my Dad....

I saw my dad

Middle of the deep sleep

Came close to me and

Taping my head

As usual he used to do

In the age of three or four

While I used to climb on his shoulders.

He asked me-shall we go for a walk?

Without further resistance,

We walked few steps silent.

Not knowing I wondered-

What is the message!

 I saw a barren plant –

He continued –in your garden of love?

Usually I never replied to my father.

I maintained the deep silence.

I was killing time after hearing his concrete undefined question.

Though we walked together physically

My mind was roaming

Like an orphan

Hanging here and there under the tree

Aimlessly doing nothing

Very irritating to the task master

Who demand the work to be done?

Either now or after.

‘Cactus or any desert plant’- he forced me with look

-People keep them out of their door

But you have nurtured and cherished the barren life.

 Sometimes mushrooms come up

Without expectation of the gardener

Children sit around and examine the beauty of it

Some admire few plucked them

Children spend time

Here and now

Touching, smeling and crying.

Actually my father had hit the nail on the head

As I got up from the sleep

I saw the family framed picture

 Father is staring at me.