Will you remember me as somebody who cried listening to your voice?
Will you remember me as somebody who enjoyed your talk?
Was I not somebody who tapped to your rhythm, sang along,
synchronised with the verses of our favourite poems, and read between the lines.
Will you remember me as somebody who tried to know you, and kind of knew you well?
Will you remember me as somebody who rooted for you despite knowing it all?
Your good? Your bad? Your worse? Your best?
Will you remember me as somebody who was afraid to fall too hard?
Will you remember me as somebody who spoke to you about the happenings inside the heart?
Will you remember me as somebody who tried to save herself?
Please don’t remember me as somebody who walked away!
Believe me…trust me…I truly wish, I could stay.
Remember me as a flawed human being, not too strong!
Why did you choose to close your eyes and turn around?
Why did you not take a step closer and stand where I was?
If the time comes, will you acknowledge us as each other’s escape?
If the time comes, will you welcome me with your full heart?
Will you remember me as somebody who put everything at stake?
But I am afraid, if the time comes, will you forget whatever we had?
But when I ask you where do you place me —
With you, in the past
With you, in the present
With you, in the future
Answer me —
With you, here and beyond!
“It isn’t some skylark romance”// Hajra A. Shaikh ©