Clouds in Your Name

– What are you writing so intently, Tithi?
– Thinking of you.
– Let me see what you've written, thinking of me?
– No, don't look... I haven't finished it yet.
– Most of your writings about me are incomplete; how many have you actually finished?
– You occupy the very beginning of my feelings, yet when I reach the end, I still can't find the destination.
– Give it here, let me read what you've written.
(Reads the writing aloud)

"...You are not in your own charade,
not in the sips of evening tea,
not at all behind sleeping eyes,
as if beloved love has died on desert shores;
as if your time has turned its face away.
I remain stunned, in your deep sighs,
let not this wall of rules break from the heart's ailment,
let it not crumble in love's name—
don't seek goddesses, they're merely untouchable imaginings.

I still stay awake through the silent hours of our melody,
does the shadow of our love ever visit your dreams?
That wish-kite lost in darkness—
in your poetry, my time seems suspended, nest.
Don't lose yourself this time,
this me, touched by so much anguish
in the end you said— 'In your eyes, I am terribly enchanting.'

Your appearance in another story,
I've written about you, a fragment of feeling wrapped in deep sighs.
If one day you find me in wounded pride,
say— 'I love you.'

In your affection,
I've searched for myself absently.
If you wish to know, come back,
I will still belong to you then.
This spell may break,
but I can never erase your memory.
In sorrow's touch, in this wrong time—
even the sky today has clouded over in your name."

– Wonderful! How beautifully you've written! Am I really like this in your imagination?
– Yes.
– You can think in such extraordinary ways, Tithi.
– I learned by looking into your eyes.
– You've stored up so much tenderness for me, Tithi?
– I don't know why, but I desperately want to love you. I feel like you're mine alone.

– I feel so tired.
– Come sleep on my chest, Tithi.
– If you go so far away one day, won't I quietly search for you anymore?
– Silly girl, if you don't look for me— who will file a missing person report in my name? This evening is ours, Tithi.
– Though our moments of love are very small, their scope is limitless.
– The intensity of your love makes my heart surge, you know, Tithi?
– I know.
– Why do you become so quiet whenever you're in front of me, Tithi?
– However much you see me in silence, I'm drowning even deeper in the spell of your existence.

– How much longer can time pass like this? In arrangements upon arrangements...
Forgetting your complaints, take me with you to the final frontier.
– Don't speak in riddles!
– Just try once to 'be mine,'
then I'll forget all riddling moments.
– I return every day only to you,
to remain yours,
to drown in this sudden, untethered feeling.

– You've probably fallen in love with me little by little, Neer.
– Silly girl, I've loved you very much throughout all time.