The old tree in d' garden, even if fruitless

If ever wish to enjoy li'l hot coffee,

chit-chat in d' shivering chilly winter

each time she comes to her hubby,

asks him to open the coffee bottle

 

It seems so funny and fascinating,

she looked aged but not incapable

yet we made it a point to visit them,

d' next door, coffee-loving couple,

 

To have excellent coffee, in some plea,

more or less each Sunday we pay a visit

now become fans of d' senior citizens,

wife about 74 yrs, hubby completed 78

 

In d' shopping mall we avidly chose,

an apt gadget packed it in a wrapper

wished to gift her on some occasion,

a handy lovely coffee bottle opener

 

Chose a time with care to meet her,

a clandestine visit, too interesting

in d' absence of her alert husband,

briefed d' purpose, use, everything

 

She noticed d' trick with much care,

d' lovely demo, opener looked cosy

she attempted to use d' instrument

opening the bottle was damn easy

 

Waited with a bated breath till d' next

opportune minute on Sunday evening

to enjoy coffee and watch d' storyline,

we wished them and offhand walked in

 

Talked regarding d' corona pandemic,

WHO's advice, age-linked risk factors

if coffee boosts d' immunity, I'm ready

to make coffee for all of us don't bother

 

She went in, brought d' coffee bottle,

asked her hubby to open it as earlier

enough corona jokes got discussed,

she must have forgotten the opener

 

D' opportune moment came one day,

she was alone, we wished to clarify

did she forget d' easy way out to open,

got too impatient, eager to know why

 

We d' inquisitive couples quizzed her,

her casual reply made us speechless

I can effortlessly open the lid myself,

even do not need to use your gadget

 

But I always make it a point to ask him

to do a job as if it's a tough manoeuvre

so he feels himself stronger than me,

absolutely fit, a masculine character

 

Don't have many more yrs of life in us,

he might not bring in money any longer,

still is of much value, I depend on him,

yet d' man of our home, useful forever

 

Togetherness, d' essence of marriage,

so now just his presence is priceless

we feel blessed underneath its shade,

d' old tree in d' garden, even if fruitless

But he's much richer to me by heart

I had been to d' nearby sweet store,

to buy 5 ladoos, as I'm very fond of

to enjoy it in piecemeal, little by little,

while reading d' novel's thrilling stuff

In d' sultry hot summer, I felt tired,

saw a tree with a cemented platform

enraptured in my novel very soon,

snuggly plugged in my earphone

One weird looking guy popped up,

and sat close to me, I just did ignore

it was shocking, without asking me,

my ladoo casually started to devour

 

I too picked up a ladoo in aggression,

started chewing, of course it’s my right

felt awkward, too much annoyed, but

no wish to confront, not keen to fight

 

In a jubilant mood, mumbling a song,

he picked up one more from d' packet

oh my God, it appeared much bizarre,

blood was boiling beneath my chest

 

Before he’s able to finish d’ entire lot,

I ate one more, tried to avoid d’ rouge

let go of such an awful occurrence,

began d’ novel fresh from d' prologue

 

Abruptly he got up, with the last one,

from the box offered half of it to me

he ate the other half, started walking,

I was tense, but he departed carefree

 

He coolly left, it ‘s truly a great relief,

I wished to know how far he's gone

but startled to see a box lying there,

which added to my utter confusion

 

This box belongs to me, no doubt,

all the five ladoos found intact in it

whatever stuff hurriedly I did gulp,

grabbed from him wished to vomit

 

He also shared the concluding one,

uttered no words or tried to protract

my pecuniary bounty might be stout,

but he’s much richer to me by heart

Moisture steadily built up in his eyes

All d' fifteen just had a similar wish,

in d' chilly dawn to have a cup of tea

such a futile wish hard to be fulfilled,

no one to offer, won't work any plea

 

On a move to own posts in d' Himalayas,

it is in Kashmir's hilly Kupwara sector

deployed for the next three months,

d' group of 15 soldiers led by a Major

 

Batch to be relieved waited eagerly,

for these marching guys' entry there

after an hour d' major could locate,

a probable tea shop's ruined structure

 

"Bad luck boys, no tea, only li'l rest",

in a disappointed tone told d' major

"Sir, can make tea, if break the lock,

suggested a guy from the soldiers"

 

"No one there, you wish to break open,

an unethical proposal, how to accept?"

D' officer was put to a great dilemma,

on d' contrary d' army ought to protect

 

For d' tired soldiers in d' winter cold,

a cup of steaming tea, genuine need

unwise to suffer long for d' indecision

made him okay d' permission, he did

 

They were in luck, all d' items found

to make tea, also a packet of biscuit

had enough tea, biscuits as per will,

for the remaining journey felt fully fit

 

Without approval of the shop owner,

had the tea, biscuits, used the milk

not desired from disciplined soldiers,

can't behave as if a band of thieves

 

He took out a few thousand rupees

from d' wallet, placed it on d' counter

so that can catch the owner's eyes,

pressed it under a sugar container

 

Now felt better, relieved of his guilt,

ordered them to aptly shut the doors

d' batch revived their shrunk energy,

to d' work spot could proceed further

 

Pursued to do gallantly in their job,

in that intense insurgency situation

a fresh batch to replace them joined,

lucky, from d' group no loss of anyone

 

Merrily returned and on their way back,

halted at that place, d' same tea shop

it was evening, yet d' shop was open,

d' owner happily greeted d' customers

 

Had tea-biscuits, did chit-chatting,

lovely tea with meagre resources

they too talked to him, asked about,

why selling tea at this remote place

 

"Who all u do get as your customers,

How's life, how do u gather strength?"

the old man had many stories to tell

but said "God is there, I've ample faith"

 

"Yet he keeps you in such hardship?"

"got proof of his presence", he claimed

d' guys asked, "what proof do u have?"

he unfolded d' story of 3 months back

 

"Did pass through a very tough time,

my only son, beaten up by terrorists

to extract some information from him

but d' unaware boy, could not depict"

 

"I closed d' shop, took him to Hospital,

even had no money to buy medicines

no one lent me in fear of d' terrorists,

only prayed God, in d' terrible scene"

 

"God walked into my shop that day,

I returned, found d' door lock broken

I felt that I was finished and doomed,

whatever little I had, is robbed, gone"

 

"But could see some currency notes,

on kitchen shelf under d' sugar pot

can't guess d' value of that amount,

much more than my son's life worth"

 

The faith in his eyes was unflinching,

15 pair of eyes met eyes of d' Major

just keep quiet, no further talks on it,

was d' clear-cut unpronounced order

 

The officer got up and paid the bill,

said, "tea was wonderful"!

and hugged d' old man tight

"I do agree,

God exists, redeems us in distress",

moisture steadily built up in his eyes

She never guessed my sweet feel

With her placid look,

each time she gives a glance

I trawl away from me unaware

soaked in her innocence

Mind pushes off silently,

a tale tough to chronicle

her thin aroma mesmerizes me,

can she guess my sweet feel?

My longing eyes search for her,

love her shyness, hesitation

every now and then I get lost,

in her appealing expression

Drops into my foggy dreams,

smashes sleep, makes me ill

never mind to take on d' illness,

but can she guess my sweet feel?

Just a delicate blooming flower

or fully fragrant a floret garden?

gasp for fitting words to narrate,

can't carve, 

carving being my passion

A co-commuter in life's journey,

unusual a guest with mighty zeal

my heart hammers so erratically,

 she's able to sense my sweet feel?

A lovely lively, fresh little blue lily,

spreads hue in a crystal clear lake

remains anonymous, uneventful,

makes me assume it's for my sake

The long stretch of my path of love,

precisely ends near her door grill

her every single venture I do love,

can she ever guess my sweet feel?

Clung like a faint shadow to me,

her thoughts follow wherever I go

in a gloomy track, if be perceptible,

and won't desert me, I never know

D' butterfly, if lastly shoves me off,

my real-life might turn in to a reel

then my angst would get affirmed,

she never guessed my sweet feel

In this world full of irony

Twenty-twenty, a year of concern

"welcome new year", did we wish?

begun with a wicked almanac,

made a mess in life,

its ill-effects never finish

Traffic accidents almost nil,

no rush hour stand-still trouble

roads empty and risk-free

long drive trips yet not possible

Pollution at its lowest level,

the air appears clean and pure

yet mandatory to put on a mask,

or a penalty to be charged for sure

Friends got plenty of spare time,

but not allowed for a get-together

chit-chatting, fun making tricks,

almost forgotten forever

Hands are clean, often sanitized,

yet shaking hands is banned

to greet people you meet,

hit d' forehead on folded hands

The cook inside you turns crazy,

to prepare palatable dishes

but can't invite anyone for food,

family friends as per your wishes

On Monday mornings it occurs,

an inertia to rush makes restless

the heart longs to be in d' office,

so look for a pair of clean dress

Holidaying over, enough is enough

signals stipulate it's time to land,

left the office a long time back,

but d' weekend seems not to end

Money in lockers lying idle,

to get out it is too eager

being d' owner, no scope to spend

in markets, malls, hotels, theatres

Have-nots know not d' trick to earn,

better to thrive on free rations

sit at home, get the subsidy,

direct in d' account as sanctions

Plenty of time in hand,

to dream things, try miracles

but wings clipped, freedom curtailed,

fulfilling those not possible

d' omnipotent culprit is all around

but can't be seen, appears funny

perspectives positive,

but must test negative

in this world full of irony!

A valued gift from my dear spouse

When my job, so demanding,

evidently toilsome to manage

both look vital, d' job of a chef,

and a husband after marriage

D' full lining of a chef's jacket,

not made with gold leaves

customer's comfort, a concern,

so also cheer in personal life

Busy on all special occasions,

new year's eve, Valentines day

for long hours, day in and day out

 most of the period alone to stay

To marry a damsel, satisfying,

but might turn to be a big risk

carry home d' flavour of spices, 

d' smell of smoke, onion and fish

Nothing is glamourous about it,

being an active restaurant chef

never desire to cook at home,

d' art of making cuisine, not safe

Waiters pick up d' order of eatables,

d' amuse-bouch, chef's choice alone

hones d' taste buds of client's mouth,

offered free of charge for reputation

Routine back-breaking tough hours,

that would make the cowards cry

start snoring in a standing posture,

back home by midnight, we truly try

No leisure time to relax, chit-chat,

calls in service time just unwanted

mastered to answer in short order,

quick and brief, in words counted

Love if she cooks for me, and SMS,

rush home fast, as fast as I could

can skip d' dinner in the staff mess,

a craze to relish d' homemade food

 For a passionless guy, it's a hard job,

only for craft lovers those who dream,

who love it, live it, smell it, swallow it

vow to glorify taste of client cousins

My grocery shopping too expensive,

applies for every basic ingredient

can't limit as per d' home economy,

much beyond her monthly budget

On occasions, I do cook at home,

she just falls in love all over again

as did, when the first time we met,

being a bonafide food lover, then

  

Planned to open our own restaurant,

work non-stop, life to prosper that way

no fund for own set-up, job in a hotel,

when off work, love to sleep all-day

Unable to give enough time to her,

life might slip into d' troubled waters

food fascination if dissipates slowly,

at some point may file legal papers

 In undertone whispered in my ears,

 she hinted about the bundle of joy

   she's expecting, a vibrating bulletin,

is it a meek girl or a naughty boy?

Babies are blessings ought to agree,

but tough to handle such a situation

not to tackle a recipe in d' restaurant,

 to put garlic in d' spinach's forgotten

Now we are no more just two of us,

emotion, fear, anxiety all creeping in

paternity leave allowed in chef's job,

I'm not sure, but a demand genuine

A delicate time makes more ambitious,

to prove integrity, safeguard own carrier

to strike balance between d' best chef,

perfect husband and an efficient father

Despite demands at d’ workplace,

to be more active around d' house

fresh member to join d' family soon,

the new soul,

a valued gift from my dear spouse