Atithi Devo Bhava.... (Guest Is Like God) Poem by Padmaja Iyengar

He was a tourist guide much sought after;
His wit and humour evoked much laughter.

Foreign tourists were often referred to him,
Because of his English knowledge and vim.

He would regale the tourists with witty anecdotes,
While on the history of the royal palaces and forts.

He was handsome and had great charm,
And a smile, that’d often anyone disarm!

Obviously, he was quite a hit with the females.
For them, he always had some ‘special’ tales!

A few female tourists obliged him “all the way”
And this gave him a misplaced sense of sway!

There was this lady tourist with an indifferent air.
She did not about anything or him, seem to care.

As was his duty, he showed her all the places
And tried to woo and win her in lonely spaces!

He wondered, why at all she was there;
Her indifference to him seemed so unfair!

Of any interest in him, she gave no sign;
Rejected his invitation to wine and dine.

He was completely obsessed with her,
And felt all kinds of desires in him stir.

Her visit to the place was nearing its end,
And in no way could he, her resolve bend.

His chances with her appeared very dim,
As she continued to studiedly ignore him.

Finally, at this place, it was her last night;
By then, he’d lost sense of wrong and right.

He entered her hotel room using force,
With just that one intention of course!

In one swift move, he was on her all over
And felt a great surge of desire and power.

At last with this woman, he had his way,
As she lay, unable to do anything or say.

Sated and fulfilled, he fell fast asleep,
To get up later with a hangover deep.
Not finding her anywhere around,
His heart started to loudly pound.

The hotel desk told him, she’d checked out
And that left him feeling further like a lout.

They handed him a large-sized envelope
That had some cash, a note and a rope.

He pocketed the cash and opened the letter
And what he read there, gave him a jitter!

“Welcome to the world of AIDS! ” it read
“Use the rope to hang yourself” she said.