My world of Imagination 2 - Raja O Rani

My mornings at home in India started much earlier than it used to be here. Apart from jet lag the most important reason for "early rise" being I never wanted to waste the grand opportunity of spending quality time with my family and my surroundings.They are simply invaluable in comparison to whatever little I have in United States. And two most precious corners of my Behala house are our Balcony Garden and my dance practice room! Speaking of mornings - well one would usually have found me taking a homesick walk in my sun-kissed balcony garden with my toothbrush clasped between two fingers.

I admired the silent hide-n-seek moments between the oblique sun rays and the lush green plants around the balcony.The sun rays changing their directions and colors from morning to sundown -White- Yellow- Orange … is it not a miraculous gift from Mother Nature?!

These Raja and Rani pots were my collection from a handicraft fair which took place many years back at  Karunamayee, Salt Lake. They used to hang from another side of our balcony, unnoticed for quite some years. With course of time their faces grew darker and grim. This time during my vacation I managed to get them cleansed (thanks to Manju) and gathered some “nine-o-clock” plants. Baba carefully planted those nine-o-clocks into these pots. Floral arrangements were such that the colorful flowers would always keep on beautifying Raja and Rani’s invisible crowns as jewels!

Well now after setting up Raja and Rani in another corner of the balcony which gets the first golden ray of the sun I feel good about the majestic couple ! Faces which used to be dark and ugly once are now beaming with marbled jewels on their heads as if Rabithakur’s Raja and Rani have been personified! And yes Kudos to that unknown craftsman who made those terracotta pots now adorning our balcony !!

   রাজা ও রানী

        এক যে ছিল রাজা
সেদিন   আমায় দিল সাজা ।
          ভোরের রাতে উঠে
আমি     গিয়েছিলুম ছুটে ,
          দেখতে ডালিম গাছে
বনের    পিরভু কেমন নাচে ।
          ডালে ছিলেম চড়ে ,
সেটা     ভেঙেই গেল পড়ে ।
          সেদিন হল মানা
আমার   পেয়ারা পেড়ে আনা ,
          রথ দেখতে যাওয়া ,
আমার   চিঁড়ের পুলি খাওয়া ।
          কে দিল সেই সাজা ,
জান      কে ছিল সেই রাজা ?

          এক যে ছিল রানী
আমি     তার কথা সব মানি ।
          সাজার খবর পেয়ে
আমায়   দেখল কেবল চেয়ে ।
          বললে না তো কিছু ,
কেবল   মুখটি করে নিচু
          আপন ঘরে গিয়ে
সেদিন   রইল আগল দিয়ে ।
          হল না তার খাওয়া ,
কিংবা    রথ দেখতে যাওয়া ।
          নিল আমায় কোলে
সাজার   সময় সারা হলে ।
           গলা ভাঙা - ভাঙা
তার     চোখ - দুখানি রাঙা ।
          কে ছিল সেই রানী
আমি     জানি জানি জানি ।

- রবীন্দ্রনাথ ঠাকুর

My Raja

My Rani

Raja and Rani basking under the sun !

Raja and Rani basking under the sun !

Crowned with Jewels !

Raja o Rani adorning our Garden !