Preface to Hyderabad
(Inspired by my friends Rashid Pookaatil and Shinoy S.)
Everyone was seated
All luggages loaded.
At 10.40 pm,
On the twentieth day of February,
We begin our trip
Down the memory lane
In the Kacheguda Express.
To the historical land of Nizam.
Chig chig chig chig
Chig chic chig chic
Koo...chig...chig...
Carrying us all,
The mighty snake
Began to move.
We bid good bye
To all dear ones
In Thalassery station.
A memorable night,
Lots of funny moments,
Evoked laughter in me.
First day with GBCTE friends.
Time too late,
Co-passengers requested:
"Is it time for sleep?"
"Yes", we replied.
Got into our berth.
All began to sleep.
It didn't visited me
And my friend.
At 1 am, she called me.
We sat in our berth
Cross-legged,
Bending our head
With great difficulty.
She whispered: " I'm hungry".
Slowly uncovered
The bananas
Gave one to me,
I rejected,
"No " -- It's too late.
She ate them
One by one.
A smile of satisfaction
Appeared in her face.
Silly talks, exchanged we
In between, laughed too.
Here comes a policeman:
"Are you both not sleeping?"
Retired we to our berths.
Drew the slumbers.
Not comfortable.
Sensed a pain in my body.
Didn't had a wink of sleep,
The whole of night.
I believe it hadn't visited
My friend too.
Sun broke out.
Little by little,
I saw the world
Outside the express.
The place has changed.
Ponds, cattles, trees, plants,
Flowers, buildings, vehicles,
Stations after stations,
Different people,
With luggage
Got
Into the train.
While, some got out.
The afternoon was terrible.
Hot sun coupled with
The marriage of white buildings
And the white surroundings
Appeared so boring.
At that moment,
I thought of my Kerala.
"Yes". It's truly God's Own Country.
Passengers began to sleep.
In the hot mid-day.
Sleep was dancing
In my eyelids.
" No". I won't sleep.
And, there's no berth.
There comes Sreekutty,
The little girl of my friend.
Followed by the other two kids.
We began to play.
I taught her painting.
Had lot of fun.
Ate food together.
Relished every drop of it.
Then,
Singing songs aloud
With full of joy
Playing games,
Doing pranks,
We passed
Compartments to compartments,
On that night.
Sreevedha bfriended me.
Christened me,
"Barbie".
Expressed her love for me.
Her hugs and kisses
Evoked laughter among us.
At 12 am,
Finally we are in our destination.
My fourth visit to Hyderabad.
Dear Hyderabad,
" What surprises
Have you in store
For me, this time?"
Here comes our bus,
Had a good breakfast.
Now to our tourist spots.
Maiden visit to Ramoji,
The city of films.
Dream come true.
Wonderstruck.
Openmouthed.
Seeing the brainchild of Ramoji Rao
Before my eyes.
Butterfly garden,
Buddha caves,
Bird sanctuary,
Fountains and Falls,
Kempegowda airport,
Innumerable filmspots,
The mighty constructions of
Bahubali,
We saw, smelt and touched.
London, US, Bombay, Chennai,
The magnificient cities,
Lotus temple,
Taj Mahal and Central Prisons,
Manifested before our eyes
One by one.
Sitting in a tourist bus,
Touring through all these
Was a memorable experience.
The sun is right above the head.
Still touring through
The man-made marvels
Of plaster of paris.
The duplicates of all.
Live-theatre shows --
A great experience.
Sumi's live show,
Trailer released
In a wink of an eye.
Ha...ha...ha...
Laughed all.
To the rides,
Friends and teachers enjoyed it.
I sat there,
Played with the little friend
In a horsecart.
Fully exhausted,
When the dusk came.
The gentleman of our group,
Mr. Kuttanpilla's
Comments walked
Into my ears;
"To the centre of Quthbshahi Sultans tomorrow we go".
Kakatiyas, Rudrama Devi,
Prataparudra,
Amazed I'm
By your Mankal.
Three score twin years...
Thanks to Bahmani Sultanate.
For this massive fortification.
Golla Konda,
I've heard of you in
Conwell's Acres of Diamonds.
No wonder that Keats penned you,
Painted Rene Magritte.
Golla Konda, never
Thought I will ever
Or could conquer
the mighty sylvian historian.
My feet cried:
" It's too hard".
Yet, my inner voice
Heard your call.
"Did you felt any pain
When we climbed upon
Your body
One by one
Like a baby?"
Felt tired,
Too thirsty,
In the mid-metallic sun
Half reached we,
Looked down.
What an amazing sight
Thou gave us then!
Towards dusk,
Sitting in a stone seat
In the holy city
I purified my feet
Tasting and regaining
the lost peace
My heart and soul
Thanked to the Mecca Masjid.
The night outside,
Full of bargaining,
In the crowd
Among the unknown
Brothers and Sisters,
I walked like
A free-bird,
Bought handful of
Things for memory.
The lonely night walk,
In Charminar,
I enjoyed a lot.
I felt its my place.
Something unknown
Connects me to you.
Back in hotel,
A sleepless memorable
Last night of Hyderabad Biriyani,
Black Tea, Snacks
And chit-chats.
Morning brought me,
A surprise in the form
Of a Sardarji brother,
With a big gift,
I was longing for.
Yet, I missed some dear ones.
Couldn't makeup my visit to Mandir nearby.
Yet, I'm happy.
Hyderabad,
"It's time to bid
Good bye.
I'll come back,
When you call me,
Next time."
At 11.40 am,
Here we are
In Secunderabad station,
Loaded with memories and luggage
Waiting for the long journey
With tears of happiness
Filling our eyes
To our homeland to begin.
