I would stop right in the middle of the market
surrounded by all the words that are yet to be ingested
I'd first forget आम
the lusciousness of it dripping
right down my elbow
the sweetness and all the sin
the haze of heat and honey
in every summer I've ever experienced
Then I'd forget सेर
Erase all the walks home
the stones that tagged along
dogs that walked with me
and the times we crossed paths
as strangers
before we truly became them
I'd fold up words like
तरसना, इंतज़ार, सुनसान, जलत्रास
into a card titled 'आफत'
and rote-unlearn it.
With each syllable leaving my mouth
like a prayer
to never experience the depth of these words
The last word I'd unlearn would be your name.
I'd unlearn the familiarity that sits on my tongue
I'd break apart the language you loved me in
और समा जाऊँ इस भूलावे की रेत में
कण कण से बह जाऊँ उस सूनेपन में ।
