To please d' departed soul, it's final

 

In a remote village, it occurred,

in d' twilight hours, that evening

while sipping on li'l hot tea and

in a hushed tone chit-chatting

 

In d' backyard of friend's house,

episodic laughter reverberating

after a long time gap, we met,

old day memories recapitulating

 

Heard a voice from d' darkness,

an earnest appeal in a soft tone

"Master, can u conclude it early,

today's due, soon I can go home"

 

Left d' teacup on d' central table,

pushed d' chair back, he got up

a young boy was faintly visible,

took few steps that side did stop

 

A 20-25 yrs tribal lad somehow

could be made out in d' darkness

he stood erect, with head down,

an innocent unblemished face

 

Pulled out one shoe all at once,

commenced lashing on his back

as if an abrupt incessant shower,

but with no shouting, no abuses

 

Before I rushed for an interception,

he was promptly back in his chair

resumed half left tea from his cup,

calm and casual, no pensive affair

 

D' boy quietly left after d' episode,

unable to digest d' instant event

I stood there unmoved for a while

as if received an electric current

 

Got disturbed to watch d' injustice,

d' boy appealed for d' day's dues

got beaten up nonstop inhumanly,

with his solid and rigid leather shoe

 

Asked him, what blunder he made,

no reply, he calmly finished his tea

d' harsh cruelty of the olden days,

an unkind king in him I could see

 

Lifted face after a minute's silence,

asked me for 1 more cup of hot tea

he pulled out a hanky wiped d' lips,

in a guilt-soaked tone told, no plea

 

Mesmerized to an extreme extent,

got dropped into my cocooned chair

he had no jutting lines in the face,

set on to explain me, to make it clear

 

Wilson Kiro, name of d' soppy boy,

father Benzamine our field worker

honest to d' hilt and hardworking,

had one son and three daughters

 

During d' primary school education,

lost mother died of an odd disease

father too turned an alcohol addict,

his good work, honesty all finished

 

Now utterly useless, came with son,

to my house one evening to burrow

"Rs 500 we need urgently, do help,

d' groom party to visit us tomorrow"

 

D' inebriated man talked nonstop,

5 persons to come, see her, select

I must buy a goat to feed them well,

pay your money back with interest

 

"Don't mind, maybe in one week time"

handed over him 5, 100-rupee notes

"next Sunday, payback with interest"

ok u go, alcohol makes you talk a lot

 

It's no alcohol, I swear, I'll give it back,

today, a Sunday, next Sunday I'll pay u

again started d' gossip, if fail to repay,

do lash me1000 times with your shoes

 

After d' episode, he never came back,

passed away a day after d' groom's visit

Wilson left  d' studies to look for a job,

in last 4 yrs wedding of 3 sis, complete

 

No request for any help, no burrowing

works hard, earns wedges with honor

already paid his father's 500 Rs loan

how much more to pay, not bothered

 

Politely pays some amount, departs

stunned with his integrity and d' repay

in form of lashes in shoes, 1000 such

with an awful humility, an illogical way

 

Didn't die in calm, failed in his words

1000 lashes due to me on his behalf

his soul roams around, often restless

to find out if I stick to his assurance

 

Touched with my shoe many a time,

stated d' repayment to be complete

bared his back, showed towards me

10 daily for 3½ months only can do it

 

Maybe more than a thousand lashes

it's along with the incurred interest

light lashes just for the namesake,

make dad's restless soul frustrate

 

Choked with emotion, eyes got wet,

it's tough to convince a rustic tribal

d' rigorous mode he urged, granted,

to please d' departed soul, it's final

 

A time dearth, despite several clocks

 

Along with a brand-new Bajaj 150,

from Grandpa's house, mom got it,

papa loved d' HMT automatic watch,

a cherished gift, it suited to his wrist

 

Papa gets up early, wakes up us,

before the birds begin chirping

to wash face, brush d' teeth and

to start d' morning spell studying

 

It indicates d' school going time,

signals at dusk, before it's night

to stop play and start d' prayer,

it's d' wristwatch, papa's favorite

 

To listen to tic-tac walk of time,

often I press my ear firmly on it

for me, hard to make out its tricks,

it's d' wristwatch, papa's favorite

 

When grew up, fulfilled my dream,

got a chance to put it on my wrist

am I full-fledged, how I look like?

and in front of a mirror scanned it

 

When papa adjusts d' time or date,

time and I stay stand still, look at

ponder keenly, if an automatic one,

then what could be this adjustment

 

Papa's silent look was the answer,

bought a dancing doll automatic

handed over, told me to watch it

automated, yet needs li'l tweaks

 

Papas, packed with immense love,

unlike cozy blankets to keep warm

but cross chilly waves of the night,

to give us a hot blaze of morn' sun

 

Papa came along with me to school,

on d' Board exam. for mental support

took out his watch, put it on my wrist

I felt like a warrior in d' border front

 

Ought to answer all d' questions,

as per scores allot time and write

be judicious, balmy, use d' watch

it's d' wristwatch, papa's favorite

 

Wrote d' papers, as he instructed,

stuck to d' time, things went right

papa trusted it, I as well accepted,

it's d' wristwatch, papa's favorite

 

If ever touch it, mom screams loud,

the security guard of papa's asset

to go near it, never permit anyone,

it's d' wristwatch, papa's favorite

 

Time kept in d' fist, under control,

ever tempted to put it on my wrist

evolved a mysterious attachment,

it's d' wristwatch, papa's favorite

 

Papa's love, unlike all paternal love,

it's no pond with a mini accumulation

rather a bottomless ocean, vast and

outspread far off beyond d' horizon

 

On d' last trip to d' cremation ground,

while his body was about to be lifted

entire life enjoyed its flawless service,

to put it on, on his wrist she insisted

 

In most of d' wrists, walls of houses,

in d' mobiles, laptops, TVs, and toys

today the watches found all-around,

yet can't hook d' time, it exudes away

 

Kids can't get up in time, often late,

miss the bus delayed for d' school

can't attend evening prayer in time,

no worry for d' authority and rule

 

Papa's watch, d' anthem of an era,

an inspiration, a genuine stimulus

time management fails now, always

a time dearth, despite several clocks