Aparna Pathak

Catalyst

He tapped the rim of the glass with his index finger without looking at me. I started filling his glass holding the jug with both hands to avoid spilling even a single drop of water. His lips were moving rapidly and eyes were twitching. It wasn’t new. I took off my slippers as the noise might irritate him. It has been more than a week already. He could get triggered from anything now.

news 
of volcano eruption
on every channel . .  .
in the bed
I return to fetal position

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About the Author

Aparna Pathak’s achievements include “Haiku Master of the Month,” NHK World Haiku Masters (April & November 2016); third place, UHTS Samurai Haibun contest (2016); shortlisted in Touchstone Awards for Individual Poems (2016); first place in the Sonic Boom Senryu Contest (2018).

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