Last night was the end of the first decade of 21st century. I was sleeping opposite to what the world was doing. You might be thinking what a jerk he is who went to sleep on new year eve. But I went to bed early so that I see the rising sun of the new year.I woke up early at 5’oclock and went straight to the terrace of building I am staying in and just to realize that the moon was still shining in the sky. It was dark and cold out there and the whole city was sleeping. The smell of the crackers, those were used last night, was still in the air. But there was peace.

I sat there and saw the moon, full and bright, and it was saying that sun wouldn’t rise. Suddenly I said ‘AA RAHI RAVI KI SAWARI’ . And I recited the whole poem. I was surprised and happy because I still remember the poem. It was in the 3rd or 4th std when I had read this beautiful poem. And it was fresh in my mind as if I had read it a day before. I repeated the poem again and again waiting for the sun to rise and to see if this moon ,shining in the sky as a king , will really look like a beggar.

I was sitting for about an hour but still there was no sign of the sun. I went down checked the news paper and came to know that it will rise at 7:15 am. I did my routine work went back. This time darkness was gone and the eastern part of sky was shining in bright orange color. There was some more time left to sunrise. I looked for the moon it has shifted from its earlier position but was bright as before. I looked around ,the city was coming to life again, the mini buses was running on the road, there were people doing exercise ( I hope it wasn’t there new year resolution), but there wasn’t any birds. I again turned towards moon it was at the horizon ready to go at any time.

There were many flocks of birds in the sky. They were singing, flying, enjoying and told me that sun had come. I jumped to get a glimpse of it and there it was behind a tall building pure red in color, full of energy. I turned to see the moon but it was already gone( and I was happy that it had gone before the sunrise otherwise it would have looked like a beggar). I turned back now I could see the sun without jumping and I prayed for the well being of the world and thanked to bring this beautiful day and a new year.

Here is that poem.I believe nothing can describe the sunrise better than this

Nav kiran ka rath saja hai
Kali kusum se path saja hai
Badalon se anucharon ne, swarn ki poshak dhari
Aa rahi ravi ki sawari

vihag bandi aur charan
gaa rahe hain kirti gayan
chodkar meidan bhagi , tarakon ki fauj saari
aa rahi ravi ki sawari

chahta uchloon vijay kah
par thithakta dekh kar yeh
raat ka raja khada hai, raah par banker bhikhari
aa rahi ravi ki sawari
--Harivansh Rai Bachchan



Wish you a happy new year 2010