Vaani

I waited for him to come back home that evening.  He didn’t come. His body did. “Stayfree” she whispered to the shopkeeper.  He pulled out the green packet from the shelf,  wrapped it in a newspaper and put it in a black poly. Stained me? Or Stained culture? He visited me on a rainy day. Brought me some hot samosas.  I sat in his lap and ate. He couldn’t eat.  His teeth were all gone.  Wrinkled grandpa! “Butterscotch” he said in Mumbai. “Chocolate” she ordered in Mangalore. He knew her favorite. So did she. the long distance! The Battle was in between the Orange, the Green and the White.  They forgot that the Red was the victorious one. Always.