"The Slap," a Poem in Hindi by Salil Jain "Sajal", Translated by Pragya Bajpai, Ph.D

The Slap

By Salil Jain "Sajal"

The slap banged across my face

still reverberates in my ears

The sprightly gathering

thronged around me that day

celebrating the feat, raising a toast for him

My joy, my devotion laced

his dreams, his dedication

Then suddenly, something happened

that fuelled his rage,

argument amplified and flared up

I stepped ahead to allay him but

he raised his hand and left me numb

The matter is now in the rising whispers around

A talk of the town

I'm still drowned in the sharp sound

of the slap banged across my face

it still reverberates

They ask me to quash my self-respect,

forgive the damage beyond repair

and forget the whole nightmare

They tell me it isn't too much to bear

Strangers have my back and my own

ask me to reconcile

But I can't forget the slap

denying solemnity to live a lie

Every trace of lovelessness is evident

My faith, conviction, pride

and love that blinded me is broken

My heart and soul invested in you is at a loss now

I'm still drowned in that sharp sound

It's simple and clear in my mind

He can't hit me. He just can't cross the line

Nothing can mend this broken heart

he has ripped apart

There isn't any love left to give you back

I can't forget the slap banged

You are again a stranger to me!

____

थप्पड़

~ सलिल जैन “सजल”

उस थप्पड़ की गूँज अभी तक मेरे कानों में है

शाम रंगीन और भरी महफ़िल थी
उस की ख़ुशी में भी शामिल थी
उस के अरमान और मेरी उमंग थी
उस की तरक़्क़ी और मेरी लगन थी
कुछ तो हुआ , जिसकी उम्मीद न थी
बात बढ़ी , मैं पास खड़ी थी
समझाने को , बस आगे बढ़ी थी
उठा हाथ और मैं सन्न पड़ी थी

चर्चा जिसकी अब सब मेहमानों में है
उस थप्पड़ की गूँज ,अभी तक मेरे कानों में है

भूल जा सब , एक सपना समझ कर
कर दे माफ़, उसे अपना समझ कर
बढ़ जा आगे , अभिमान कुचल कर
सह ले सब , उसे भगवान समझ कर

अपनो ने ना समझा , गले लगाया अनजानों ने है
उस थप्पड़ की गूँज ,अभी तक मेरे कानों में है

सोच पर पड़ा धुआँ , अब छंटने लगा था
आँखों पर पड़ा पर्दा , अब हटने लगा था
अटूट विश्वास , अब चिटकने लगा था
प्यार भरा दिल , अब भटकने लगा था

तेरे जीवन में मेरा निवेश , अब भरी नुकसानों में है
उस थप्पड़ की गूँज , अभी तक मेरे कानों में है

बात बस इतनी सी है , मुझे वो मार नहीं सकता
लकीर बारीक सी है , कर उसे वो पार नहीं सकता
टूट चुका है दिल मेरा , उसे वो जोड़ नहीं सकता
चल पड़ी जिस राह पर, मुझे वो मोड़ नहीं सकता

मुझको तुझसे प्यार नहीं , गिनती तेरी अब अनजानों में है
उस थप्पड़ की गूँज , अभी तक मेरे कानों में है

Lt. Col. Salil Jain is an Indian military officer by profession and a soul seeker by nature. He is an alumnus of Cadet Training Wing, College of Military Engineering, Pune, and Indian Military Academy, Dehradun. He is on the editorial board of the international e-magazine Brahmand: Voice of the Cosmos for creative writing. He has co-edited Unkahi: The Unsung (2021), a collection of poems from the Armed Forces to commemorate 75 years of independence. Email: salilsajal@gmail.com & Instagram: salil_sajal

Pragya Bajpai, Ph.D., is a proud mother, poet, artist, and Central Government Officer serving at the prestigious National Defence Academy, Pune. She hails from Lucknow. She is a postgraduate from Lucknow University and holds a Ph.D. in English Literature from Banaras Hindu University. Her debut book of poems is based on 51 English proverbs, titled A Potpourri of Proverbs (2021). She has co-edited three anthologies titled Unkahi: The Unsung (2021), The Force is With Us (2022), and Memoirs of Covid Warriors in Olive Green (2022) to celebrate the armed forces. She has also co-edited a collection of Hindi poems called Dabe Paanv (2022). She is the editor and designer of the international e-zine,Brahmand: Voice of the Cosmos. Her poems have appeared in many national and international anthologies and journals like Different Truths, Outlook, Setu, AWS, and The Wise Owl. Her poetry reflects on experiences and social life, covering psychological issues affecting people in general. Email: pragyabajpai@gmail.com & Instagram: pragyabajpai29