The Ordained Turnaround

By Banani Sikdar

A quaint hamlet laced with hills, peaks gorges, falls, rivers,

Chambela, a pristine hamlet, clung onto the foothills of Himalayas.

Brooks, berries, ferns, fur, a hamlet of distinct, morphic charm,

People born and brought up in quiet, steady rocky arms.

A young hilly beauty, a lissome Parvati, was approaching habitually,

Her pilgrimage to the uphill Temple of Shiva Durga, daily.

A bantam merchant's daughter, free, at ease, a pheasant,

Each nook and corner had she known, her poise, elegant.

Little did she know her status, someone's glance adoration,

Shambhu, from a distance,followed her in silent admiration.

The landlord's son, tall, lean, athletic Shambhu a village returned,

With enough and fancy education, was the landlord's heirloom bona-fide.

The temple bell resonated a sweet sounding vibration,

Done with puja, Parvati, was temple steps down, with satisfaction.

Collecting sandals, heard a sudden, canonical burst of explosion.

Horrified, she swayed with the swaying soil,

Shambhu, alert, cautious, located a mountain peak fuelled to spill.

Wide eyed, frantic, together they witnessed the whirlpool,

The avalanche , in white motion, wild, destroying any stumble.

The helpless duo viewed, their homes, spec like,

Washed away with equal ferocity, large and small alike.

The temple, the last resort, they entered downcast, slowly,

The temple priest, wise, scripture rich, perceived a vision Holy,

The force destructive, was leading to a blessed union invariably.

By Banani Sikdar