PART-1
Her day began with the usual noise,
Terrifying would be an understatement, as it caused her heart to poise.
Hot tea on some days, boiling water on the other,
Would be splashed mercilessly on her mother's face, that too, by her own father!
The sound of the alarm was overshadowed by the breaking crockery,
Where the former was a sign of beginning, the latter- mockery.
With numb feet and pounding heart she used to walk towards the room,
To find her mother begging for mercy from her two month old groom.
Second marriage wasn't much of a choice, it had to be done indeed,
For this world was too cruel, to provide an illiterate widow for her needs.
She missed her father, the real one that is, the kindest man she had ever seen,
Who used to tell her, that if you're kind, this world is a beautiful place to be!
"The world's not good Dad", she uttered to herself, "and I miss you so much"
"That monster leaves scars on Mom's body, with every impinging touch!"
Her father, when alive, was an illiterate blacksmith, but made sure that she didn't share the same fate,
For she passed out from the nearby school, that too, with excellent grades!
She knew science, she knew math, but more that that, she knew the world now,
As her father used to say, "Once educated, you will never have to bow."
But the world, as they say, is a filth in which you have to dive,
Which was too good for a sixteen year old girl to swim and survive!
She worked at the restaurants, call centers too,
To save herself and her mother from the monster's woo.
Despite this, it was either lunch or dinner, she still had to choose,
Because her earnings were snatched for the monster's booze.
She was cheated, she was robbed, she was only sixteen,
Too old perhaps, for this world, to pay her some heed.
The wounds of her mother sent ripples to her soul,
Very soon she knew that she couldn't take it anymore!
She tried hard to earn a living, toiling, be it dusk or dawn,
But couldn't cater for her mother's need.
Finally, to overcome the monster's bitter scorn,
She had to resort to the fifth street!
PART-2
He saw her first near the druggist's shop,
Standing with an umbrella, at the bus stop.
She wore pink that day, with a matching turban,
Heavy make-up, looks suburban.
He saw her again, the following day,
Wearing purple this time, with a tinge of grey.
Anxious eyes, as if always in a haste,
Drops of sweat trickling down her waist.
Day after day he saw her at the same place,
Waiting for the bus, with open hairs and sweaty face.
"Your face is so red", he once walked up to her and said,
"The burning sun is giving you pimples on your fore-head."
She stared back at him, as if she had seen a ghost,
Her eyes broadened, which were as bright as a lamppost.
She didn't utter a word, on to the bus she hitched,
Unaware of the fact that by that one look, someone else was bewitched!
Desperately he tried, to listen to her voice,
But the girl was too stubborn to make an easy choice.
Flowers of all kinds waited for her all day,
Only for their aroma to slowly fade away.
One fine day, he suddenly was not to be found,
She was surprised, and did look around.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, a photograph popped up in her hands,
The sheer beauty of which was like sparkles amidst sands.
"Am I really that beautiful?", she asked herself,
"For I look like a fairy here, but in reality, I am an elf."
"Yes you are", he quickly replied,
Her eyes broadened yet again, wondering, how could he read her mind?
"Who are you?", she spoke for the first time, "How did you do this?"
"A photographer, you may say", he replied, "And yeah, it wasn't an easy click!"
Her glaring eyes now had more questions in store
But she had a bus to ride aboard.
"What is your name?", he yelled from the window, "Where else can we meet?"
"There is nothing in the name that would like to know", she replied, "I live on the fifth street!"
PART-3
She leaned on the window, when suddenly she heard a familiar grin,
She turned around immediately, to find that it was him.
Her eyes ballooned, which was a familiar sight now,
"I've skipped my exams to sit here next to you", he said, "Please tell me your name now."
"Why are you doing this?", she said, "You don't know who I am!"
"There is nothing that I can offer you, for I have a cursed charm!"
"You're one stubborn princess", he laughed, "And you're only sixteen."
"Open up a little, because there is a smile which this world desperately wants to see!"
She wasn't the kind who would succumb to cheesy lines,
But his words had started their magic, in time.
She didn't reply but leaned against the window grill,
The sunlight filtering through her face, confirmed the partial grin.
That smile was all it took, for him to take the next step,
Ecstatically he asked, "You haven't told me your name yet."
"You need not know my name", she replied, "And it's very fair and just."
"And you won't follow me any further, once I get down from the bus!"
His heart sank for a moment, but he did not give up,
"At least, I can sit here next you?", he pleaded, "Everyday, with a coffee cup?"
"As you wish", she stubbornly replied, "But there is one condition though!"
"You will neither ask me where I live, nor ask me where do I go."
He nodded in approval, thought his heart broke a little,
But he knew that she was good at heart, only outwardly she seemed fickle.
He rode with her everyday, sitting by her side in the bus,
He poured out his heart to her everyday, sharing the coffee cup.
He told her why he hated to study,
He told her why he loved photography,
He told her about his first bicycle,
Riding which he had hurt his ankle.
He told her about his daily chores,
Music, Cricket and a lot more,
He told her about the languages he spoke,
In a nutshell, he showed her his raw soul!
Her heart had started feeling the magic,
On days, when he was late, she did panic.
But she knew, that they were not meant to be,
As her home is and would always be, the fifth street!
PART-4
It was almost an year now of this daily schedule
Along with coffee, flowers had also become a rule.
But somewhere inside, he wanted to know,
Who actually is this girl, and where does she go?
For he has been in love with a girl, whom he, frankly, does not know,
He always wondered what is it, the she doesn't want him to know.
For he had showed her his naked soul,
And expected the same from her, nothing more.
So one Friday, he decided to cross the line,
When she stepped down from the bus, he hid himself for a while.
He waited for her to move away, as he couldn't afford to folly,
He followed her with inaudible steps, just like a creepy-crawly.
She walked through many streets and alleys, he wondered why is she walking so much,
If the distance was really that large, she could have taken another bus.
She walked through some muddy streets, and suddenly stopped in front of a gate,
On the other side of which, the world seemed to be a completely different place.
That place was dimly lit, with streets which seemed pretty busy,
By now, he had a feeling that something here was fishy.
He saw men, he saw women, but he saw no kids at all,
He wondered at those high heels, which made those women look really tall.
He saw them smoke, he saw them drink, and suddenly lost his concentration,
He bumped into a woman, who was already dizzy on intoxication.
The woman's breath smelled as she yelled out,
"Get outta here, teens are not allowed!"
The noise was enough for her to turn around,
And realize that she was been stalked without a sound.
He saw her eyes swell, for an umpteenth time again,
But this time, more than anger, they spoke of pain!
"I am sorry, my dear", he cried, "But I had to do it"
"For I needed to know what's hidden in your heart, because mine beats for it!"
"I know I have broken my promise, and I am ready to endure your wrath,
But I love you, my princess and I desperately want us to last!"
Tears had already started to leak from her eyes,
The mascara which followed, made it a pitiful sight.
Her lipstick laden lips parted, but couldn't utter a word,
For she was afraid that her words, may mark the end of his world.
Someone had been spying all this while on them, and suddenly appeared on the scene,
A man who would have been of twice her age, with an evil smile and face-obscene.
With one hand on her breast, and the other on her butt,
The man whispered in his ears, "She is a slut!"
She burst into tears, being devastatingly helpless,
For she knew that she'd fallen for him, a guy whose love was selfless.
Eyes met, tears spoke,
Not a word was said, he knew that he'd fallen for a whore!
The man carried her away,
He died a little more inside, but his love never went astray.
He came too far for love, he was too innocent, only sixteen,
He came to a market of human flesh, he came to the Fifth Street!
PART-5
The next morning it was a lonely ride,
And this time, it was her who died a little inside.
She missed his coffee, she missed his talks,
She missed a part of herself, with him which was lost!
She'd seen this coming, she knew this would happen someday,
Because for her mother's smile, there was a heavy price to pay.
She reached her place, the place of daily disgrace,
When she saw a new customer with a familiar face!
"And I thought you loved me", she spoke, disgusted by the sight,
"Only yesterday you spoke of us, and now you want to fuck me with all your might?"
"You know, I fell for you last night, and I thought I had found the one
I wish I knew that you were no different, that you too were a bitch's son!"
Her words drilled a void inside his heart, but he kept his calm and spoke,
"I am not here to touch your body, I'm here to heal your soul."
"I don't know why you do this, but there must be a reason good enough,
And I don't really bother about the reason, because I love you so much."
"They abuse your body, they abuse your soul,
You fight with yourself everyday, the reason why you speak no more.
Talk to me my princess, tell me your griefs,
Tell me your secrets, tell me your needs."
"I am only sixteen, and an orphan too,
There was no one in this world for me, until I met you.
I'm a loner, and you're lonely too,
Let's speak our hearts out, let's ease the pain through."
"The world's a cruel place, and one day it will all turn to dust
Because of man's cruelty, greed and lust.
In this anarchy and chaos, there is only one thing that's just,
And that is, out of all things that you do, love should be a must!"
She fell on her knees, eyes broadened, and there was no need to guess,
For the very first time, they spoke of happiness,
Though he couldn't take her away, neither could he bring the world at her feet,
But still she knew, that she'd found her man, right here on the Fifth Street!
Where the former was a sign of beginning, the latter- mockery.
With numb feet and pounding heart she used to walk towards the room,
To find her mother begging for mercy from her two month old groom.
Second marriage wasn't much of a choice, it had to be done indeed,
For this world was too cruel, to provide an illiterate widow for her needs.
She missed her father, the real one that is, the kindest man she had ever seen,
Who used to tell her, that if you're kind, this world is a beautiful place to be!
"The world's not good Dad", she uttered to herself, "and I miss you so much"
"That monster leaves scars on Mom's body, with every impinging touch!"
Her father, when alive, was an illiterate blacksmith, but made sure that she didn't share the same fate,
For she passed out from the nearby school, that too, with excellent grades!
She knew science, she knew math, but more that that, she knew the world now,
As her father used to say, "Once educated, you will never have to bow."
But the world, as they say, is a filth in which you have to dive,
Which was too good for a sixteen year old girl to swim and survive!
She worked at the restaurants, call centers too,
To save herself and her mother from the monster's woo.
Despite this, it was either lunch or dinner, she still had to choose,
Because her earnings were snatched for the monster's booze.
She was cheated, she was robbed, she was only sixteen,
Too old perhaps, for this world, to pay her some heed.
The wounds of her mother sent ripples to her soul,
Very soon she knew that she couldn't take it anymore!
She tried hard to earn a living, toiling, be it dusk or dawn,
But couldn't cater for her mother's need.
Finally, to overcome the monster's bitter scorn,
She had to resort to the fifth street!
PART-2
He saw her first near the druggist's shop,
Standing with an umbrella, at the bus stop.
She wore pink that day, with a matching turban,
Heavy make-up, looks suburban.
He saw her again, the following day,
Wearing purple this time, with a tinge of grey.
Anxious eyes, as if always in a haste,
Drops of sweat trickling down her waist.
Day after day he saw her at the same place,
Waiting for the bus, with open hairs and sweaty face.
"Your face is so red", he once walked up to her and said,
"The burning sun is giving you pimples on your fore-head."
She stared back at him, as if she had seen a ghost,
Her eyes broadened, which were as bright as a lamppost.
She didn't utter a word, on to the bus she hitched,
Unaware of the fact that by that one look, someone else was bewitched!
Desperately he tried, to listen to her voice,
But the girl was too stubborn to make an easy choice.
Flowers of all kinds waited for her all day,
Only for their aroma to slowly fade away.
One fine day, he suddenly was not to be found,
She was surprised, and did look around.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, a photograph popped up in her hands,
The sheer beauty of which was like sparkles amidst sands.
"Am I really that beautiful?", she asked herself,
"For I look like a fairy here, but in reality, I am an elf."
"Yes you are", he quickly replied,
Her eyes broadened yet again, wondering, how could he read her mind?
"Who are you?", she spoke for the first time, "How did you do this?"
"A photographer, you may say", he replied, "And yeah, it wasn't an easy click!"
Her glaring eyes now had more questions in store
But she had a bus to ride aboard.
"What is your name?", he yelled from the window, "Where else can we meet?"
"There is nothing in the name that would like to know", she replied, "I live on the fifth street!"
PART-3
She leaned on the window, when suddenly she heard a familiar grin,
She turned around immediately, to find that it was him.
Her eyes ballooned, which was a familiar sight now,
"I've skipped my exams to sit here next to you", he said, "Please tell me your name now."
"Why are you doing this?", she said, "You don't know who I am!"
"There is nothing that I can offer you, for I have a cursed charm!"
"You're one stubborn princess", he laughed, "And you're only sixteen."
"Open up a little, because there is a smile which this world desperately wants to see!"
She wasn't the kind who would succumb to cheesy lines,
But his words had started their magic, in time.
She didn't reply but leaned against the window grill,
The sunlight filtering through her face, confirmed the partial grin.
That smile was all it took, for him to take the next step,
Ecstatically he asked, "You haven't told me your name yet."
"You need not know my name", she replied, "And it's very fair and just."
"And you won't follow me any further, once I get down from the bus!"
His heart sank for a moment, but he did not give up,
"At least, I can sit here next you?", he pleaded, "Everyday, with a coffee cup?"
"As you wish", she stubbornly replied, "But there is one condition though!"
"You will neither ask me where I live, nor ask me where do I go."
He nodded in approval, thought his heart broke a little,
But he knew that she was good at heart, only outwardly she seemed fickle.
He rode with her everyday, sitting by her side in the bus,
He poured out his heart to her everyday, sharing the coffee cup.
He told her why he hated to study,
He told her why he loved photography,
He told her about his first bicycle,
Riding which he had hurt his ankle.
He told her about his daily chores,
Music, Cricket and a lot more,
He told her about the languages he spoke,
In a nutshell, he showed her his raw soul!
Her heart had started feeling the magic,
On days, when he was late, she did panic.
But she knew, that they were not meant to be,
As her home is and would always be, the fifth street!
PART-4
It was almost an year now of this daily schedule
Along with coffee, flowers had also become a rule.
But somewhere inside, he wanted to know,
Who actually is this girl, and where does she go?
For he has been in love with a girl, whom he, frankly, does not know,
He always wondered what is it, the she doesn't want him to know.
For he had showed her his naked soul,
And expected the same from her, nothing more.
So one Friday, he decided to cross the line,
When she stepped down from the bus, he hid himself for a while.
He waited for her to move away, as he couldn't afford to folly,
He followed her with inaudible steps, just like a creepy-crawly.
She walked through many streets and alleys, he wondered why is she walking so much,
If the distance was really that large, she could have taken another bus.
She walked through some muddy streets, and suddenly stopped in front of a gate,
On the other side of which, the world seemed to be a completely different place.
That place was dimly lit, with streets which seemed pretty busy,
By now, he had a feeling that something here was fishy.
He saw men, he saw women, but he saw no kids at all,
He wondered at those high heels, which made those women look really tall.
He saw them smoke, he saw them drink, and suddenly lost his concentration,
He bumped into a woman, who was already dizzy on intoxication.
The woman's breath smelled as she yelled out,
"Get outta here, teens are not allowed!"
The noise was enough for her to turn around,
And realize that she was been stalked without a sound.
He saw her eyes swell, for an umpteenth time again,
But this time, more than anger, they spoke of pain!
"I am sorry, my dear", he cried, "But I had to do it"
"For I needed to know what's hidden in your heart, because mine beats for it!"
"I know I have broken my promise, and I am ready to endure your wrath,
But I love you, my princess and I desperately want us to last!"
Tears had already started to leak from her eyes,
The mascara which followed, made it a pitiful sight.
Her lipstick laden lips parted, but couldn't utter a word,
For she was afraid that her words, may mark the end of his world.
Someone had been spying all this while on them, and suddenly appeared on the scene,
A man who would have been of twice her age, with an evil smile and face-obscene.
With one hand on her breast, and the other on her butt,
The man whispered in his ears, "She is a slut!"
She burst into tears, being devastatingly helpless,
For she knew that she'd fallen for him, a guy whose love was selfless.
Eyes met, tears spoke,
Not a word was said, he knew that he'd fallen for a whore!
The man carried her away,
He died a little more inside, but his love never went astray.
He came too far for love, he was too innocent, only sixteen,
He came to a market of human flesh, he came to the Fifth Street!
PART-5
The next morning it was a lonely ride,
And this time, it was her who died a little inside.
She missed his coffee, she missed his talks,
She missed a part of herself, with him which was lost!
She'd seen this coming, she knew this would happen someday,
Because for her mother's smile, there was a heavy price to pay.
She reached her place, the place of daily disgrace,
When she saw a new customer with a familiar face!
"And I thought you loved me", she spoke, disgusted by the sight,
"Only yesterday you spoke of us, and now you want to fuck me with all your might?"
"You know, I fell for you last night, and I thought I had found the one
I wish I knew that you were no different, that you too were a bitch's son!"
Her words drilled a void inside his heart, but he kept his calm and spoke,
"I am not here to touch your body, I'm here to heal your soul."
"I don't know why you do this, but there must be a reason good enough,
And I don't really bother about the reason, because I love you so much."
"They abuse your body, they abuse your soul,
You fight with yourself everyday, the reason why you speak no more.
Talk to me my princess, tell me your griefs,
Tell me your secrets, tell me your needs."
"I am only sixteen, and an orphan too,
There was no one in this world for me, until I met you.
I'm a loner, and you're lonely too,
Let's speak our hearts out, let's ease the pain through."
"The world's a cruel place, and one day it will all turn to dust
Because of man's cruelty, greed and lust.
In this anarchy and chaos, there is only one thing that's just,
And that is, out of all things that you do, love should be a must!"
She fell on her knees, eyes broadened, and there was no need to guess,
For the very first time, they spoke of happiness,
Though he couldn't take her away, neither could he bring the world at her feet,
But still she knew, that she'd found her man, right here on the Fifth Street!
