Alternate methods of sexting

Bharti Bansal, India

Tell them that you love stars, and fishes and cats. Tell them how hospitals with aquariums still make you wonder your place in the universe and theirs. Tell them about your favourite lines of poetry and recite them like prayers to your lover. Dedicate poetry, write for them too and make them believe in the beauty of bulleshah, faiz, gulzar. Read. Read from the books that changed you. Sometimes send them the photos of street dogs wagging their tails at you, cats crossing roads and parrots you see in the locality. Send them the pictures of setting sun and budding flowers. Remind them of the beauty of an ever changing world. Visit them in the hostels and wave at the them the first time you see them walking out. Send songs that remind them of you. Ghazals which speak to you in their voice, which remind you of the way they yawn, or their eyes twinkle on looking at the morning sun, or their tired feet rest on bed after a long day at work. Love them in the ordinary ways, average man's way. And tell them how aquariums in hospitals are out of place, how blue stars are the hottest, and how blue fishes remind you of stars, how everything is connected, even your lover's smile and this universe, rolling everytime your lover laughs.

*This piece draws inspiration from "Alternate methods of sexting" by Caitlin Conlon

Bharti is a 24 year old poet from Shimla. She believes to be loved by cat is an honor.