Swiftly sprinting towards the kitchen stove to salvage the spilling milk

When "I wish I had ten hands" was my jargon

When "Dinner's ready", was ignored for the umpteenth time

When in the midst of mayhem

I had longed for  

solitude and

quietude

"Don't forget your medicines Ma! " he smiles over the video call

I'm an expert at hiding tears that threaten to fall

As I serve myself the khichdi with trembling hands

Silence is my sole companion tonight

When all I long 

for is

celerity.