Wish, I had a pair of hefty wings

                                Excitement’s  overflowing,

crossing boundaries, walls,

felicitous Makar sankranti,

most favourite kite festival

Markets got stacked with,

countless design of kites

marketeers' festive mood,

raised shop owners’ delight

D’ women of households,

busy preparing delicacies

for kids, family members,

and neighbour’s intimacy

She sat silent, in her study,

all alone with least eagerness

as past years, no kite flying,

to beat boys in flying contest

A crackerjack in kite flying,

in no time got great height

a girl, yet this huge calibre,

her father never relished it

A girl to challenge d’ boys,

evidently appears indecent

to compete opposite genders,

to be restrained cent percent

Mother supported earlier,

let her, to get away with it

but this year it’s different,

as her engagement is fixed

Sankranti day is preferred,

bright day, lucky moment

dreaded the lovely festival,

not to confront, kept silent

Her board exam in March,

would be in-laws if permit 

generosity will be saluted,

for exams at least she'll sit 

Reluctant to leave d’ studies,

but wedding can't wait at all

father argues, never to linger,

after d' optimum age of a girl

To part with d’ family, friends,

from a bird of ample freedom

to be a saree clad lady in cage,

d' household chores to perform

Have child in a couple of yrs,

no voice, only meant to serve

live life similar to her mother,

she envisaged & lost her nerve

Home bustling with people,

festive day at it's full fervour

dishes cooked for d’ in-laws,

sweet flavour spreads all over

All excited, happy occasion,

to deck me up, mom arrived

saree, ornaments in her hand,

mustering courage I apprised

No wish to get married now,

with my studies I’ll go ahead

don’t force me, why in haste?

things can wait, covey to dad

My pleading eyes she ignored,

instead she hugged me tight

I felt numb and utter helpless,

no jaw to my notion, not right

Dressed aptly, taken to guests,

to put on show in front of all

couldn’t find a way to react,

commodity in shopping mall?

Except for the regular rituals,

d’ engagement function’s over

with flooding eyes, sealed lips,

sat tight, as if a feeble creature

Watched through my window,

boys running behind a cut kite

shouting, “catch, it’s cute one”,

kite falling from d’ sky’s height

D’ lifeless kite dangling down,

hit d’ ground, with a tiny string

akin fate, to float in emptiness,

wish, I had a pair of hefty wings 

Landing in an anonymous air base

U preferred a crash landing!,

most abrupt, out of the blue

in this cursed deserted island,

to startlingly enhanced its hue

Flurried in as gentle breeze,

with a soft, soothing stride

carved a cool serene season,

and shepherded huge respite

Intimation of your arrival,

raised ripples in heart soon

before I gear up to receive,

you appeared in d’ horizon

Eyes loaded with an appeal,

to protect u from your rivals

u portrayed me as a saviour,

I snapped fingers in approval

Things turned much lively,

at fast pace in your presence

d’ moment u took off, gone,

unfurled a prolonged silence

No scope for an apt fuelling,

neither a wait for servicing

cared for no genuine break,

after a long aviation roving

I wish your regular landing,

in this anonymous airbase

alter its stuffy environment,

and keep it’s climate fresh

Never wish you to face a crisis,

tend to an unforeseen landing

always wish a jocular journey,

a smooth innocuous grounding 

When’s d' next abrupt landing!,

obviously for it I eagerly wait

your mission's most hilarious,

never be revealed, a top secret

Help others and earn to get helped

Time bank, a mystifying word,

didn’t get it, I was truly baffled

a retired Swiss teacher, jubilant

  to get a petty job, seemed absurd

A Swiss pension, too adequate,

can’t make an employee worry

for a decent living, food, attire,

a secured status, never be sorry

It truly was an amazing job, 

to take care of an 87-year-old

“Is it for money?” I asked her,

“not at all!”, she replied bold

“To store time in my account,

when I am flail, incapacitated

if unable to move on my own,

can draw it, if ever it’s needed”

Entirely a new concept, started

by Ministry of Social Security

to take care of d’ elderly guys,

can live a later life with dignity

Better done at an young age,

to accrue it, it’s easy to obtain

can accumulate in own credit,

in old age for a leisurely spent

Applicants to be physically fit,

charged with love, liaising skill

spare li’l time to render service,

look after the elderly if he’s ill

Service hours to get deposited,

in one’s social security account

unfolded it, took a deep breath,

my land lady, I was her tenant

Spending two hours each time,

she went to work twice a week,

to help d’ elderly in shopping,

care for his safety in the street

May not be a live-in care but

it’s meticulous house-keeping

next take him out for sunbathe,

and with him a jovial chatting

After one year of service expiry,

as noted in d’ scheduled accord

bank compounds working hours,

and issue her a “time bank card”

At liberty to use time bank card,

draw credited time and interest

that is gathered in her account,

if ill, requires care of her health

Illness information is verified,

volunteers assigned to attend

take care at hospital or home,

till recoups & fit from her end

Fell off d’ stool, broke her ankle,

while she wiped the windowsill

hastily took leave, rushed home,

to manage her at home or Hospital

Planned to book a holiday home,

to nurse her with ample comfort

she calmly told, “just don’t bother,

I applied to time bank for support”

Time Bank sent nursing worker,

to take care, also to chat with her

to cook delicious meals, snacks,

all done fast, in less than 2 hours

How comfy is d' home to live in,

for quality of life and wellbeing

easy access for family & friends,

suitable for independent living?

A guy at hand, to extend relief,

to a frail, a more vulnerable old

for a chit-chat, for befriending,

devote valued time, being bold

Dreamt of a cosy geriatric life,

old-age care service accepted

awesome concept to practice,

help others, earn to get helped