THE TONGUE

This time I am with my buddy!

Yes, after years;

Exactly we are meeting after,

Some thirty years since

He left India for U.K.

I want to see my old Ram!

But only spelling is same,

Pronunciation and looks are European - literary European!

He lives in a big mansion,

With big big family.

But all are British born,

Except he.

Parents are no more.

All along with his wife,

Sons, their wives

And grand kids are entirely

Living in British style,

And naturally speak in English.

It is obvious!

It's night and a day passed

Since I came.

I am with my buddy in his room.

He asks me little about India.

I am talking in our mother lang,

But he is replying me in English.

He does not speak a single word In my native tongue.

On the contrary,

He is slamming our tongue,

And advocating English,

And English culture.

I am dying to hear a single word in our native language.

But he is continuing in English.

At last I started to remind him the fun we had,

In our early days.

The mischief we did together,

In kite festivals.

The bad words we used

To speak together!

I started explaining all such stories almost breathlessly.

This time he is silent.

Doesn't utter a word

At last, I tried my last weapon and started speaking;

#*#*## words,

He used to speak in native language;

And finally in reply, he attacks

On me repeating,

Same words LOUDLY!

All family members are,

Rushing in to witness-

Heavy exchange of

Native language!

But among us we are only two,

Who can relish the real taste,

From a tongue-

The mother tongue!