Shiuli Quotes

The Howrah Bridge swallows the train whole. I wave at no one. No one waves back. In my pocket: a shiuli petal, pressed flat, still holding the scent of your goodbye. The city shrinks. The heart expands. This is how we become the places we leave.

Shiuli blooms in the rain, white petals kissing mud, like forgotten prayers on a monk’s lips. I stand barefoot, letting the downpour wash the city from my skin. You are not here, yet your scent lingers in every drop

Morning finds the shiuli fallen, white stars on wet earth. I pick one— its fragrance is a memory I cannot place. A child laughs nearby. The flower wilts in my palm. Everything beautiful has an expiry date. I learn this again and again