Two in the night isn't the right time
to be watched over by two eyes in silence
occasionally broken by a hushed voice
pack up sir, madam must be waiting sleepless.
Three in the night and he was right beside me
while the weary moon slanted to west
and dead insects lay on the floor
burned out by the joy of light.
Four in the night he was escorting me home
half a mile up the hill
when the stars were shedding light
fading with the dying night.
He died sometime after I left the island.
On sleepless nights he's there to see me off.
He could never be dead in my head.
In memory of my colleague BUK who died young.
He stood by my side all along my stay in the Andaman Nicobar Islands.