version of Sex and the City. The movie revolves around four friends who’re at different points of the marriage spectrum. Kalindi (Kareena Kapoor Khan) has always been wary of marriage, but begrudgingly says yes to the proposal of her long-term boyfriend, Rishab (Sumeet Vyas); Avni (Sonam Kapoor) is a divorce lawyer whose mom is hell-bent on finding her the perfect groom; Sakshi (Swara Bhaskar) is on the verge of an ugly divorce; and Meera (Shikha Talsania), whose life with her American husband and a two-year-old son might seem picture-perfect, but is not quite so. The four childhood buddies reunite from their different walks of life for Kalindi’s wedding, and what ensues is a mad journey.

Veere Di Wedding truly is the first of its kind: A Bollywood movie about female bonding, which is probably something we’ve been craving for ever since the days of Dil Chahta Hai. The movie tries to stay as relevant to the modern times as possible. The four leading ladies talk about sex, swear like sailors, drink like a fish, and they do it all with complete abandon. And why shouldn’t they? Because this is indeed how girls belonging to the current century would behave (well, almost). Director Shashanka Ghosh does deserve an applause for finally breaking away from age-old norms. The film, however, shows you all of this from a rich society’s point of view, and so you might have to suspend your disbelief when you witness the swanky mansions, the foreign trips, and the designer labels. While the movie in totality is a fun ride, the script, written by Nidhi Mehra and Mehul Suri, falters towards the end when it all seems too smooth and a tad bit overstretched.

Kareena being back on the big screen after her pregnancy is an absolute joy to watch. She plays the cynical girl to perfection. Sonam, too, is convincing as the daughter who’s so plagued by her nagging mother that she gives in to traditions she herself doesn’t believe in. But at the end of the day, the two actresses who steal the show are Swara and Shikha. They’re so effortless in their portrayal of emotions that you can’t help but root for them. In fact, you’ll find yourself cheering for all the four veeres. The side characters, be it the overbearing parents or the gay couple, are played supremely well, and I sincerely wish Sumeet Vyas had more frames to himself. It’s true that this movie comes with its own bag of flaws, but it makes up for it just because of sheer girl power. This isn’t a depiction of feminism, which is something the makers and actors, too, have been saying since day one, but let’s just hope that it’s a gateway to more kickass, all-girl movies.

Rating: 3/5.

Book Review of The Hate U Give

“Brave doesn't mean you're not scared. It means you go on even though you're scared.”

Starr Carter balances two separate worlds: one where she’s Black and lives in a poor neighbourhood surrounded by people of her community, and another where she attends an elite school and has to make sure no one gets to see the ‘real’ Starr. These two worlds collide when her childhood best friend Khalil gets shot at the hands of a White police officer. He was unarmed, and Starr is the sole witness of his innocence. Khalil’s death soon becomes the cause of a national protest, and Starr has to decide whether to keep her mouth shut for the sake of her loved ones, or speak up and avenge her friend’s murder. What will she do?

Firstly, I want to say that if you read just one book this year, please make sure it’s this one. And secondly, I’m still flabbergasted at the fact that this is Angie Thomas’ debut novel, because it really does seem like she’s been writing her entire life. I can’t possibly begin to explain how much I loved this book, but I shall try.

Starr is someone you’ll like even before the author reveals the various aspects of her personality. She’s amiable, sassy, spunky, and genuinely flawed, and that’s what makes her so relatable. Her growth and transition from a normal 16-year-old to a girl who’s brave and confident even amidst the scary circumstances is so commendable that you can’t help but root for her wholeheartedly. Angie Thomas does a brilliant job in creating a whole array of diverse characters, not just in terms of race and background, but also traits and temperament. From her family to her boyfriend to her friends at school, there isn’t one character who isn’t solid. I basically want to have dinner with this entire kickass gang.

The real hero of this book is definitely the story. The Hate U Give starts off as a seemingly normal YA novel, and soon spirals and expands into a national phenomenon, a protest whose echo ripples across the globe, and sends chills down your spine. This is an extremely crucial and relevant story, especially in today’s day and age, and will remain so for centuries to come. The pacing is seamless and perfect, and the writing is fresh and witty. The author touches upon extremely sensitive subjects, and deals with them with extreme subtlety, sensitivity, and brutal honesty. This is a story of identity, belongingness, the power of family and friendship and love, and above all, it’s a reminder that your voice matters no matter who you are or where you come from, and that nobody has the right to forbid you from speaking up. I bow to you, Angie Thomas; for giving us a powerful story and such unforgettable characters. I hope you never stop writing.

Rating: A big and loud 5/5.  

Book Review of We Are Okay

“There are many ways of being alone. That’s something I know to be true.”

Marin hasn’t talked to anyone from back home ever since she left everything behind. But now her best friend, Mabel, is flying all the way from California to New York just to see her. Will Marin be able to tell her the truth? Will things ever be the same again?

You know how you read a book, and you just know it’s going to stay with you for a really long time? Well, this was one such book. It gripped me from the very beginning, and kept me hooked until the very end. The author deals with the mysteriousness of the protagonist’s past in an extremely subtle manner, without ever letting it get pretentious. Marin is someone we all know; perhaps she is someone you already are. And that’s precisely the reason why her confusion, suffering, and vulnerability is so relatable. Nina LaCour gives her the perfect best friend in the form of Mabel, and you can’t help but smile at the friendship of these two beautiful girls; a relationship as raw and broken as life itself.

The one thing that had me awestruck was LaCour’s impeccably lyrical writing. It was like poetry flowing through each and every corner, page, and chapter. There were lines that made me stop and marvel at her ingenuity. Each and every character was so well-written and introduced for a purpose. This isn’t a novel that boasts about plot twists, but one that makes you reflect and contemplate. The author knew better than to stretch this story till it became stale, and that’s why I’m so glad it ended the way it did. One thing I know for sure is that I can’t wait to pick up more of  LaCour’s books.

Rating: 4.5/5.

Book Review of They Both Die at the End

“You may be born into a family, but you walk into friendships. Some you’ll discover you should put behind you. Others are worth every risk.”

Imagine a world where something called the Death-Cast exists, a company that calls to warn you that you’re going to die in the next 24 hours. On the 5^th of September, two boys named Mateo Torrez and Rufus Emeterio get this call a little after midnight, and they now have only a day to live their lives. In a weird turn of events, the two end up crossing paths via an app called the Last Friend, that lets you meet people on your End Day. Will Mateo and Rufus’ last day be the adventure they both deserve?

Firstly, this was one of my most anticipated reads of 2017, mainly because I absolutely loved History is All You Left Me, and that’s why it thoroughly disappointed me when I struggled to get through the first few chapters of this book. But once I got invested in the story, it became easier to fly through it. The pacing is definitely slow initially, but Silvera manages to balance it out with his effortlessly effective and almost poetic writing. He not only gives us two strikingly different and immensely amiable protagonists, but also a bandwagon of diverse characters who manage to bring the eclectic touch the literature of today desperately needs. The alternative, first-person narration intermingles with the third person narrative of the other characters sharing similar fates, and herein lies the brilliance of the writer in putting together these jumbled pieces of the puzzle. I did have an issue with some of the passages with overly long dialogues, and perhaps the development of Mateo and Rufus’ relationship could have been worked on a little more.

Adam Silvera is famous for his heartwrenching stories, and this one was no different. Throughout the novel, we’re slowly introduced to the individual worlds of Mateo and Rufus while they get to know each other better, and just when you get emotionally attached to these vulnerable beings does it hit you that you have to say goodbye soon, and that in particular is a punch your heart isn’t prepared for. You root for their new experiences, cry over their last bits of goofiness, and can’t help but pray that these boys had more time than they got. Kudos to Silvera for blatantly stating the ending in the very title and yet spinning a story of friendship, hope, and life out of it; one that actually makes you want to read through it all just to see how the events pan out.  

Rating: 3.5/5. 

Book Review of Home Fire

“Grief needed company, grief craved solitude; grief wanted to remember, wanted to forget; grief raged, grief whimpered."

After having spent years being a devoted elder sister to her twin siblings, Isma Pasha is finally free to live her own life. But even this freedom is tainted with anxiety about her sister Aneeka’s safety, and haunting memories of her brother Parvaiz who embarked on the dangerous path their jihadist father had followed years ago. Amidst all this, the handsome Eamonn, who’s the son of the newly appointed home secretary of the United Kingdom, enters their lives, and sends everything into a whirlpool, and thus begins a tale that explores the lengths we go to for the ones we love.

            

Longlisted for this year’s Man Booker Prize, Home Fire is a contemporary retelling of Sophocles’ Antigone. Kamila Shamsie wonderfully manages to add her own new elements to this Greek tragedy, while maintaining the core issues of the original. The characters created by the writer are immensely powerful; ones you get mad at, pray for, and sympathise with. With Isma and Aneeka, Shamsie weaves two starkly different women with such headstrong views and determination that you can’t help but admire their courage.

            

The novel is far from being devoid of flaws, but what it lacks in unity, it more than makes up for with its fluidity. The feature that sparkles the most about Home Fire is Shamsie’s effortlessly marvellous writing. It grips you from the very first page, and keeps the pace flowing. The story with its amalgamation of love, loss, betrayal, and sacrifice packs an evocative punch that’s bound to move you. Considering the political turmoil currently surrounding the world, this novel couldn’t have been released at a better time.

Rating: 4/5.

Book Review of Turtles All the Way Down

“Our hearts were broken in the same places. That’s something like love, but maybe not quite the thing itself.”

Aza Holmes is not your usual 16-year-old. She suffers from OCD, and it seems to control not just her thoughts, but her existence as a whole. When her wild best friend, Daisy, suggests that they should investigate the disappearance of the fugitive billionaire Russell Pickett in order to win the hundred-thousand-dollar reward, by getting in touch with his son, Davis, she’s apprehensive about it. But they do it anyway. And so begins their journey.

Turtles All the Way Down is a book I’d been waiting for, for five years. So, when it was announced, I was beyond exultant, and before I started reading it, I was beyond nervous. Now having finished it, I can safely say for the gazillionth time that John Green truly never disappoints. He indeed is a master of creating not just great and relatable Young Adult literature, but also extremely interesting and complex female protagonists.

We’re immediately introduced to the chaos that pervades Aza’s head, and not once does the author attempt to sugarcoat or romanticise her mental illness. Her anxiety and paranoia are presented in such a raw form that you almost feel like you’re being sucked into her spiralling thoughts; but this is done all while maintaining the wit and humour in the background.

Daisy as Aza’s extroverted best friend and Davis as her love interest are characters that add the necessary colour to her black canvas. Like always, Green never lets the age of his characters affect the bandwidth of their intellectual conversations. They discuss science, poetry, history, and give us a glimpse into the vast knowledge the author himself possesses. The story is gripping, evocative, and includes passages that make you stop and think. The dialogues are crisp, and the writing is supremely lyrical and seamless. The pace might seem a little slow at the start, but that’s a hurdle you overcome pretty quickly. In true John Green style, the open ending leaves the reader feeling both helpless and hopeful.

I closed this book with tears in my eyes, wishing to thank John Green, both for giving us a precious book after so long, and for creating Aza; a girl filled with flaws and insecurities and love. I want to give her a long, tight hug.

Rating: 4.5/5.

Basorexia

You think you know her just because you
Smeared her mascara last night?
Darling, her hips hold stories
That will tear down the walls of your
Hollow chauvinistic pride.
The lips you kissed incorrectly
Are ones she painted with the blood in her bucket
And then woke up to change the curtains.
Her purse carries dust, smoke, glitter, portals
And knives she sharpens before your morning coffee
On the same table you attempted to break
Unaware that she let the steel loose.
Don’t be fooled by her quivering eyelashes
They hold clouds darker than
The dress your hands are itching to tear off,
Storms that will nibble your tongue
And pinch your neck
All while she’s swirling her drink
With her one hand between your legs
And the other balancing her smirk.
Are you convinced that
Her moans are for you
And so are the half breaths
And fresh flowers
And old musk?
Sweetheart, she has read too much
To fall down the rabbit hole
She has doors in her backyard
To graffiti you’d never want to see.
The wooden clock will
Strike hellfire
Against your weak spider webs,
And soon you’ll be gorging
On perfect buttery toasts
As your delusions believe it’s you
Who wanted to ruffle her sheets
While she redecorates
With newer curtains,
Higher stakes,
Deeper talons,
And her smile carved in
A darker shade of red.

- Sayantani Sarkar.

Fireworks

Have you ever fallen asleep listening to music? When the song is slowly fading away into oblivion and the world stops being so noisy? That peace, is what I feel with you. Like I'm standing in front of the sea; like the sand is tickling my feet and not gulping me in. Like there aren't enough seconds or long sunsets for me to kiss you because oh my god I want to kiss you through it all; movie nights, grocery shopping, airy blanket forts, ice creams; all of it. Like there will never be too many metaphors to describe the cotton candy my tummy swallows every time you look at me, or the marbles in my throat when I have to say goodbye. Like the maps and continents could shrink and expand like the trampolines I want to jump on to reach the farthest horizons with you. Like finally being home and crashing on my favourite couch after a very, very long day. Because I've never really belonged anywhere, but the prism of your arms is exactly where I fit in. Because you've transformed my heart into a parachute plummeting and flying among snowstorms and fireflies. Because maybe, I might just be falling in love with you.

This Haven Has Horns

When my autopsy report arrives, they’ll say

I overdosed on drugs

Slit my wrists

Drowned;

But you’ll know the truth.

You’ll go back to your room,

And open the mahogany box

With the teal-blue mirror

And the coffee-stained notes

Filled with clues and cries

You were too busy to notice

While I tried to plead to you

When I was still alive.

Still alive

With my blood throbbing

In every vein with the joy

Of seeing your half smirk

By your rusty locker,

With the knots in my knees

On looking at the dried petals

Rotting on the floor,

The ones I’d left

By your cigarette case

A few thunderstorms ago.

With sheets upon sheets

On my guilt-covered bed

In the shadow-filled haven

I could no longer call home.

Then you’ll know

That demons are real

That they walk among us

Reading us fairytales,

Driving us to work,

Bringing us flowers,

Fixing our curtains;

That they have

Kind eyes,

Chipped nails,

Purple aprons;

That they don’t always wear masks,

And smell like humans.

- Sayantani Sarkar.

The Red Wolf

You have to apparate

Through her veils of apprehension,

To slash the loyal dragons

Protecting her castle.

Your high horses won't be enough

To fight her proud wolves,

Because her night lamp has seen

More ashes than your fireplace.

Your sneering horns and smug dreams

Of bounding her in a glittering cage,

Will be swallowed whole by the falcons

Petting the howls of her nightmares.

Her words claw deeper than her nails,

Her sword shines prettier than her gowns,

Her closet shelters hushed ballads,

With which she colours her warm walls.

Please understand her solitude

Isn’t a phantom you can exorcise,

Please don’t attempt to attack

The only friend she’s ever had.

Keep your glass slippers and coffin kisses,

And the pompous court and crown,

Rescue for her from the forest fire

The library at the edge of the town. 

- Sayantani Sarkar.

January 24

One day, years from now, when my daughter is old enough to have survived her first terrible encounter with Love, I’ll tell her a story. I’ll walk into her room, to a floor scattered with clothes and pearls and heartbreak. I’ll gently stroke her head, and push away the strands stuck to her salty cheeks, and look into the numbness swimming in her eyes. I’ll tell her about you. I’ll tell her that you weren’t just the guy who scored the highest grades or got selected in every team; you weren’t just the most popular or admired one. You were also polite, and kind, and empathetic. You held the door open for me; you walked slightly ahead so that the crowd wouldn’t come in my way; you took my trembling hand in yours while crossing the road. I’ll tell her that my first time wasn’t scary and rushed, and that you made sure it was magic painted in silence, and friendship dipped in passion; so that she’ll know how she deserves to be treated, because sweetheart, respect does have a face. I’ll tell her of how a gentle touch can make even the fiercest walls come crashing down in melody; of how the night was too fleeting for me to continue melting under the moonlight; of how happy you made me; of how I didn’t want it all to end. But it did, like all great things do. And I’ll tell her it’s okay. Because you know what? Some tales are so beautiful they belong in closed journals, crawling along the pages, in between the ribcages of two damaged hearts. She’ll finally understand that her first love won’t necessarily be the one she’s crazy about, but it also won’t be her last; that time will kiss and fade and heal the scars, and someday she’ll find her slow dance. As the comfort of this hope softly lulls her to a dim sleep, she might ask me to stay and reveal the ending, but I won’t. Because that adventure is only ours to remember; because that truth is just ours to share, and that promise I made is mine to keep, and I always will. In the Rubik’s Cube, in my poems, in me. 

The Maze of Stomach Knots

You're the unforgiving muscle spasm,

My toe hitting the foot of the bed,

The depths of my throat burning,

The itch in the corners of my tongue.

You're the morning's cold floor,

My left eye twitching in the afternoon,

The evening's soothing black tea,

The quiet night's loud wall clock.

You're the foam drowning in the cup,

My dinner looking cold and neglected,

The dawn's fitful lamp battle,

The colours of half-sleepy patterns.

You're the ripped band-aid in the drawer,

My moody playlist in traffic fights,

The lipstick stain on the bathroom mirror,

The red dress I don't like anymore.

You’re the scrapbook painted with glitter,

My high school’s wrinkly uniform,

The whispers of the deserted hallway,

The shiver beneath the winter blanket.

- Sayantani Sarkar.

Fariyaad

Galiyon se tere guzarte hai,

Jab ki raah ho meri, manzil nahi.

Junoon ke sawaalon ka kya jawaab de,

Mohabbat ho meri, zidd nahi.

Deewangi ne ye dastaan sunn ke poocha,

Tabaah kaise na hue iss intehaan mein?

Nazrein haske jhuki aur kaha,

Hum toh fanaa hoke abaad hue unke ishq mein.

Kahin toh hogi wo zameen,

Jiska aasmaan itna bereham nahi.

Dhoondne nikle hai uss mulk ko,

Jahaan mera naam tujhse judaa nahi.

Intezaar karenge tera uss mod pe,

Alfaaz iss kahaani ke saath le aana.

Jo mil na paaye mere sheher ka rasta,

Deewaro se mera wajood mitaake aana.

- Sayantani Sarkar. 

Wo Teri Dosti

Khule hawa pe tairte
Badalo si thi teri dosti,
Zameen se bandhe pairo ko
Pankh laga gayi teri dosti.

Bheed mein khoye huye haatho ko
Saath ka saath dila gayi teri dosti,
Thehri hui ghazal ki khamoshi par
Alfaaz saja gayi teri dosti.

Bikhre se khaali aasmaan mein
Taare gina gayi teri dosti,
Kore se saade kaaghazo par
Ghazal bhar gayi teri dosti.

Yun hi sanng haste-chalte
Yaad aakar rula gayi teri dosti,
Anjaane palo mein tujhpe marke
Jeena sikha gayi teri dosti.

- Sayantani Sarkar.

To Paris, My Love!

Let’s pack our bags

And run far away,

Away from the noise,

Never to look back again.

To the land where love lives,

To the city where hearts wander,

To the lanes where artists grow,

To the corners of dancing rainbows.

Let’s sit at a roadside café,

And watch stories pass by,

Till our cups are filled with ink,

Till the sun collides with the stars.

Let’s touch the droplets

That taste like romance,

Let’s watch the fairy lights

Embrace the black night.

Let’s trace the map

To the lost bookstore,

Let’s find among the rusty yellow pages,

The sound of writers witty and unknown.

Let’s run away;

With lips full of promises,

And a journal of empty pages,

To paint a canvas in eternity,

To paint a sonnet of you and me. 

- Sayantani Sarkar.

Aphrodisiac

She's thinking of you tonight,
With your gaze on her,
And her stomach in knots,
Clawing at the cold floor.

She's thinking of you tonight,
Camouflaging the wine in her eyes,
Palms stained by the rusty railing,
Wishing you'd catch her fall.

She's thinking of you tonight,
Her mascara quivering,
Starving to make her
Scars perfect for you.

She's thinking of you tonight,
Her restless fingers nudging one another,
The needles of her soundless voice
Screaming at the empty sky.

She's thinking of you tonight,
As you remain oblivious,
While the hurricane you gifted
Stirs and shakes and shatters her cage.

She's thinking of you tonight,
Through the battles she fights
To stop herself from begging
You to stay.

She's thinking of you tonight,
Amidst the stolen seconds,
Along the tangent between
Her breaths and the blur.

She's thinking of you tonight,
On the road faded with noise,
As the horizon swallows her song,
Her last whisper being your name.


- Sayantani Sarkar.

The Fall

The sun is golden again today,
Like that blazing Friday afternoon,
When the horizon refused to part,
Perched below the soft hues.

The sun is golden again today,
Like when the wrinkled silk
Whispered stories from our Pensieve,
Bellowing across the cobbled lanes.

The sun is golden again today,
Like your coffee turning cold
Against the sleeping hammock,
Counting the droplets of the clock.

The sun is golden again today,
As I sit here waiting,
For a kinder storm
To bring back the Autumn leaves.


- Sayantani Sarkar.