Left for the big city,
I was just fifteen.
Baba told me "life will change."
I believed in his dreams.
The first whistle of train,
Increased my heart's pace.
Embarking on the journey,
Here we come big city.
Ages have passed, now I too have a family,
Do you know my son wants to be a doctor?
Haha, i laugh at it but no dream is silly.
That's what once my old man told me.
Sometime back i cursed myself,
They are saying, "the cement you used isn't that great!"
I begged, I weeped, "sir, I need to be paid..care for my blood and sweat!"
"No", he said, and shut the door on my face.
I have seen days when lunch of one is fed to five.
But I knew, i would make it alive.
Each day i would go to work with two chapatis and sugar in a pouch.
But in my heart I never had a doubt.
One day my friend the drunk cobbler said, "dear friend, it's time to go home."
I said, "no, the big city has given me bread," we're not alone.
Each day passed my friends left their dreams behind.
All they wanted some more time to survive.
The white court wearing doctors said, "save yourself, put the mask on."
Khakee wearing police sir said, "stop the work else will break your bone."
As days passed, city lights don't shine bright,
My son's dreams have long gone from our sight.
They say, "you filth go to your village."
I say, "where do we go and find our sollace!"
©rimo
R