Call from home

Sunday 6 PM, Mama calls.

I step outside the library

so she doesn't hear

how quiet it is here.

She asks: kha liya? So gaye? Padh rahe ho?

I say yes, yes, yes.

She tells me about the neighbour's daughter

who got into TCS Pune.

I tell her I'm also preparing.

We both pretend

this is a normal conversation.

Before she hangs up

she says: take care of yourself.

Not 'study hard.'

Just that.

I go back inside

and open the laptop

and everything feels

a little more manageable

for a while.