Whispers and Words #8 | Acquaintances At Best

***

The minaret aspires
To fly away.
The airplane longs
To stay put.
Acquaintances at best,
The two can
Never become friends.

***

The above poem was inspired by a recent visit to IIFT campus with two of my batchmates.

We were on one of the top floors of the old college hostel, admiring the distant view of Qutub Minar emerging out of the dense Sanjay Van, when an airplane on its way, popped into view. For a moment, it was just above the minaret, but by the time I took out my smartphone to capture the image, it had moved a bit towards the right.

Just like the airplane passing over the minaret, a moment of wonderment passed over me.

A few years ago, during my college days, I was like the minaret, confined to a place but aspiring to fly away into a world of opportunities.

And now, I am like the airplane going about its daily routine, always on the go in that world of opportunities, but carrying within myself a longing to just stay in one place, surrounded by the best of friends.

Like the airplane passing over the minaret, I was only passing through the campus. The two versions of me are mere acquaintances who have a brief interaction once in a while. We are not friends in daily walks of life.

Have you had a similar feeling? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.

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