Struggling Souls (Part 1) Poem by Hira Akhtar

"Are you satisfied being with those girls, Hania? ", I asked her while putting my pen inside the stationery box.
"How can you say this? ", She replied carelessly.
"You seem to be changed", I looked into her eyes.
"Are you judging me? ", She fumbled as she tried to avoid my piercing gaze.
"I might not have asked you if I had not cared for you", I zipped my bag up.
"You care for me? ", She grinned.
"Yes Hania, I do! "I assured, holding her hand.
There was a pin drop silence as everyone had left.
She stood up giving me a blank stare and slowly freed her hand from mine.
"Are you at peace and happy internally? ", she turned back, flushed, as if my words had pinched her soul.

She looked at me, smiled and said;

Have you ever seen a droughty soul?
Seething in search of soothing tonic

I kept quiet.
"Every party that I attend with a sleeveless shirt andevery movie that I watch in cinema brings a cascade of nightmares, insomnia, anxiety and depression", her eyes oozed tears.

I kept my hand under her chin, lifted it up untill she looked into my eyes and said;

Your soul is fluttering inside the cage
Blinded by the sensous haze