PostPoems Be Artistic. Be Creative. Be Inspired!

                                                       Water   Lady

                                                       ***********

        This morning I lay in my sweaty bed feeling the morning breeze cool my nights nerves. Did not catch much sleep last night since the weather was hot and humid.I had lain in bed for over two long hours before sleep finally arrived.The sparrows had already begun chirping and looking for food.One tiny sparrow flew in through my bedroom window and fearlessly perched on my white bed.Somehow I didn't have the heart to shoo it off.

        The bird began screeching in my sleep deprived ear as though trying to convey some message.I closed my tired eyes and tried to guess what it was saying.Suddenly it struck me that I was to vist the ATM since cash at home had run out.There wasn't enough cash to fetch grocery or vegetables.Softly and in a soothing tone I spoke to it.. "I can manage for a day with potatoes and rice...I can visit the ATM tomorrow.." But the sparrow would not stop screeching. I glanced at my cellphone. It was well past nine. Very soon the hot sun would be beating down.

       Putting a saucepan on the gas stove for some tea, I cleaned my teeth and donned a pair of trousers and a tee shirt. After gulping down my tea with two biscuits I decided to go to the ATM which is a stones throw away from my home.OMG !!! where was my debit card?? It was nowhere to be found !! I became anxious and felt my heart palpitating like a voodoo drum. To calm myself I switched on the radio which began its morning show tirade which irritated me all the more. I let out a devilish yell .... My wife came running "What happened ! Why are you yelling like that ?" ..." I've lost my debit card...." ... " Why don't you look under the TV remote?..." Dejectedly I looked at the remote,lifted it... an there it was my lost debit card !!!

     I offered a cup of tea to my wife which she frowningly refused. She was looking at me in a strange manner.I thought to myself " I'm not old enough to be stricken by amnesia.. but again it was true that I have been having bouts of forgetfulness." Anyway, I trudged towards the ATM hoping to return with a large wad of cash which would take care of all my troubles. Can you imagine ?? The shutter of the ATM was

closed !! The next ATM was almost two miles off and I didn't have enough change to pay for an autorickshaw. I began my walk in the warm sun without my umbrella.Soon I got thirsty.But I couldn't afford a soft drink or a drink of coconut water or "nimbu pani" (lemon water) I had money in my account but not in my pocket !! Suddenly I felt very very poor!! As I reached the second ATM there was a long queue....

             A lady was standing with an umbrella in front of me. She was also armed with a water bottle. I asked her for a drink of water. She rummaged in her cavernous handbag and handed me a 500 ml mineral water bottle which I swigged off in a jiffy. I told her I would pay her after drawing cash from the ATM. She didn't bother to reply and simply smiled. Just before she went in I requested her to wait for me outside the ATM. Just as I exited the cool confines of the ATM I couldn't see her anywhere. "Thank you Dear Water Lady wherever you are.. and thank you Sparrow Dear for the lesson in real poverty..."