Standing at
the crossroads
Not of life
that’s a long straight road
But here I
am at a traffic signal
Everyday
from dawn to dusk and more
A bowl in
hand
A baby
wrapped around
Walking on
foot so bare
Window to
window
Knocking the
panes
Hoping some
kind soul will open
Open the
window
Open his
good soul
And drop a
coin or two
God Bless.
When I see
the young girls
Sitting on
back seats
Beautifully
dressed
Cream here,
powder there
I too wish I
could be like them
Even if it
is for just a day
When I drop
my rags
For a fine
silken saree
A bindi on
my forehead
Bedecked
with jewels
From head to
toe
Smiling and
shining
I know my
God
When he asks
me for a wish
Some day, He
will
And put me
in a big car
Even if it were
my last ride
To His
Heavenly Home.
Funny isn’t
it
When
everyone on road
Wants to see
the light Green
I long for
Red
Longer the
Red
Longer I get
to try
Better the
chance
For
something to drop by
How much
that drop means
Not to me
but to another life
Hanging by a
thin cloth
Hung around
my back
Sometimes clung
to my breast
What is a
drop for you
Is a drop of
milk for her
What is some
change for you
Is lifeline
to her.
Does she
deserve to live
I often ask
Why
shouldn’t I end it all
For me and
for her
A little
pain
Even if it
is big pain
It will only
be
For just a
while
Save us this
misery
Of everyday
Standing in
sunlight
No cap on
head
No shades
for eyes
Just you and
me Darling
When you
open your eyes
When you
smile
Your twinkle
and joy
Keeps me
alive and going
Window to
window
Day after
day
I call her
Mehrunisa
Or My Sun
My Sun that
shines
Even when
morning Sun sets
She wakes up
at night
Gives me the
light of life.
I saw him
the other day
Mehrunisa’s
father
Behind the
wheel
Of his big
white car
With his
wife affront
Daughters at
the back seat
How badly I
was thrown out
Kicked and
abused
On to the
street I went
With no one
to stand by me
With no one
to trust me anymore
Here I am
In tattered
clothes
And a bowl
in hand
And there he
is
In his
spotless white clothes
Starched and
ironed
The moment
he saw me
Screeched
stop for a moment
Then sped
away
Even with
the light in red
They say
cowards run
They say
Allah punishes the evil
They say
evil never pays
Waiting for
Heavenly justice
Waiting not
for punishment of evil
But Him
caring for us.
And surely
you will not ask me
Why with
moving hands and feet
I don’t work
Oh those men
in whites…
No one loves
a life like this
No one wants
a life as this
Not for your
children
We too have
desires
We too have
dreams
We too wish
to change
We too wish
to live
So next time
you see me
Show a
little mercy
Show a
little care
I want to
live
She wants to
live…
No you will
never see Mehrunisa there
For I will
never let that day come
She will
shine
Shine bright
and loud as the Sun
She must go
To school,
then to work
Then one day
she’ll take me home
Her Home,
Our Home
A little
kindness please do show
At
crossings, at red lights
Don’t look
down on us
Don’t
trample us down
Show a
little mercy
Show a
little care
We too want
to live a life
Of a simple
meal a day
Of some
food, some clothing.
Allah is
Kind
Stay Blessed
SS
Heart Rendering Sibesh and Family. My car does not have an AC and so I need not open the window. But God ! help me to turn right everytime i see a "Mehrunissa". Thanks for portraying the pain. It could be the same with every person even selling dolls(Who knows that person might have been a great businessman).
ReplyDeleteKuchh paisa main bhi doonga mehrunisha ko
ReplyDeleteVery moving , you have expressed her thoughts , pain & emotions and articulated it brilliantly.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately the reality is quite different for these hapless victims of organised crime rackets. These children are abducted and forced into this profession by their guardians , who exploit our sentiments to earn a tidy sum every day - most of these kids earn more than average wage of an unskilled worker.
Numerous efforts by NGO's to reach out to these children did not succeed due to nexus between police, goons and politicians. This menace exist in all major cities in India and most of the big cities across the world. It is unbelievable fact that guardians of these children bid for spots at busy junctions , such bidding are organised by crime syndicates operating in the locality. This menace is captured brilliantly by Danish Novelist - Jussi Adler Olsen in his latest book "Buried" where the protagonist is a teenager who is part of such racket.
Very moving! Always feel bad about this reality and the fact that whatever I can do seems like nothing in front of the enormity of the situation.
ReplyDeleteTouching description of a 'dark' reality . However its more than what meets the eye .how big a coincidence that probably millions such across the nation are going unnoticed from the admin, Govt , police , very those who cross these roads daily.Hard to imagine that police and such underprivileged are seen at same signal performing their daily 'duties' .never offer money /freebies, it will only help proliferate .Agree with Taposh too
ReplyDelete