The TV and Me

He storms out of the room

Huffing and panting

All civility and class

That had left his body

Wafting back to him

I straighten up

I realise the solidness of the sofa

I stare ahead

The TV screen returns my blankness

We sit in silence

The TV and me

For how long?

I now notice my reflection

A blackish shape on a black screen

How could black

Have so many contrasts?

My hand reaches to my face

My forefinger caresses my lip corner

Something rises in my chest

Slowly, slowly

Bile?

No, it's laughter

No sound escapes my mouth

My eyes are probably alive now

I pick up the remote

And press 'On'

Nimisha Sajayan throwing

Drain water 

On Suraj Venjaramoodu*

Now the sound comes

Now I cannot stop

The neighbours might hear me

My gaze falls on

The crimson on the 'On' button

The laughter gurgles to a stop

I get up

The wipe cloth must be retrieved. 

-

Chandni Girija

April 13, 2021

*Scene from the movie 'The Great Indian Kitchen'

Day 13 of 30 | 30 Poems in 30 Days | National Poetry Writing Month #napowrimo