the marriage which did not come off
living all by himself is always a desolate life
the maid was getting on and yet was not a wife
no person came along to pledge his troth
to say the blessed word which she sought
then one day out of the big wide blue
a presentable one came there to woo
the family was happy, merriment was in the air
the young man seemed earnest and was very fair
he sought the flowers, he contacted the band
he brought the gifts and arranged the venue grand
he talked to parents and told them virtue of the place
he said he would go and bring his friends
but the uncle was suspicious to no end
the boy had met everybody but him, that was wrong
came to him only when some one pushed him along
the uncle scolded the boy and told him his terms
stipulated so many conditions that the boy squirmed
the old man kept him till he had his full say
the boy made appropriate noises and went away
uncle was not satisfied and followed to bring him back
that way he would have the honour to serve the clan
he told the father to wait and receive him at the station
the train was late and father had to honour an invitation
the father managed to reach the station but too late
the party had come but none to receive them at the gate
the father took it into his stride but the uncle lost his temper
he demanded an apology and cursed till the boy whimpered
at last uncle was pacified and everything was right
but the boy had made his decision that very night
while everyone slept, he quietly made his escape
thus uncle Langam turned away the Damania Airways.
(Imphal July 23, 1995
behind this poem, there is a history. Manipur was an isolated place with no air connections. The Damania Airways wanted to start a flight. All the arrangements were made. But the Transport Minister (you guessed right. It was Shri Langam) was not happy. He wanted something which was rumoured to be quite substantial. The CM could not be present at the inargual flight and the demands went on increasing. No wonder the flight ceased to operate almost without notice. Now you can go back and read the poem again.)