Chandrani Mukherjee

The Bridge

A frown appeared on Montu's brows.
Just this morning, he heard about construction of a flyover.
 
Another bridge that will widen the divide, he mused
As he chewed on a dry chapati with water.
 
Every election, the locals come
And demand free rides,
To the football stadium.
 
A poor rickshaw puller that he is,
With failing health, he muses at his destiny.
 
Long ago, a fire had burned his dreams of a secure government job to ashes.
 
Now another fire engulfs him
In his heart
Gradually spirialing him
Towards a dark, mysterious tunnel.

The Stage

The stage was set.
Lights were ready to come on.
Curtains had already risen.
 
One, Two, Three,
Seconds ticked by.
 
A ray of soft light fell on the screen
Behind the table.
 
A silhouette appeared.
Still.
 
Out ran a horrified man
Shocked.
Numbed.
Scared.
 
The audience gasped.
 
A glittering object fell somewhere
In the backstage.
 
It wasn't intentional.
Yet, it heightened the effect.
 
A stronger light fell on the still body lying in the centre.
The shocked man too fell dead.
The curtains came down.
 
Newspapers proclaimed: Dual Murder Shocks Audience

Chandrani Mukherjee

Chandrani Mukherjee is a school teacher by vocation and passion. Among her many interests, she enjoys reading and composing poems on a variety of experiences. In her opinion, poetry is a form self expression.