Equal

Last year when she appeared
during the "season of sorrow"
She smiled
and I didn't reciprocate.
There was no negative feeling;
But I didn't want to
Because I was not formally introduced.

The second reason probably
which I can decipher
after scrutinizing the bottom of my mind--
I didn't want to smile to somebody
who is just an undergrad
And who hardly understands
the complex world of academia--
It's light and darkness.

This year, I smiled to her
And she didn't.
I was happy to have our scores equal
without any regret.


Lucknow, India