I lit a cigarette,
A mistake,
In the tangled mess
Of you and me.
The flame flickered,
A reminder of your touch.

I smoldered
Like the Paper 
At your slightest glance.

You were like the
Inferno within,
Consuming me,
Day and night.
I kept looking at you,
Becoming a part of you,
Breath by breath.

The blaze grew fierce,
With each draw,
The embers of us
Burning brighter,
Until the cigarette kept
Vanishing like
The bond between us.

It seared my fingertips
Without you ever
Realising,
A silent strife
Slowly consuming me,
Fragmenting my life.

…

Satyarth Pandita is a Junior Research Fellow at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bengaluru (NIMHANS).  He completed his dual degree of Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Biological Sciences (major) and Humanities and Social Sciences (minor) from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Bhopal (IISERB). His works have appeared in various newspapers and periodicals, including The Quint, Outlook India, Madras Courier, Borderless, and Kitaab, among others.

Links to Satyarth’s published works, email address and social media handles can be found here.