I’m in a hurry
So I’m a little frantic.
I place the lens in my palm
And swirl it around a little
(In the special solution).
Carefully, I place it on my pupil;
It fits snugly,
The vacuum disappears.
Hurriedly, I take out the other one.
In all the panic,
It looks obscenely delicate
Nestling in the curve of my hand.
I rub it a little, horizontally
And then vertically, as per instructions.
I centre it on my eye
But it slips off and disappears.
It’s so apparently unimportant
That for a moment
I don’t feel the dreadful loss.
It is only when I try and move
That I realize the danger;
It may be on the floor,
In the sink, on my dress!
It could be anywhere.
I could tear it, inadvertently,
And then my investment
Would be washed down the drain.

When I look up,
I catch sight of my reflection in the mirror.
I see half clearly, half blurred.
Groping blindly, I find the errant lens.

When I put it on,
I feel immense relief
Until it slips again… and again.

TOP

Aurogeeta Das has written for various publications including MSNBC.com, First City, Delhi, The Hindu and New Quest. She was a member of Caferati - Bombay in early 2006 and has held various posts in the media, including as web reporter at NDTV and editorial member at First City. As a journalist, she has published articles, interviews and reviews on a variety of subjects, though her focus has been art and culture.