When you alight from the train
look for Ramdhun, the rickshaw-wala
Tell him you want to go to chowk and
pay him two rupees no more
When you come to the stream
take your shoes in your hands
hold the rope on the log bridge
or you will get wet
A small walk along the cowpath
and you will reach the village chowk
Ask for Vaidji. Everyone knows him
as he gives them medicines
The village boys will follow you
as you will be dressed strangely
in city clothes
Let them
If you see me playing with other girls
or doing some chores
dont stare or call me by name
They will be shocked
Just lower your gaze
and walk past briskly
towards the house
I will follow later
When you meet Baba
talk about other things
not about us
Or he will think you are brash
When he talks about
the days of the British Raj
look impressed
And ask him to tell you more
If you do all this
and dont make mistakes
he will give you my hand
in marriage
[b]Author’s Note[/b]
Ashok Gupta
Jakarta, September 2002
ashok1082 [at] yahoo [dot] co [dot] uk
Published in –
Reflections Jan 03, Liberty Grove Review July 03, Poetry Billboard July 03 (Also Editors Pick)
Accepted by Slowtrains, Muse Apprentice Guild
