Wails – Abhilekh Bhurtel, Runner Up, Wordism S3, Falgun

My father’s black leather soles
As they strike the black tiled floor
Each time
Make a explosion inside my ears
As he strides to and fro
From the big wooden door to the end
Of the corridor

His impatience and anger
Echo off of these grey walls
His forehead is gnarled and his eyes are fire
I clutch my sister’s hand harder.

She looks afraid
I am afraid too
We always are.

With arms wrapped on his chest
He stands motionless glaring at the door

I can see that he wants to tear it down
Where did mamu find him?
Why did he find me?

Sheela walks up to him,
Her black slippers disappear
Into the tiled floor
I hear her whisper, a slow scared sound
Come sit, Papa
Papa looks at her.

As she sits beside me again
I look at her singed face
And take her quivering hand in mine.

We sit on a darkening silver-grey
Cold steel bench, closest to the door,
The one in the middle is the same too
But a newly painted bright red sits at the end,
Why does it deserve to be treated so?
I wonder.

Bang! The door opens
My father rushes forth
Bombs bombard me deaf
As a lady with blue overalls,
A blue cloth wrapped around her head,
Pulls her green mask down to her chin
And with hands spread awkwardly out speaks
I see my father’s face untangle
He is ecstatic but the lady has more
And as she delivers the whole
Sheela stands up shaking

The lady’s eyes gravely resting with pain
On my father’s face start changing and give
Rise, I see it, to anger as she realizes
My father is no man
I see it as she pulls on her soaked red gloves
Trying to get them off

As she leads my father inside
He glances back at us
There is no sadness in his shining eyes.

Two sisters sit embracing
On a cold steel bench
Their wails claw the grey walls,
The black tiles,
The cursed red bench.

Question answer with Abhilekh

1. Tell us more about you.

Well, my name is Abhilekh Bhurtel and I am currently enrolled in BBS. Writing is one of the passions that I hold very dear to me. I am a photographer as well. And wish to take on these very crafts to make a living someday.

2. What was your thought when you apply to Wordism competition?

I was astonished to find a writing competition that was organized by an organization in Nepal itself. Because it is seldom that organizations and clubs organize such literary related competitions. What happily surprised me and pushed me to write and submit for this particular competition was that it did not have the nonsensical structure of most writing competitions organized by schools and colleges in Nepal where the writer is supposed to produce a sensible piece in a matter of hours only.

3. What are your dreams and aspiration?

My aim is to become a writer.

4. How do you feel being the Wordism Runner Up of Falgun

I feel proud in being a wordism runner up for Falgun. I surely will take part in future competitions.

5. Anything you want to say about who is reading this!

I don’t know. This is awkward.

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