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AISHWARYA IYER
a roadside story

when the girl at the window saw the madman stare
she stared back
there she found a strange pleasure in staring
it was complete
not about going deeper
or finding an alley or a tunnel
but just looking so hard
that from the distance between the road and the third floor apartment
if she could only
only
find
his pupil
dilating in rhythm with hers
and somehow
if at all
if she could see her reflection there

and the street dog got jealous
and pushed the madman away