untittled 16

laburnum in flower,
mangos, jackfruit, coconut,
peepal, banyan, tamarind,
assembled in and around the
open-air kitchen,
ahead of Vishu at Verur village.
eyes shut tight,
led by grandma,
my friend walked to the kitchen,
opened eyes on long-time friends.
saw his face withut a mirror.
grandma handed a rupee coin
for unaudited spend.
lunch came with grandma's aromatic
cheer.
in the city, Vishu is a date
on the calendar.
no grandma to bother.
waking up to the milkman's ring, 
switching on the mobile,
scanning emails,
living with little flavour.