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?

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!