Lost in Translation

I came to this unknown city
hitchhiking all the way
I didn’t know the local language or its culture
but somehow I survived most of the cold days

I spent my time in an inexpensive local café
right next to a cheap hotel
its latte was the best coffee I’d ever had
and also the least I’d ever paid

I saw many pretty women pass by
wandering around and wiling away their time
I saw most of them again and again
with different men most of the times

Then one day I saw you passing by
you looked different and out of place
I knew you were not one of them
because you had a genuine smile on your face


The second you were out my sight
It felt like time had left me behind
and it took some moments to recover
from the most beautiful sight I’d seen in my life

On the way back to my modest inn
I found it difficult to remember what your hair and clothes looked like
but the smile on your face didn’t fail me
whenever I closed my eyes

I hurried back to the local café in the morning
tripping and falling several times on the way
I sat on the chair from where I saw you last evening
hoping to see you again today

Three quarters of the day went by and
it was now close to the time I saw you last evening
I fixed my gaze at the turn of the corner
and there I saw you walking towards me

I saw you smiling and you caught me staring
I instantly looked away for a moment
and tried to see you from the corner of my eye
what a feeling it was to see you, politely returning my smile

It seemed like spring in august as the leaves on the ground came to life
summer breeze out of nowhere passed me by
leaving a tingling feeling right under my skin
making me feel divine

We both continued looking at each other till you approached my table
I asked you to join me and I learnt
you didn’t understand English and I confessed
I didn’t understand your language of your country either

Our linguistic barrier did not make us feel awkward
as you kindly accepted my request and sat down right opposite
we both had latte and some croissants
and started learning a little about each other’s life

The waiter at the café asked us to leave
as the clocks shorter hand was now close to 2
we were not through with our deficient conversation
and I could see you felt that way too

I didn’t know where else to go as I was a wanderer
so I looked disgruntling at you not knowing what to say
you made it easy by holding my hand
and we started walking along the deserted bay

I felt I knew you better than
most of the people I’ve known my entire life
and I’m sure you felt the same way too
because your angelic blue eyes could not lie

The cold breeze by the bay got us closer
and we wet our feet by the shore
I got some wood, paper and matchstick
so you could feel warm by the bonfire

We decided to meet the next evening
for dinner followed by some drinks
you agreed to come along in spite of knowing the fact
that I was leaving the day after in the morning

I was waiting impatiently outside the disreputable restaurant
and there I spotted you in the crowd
you were wearing a white dress with a pearl necklace
looking like a princess without a crown

We had our dinner and our share of drinks
the conversations became better
as throughout the day we had
learned some nouns, adjectives and verbs of each other languages

The night was coming to an end and
I asked if we could go over to your place
you gave me a look and I thought your offended
but out of nowhere you suggested my place

I welcomed you into my transitory homely abode
devoid of a heater, clean sheets and cleanliness
you asked me for five minutes to clean up
before we go to bed

We made love all night long
and we kissed each other endlessly
on a single bed both of us slept as well
as though we were king and queen

I opened my eyes forcefully the next morning
as the sunshine refused to stop knocking
I didn’t see you on the bed and as I was about to call out to you
I realized you never told me your name

I went running down the stairs
to look for you around my modest inn,
describing you to unknown strangers,
and I also tried tracing you by the smell of your scent

I came back disappointed to my hotel and started to pack as I had to leave
I missed you so much already and suddenly
I took a step back to tell myself
this has to be love, oh lord, what a strange feeling

I started to speculate why you left, on my way to the station
and wondered what must’ve gone through your mind
maybe you were in love too and
you thought I was in it just for the night

Voila, I ran straight towards the inexpensive local café
hoping to see you there, waiting for me
as I turned the corner I see you
having the same croissants and the inexpensive coffee

When you saw me giving you the I found you look
you were sure I was in love with you
that’s when you told me there is something I need to know
and I should know it before its overdue

I came out of the horse carriage
to see a castle stand in front of me
I looked at you dumbfounded
and went a little weak in my knees

When the guard greeted you ‘Good Morning My Princess’
that’s when it really hit me
if this was for real I needed evidence
and that’s when I asked you to pinch me

I reminded you that I’m a pauper and you’ll be better off with a prince
and you said don’t be foolish my honey
I’ve spoken to many of them but I felt like a princess
only until last night in the presence of a true prince.

I remember the night i lost you. by Bharat Mirchandani

We were getting wet in the July rains

on the narrow pavements alongside the wet roads

the night had just begun

but we were already jumping like toads.

Only our voices could be heard and

only our shadows could be seen

we were holding hands

all night long it seems.

We were drunk, drowsy and wobbly

carelessly walking around

you left my hand as the strong breeze gently pushed you

onto the threshold of our districts downtown

I requested you to walk with me

as you were on the road and I was on the pavement

worried about your safety

and a little preoccupied with a question

I was excited throughout the day

as I was going to ask you to marry me tonight

I could barely hold a thought in my head

as my mind was wandering all the time

You were looking divine in a knee length white dress

with minimal make up and accessories

I looked up at the sky to thank god

and asked him for his blessings

The next few moments I don’t recollect

but flashes of a car, blood and your body come to mind

that politician’s drunken kid

smelled of alcohol and stank like a swine

Pulled you out from under the car

and tried to stop the bleeding from your head

couldn’t hear you breathe so I checked your pulse

didn’t feel a thing and your dress was now deep red

the ambulance came soon

and the police wasn’t far behind

the doctors rushed you to the operation room

and I noticed the red bulb outside wasn’t bright

The drunken kid was nowhere to be seen

and I tried to remember some vital details

as the police officer took my statement

I learnt he had been bribed by the killer whale

I spent hours outside that operation room

worried, frustrated, scared and insecure

I made a deal with my lord that moment

if you live, a thousand painful deaths I’ll endure

I saw the doctor come out of the room

he didn’t have a grin on his face

I had no patience so I ran to him

he didn’t say a word but he did sadly embrace

I was anxious throughout the day

because it just didn’t feel right

but I decided I had to this

otherwise I’ll regret it all my life

You were looking divine in a knee length white dress

with a pearl necklace around your neck

you’re head lay on a soft pillow

inside a black casket

I wore a black suit with a bow

with a ring in my hand I went down on my knees

next to the tree and under the blue sky

I finally asked you to marry me