Yellow

Yellow means a sunflower.

A single stem brightening a whole room.

Yellow means cheer.

Yellow means a child’s nursery.

Yellow means innocence.

Yellow means butter.

A thick wad melting on a steaming hot aloo-paratha.

Yellow means temptation.

Yellow means the Australian cricket team.

Yellow means challenge.

Yellow means Winnie the Pooh.

On a night-shirt and a school bag and a notebook.

Yellow means memories.

Yellow means a canary.

Hopping and skipping and flipping about.

Yellow means life.

Yellow means turmeric.

A pinch added to a drab looking bhaji, making it seem like a mouth-watering delight.

Yellow means taste.

Yellow means a field of mustard plants.

With Shahrukh and Kajol singing ‘Tujhe dekha toh yeh jaana sanam’.

Yellow means youth.

Yellow means the piece of gold my grandmother wears around her neck.

A gift from my mother to hers, from her first salary.

Yellow means pride.

Yellow means the sun.

Light. Energy. Hope.


First published in Talking Cranes, 21 November 2013.