To The Chemist Uncle

By Peehu Jaiswal

To the chemist uncle by my house 

Where I used to visit often

I felt kind of bad that at your job 

You had to always see people at their worst 

With running noses and acidic burps

The face that greeted him never smiled 

And when you see his shop busy, it was given that flu season was on for a while 

We had this short conversations 

Looks exchanged as he handed me change 

Pleasantries of some sort 

“Thank you” as I say and he replied “off course”

I never thought much of it

Until that day I ran into you on the street 

You greeted me saying how you are on your way

To your daughters 28 and 25

Living currently in Dubai 

It was sort of a goodbye 

And in a weird way it bought me joy 

I never thought I meant anything 

And imagine my shock as u recognised me 

A small part of my life would never be the same again 

I will always remember you standing behind that counter handing me change

By Peehu Jaiswal