It was home…

Behind my home,

A pond was there.

This home was my nani’s place

And we spent every summer there.

A house, which was always big

Taking me in like a warm hug;

Where I spent days and nights

Reading book in an oil lamp light.

Running in a line with cousins

On path between the fields.

The glistening sun and a bright sky,

Carefree days and fearless nights.

Listening to the wind

Blowing through the trees

The chirping of the birds and

Cuckoos sing.

Today was always today;

Where was tomorrow!

The laughter of Maa and Maami,

floating out and keeping secure

The pond behind the house and

Thin path in front;

The ringing sound of Nana’s cycle

Coming from the fields.

The days lived and the nights slept,

Never knew that it was time’s might.

Slowly my ears heard the murmurings and not laughter

I saw doors getting closed

Not to be opened.

The withdrawn look on my Nani’s face

The broken lines and speechlessness on my Nana’s face.

The familiar parts of house becoming unfamiliar.

The known face but unknown expressions

Cautious talking and formal countenance

A hard exterior with hollow hearts.

Nana passed away and Nani followed

the home became a house

Which needed care and couldn’t care anymore.

Heard that the land around the house was being taken by Highway

Which passed through the field and the pond.

Strange desire to see the house again

As I was travelling on the highway

Which was on land where the pond was.

I stopped by; by the familiar white house.

Nana was not there to greet anymore

No one to sing the Mangala like before.

The house looked small and cold

It was steely silence left to behold.

The house greeted my husband

Who was intrigued by the building.

With familiar echo of the past,

The house was strange now, greeting the new arrived stranger.

I stood in the aangan, reminiscing the time lived there.

And realised the might of time

for the first time so far.

But to know it forever.

Reality was never realised

Unless and until it became dream and surreal.

People and their love

Which was lost on the way.

Home turned into a house

Which looked small and frail.