City Poem: Arundhati Bhande
Andheri ka Andhera
-Arundhati Bhande
Andheri ke 11 baje ke andhere mein
Mai aur mera boyfriend
Haath pakad kuch aise chal rhe the
Ki maano koi khauf na ho
Aur khauf ho bhi kyun?
Woh Dilli ki koi sunsaan sadak thodi thi,
Woh toh Bombay ki jaagi hui sadak thi,
chehel-pehel aur gaadiyon se bhari
Chalte chalte
Humne andhere mein
Chandni ko dekha
footpath pe,
apna gajra theek karti hui
Gajra, gulabi top aur neeli jeans
Har roz ki tarah,
hum ek dusre ko dekh muskuraye
Bas mere khayalon mein,
Bas mere khayalon mein,
Usne mere boyfriend ki oar dekha aur boli
“Aaj kaha le jaa rha hai, hero?”
“Picture dekhne, chalogi?”
Sharmate huye mere boyfriend ne poocha
“Aaj nahi kal”
Har roz ki tarah,
Mere khayalon mein Chandni ke bahaane
Khair humne bhi behes nahi ki
plan badla aur Juhu pohonch gaye
Bhelpuri wale se ek newspaper udhaar liya
aur beach par bichaa ke baith gaye
Raat ke 12 baje
Samandar ki thandi hawa ne
Dilli ki sardiyon se rongte khade kar diye
Idhar udhar ki baatein,
do cup chai
Chuskiyan
aur yoga karte huye buzurg
Aadhi raat mein exercise kon karta hai?
Yeh Bambai hai, yahaan sab chalta hai
Sharmate huye mere boyfriend ne
phir ek sawaal poocha
“Aaj mere ghar, Versova chalogi?”
“Aaj nahi kal”
Hello Arundhati! This is Rohini from class. I just love your concept how did you explore the culture of Andheri as a city in the Bombay. It is already known that what the city is famous for? (Or jese tumne line mein likha ki Chandni ko footpath par dekha )I thought it was shining of the moon that is laying on the footpath. But when I again read it I got the concept it was the name of a girl in the street of Andheri. Moreover, the repetition of line "Aaj nahi kal " has a different meaning in the different stanza. I appreciate how you used the repetition of the word to bring out new ideas and thoughts. And, one thing I wanted to ask that why did you put the (") coma's and question mark (?) in the last line of the poem? Is it because of the effect if the poem on the reader? or just because you have something to tell the reader.
ReplyDeleteHi Rohini! Thank you for your encouraging words and observations! The reason why I used (") instead of a (?) is because I want the poet persona to have an assertive attitude instead of asking for permission from the boyfriend.
Deletehi Arundhati!
ReplyDeletei had never seen mumbai. but conversation between gf and bf gives me some idea .. or jis salika mai apna apni baato ko rkha through your poem kafi mst hai..
Aadhi raat mein exercise kon karta hai?
Yeh Bambai hai, yahaan sab chalta hai
Sharmate huye mere boyfriend ne
phir ek sawaal poocha
“Aaj mere ghar, Versova chalogi?”
“Aaj nahi kal”
your this couplet poem mai msala bhr deta hai with deep thinking . which we are faced in relationship most of the time...i like the most this couplet..
Hi Neha! Thank you so much for reading my poem and responding to it! I am really glad that I could create a sense of the city for you! Matlab ki ab mujhe yeh tasalli hai ki mere ideas reader tak pohoch rahe hain! :)
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHey Arundhati! I really enjoyed reading your poem. I like how it's set in Mumbai but is really a narrative that stiches together two cities. The poet persona seems to have recently moved to Mumbai from Delhi. How true it is that places are never just themselves but stand in relation to other experiences in our mind! Mumbai is 'Mumbai' in your poem- safer, more liberating, romantic, weather cool rather than cold- because Delhi has likely been the opposite. I also appreciate the kind of romance that runs throughout and the kind that is deferred.
ReplyDeleteHi Soumya!
DeleteThank you so much for responding to my poem. And I agree with your observations about the same. I did intend to bring out the kind of liberation that Mumbai brings to a person as opposed to Delhi. I know it is pretty direct dig at Delhi in some ways. Do let me know if you felt the same and if there is a need to mellow that down if at all! I am not leaning towards mellowing it down but would like to get an opinion on the same.
Hi Arundhati!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful poem! Yeh bambai hai, yahan sab chalta hai :)
Kya khoob likha hai.
Thank you Rubina! :D
DeleteI am really glad you liked the poem!
Hello Arundhati!
ReplyDeleteLoved the poem. It's experimental, yet seem to have borne out of experience-- an experience which needed this kind of an experiment . First of all, congratulations for what appeared seamless conveyance of the experience in to the creation of a poem, truely this is a great thing!
I am in unanimity with the earlier comments on the poem.
This dichotomy between a confining verses liberating space, in their duality could also been seen in the following couplet of mine
--
चाह गर हो तो कोई राह निकल आती है
आज तो सीन बना देंगे तेरे शहर के लोग
Cheers!
Jesus Loves You!