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I Know You
I Know You
I know you.
Wasn’t it you, who was born
In the green valley,
Like the green grainy stalks
Fluttering carefree
In the winds.
I know you.
Wasn’t it you, who blossomed
With the yellow flowers
Nurtured with delicate care
Of your beloved father, mother, and brother?
I know you.
Wasn’t it you, who loved
Dressing up
With chunky earrings,
And colorful clothes?
I know you
Wasn’t it you who helped
Me, your best friend,
By convincing my father
That girls were equal to boys and should be educated?
I know you
Wasn’t it you who was the cynosure of the village
By initiating a trust
For poverty-ridden children of the village
To join School?
I know you.
Wasn’t it you, who dreamt
Of becoming a doctor
Curing all poor
Whose redemption, you felt, was your Life’s purpose?
I know you.
Wasn’t it you, whose life turned upside down?
When you lost your father
And your family
Became dependent on an unaffectionate relative?
I know you.
Wasn’t it you who could not study beyond 10th
And was married young
To a city-dweller
Who cut off your wings?
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I know you.
Wasn’t it you whose lively spirit shattered
When you were kicked and beaten
Even as your 5 kids shuddered
At the sight, every night?
I saw you
Die every moment
From pain, humiliation, and hopelessness
After another woman
Barged into your lives as the second wife
I saw you
Thrown out
Along with your kids
Onto the footpath
Right next to what you called home
I saw you
Living with me
While studying for medicine
In my one-room tenement
Huddled with your five very young children
I saw you
Sell the one possession you had
Then run from home to market to the city center every day
Buying and selling trinkets
To make both ends meet
I saw you
Looking at me longingly
While I donned the Doctor’s coat
To work at the Government hospital
Everyday
I saw you
As you as you and your children looked for opportunities
To grow and reach zeniths
That you would not have achieved
In a normal course of life
And now I see you and even the world recognizes you
As the Chairman of The Hospital chain
That employs the best doctors in the world
Who treat the poorest of the poor
Without charging a single penny or rupee!
