அவன்

 ”ஹாய், என் பேர் சூர்யா”

முதல் சந்திப்பின் கை குலுக்கலில் 

உன் விரல்களை அறிந்தேன்

”வீட்டில் கொண்டு விடுறேன் வா”

பைக் ஏறி உட்காருகையில்

உன் தோள்களை அறிந்தேன் 

”எப்போ பார்க்க போறோம்”

விடைபெறும் தழுவலில்

உன் முதுகை முழுதாய் அறிந்தேன் 

"இன்னுமா புரியல? ”

முதல் முத்த ஸ்பரிசத்தில் 

உன் அதரங்கள் அறிந்தேன்

"இப்படியே இருக்கணும் "

என் மடியில் உன் தலை கோதி 

உன் கேசக்கால்கள் அறிந்தேன் 

”நான் தூக்கிக்கறேன் வா”

என் வலியை நீ சுமக்க

உன் நெஞ்சை அறிந்தேன் 

”அவ்வளவு எல்லாம் வலிக்கல”

நீ தட்டி கழித்தும் நான் நீவி விட

உன் பாதங்களை அறிந்தேன் 

"கொஞ்சம் பொறுத்துக்கோ டா"

எனக்காக உதிரும் கண்ணீர் துடைத்து

உன் கன்னங்களை அறிந்தேன் 

" உன்ன மாதிரியே இருக்கா "

பெருமையான தந்தை உன் 

அன்பின் ஆழம் அறிந்தேன்

"..... "

எனக்கான மௌன மொழி பேசும் 

உன் கண்ணில் அதீத காதல் தவிர

வேறு என்ன அறிவேன்? 

Forbidden

If those eyes glance 

Will they speak pages?

If that fingertip grazes

Will it ignite a volcano?

If those lips curve

Will that sweeten life?

If those words are heard

Will they give wings?

If those hands hold 

Will it warm the heart?

Butterfly kisses

Tender caress

Warm cuddles

Treasured snuggles 

Dreamed with fervor

Destined never to savor

Walking parallel paths

Side by side but

Forever oceans apart

First time

"The first time?"

He scrunches up his face in an effort to remember. He turns and looks at the waves. I can see him starting to blush as the memory comes to him.                                                       

It hits me then that I've always loved to see him blush. 

"You remember Sadhana, right? One day after class, I drove her home in my bike", he continues, "she got down and without any warning, quickly leaned in and kissed me and then ran inside her house. That was the first time. It was very sweet and completely unexpected." 

"I wouldn't say unexpected. You are very kissable", I don't realize I had said that out loud until his head snaps around at me.

With mischief and mirth in his eyes he asks, "oh yeah? Then how come, all these years, you never kissed me?" 

"Because I was an idiot", I say, ready to throw caution to the wind.

He smirks and looks back at waves again.

"You know what?" I continue, " I'm much smarter now."

And that is the first time I kiss him. 

The Girl and The Machine

Rewind to a coupla years back.
"I'm planning to buy a two-wheeler", I told the Pater.
The mercury hit the top. "My daughter on a scooter? On these terrible roads? I absolutely forbid it! I won't have you breaking any bones!" (He meant others' bones of course!)
Right-o! Another dream down the drain. But, the spark wasn't completely extinguished.

Fast forward to the present.
My unc came up to me, "I can't use my bike because of my operation. Do you wanna take it to office or something?"
Do I??!!
Though he was apprehensive about the Pater's reaction, I convinced him with my mother's golden words - 'What they don't know can't hurt them'.

I was all set to go. With his helmet (which I believe he got as a wedding gift - 40 years ago) on my head, like a good girl I went straight to office. I was already late and had to hurry. So I took the short straight path. After an usual day, I was eager to start home, with a stop on the way for some shopping.

With my jacket on, without the hindrance of that helmet (I know, I know, breaking rules and all that - but the wind rushing through you - what an exhilarating feeling! (Plus my sense of fashion (ahem!) prevented me from wearing that scrap metal (I've got to stop here before I put up any more parentheses))), I started my journey.

It was my dream to take a bike and explore hitherto unknown streets in my town. I was so excited that I was gonna live my dream! I started with taking any and all side streets that took my fancy. I avoided known main roads. I explored my area to my heart's content. I must admit, I did hit upon numerous dead ends and no-entries. I went in circles. The journey which should normally take me about an hour took me nearly one and a half. But did I care? Oh no!
What did those matter when compared to the Liberation that I felt?