Meera's twisted love

Point

started wi

or smell the earth, or write poetry. No.

relenting-like a trut

d over a flooded curb, careful not to slip. My old san

I could afford after my shift at the café. With the other, I tried

e neighborhood kids playing cricket with a broken bat

'll catch a cold!" I

ike that was a valid excuse. I didn't argue. W

ed walls and rusted iron railings a "building." We lived on the second floor. No lift, of

, a wave of warmth and turme

out, shutting the

room!" came

lked in to find him lying on the t

I asked, dropping the

aid, eyes glued to some

o grown up for his age. Just like I had been whe

itual on days like this. Two cups-more milk than tea, a

beside him on the mattress,

ults tomorro

k I did okay. Math

hat and end up ge

time," h

he pressed his lips together. He was hidi

an whirred above us, loud enough to dro

lord come?" I

ng. He asked

did yo

u'd talk

e. I alw

st for a small firm in the evenings, and tutoring a fifth-grader on we

omeday we'll live in a place with rea

idge that doesn't buz

d a sofa that doesn

ond, it was enough. That laug

turning serious again.

le fal

time," I

driver took away our parents and left behind a girl who had to grow

heir voices anymore

ainst the sting in my eyes.

, right? Yo

ys I just remember the s

s head on my shoulder. "You'r

s sweet of you. But the rice bag burst on the way home

d. "Still

ded me why I fought so hard. Why I stayed up at night crunc

ds. Just peace. Dignity. A life where I didn

er to the window. Rain still pounded the s

ad an intervi

it. Some temp agency had set it up, and the onl

y best kurta, tie my hair back tight, and pretend like m

nty," I said o

chapatis tonight

y heart pinched. "Y

mean

meant ski

ked like in our world-not gr

I've got you. That evening, the rain kep

ner in the dim glow of candlelight after the power cut-a

e, I held onto hope. Tomorrow