Coachman Maansingh
My tonga's coachman Mansingh
Medium height and he was fat
His color was black
On which a white
Nehru cap, kurta-dhoti
Looked very smart
Left side of his forehead was dented
Always had paan or gutka in his mouth
One hand held a whip
And the other the reins
From Sita Ram Bazaar
To Turkman Gate
The tonga's journey
Was very thrilling
Coachman loudly
Shouted phrases -
Move aside, O Babuji
O Maulaji... O Bibi
O you rascal...
And the tonga, like an arrow
Would race ahead
Pedestrians quickly gave way
Moved to the side
As soon as we crossed Turkman Gate
The tonga on the empty road
Of Bal Bhavan
Would sprint and in 20 minutes
Reach Rouse Avenue
At the gate of Andhra School,
We'd quickly jump off the tonga
And climb the school steps,
Today, years later I stand
In front of the school steps
School is dismissed
And children are returning
On scooters, in cars
And school buses
Heading back to their homes,
Now tongas don’t run
No more coachman Mansingh
Nor his horse
No whip nor reins
And in the school bus
Children sit completely silent.
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