Counter Wind

— Hey, are you listening? Did you fall asleep?
— No.
— Remember how we used to walk together every night once everyone in the house was asleep?
— Yes.
— You and I would go to the cinema hall and watch so many films then. Do you remember?
— Yes.
— Remember when we both fell from that guava tree and got hurt so badly, how much we bled! Ha ha ha! Do you remember? I suppose you don't, but you do remember.
— Yes.
— Yes, what? You really don't remember? Then surely you've forgotten that I ignored everyone in the family, took your hand and ran away from everything? There are so many questions like this you couldn't answer today! Never mind, go to sleep.

— Does it ever occur to you that you've moved away from me?
— What do you mean?
— Do you remember that before you became the mother of my daughter, you were my wife, and before that, you were my lover?
— What kind of questions are these? Why would I forget?
— When you fell from the guava tree that day, you alone got hurt. I only writhed in anguish watching your pain and tears. That I too was hurt that day, that I too bled — believe me, your words made me remember all this today. I truly had no memory of it.
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— You left everything behind, that's true, but have you forgotten that I too decided to leave everyone and stay here alone with you?
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— You get angry and go sleep in the other room almost every night — have you forgotten that I have this illness of being struck dumb, that I can't sleep alone in a dark room?
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— Tell me, do you remember that once upon a time, this very you used to love me terribly?
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— Did you fall asleep? Yes, sleep, sleep! Surely sleep is better than love!