summer vacation · 7 am
remember the summers at your house?
mango achaar that took 3 weeks. worth every day.
"don't tell mummy" laddoos, hidden behind the rice.
your hands always smelled of coconut oil and elaichi.
and the 2 pm nap you made compulsory.
tap a jar on the terrace
2:30 pm · everyone's asleep
you pushed. i flew.
you never got tired. (you did. you just never said.)
6:45 pm · the light's going
please, nani. just one.
the same story, 400 times. a new ending every time.
the king, the crow, and somehow a moral about eating lauki.
your Nana's version had more fights. yours had more love.
you fell asleep before the end. i never minded.
10 pm · beds on the terrace
tap every star, like we used to.
love you, Nani
every summer of my life smells like your house.
— your little one. still. always.