An Ode To Friends

In 1998-99, several of my good friends, most of them in academics and a few into software, suddenly upped and left for American shores. Life wasn't easy alone in Delhi, bereft of the support structure one had got used to. Internet became the preferred medium of communications and some interesting letters were exchanged during that period, most of which, sadly, I no longer have.

Among the few that I do, is a mail I got from my good friend Sangeeta Mediratta. Medirats, now Dr. (ahem) Mediratta, loves to listen to music, reads anything from classics to comics, and when not riled can dazzle you with her grin. Last heard she was masquerading as a professor of English Literature in one of those Ivy League institutions. The following is a mail she sent to me sometime in 2001... I think one of her friends had forwarded it to her and she forwarded it to me.

Enjoy it...

Main Aur mere roommates
Aksar Yeh Baatain Karte Hain
Ghar saaf hota to kaisa hota
Main kitchen saaf karta,tum bathrooom dhote
Main hall saaf karta, tum balcony dekhte
Log is baat pe hairaan hote
Aur us baat pe haste
Main aur mere roommates
Aksar Yeh Baatain Karte Hain
Yeh hara bhara sink hai
Ya bartanon ki jang chidi hui hai
Yeh colour full kitchen hai
Ya masalon se holi kheli hai
Hai farsh ki nayi design
Ya doodh,beer se dhuli hui hain
Yeh cellphone hai ya dhakkan
Sleeping bag ya kisika aanchal,
Ye airfreshner ka naya flavour hai,
Ya trash bag se aati badboo
Yeh pattiyon ki hai sarsarahut
Ke heater phirse kharab hua hai
Yeh sonchta hain roommate kab se gum sum
Ke jab ke usko bhi yeh khabar hai
Ke machar nahi hai, kaheen nahi hai
Magar uska dil hai ke kah raha hai
Machar yaheen hai, yaheen kaheen hai
Peth ki ye haalat, meri bhi hai, uski bhi,
Dil mein ek tasvir idhar bhi hai, udhar bhi
Karne ko bohot kuch hai magar kab kare hum
Kab tak yoon hi is tarah rahe hum
Dil kahta hai HomeDepot se koi vaccum cleaner la de
Ye carpet jo jine ko zoonz raha hai, fikwa
Hum saaf rahe sakte hai, logon ko bata dain,
Haan hum roommates hai - roommates hai - roommates hai
Ab dil main yehi baat, idhar bhi hai udhar bhi......