Smile, he begged.
She looked at him. And looked away. Did he even know what it took, to do that? To smile. Smile, as in smile, not work one’s facial muscles and stretch one’s lips to caricature it.
I can’t find one, she responded. Why d’you need me to smile?
Now there’s a question! Jovially, he bounced back.
So answer me, she persisted, confused too, that she simply could not smile. It was one of those days, she thought, sighing inwardly.
You aren’t you, completely, without it. There! Isn’t that reason enough? He looked deep into her eyes, cupping her face gently.
With an imperceptible movement, she removed herself from that warmth. It was getting really cold inside her. And you can’t take just a part of me? That one, without a smile? Now there was a sudden thought, one that made her wonder what she was doing here, even asking the obvious. I want you to listen to me, to the thoughts whirling inside, feel the sudden coldness that comes and goes in gusts, join in the meditations that come upon me. I want you to want me, even when I’m not me.
So why do you think I’m here? So late into the night, only so that I can take back this picture of you, this hug from you, and the smile you gift, always. Come here. So keep your smile to yourself. Just give me you, whoever you are today. He smiled.
And drew her close; she buried her smile into his warm heart.
19 January, 2014
😀
January 19, 2014 at 12:30 pm
Sigh. Now that is just what a die-hard romantic needed to read. 🙂 In my mind I was formulating the comment I was going to write, about the need for smile from those who smile, and why it should be so. But he said, ‘ Just give me you, whoever you are today.’ and I stopped bristling and relaxed 🙂
I love how you have written this 🙂
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January 19, 2014 at 12:33 pm
🙂 Thank you, so much, Shail!
You wouldn’t believe it, but I don’t know where that ending came from. I sat looking at the preview page, a long time, without publishing, wondering 😀
And then, I smiled too.
Sometimes, it’s like that!
Thank you so much 🙂
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January 19, 2014 at 12:36 pm
I am glad. 🙂
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January 19, 2014 at 12:32 pm
Now this here is a heart-warming story
Starting glum, but ending glory
Over mercurial moods
Many an eve broods
Smilingly sighing, all’s well that ends hunky-dory!
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January 19, 2014 at 12:47 pm
Thank you Gulshan! You put that so beautifully… as always! Charmed!
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January 19, 2014 at 1:27 pm
Made me feel really good and mushy and nostalgic….thank you! 🙂 🙂
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February 14, 2014 at 12:14 am
Aayushi … you’re right up there with all your wonderful poems, when it comes to the romantic ones! Thank you somuch!
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January 19, 2014 at 6:17 pm
‘Gloomy’ to ‘Bloomy’…loved it Usha
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February 14, 2014 at 12:16 am
Sumachechi, I love the way you put it! Thank you!
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January 20, 2014 at 7:05 pm
jumped from line to line till i reached the end and then jumped back up again! 😀
this is beautiful 🙂
the kind of words and the feeling that evokes a *sighhhhhhhhhhh* 🙂
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February 14, 2014 at 12:19 am
David, 🙂 Thank you!
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January 26, 2014 at 8:52 pm
And “Smile” takes on a whole new meaning here !
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February 14, 2014 at 12:19 am
Ruch, thank you!
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February 9, 2014 at 11:00 pm
I like the part when he accepts her as she is, instead of insisiting that she smile for him !! The romantic in me is all smiles now 😀
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February 14, 2014 at 12:20 am
Thank you Uma! I rather like that part myself… and how it all came to be 🙂
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