People Connect was originally published in Rainbow Salad on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

She was off guard that day.

She kept all that to herself.

After a few months, she realized that there wasn’t any ghostly presence in her house. As she discovered her favorite outfit full of shit, she was sure it was RAT. She mocked herself for all the fear she had about that phantasmic presence and her imagination. Now things become a lot easier for her, it was just a harmless little rat. She decided to buy a rat trap to get rid of that rat. She prepared the rat trap, and all her worries were dumped for now. She was looking happier than ever before. Her friends asked her the reason and she said with a smile, “Just a change of perspective and clarity in thoughts”.

To that date, I was unaware of it, THE RAT.

That was a happy moment.

She was terrified of rats. It was practically impossible for her to throw it out. She just covered the rat cage with a dark cloth to get rid of the sight. Seemed like all the problems were solved, and innocent Sahira was proud of herself.

Is it that easy to get unburdened by our fears?

Do you know what is particular about happiness? The momentary presence.

It must be because of the rat!

The rat died after all of the efforts and struggles of getting out, and Sahira won.

Is that enough? Can perfumes cover foul suffocating smells?

It takes courage to get unburdened by such rats.

THE RAT is symbolic of the TRAUMA we keep carrying and embracing unknowingly all our lives.

RAT IN THE JAR. was originally published in Rainbow Salad on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

And today, I have everything I had always wished for,
Every possible thing I never thought I could have,
I have it all.
They call it bliss.
I’d be selfish if I didn’t accept that.
But is it bad,
that on a summer noon, I’d sit on the corner of a sofa,
as sun rays hit on my face gently,
and I think of you, have a tiny smile,
reminisce, wonder, and realize,
there is a teeny tiny part of me,
that misses you,
I know I can’t have you,
I know I have everything I need,
And that I can’t have it all,
and very much aware from the very beginning,
You are a luxury, I can’t afford to hold on to,
Forever.

But yes,
a teeny part of me still seeks you,
curled up within a netted nest,
cozying self to cuddles
where your embraces have once been.

Heaping a sigh,
Hoping you feel the same way too.

To the man, I wished to be mine,
but knew I can’t have.

When Contentment Meets Nostalgia was originally published in Rainbow Salad on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.