A stranger with familiar fear


                   ( Ai generated image)


I saw a man

Whose eyes

Conveyed so much

More than his words

Those wandering eyes

New to the place

Sensing the discomfort

The uneasiness

And begging the clock

To run fast

So that he could

Go back home

To his known

And loved faces.

He was a new employee

Everyone

Everything was new to him

Being a 45-year-old man

Called “va po” by a 30-year-old

A 19-year-old girl speaking in English

Customers asking him to show new phone models

And he, in turn,

Wanted to ask for help

Showing the same model again and again

Feeling hesitant

Until another employee

Took over his role.

In those eyes

I saw every one of us

The first day of us

In school

College

Workspace

Or even solo days—

Cinema hall

Restaurant

The same eyes

That long for a hug

That search for comfort

That want to go back somewhere

Yet struggle within

Still showing up

With a pretending smile.

We all have been there

Once the first day is crossed

There are many learnings ahead

Though we can’t force him to enjoy

As his life is different

He might have chosen this

For his family

But a change will come

A smile will appear one day

I hope he too finds

Friends

Family

Happiness

Wealth

And peace.


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