SITAR

POEM

Ever since they got separated

she withdrew into

her shell and kept away

from all relationships.

Ever since they got separated

she didn’t like to indulge in

romance with anyone.

Ever since they got separated

he went to US  to demonstrate

his skill in the world of sitar

thereby charming everybody

and for inviting applause by the audience

and he came across a US lady who

fell in love with him and she made him

her  life partner.

on hearing the news she felt nothing

and kept mum.

While he could forget her and marry a

white lady why couldn’t

she enter into a married life with

a person she liked?

She didn’t even think

about such a relationship. 

On hearing about him winning laurels

as a sitar maestro she felt immense

pride and hid her pleasure and delight

behind the veil of gloom.

While both were the

disciples of her father

she was always a step ahead of him

and both fell in love with each other

and got married with the blessings of her father.

Ever since they got

separated she never 

touched any musical instruments

and gave them eternal rest.

Ever since they got separated

she went on a pilgrimage to

holy places and paid obeisance

and reached the foothills of Himalayas.

While she was travelling

to North India once she met him

and his second wife  

she didn’t feel envy or frustration

but the flame of his shining face died down.

She spent her

time looking through  the window

of the train and enjoyed

the sunflower fields on both sides of the railway tracks

and peahens spreading attractive wings along the way.

When she heard about his death

in United States leaving his wife and

two daughters 

through the visual media first

and print media later

she didn’t shed  at least a few drops of

tears since detachment

had already entered her soul…..