Illiterate mother / अनपढ़ माँ !!!

मेरी अनपढ़ माँ
वास्तव में अनपढ़ नहीं है
वह बातचीत के दौरान
पिताजी का
चेहरा पढ़ लेती है
काल-पात्र-स्थान के अनुरूप
बात की दिशा
मोड़ सकती है
झगड़े की सम्भावनाओं को
भाँप कर
कोई भी बात
ख़ूबसूरत मोड़ पर लाकर
छोड़ सकती है

My illiterate mother
is actually not illiterate.
During a conversation
She could always read
My father’s face
and assuming some tension
which could lead to some contention,
she could alter the direction of the
conversation.
Judging the time, place and person,
She could redirect everything
to a beautiful note.

दर्द होने पर
हल्दी के साथ दूध पिला
पूरे देह का पीड़ा को
मार देती है
और नज़र लगने पर
सरसों के तेल में
रूई की बाती भिगो
नज़र भी उतार देती है

If in pain, her concoction of
milk & turmeric would kill
all the pain,
a cotton wick soaked in
the mustard oil, she could
save you from all evil eyes.

अगरबत्ती की ख़ुश्बू से
सुबह-शाम
सारा घर महकाती है
बिना काम किए भी
परिवार तो रात को
थक कर सो जाता है
लेकिन वो
सारा दिन काम करके भी
परिवार की चिन्ता में
रात भर सो नहीं पाती है।

The fragrance of her incense
would keep the whole house
fragrant, day & night.
Without doing any hard work,
the whole family would sleep
tired at night.
She, working the whole day,
thinking about the family wouldn’t
get a good night’s sleep.

सच!
कोई भी माँ
अनपढ़ नहीं होती
सयानी होती है
क्योंकि
ढेर सारी डिग्रियाँ
बटोरने के बावजूद
बेटियों को
उसी से सीखना पड़ता है
कि गृहस्थी
कैसे चलानी होती है।

True, no mother is illiterate.
They are clever,
because even after
accumulating many degrees,
a daughter has to learn from
her mother,
how to run a family?