Baadal / Rain

baadal
jo kabhi kaale
kabhi safed lage
aasmaan par
idhar udharr bikhre hue

hawaa lage
kabhi garm
kabhi thandi
khele mere behke hue kurte sang
athkheli

barasti hui barkhaa ki narm boondein
dharti ki sookhi sej par bikharti hain

khud ko mitaa de mitti ki aagosh me
jeevan ka rass phir bhi us me daal jaye

pairon talle chale mastaani nadiyaan
dhul jaayen basti ki adhuri galliyaan

jaanti hoon ye kuch hi palon ki hai khushi
phir bhi is ki ummeed pe chalti hai zindagi…

(by Juno)

That is Delhi Rains.

Now for some Mumbai Rains:

Some grey quilt,
moist with winds of Arabia,
pulled over,
slowly.
a teasing conspiracy,
of a lover,
caressing her,
as he slowly
drenches.

Rivulets
flow off into the ocean
washing discarded
carcass
thrown away after,
abusing it in the heat.
Skin clean now.
of dust and grit.

On one side
a simple warmth of
that cutting chai
and on the other side
a black plastic sheet,
around the family,
which holds fort under
a gnarled banyan tree.

Romantic rains
of yester years
And a sarcastic laugh
of today.

Rains have not changed.
I have.

Rain, rain again.
And wash away
All those leftovers.
Desires and dreams.

Until I once again
Crave for the sun,
you so ruthlessly
smothered.