Dadar Poem by Daniel Trevelyn Joseph

Heard about Ideal Bookshop, Dadar West,
When I wanted to buy book on Acupressure
Drove up in the morning on a working day

It is a pleasure to walk on Vachanalya Marg
Saw the name-board of Ideal by Dadar West Station
Salesman is cryptic “ In English or Marathi? ”
I say ‘English’, and he tells another man.
The other shows two books – one for 40 rupees
Which was the author I wanted, but the other
By some other author with preface by Morarji
Our former Prime Minister whose own health habits
Drew attention without fail at home and abroad.
I see both the books and buy for Rs 115.

On wending my way to Ideal,
I had seen stationery shops, wanted to buy
A marker pen to write on back of CDs:
Otherwise I have to play and check to know
What material is downloaded on each CD.

In this shop too, the man is cryptic, “What color? ”
I say, “Black or blue..” He pulls out
Faber Castell Maltimark in black.

Another man in the shop takes it
And writes with it on the glass table top
Two letters to show me capabilities
And gives it to me matter-of-fact.

I pay Rs 20, and go happily to the car,
Pleased to be shopping in Dadar,
The marathi heartland of Mumbai
And in times when controversy rages
And some beat others up only for
Fault of not being from here,
Even some who were born here
But the grandparents weren’t.