On Onam

 

As the sun rises, another Onam comes

& I nostaligize an Onam, 23 years ago

When my non-Malayali classmates 

Traversed the breadth of town

In search of a sadhya

& was forced to make peace with fried rice,

For that was a time when all Malayalis

Were busy spending time with their families

& at home were floral carpets, swings, Onam music, the awaited homemade sadhya & finally the TV movie with a 100 interrupting ads.

Maveli too I suppose must remember those times

All too well

For today there is home-delivered sadhya with all 27 items

& OTT to watch whatever movie whenever 

As well as Amazon purchases

So that each family member can sit in a corner

& forget about connecting this Onam with family

Well unless you mean the virtual kind.

As Maveli looks at a sadly digital Onam

Does he miss those days too when we saw faces not screens?

Will his rule ever happen again amidst such virtual chaos?

I see him leaving with a sigh

Unable to greet his people locked into their screens

& locked out from good times past. 

Happy Onam again he says as he leaves with a tear

Wondering whether there will be a next time 

Unless digitally.

Existence

 

This is the way the world works- cheat lie steal

This is what the world wants- falsity acting glamor

This is how the world treats the righteous- shun shame isolate 

This is how the world treats the corrupt: exalt glorify role model

Is it any wonder that we call it kaliyugam?

International Blunder

 

Muntezar & Muntedhar -

Such confusing names!

Who are you & who is he?

Oh! Woe is me!

You said you would certainly be

A peaceful tenant of mine,

but peace I have never known

after you reached this house of mine.

First the water, then the electricity,

Then the air conditioner as well:

Every day you would complain

till all was well contained.

I finally sat in my chair

Thinking – it’s all over now.

But the phone rings,

It’s the immigration officer!

“5 years I’ll put you in jail”

“But why sir? Why?”

“You submitted their documents late.”

 “But within 24 hours I did sir!”

“No! You were 5 minutes late!

 Pay the 50,000 fine or go to jail!”

I collapsed.

Now I wonder from up in the clouds,

Did my wife pay? Or was it my son?

Ode on the Nighty

 Nighty dearest, nighty dearest

how wonderful art thou!

You - the lifeline of every Mallu woman

who lived in Kerala and abroad.

From bright pink to pitch black

there wasn’t a color you didn’t know

and every woman cherished secretly

the space and freedom with you

away from the male roving, prying eye.

With enough space to house an elephant too

while covering her neck to toe,

you would be accompanied by

an old, worn, clean, whitish thorthu

to hide even the smallest of flaws.

But alas! By 2024, you seem to be

facing the brink of extinction

as globalization brought in replacements:

pyjama suits, sleep lingerie, bathrobes and what not.

As with everything else – you seem to be phasing out

yet with a hint of nostalgia let me tell you

Nighty, you will always be mighty!!!