Turning 40 or turning naughty

By Sameer Punyani

Half of it is already over,
For the rest I am ready to hover,
Wonder do I, why the outlook shift,
Am I wiser at 40, or taking the balance as a gift,
I see more hues on me & on you,
Have a spring in my step, twinkle in my eyes & world view anew,
My wardrobe has more colours than when I was young,
Craving for everyday a new song to be sung,
I feel now more warm with Ruha’s1 hand in mine,
Counting the stars, recounting the memories with a glass of wine,
And Aadi2 growing tall, dropping tough questions on my head,
Becoming more a friend, as the proverb said,
Wonder do I, is it life I want more or more out of life,
And why resurgence of the itch to walk the edge of a knife,
Practicing the subtle art,
Trying to calm my breath & heart,
Sometimes racing on Dhanno4, giving its limits a try,
Oh! The lovely breeze on my face fueling my urge to fly,
Bosses do not disturb me anymore,
I am just true to the oath5 I swore,
With Ruha too sometimes ‘panga’6 I take,
She tells me to be quiet but I still call a fake, ‘fake’
Wonder do I, is it the glow of aging,
Or the radiance of the hormones raging,

Only from work I want to be retired,
Tied to a desk I kinda feel tired,
More into yoga, yet more into jamming,
Morning to connect to God, evenings for bottle ramming,
Looking for adventure in every moment & step,
My dressing now too looks filled & hep,
Wonder do I, whom to thank for so much grace,
And then I look up, with open arms I embrace,
THAT…
Half of it is already over,
For the rest now I am ready to hover.


NOTES
1. Ruha – Colloquial name for Ruhi, my wife.
2. Aadi – Colloquial name for Hriday, my son.
3. Subtle Art – ‘The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck’
4. Dhanno – My Royal Enfield Thunderbird motorcycle.
5. Oath – The oath taken by me when I joined my profession.
6. Panga – Colloquial Hindi word for ‘to go looking for trouble’.