Did You Ever Love Me? by Rithvik Singh is a tender contemporary poetry collection about love, heartbreak, longing, self worth and learning to let go. Its greatest strength is emotional accessibility: Singh writes directly to readers who feel intensely and care deeply. The collection offers comfort without pretending heartbreak is simple, though its simplicity may occasionally feel familiar to seasoned poetry readers. Did you Ever Love Me? Have you ever loved someone so completely that, after they left, you were left wondering whether they had ever understood what they had been given? Not merely whether they loved you, but whether they ever noticed how much you loved them, how much patience you offered, how many small things you remembered, or how often you chose to stay when leaving might have been easier. There is a particular loneliness in that question because it rarely arrives at a dramatic moment. More often, it finds you while you are doing something completely ordinary. Yo...
"So, I have more than 20 years work experience now." The man was boasting to a his companion and fellow traveller about his work. The speaker was short, plump and wore a shirt that might have been in fashion in the 1970's. I suddenly woke up from some thought as I realized my station was near and in this crowded train I found this story interesting.
The man went on, "So in Secundarabad I was working in this PSU years ago, when they offered me VRS." Now VRS is the voluntary retirement scheme offered to employees to take some money and retire.
The listener was a young man, in polos and jeans and was simply awed by this elder personality.
" And after a year or so, I got hired back to my old post." I was amused at this. Retired and back. "But how could they hire you back? After retiring you I mean?" And what happened to that money you took for VRS from govt coffers? I wanted to ask him. The man just gave a sly smile. His oiled moustache suddenly looked bigger. " Anyway I worked for few years, retired again and moved into the private sector. Been here ever since. " The young man simply nodded perhaps like me wondering about his own career path. As if to puncture such thoughts, the man spoke again "20 years now, I am 57 or 58 now." It came down more as a question than a statement.
One of the good things about Delhi Metro is the continuous announcements. So as soon as the lady announced that my station is next I got up from my seat in a hurry. And tried my best not to look back at the grey and black haired man and think of my life in middle age
The man went on, "So in Secundarabad I was working in this PSU years ago, when they offered me VRS." Now VRS is the voluntary retirement scheme offered to employees to take some money and retire.
The listener was a young man, in polos and jeans and was simply awed by this elder personality.
" And after a year or so, I got hired back to my old post." I was amused at this. Retired and back. "But how could they hire you back? After retiring you I mean?" And what happened to that money you took for VRS from govt coffers? I wanted to ask him. The man just gave a sly smile. His oiled moustache suddenly looked bigger. " Anyway I worked for few years, retired again and moved into the private sector. Been here ever since. " The young man simply nodded perhaps like me wondering about his own career path. As if to puncture such thoughts, the man spoke again "20 years now, I am 57 or 58 now." It came down more as a question than a statement.
One of the good things about Delhi Metro is the continuous announcements. So as soon as the lady announced that my station is next I got up from my seat in a hurry. And tried my best not to look back at the grey and black haired man and think of my life in middle age
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