आई

My very first attempt at a Marathi poem...written 3 years ago..found it in my diary lying in a corner of my cupboard at home...

तू गेलीस ती रात्रा अजूनही दोळ्यान्समोर आहे
माझ्या हातातला तुझा हात कायमच थोर आहे!
खूप काही शिकय्चे होते
खूप काही बोलायचे होते
मनातले गुपीत फक्त तुलाच सांगायचे होते
आठवतायत आपल्या दुपारच्या गप्पा?
तुझ्याच कुशीत मीटायच्या पापण्या हलक्या!
संध्याकाळची टेकडीवरची फेरी
आपल्या गप्पान्नी न्हाऊन नीघाय्ची सारी !
तुझ्या गीतांचे सूर कानावर अजूनही पडतात
तम्बोर्याच्या तारा मधेच ऐकू येतात
त्या पान्ढर्या पडद्यावर उमल्णार्या तुझ्या स्वप्नांच्या छटा
आणी मधेच वळणार्या नाजुक बटा!
खोलीत तुझा सुवास अजूनही दरवळतो
स्वप्नान्मधे तुझा सहवास आढळतो
ओल्या पापणया दमून शेवटी मीटतात
दुःखाने मग स्वप्नेही तुटतात !
तुझ्यामागे धावपळ करताना दिवस कसे उलटले, कळलच नाही...
आणी आता...काहीच नाही ?!
दीवसभर एक नकोशी भीती
मनात्ला एकटेपणा ; असूनही जरी प्रीती

...चैताली

Gestures of love

The measure of love is when you love without measure. I mention here 2 people, who unknowingly have touched my heart. Some people come in our lives and go quickly; some others stay for a while and leave their footprints; and we are never ever the same!

There is this teeny weeny shop just around the corner of my house. An old lady sits there and sells 'Neera' - a very refreshing and healthy drink made from the sap of a palm called 'Maad', and one of my favorite drinks. She sits there all day long (in the summers) and sells Neera for 5 Rs pr 250 ml.
When in Pune, I visit her everyday and drink a minimum of 2 glasses of Neera.
I came back almost after a year and went to her yesterday. She remembered me. She must be having a hoard of tired and grateful customers. But she remembered me.
I had just one glass. She remembered; and said "Tai you came after a long time and had just one glass? You used to come everyday and have atleast 2 glasses."
Somewhere i felt her love - i was a part of her memory. I promised that until i am here, I will visit here everyday and have 2 glasses of Neera.

My dad experienced a similar gesture of love from his barber - whom he has been a loyal customer of since oh so many years.
Dad had forgotten his wallet at home. He was done with the haircut and a rejuvenating face massage - but was awkwardly fishing his pockets for money. He told the barber that he will send the money across the next day. The barber said "No saheb it is ok - you can pay me the next time you come". Till here it was fine. He added "Saheb if you need some money to buy household stuff on the way, I could lend you some"; he said this because he had all the rights on his most loyal customer. He must have realized something and immediately said "Sorry, i hope you did not mind my saying this". Dad reciprocated with the same affection "This is your love and caring that spoke. I loved your gesture".

These and so many others that we may come across everyday are pouring out their love honestly. It is for us to be the receptacle and keep our ego away. Often all it takes is just one person to create friendship.