Hey, my dear Kailash!

 

Hey, my dear Kailash!

 

Together you and I

clad barely below the knee

jumped and bumped

thumped and trumped

in our school corridor

resounded by school mates’ roar

with teachers to only fear

till the cruel bell’s reminder.

The rush to the banyan tree

to hold its roots hanging free

gulping Uday Sahu's packet

the thrill of that age who can forget?

The sky for us was the limit

joy in our every deed was inbuilt

in short recesses

and after the classes

on the fields and on the streets

till we hear temple’s drum beats

barring the time of examination

and unfinished home tasks’ tension

with gossips grapevines to thrill

for the girl pals gradually changed our feel

by novel detective introduction

glued us to a life of the imagination

with elder friends force upon to coach

“To life how one should approach.”

made us to imagine our life ahead

as a cine hero after the villains are dead.

Such numerous stories six decades old

pale they the precious emerald and gold

as our cherished treasure

that time and old age can never blur.

Within a twinkle of an eye

sixty years have passed by

the energy has exploded out

with limping limbs, we limp about

companioned by our companions

parental blessings in our unions

Time is the cruel robber

robbed us to tattered poor

poor in stamina and strength

losing all that we had as our wealth.

At this dusk of life, your G J day

gives us pride and blissful joy.

Wishing the best to both of you

expressing my heartfelt gratitude too,

here I pen my picture on you in brief

from a big banyan tree just a leaf.

Of your community as a rare breed

you, Kailash are excellent indeed

in search of all four pursuits of life

together with Krishna your divine wife.

As a student, you excelled with distinction

a career was yours befitting to any ambition

but chose you your parental profession

Angul was your sole destination

where you were borne and born

to modern world taught a lost lesson

the society and the community

village, taluk, town or city

where you are born and grown

who taught you to walk and to earn

have the claim on your service first

to mitigate their hunger and thirst

but instead of serving their need

we fly away to serve our greed

in the name of serving the infinite

lose our contribution because of its limit.

Served you, your parents serve your society

you taught the present youth, their priority.

Lucky I am to see you from close quarter

for thirty years, the friendship pleasure

nectar-like divine soothing and sweet

that my spouse and my children gratefully admit

your every Diwali function

paves the way to our batch mates reunion

with spouses fun and jubilation

reinvigorating us to carry on

cherishing its increased frequency often

a tribute to the hospitality you have shown.

Muttons, chickens prawns and fishes

lose their lures against your vegetarian dishes.

after all they carried the love of your family

our gratitude for you sings your glory.

Your technological grandeur

as my envy, pride sand pleasure

on sponge iron and rice- bran factory

tell your inborn God gifted glory

Did Lord Viswakarma incarnate in you

to erect, operate at remote places these two.

your phenomenal rise in business

not one but in many, your success

must be a case study and a tool

in their curriculum by every business school

Kailas Indeed your story of success

make us proud when we asses

Madam Krishna Kailash’s wife

a parental boon to Kailash’s life

born on Lord Krishna's birthday

Divine, she is that scriptures say

Partnering Kailash in his every stride

suave, loving without a shade of pride

bearing for Kailash four off-spring

rearing them up with health and training

to face life with heads high

that all mothers cherish and try

Kailash’s health setbacks and sufferings

mitigated her prayers and her nursing

Kailash decision to lead a life of a sage

leaving opulence braving illness and age

to stay at Brindaban immersing in Lord

propelled by her inspiration and her nod

Front opulence comfort, care and luxury

ignoring the thrills of grand kids’ love and furry

you with your spouse chose not Puri but Brindaban

to stay in a room with austerity and in isolation

to meditate upon the supreme Master

that your age and ailments could not deter/.

A made for each other at Heaven’s Altar

Kailash and Krishna! To us you are pair wonder.

on your marriage golden jubilee year

we, your classmates you both, wish and cheer

with prayers at Budhithakurani the supreme mother

on you both health and happiness to shower.

 

 

P K Routray

in the service of Lord

 

 

(My School mate Kailash Agrawalla at Angul at school sand college has completed his fifty yesrs of marriage. Krishna his wife born on Janmastami day is a divine lady. I am grateful to them for the friendship and love showered on me.)