A Song 192

'Waaatch maan,
lift bandh hai,'
bugles Lady from
her 7th floor apartment.
'Haanji,' responds Waaatch man
with a leap
from his stool at the gate,
to the lift.

Morning: Cars honk,
bikes roar,
with rushing middle class crows,
for society gates to open.
'Haanji,' responds Waaatch man,
hurtling open the gates.

Evening: Cars, bikes hoot,
middle class into mobiles
streaming Virushka,
for entry into society.

'Haanji,' responds Waaatch man,
hurrying open gates.

'Mera ladki kidhar hai,'
asks a querulous Lady,
rushing to Yoga classes.
'Haaanji,' responds Waaatch man,
in a dither.

'Uncle, mera cycle kidhar hai,'
asks a 14 year old girl.
'Haaanji,' responds Waaatch man
in a stumble.

At the gates,
Old Man asks:
'Waaatch Man, aapka naam?'
'Haaanji,' responds Waaatch man
sans Aadhaar.