THE PARTY

Memorizing all the even days of their duo life,
Forgetting and forgiving each other for the odds,
Both of them wanted to commemorate the most significant day ,
Of their life, the silver wedding,
With their family, friends, colleagues and neighbors.

A large tent was illuminated with colored lights and flowers,
An orchestra group was playing instrumental music,
Whisper, smile and satisfaction all faces bore,
Nodding head in admiration, tapping feet on floor,
Meanwhile coffee, cold drinks and other starters passing hands.

Ladies came here returning from beauty parlors,
Gentlemen were dressed with their best party wears,
As if not of their friend's, that was their own occasion,
Or as if they were here to look for new partners on dates,
Evidently were in mood to enjoy each second of this party time.

Eyes of bachelors were searching for their counterpart's,
Among the crowd with, 'Hai', 'wow', 'woh' like sounds inaudible,
Could only be read from the changing expressions of their faces,
When they were trying to hide the feeling from their elders but failing,
Not known whether their signals were reaching the destinations or not.

Table decorated separately for vegetarians,
Utensils filled with matar-paneer, dal-tadka, mixed-vegetables were on gas burners,
Fried-rice, chapati, puri, papad, salad and dahi-raita,
Rasagola, gulabjamun, mawabati, gajar-halwa all sorts of sweets,
Were waiting for the hands of the first person to initiate.

Chicken-butter-masala, rogan-josh, chilly chicken,
Fried fish with mustard powder, and omelets,
Were placed on gas burners on the opposite side,
Fried rice, tandoori-roti and some sweets for change of taste,
Were there for those who might prefer as suitable for them.

I saw various dishes were taken into the plates in haste,
Tasted and thrown away into the used utensil's basket,
That much were thrown away,  as were eaten,
They were totally indifferent towards wastage and utilization,
I got irritated, dejected witnessing their silly approach towards food.

The party was in full swing when I got out of the tent for home,
After shaking hands with the host and some of the guests,
It was dread dark outside the over-illuminated tent,
I saw some eyes glittering in dark in each sides of the pavement,
Beggars hopefully waiting for their turn with empty stomachs.

I heard the untold complaint of their heart reaching my ear,
"So arrogantly, foolishly they are wasting it away ,
The most precious gift of the Almighty, our life saving food,
Will they ever think about the pain of hunger that we go through everyday ?
Will they ever have a little merciful place in their hearts for us ?"

They were of course our fellow human beings,
Expecting of their bi-footed gods left out something,
Poverty, destiny or for some other compulsions they were waiting outside,
By the Omnipresent's grace we the fortunate ones were privileged inside,
Shamelessly kicking away those that they were waiting so eagerly !

To be in sympathy and to remain considerate is human,
God made us human and bestowed us for all these a brain,
A heart conscience as well to use it for them,
One day all of us will live in the darkness of grave leaving these parties,
With the lights of our deeds, if done properly, satisfied and in peace.