Evening on Marine Drive

Crackling shells

of a roasted groundnut

fell

as we walked

on the shore at sunset.

Brushing aside

that willful strand of hair

off my face

I stood and stared

at those passing unknown faces

flashing through my

lens' screen...

I wonder how

that child of four

or five

is happy with his running nose

and patchy clothes...

Where does he go

when the darkness falls?

Is there a place

that he calls his home?

And a chaiwala 

succeeds in selling me

an over priced, under-boiled

hot cup of tea

While the chipswala

grumbled softly

at my refusal

for his fare...

There are couples here

and there

and some more too far

finding the comforting embrace

of a crowded place

Where holding hands

or a spontaneous kiss

is no disgrace...
i see their smile

made me forget

the destitute's pain...

For fitness' sake

or just a break

you see them walk

and run and pace

With music on

or dogs in chains

the lifeline here

is on its shore...

And darkness falls

into the sea

Cool cars whizz by

the star struck eyes

trying to find 

the city of their dreams

As they stand and stare

for just that little more:

a house opening on to the sea,

a car that guzzles the petroleum

resources of the world

and a few thousands crisp Gandhi face

in their back pockets...

The stars lit up the sky

and the necklace was shining bright

our conversation continued

as we walked back to the junction

and back to our

race against time

an evening spent

in the heart of my Mumbai...