And as the winter walked in,
I became more cozy and stepped outside less.
if you are thinking that summers were easy,
fate was almost the same.

And if you still ask me to step outside,
and I say no, agony rules your face.
Yet, if you still ask me why don’t you talk much,
and I say, “just like that”, roar of slangs pounce upon me.

That soundless participation that you observe,
when friends hang out together,
The occupied quiet seat that you notice in the meeting rooms,
which thunders with silence.
The content that you find on my face,
when you share your frustration.
The smile that you find,
which surprises you of my happiness.
The arrogance that you equate,
when repeated messages or calls goes unanswered.
The refutation for a lunch or dinner, 
that disappoints you,
are nothing but acceptance,
and a way to console myself,
that you just need to endure a bit more.   

And if you still ask me to step outside,
and I say understand, ease should envelope you.
Yet, if you still ask me why, what happened?
and I say, “hope”, just sing with me, “hope”.

And now that the winter is here,
night may come before evening,
if you are thinking that summers were easy,
fate was almost the same.  

And before you even realize, 
let me be the sweet memory, 
that springs in another story.

By Sri Pallab Das
[Assistant Professor of Law, Bennett University,
Founder and Mentor(Honorary)- lawmentoring.com
Former-Faculty, National Law University, Odisha
Cleared Odisha Judicial Service 2013 (Rank 5).]