We found her

We finally found her
both of us did
together

that girl
from 25 years ago
who  is a silver haired Elder now


and she remembers one thing
after another
as do you
and you wait patiently

as she sifts some and
you pick something up
a trinket here, a sliver there

the trip to IIT on high heeled shoes
the fainting after
the blood donation at the gym

the Annamalai trip
sleeping on an icy bench at Pollachi

and how you looked after her
when she was in pain
as you travelled without reservations
on a shoestring budget
the whistling school boy
as we sat in sunshine
under the sprawling tree
on the hill

she does not remember
your eyes
when you decided to leave

she does not remember
the goodbyes
there were none

she doesn't remember asking why
or begging you to stay

she did not plead
because you did not say
you were on your way

unwillingly
your hands bound
by the aspirations
of others

and she believes that
the parting was bigger
than both of you

and sometimes, just sometimes
when the Universe

has unfinished business
it allows U turns