Reply

dost,

Now that you have asked

After such a long time

“Kaise ho?”,

Listen!

I have been through moments when

I had wished

jealously,

silently,

guiltily,

For that confidence which

I have witnessed comes

somehow mysteriously

By eating

That club sandwich of Rina’s Kitchenette

By wearing

that shirt of Ralph Lauren

By speaking

that language of angrezi

By watching

that TV show of Netflix

By driving

that car of Corolla   

By flying

To that trip of Europe

By coming

from a family which can feed you

By going

to that therapist who can heal you

In short, dost

Listen!

I had wished

for that confidence which

I think comes perhaps

somehow mysteriously with

money

so that I could tell you

that I had

despite inhabiting a loveless world

loved you but

I will not tell you all this

Not yet because

deep down inside I am

thinking it cannot be

only money

What was it then?

I don’t know so

let me send you

this reply instead

“Me theek! Tum kaise ho?”