Walking down the memory lane,
your face come first
rushing past all other
faces
whenever your face appears before me
I recall the first day
when you and I met
in the temple premises
at the side of Matunga road
bustling with the vehicles
and the loud shouts of
street vendors.
Whenever I think of you
the first things that comes to my mind
your god given curls
falling to the forehead
which dance when a breeze is blown
and your wide eyes.
You always came with
your mother
still you dared to
gift me sly glances
and a broad smile.
You always came clad in
churidars, all cute and attractive
like you.
Walking behind your mother
an ardent devotee of Lord Krishna
whispering hymns
it was easy for you
to play trick on her
and have a word or
two with me while
walking through the dingy
corridors of the temple.
In front of each idol
sculpted on the walls
lighted with oil lamps in front
both of us folded our
hands across the chest and bowed
before each God.
In between we found time
to whisper
some sweet nothings in
each other’s ears.
We were pastmasters in
that art of making fool
of other devotees.
Mother as always spent
more time in front of each
idol of God
and that was a blessing to
both of us.
During ‘Deeparadhana’ (worship of lamps)
when the doors of
Sanctum Sanctorum was
Shut
we stood in queue
one queue for males
other for females.
Your eyes played tricks,
my eyes played tricks
in the light of oil-wick lamps.
In the midst of devotees
chanting hymns, chiming bells
we stood until
the door of Sanctum Sanctorum
opened for devotees
to see Lord Krishna eyefull.
An ever smiling Lord Krishna
dressed in golden attire
illuminating gold ornaments around his
neck and also flower garlands
with lamps lit around him
and in the front
he seemed to blink at us
and before parting for the day
both of us with gestures meaning
‘see you tomorrow’
we bid adieu each day.
Now that we are far away
from each other
we communicate
and recall the old golden days
and the rare gift we shared each other…..
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