Li’l Ria’s Dream Prince

(Incidence  revisited) 

   

Mom’s pet, sis's passion,

yet a lot of limitations,

 not granted to go alone

Papa came to rescue,

accorded sanction,
to visit friend’s home,

  to join Chhaya's b'day party,
& return before nightfall,
 healthy & hearty

 ought to convey 
papa’s greetings to her

Ria's heart pounded with cheer

With abounding happiness,

 overspilling gay
Ria stretched flexed arms, 

up towards the sky

Hip hip hurrah…. hi hi hey,
she uttered with copious joy

Papa gave li'l pocket expense

shoved into her wallet,

with utmost care

It's her contingency fund,
also her journey fare

Her cycle d' only means

to make a headway

friend's home 8 km away

An hour to reach

one more to come back

must be at home

before the dusk break

She told all "bye-bye",

sought for an inauguration,
for d' maiden trip alone

asked sis, to cut a ribbon

Mom and sis talk a lot,

on women emancipation

but never allow own kid,

d' slightest freedom

She’s in matriculation,
grown-up and fit,

convinced papa & got it

It's d' initial victory,

noteworthy in her life history

She was on her way 
humming and cycling,

d' mood of the climate,
 started steadily changing

Plucked some flowers  
from a park on d' way,

to make for Chhaya, 
a bonza bouquet

Began an instant downpour,

fitful lightning, thunder roar

Ria needed a roof overhead

rushed to nearby bus stop shed

Clouds covered d’ sun
soon it was dark

no stoppage of rain,
unsure, whom to ask

In d’ obscured shade waited for a few
from north cool breeze blew

No one to talk to, 
none to share d’ feeling

 Ria felt sleepy, started dosing

Heard words of greetings,

 gossips in a loud tone

some sort of a party going on

Partakers in royal costume
smelt aroma of amazing perfume

waiters serving drinks, snacks, dessert,

 her ears erect got mentally alert

 A palace lit with glittering lights,

 an incredible superb sight

A decorative staircase,
 leads to a balcony

d' hall reverberated with,
orchestral symphony

Ornamental brackets,
 hanging from ceiling

body of guests swaying, swinging

A grand magnificent fountain,

with spouts of crystal blue water

Ria submerged in elite pleasure

Amidst d' darkness, located her cycle,

leaning on d' broken brick wall,

of d' dilapidated bus stop shed
in her tiny blank head,

nothing more accommodated

Two cops crossed d' lounge

like furious hunting hounds

She got shoved back to a corner,

   a pulpy palm sealed her lips 
with gentle pressure

disoriented, too surprised  

 what precisely happened,

she never realized

Regained senses, had a glance

 a stunning handsome prince,

it's just incredulous,

his unique style made it obvious,

Loathly she thumped his foot,

cogently slid d' hand out of her face

No inhibition, even a trace?

You d' same guy in d' bus stop

brazenly staring at me, nonstop

He apologized, "I’m Aditya Prasad",

d' prince, favored for tanistry,

 it's my engagement party

King Janmejay, my dad,

 d' empire, I'm his youngest lad
it's a marriage without my will,

wish not to marry d’ girl

D' moment I saw U,

U are in my heart & mind,

I’ve never seen a girl of your kind

Already late, Ria needed help

to get out of d' scene, to return safe 
"OK, no further delaying" 
He gripped her hand, began walking,

through a door in d' backyard

leading to an apple orchard

Plucked an elegant apple,
asked her to munch

 face shriveled of hunger,

 with no hesitation, she crunched

Also offered a red rose to her,

in a polite proposing gesture

Rose, fresh & full of fragrance

Her heart filled with romance

She asked in a polite tone,

forced to wed a girl unknown?

against your wish, 
& U kept mum?

                                 In d' density of darkness,

a squad of cops

marched towards them
splitting d' silence,
tramping sound came

escorted by armed guards,
 on pony back,

 rattled Ria started to shake

Again d' prince, need her to push,
  to camouflage in a nearby bush

before realizing d’ happening,

 d' troop passed by, out of d' scene

From bushes availed d' chance
in space between leaves,
had a thorough glance

Stared at him from tip to toe,
evidently, he couldn't know 

Now it's exclusively her turn

absolutely no wish,
for an interruption

 Heard mollifying tone of mom

 gained senses,

 in mom’s lap in d' bedroom

Mom's tender fingers,
massaging her forehead
family members all gloomy & sad

She was told, she had fainted

in d’ abandoned bus stop shed

Found & picked up by their servant

She wished to summon up d' moment

Instantly recalled, d' prince's propose

opened her fist & found d’ red rose

Still afresh, still with a sweet smell

 wished to preserve it forever,
without fail

Whenever she goes to d' avenue
tries to locate, keeps on gazing,
d’ virtual kingdom's view

without blinking,

till d' shed vanishes from vision

for no obvious reason

D’ prince with a princely smile,

if still waiting for her,

to handover another fresh red rose,

to fulfill life's ivory desire

Granny tells about Janmejay,
 an emperor of fame
but no idea of his handsome son,
 Aditya Prasad by name
A drop of imminent tear,
trickled down Ria's cheek

Fell on the rose petal,
presented by d' prince

Simmering sentiments from heart,
 let off as steam

She knows not her first love,
a reality or a dream