A lane that goes by my old house
I went through that lane again
I found some boys still going "howzaaaatt"
on a sidewalk slushy with rain

old Nazim chacha had long gone
but his tailorshop still stood
munnelal and sons were still
carving doors of wood

Aman miya ki chai now was
Aman Confectionery shop
they still gave out those rusks though
that crunched the time to a stop

i slow-walked under shamiyana of
kundi-wires hung over me
threads woven to keep things together
by the Powers that be

Seventeen summers has this place seen
since i last was here
"vinu aa gaya" still jolts my belly
by an unknown fear

The first time i ran away from school
five fingers still burn on my cheek
of tamarind bought two paisa an ounce
my knickers still reek

wish i could unwind time
and sleep in ma's lap
in my house in this lane
away from the material trap