Written by Ananya Athaiya
Edited by Jaanvi Thorat
Illustrated by Deepshikha Bannerjee
Windchimes tinkling in the silent courtyard
A veranda swept with crackling yellow leaves
Sweltering sunshine and chilling shadows
Apples crisping up day by day,
Harsingar blossoms dotting the horizon
And hint of winter in the air
Birthday parties in the evenings and poojas in the mornings
Skirts and kurtis, sarees for cocktail parties
Glittering markets and the silent streets
School uniform scattered around the house
Iced tea by the gallons while hot chocolate brews
The year is about to end, December is still far away
Long walks and coffee breaks,
Rooftop gatherings with soft lulls of the city giving company
A pause, a comma, a chasm of nothingness
The tickle of rustling leaves,
The groans and loans of a test gone wrong
Ice cream trips at night while the entire colony is getting ready to sleep
Solitude and heartbreak, but joy and belonging too
How strange is September yet how familiar
Not the unending liveliness of summer
Nor the bright hope of spring
Nor the dark warmth of winter
But a comfort, a moment of peace
Saying that maybe it's time to just relax
And drift away
For now that's enough.
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