ON THE ARTS COLLEGE ROAD - Translation of 'Arts Collegina haadiyalli' ಆರ್ಟ್ಸ್ ಕಾಲೇಜಿನ ಹಾದಿಯಲ್ಲಿ

On the Arts College road

(from Mukhamukhi 1978)

Gulmohar flowers are falling thickly here.

Stray fore-strands are swaying uninhibitedly in the cool breeze.  

The eyes, oh, the eyes of the young girls in veils

seem to be saying something.

 

The girl and the boy sitting under the tree are

laughing for no reason at all.

The paanwala near the bus-stop is speaking fluently

in chaste Dakhani Urdu.

This is the Arts College road where I

walk every day.

 

What, doesn’t the Hyderabad heat hammer down here?

Doesn’t anybody suffer here?

You might ask.

Why, don’t I have freedom to choose?

Or not?

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