Poem - The Silver Stories

Kya Papa Bhi Kabhi Boodhe Ho Sakte Hai?

June 29, 2021 1 Comment

Dheere dheere unke kaale baal safed hone lage hai,

Baat karte huye achanak ruk kar kuch sochne lagte hai,

Chashmah khud maathe par tika kar; fir poore ghar mein dhoondne lagte hai,

Dhoop mein newspaper padhte huye; baithe baithe so jaate hai,

Log kehte hai umar ho rahi hai tumhare papa ki,

Par unhe kya pata mere papa kabhi boodhe thodi ho sakte hai.

Ab pehle ki tarah samose kachori nahi khaa paate hai,

Diabetes hone ke bawajood chupkar mithayi churate hai,

Chhote bacho ki tarah baat baat par zidd karte hai, ladte hai,

Bazaar tak jaakar bhi thakaan se choor ho jate hai,

Fir khud hi kehte hai “Ab umar ho gayi hai shayad”,

Par papa ko bhi kya pata ki mere papa kabhi boodhe ho hi nahi sakte hai.

Pata nahi aaj kal sabke insurance details kyu bhejne lage hai,

Chaahe gaadi chalana ho yaa bank jaana,

Ab mujhe aagey karne lage hai.

Baar baar bolte hai seekh lo ab yeh sab, samajho yeh sab,

Umar ho rahi hai tumhare papa ki, kal naa bhi hu toh tumhe aana chahiye,

Unki baat ko sune bina hi keh deti hu,” Papa aap kabhi boodhe ho hi nahi sakte hai.”

Agar bewaqt so jaaye yaa do baar bulane par bhi jawab na de,

Toh mujhe bhi ajeeb si ghabrahat hone lagti hai,

Gehri neend mein jab bacho ki tarah unhe sota dekhti hu,

Tab kabhi kabhi sochti hu ki kahi papa sach mein boodhe toh nahi hone lage hai,

Par fir yun hi khud ko firse mana leti hu,

Nahi nahi! Tere papa kabhi boodhe ho hi nahi sakte hai.

Log Kya kahenge?

You are wearing a skirt and holding a glass of wine,

Going out for dinner at 8? Better be back by 9;

Why can’t you be friends with just girls?

And what’s with these inviting curls?

Why have trouble with marriage prospects over higher education?

How are you even thinking of sending her alone on a vacation?

I saw her coming back late in the night,

Her parents surely didn’t raise her right.

And why is your make up so bright?

Why do you so often change your display pictures?

Don’t act too smart, meddling in mature fixtures.

Sending your girl for career to another city?

Poor parents! Won’t even know and she’ll soon start playing too witty.

And why are you strolling alone in the dark?

Don’t complain then, when those dogs bark.

Divorce? Oh she must have been an unfaithful, controlling wife,

He wouldn’t even know and she’d cut him with her sly knife.

Talks too much and smiles with red lips?

Trust us, these are just her alluring tricks and tips.

Standing with a group of guys?

Calls them friends? Huh! Just her lies.

You have no morals if you’ve dared to fall in love,

You are characterless if your dress too short or blouse too deep,

You must have slept your way up the ladder if you’ve tasted success,

And every step of your life you are asked, “Log kya kahenge?”

But girl, tell them you are a woman of unimaginable might,

Tell them you’ve learnt to give them a tough fight.

Walk on and be all you can be,

Unapologetic and unabashedly free.

The next time they say, “Log Kya kahenge?”,

Tell them, “Kuch toh kahenge, unka ka kaam hi hai kehna.”