Favourite Hindi Poem ~ "Pratiksha" by Harivansh Rai Bachchan

"Pratiksha" (Waiting/Expecting) by Harivansh Rai Bachchan

Whenever I think of this beautiful poem, my mind wanders off to that one evening when I had to give the oral test for my Hindi Diploma. Being my favourite poem which I knew by heart, I wanted to recite this poem as part of the test, when they would ask us to recite or sing something of our choice. I was eagerly waiting till the white-haired Indian examiner asked me to do the same, so that I can impress him with my passion for such beaitiful verses penned by Harivansh Rai Bachchan Ji. However, in the anticlimax of reality, he was at best nonchalant, staring at me coolly, while I rambled on with a horribly out of pitch recitation of these expressive words.

On a lighter note, I did pass the exam, and this poem remained my favourite. 

And how I got to know of the existence of this wonderful poem is not through a textbook, or a poetry compilation of the poet, but weirdly from a Kathak dance recital of Sharvari Jamenis, a professional Kathak dancer from Pune, India. In one of her performances, recorded and uploaded on YouTube, she performed a nuanced act with sooo much 'shringaar' that depicted each word of the poem so gracefully, so elaborately and with such precision and heart, that I fell in love with it, bookmarked it, and kept listening to the sweet, melodious voice reciting the poem in the background coupled with the uber graceful performance regularly, all these 10 years since I discovered it.

Here's the link to it if you feel like indulging yourself:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Z2HxFvW_xE

Below is the poem in Hindi, along with a rough idea of the meaning of each line. (This is my attempt at a translation, many apologies for the damage I am inflicting on this wonderful poem owing to my bad Hindi)

Madhur Prateeksha hi jab itnee, Priye tum aate tab kya hota?
When the waiting itself is this sweet, I wonder how it would be, my beloved, had you actually come?

Maun raat is bhaanti ki jaise, koi gat veena par baj kar
Like a tune played on a Veena in a silent night
Abhi abhi soi khoi si, sapno mein taaron par sir dhar
In sleep, lost in a world of dreams, resting the head on stars
Aur dishaaon se prati-dhwaniyaan, Jagrat sudhiyon si aati hain
And from all directions comes the echo of that melody, like a welcome surprise
Kaan tumhaari taan kahin se, yadi sun paate tab kya hota?
I wonder what it will be like, if that melody reaches your ears, wherever you are?

Tumne kab di baat, raat ke soone mein tum aane waale
You promised a long while back that you are to visit me on a silent/empty night
Par aise hi waqt praan mann mere ho uth-te matwaale
But it feels like time, my life and my mind are all intoxicated
Saanse ghoom-ghoom phir-phir se, asmanjas ke kshan ginti hain
With each breath I take, I again and again count down these seconds of uncertainty 
Milne ki ghadiyaan tum nishchit yadi kar jaate tab kya hota?
I wonder what it would've been like, if you had acertained the time of our meeting?

Utsukta ki akulaahat mein, maine palak paanvde daale
In the fear-filled eagerness, I have waited for you
Ambar to mashhoor ki sab din, rahta apne hosh sambhaale
But the sky, unlike me, can retain its sanity
Taaron ki mehfil ne apni, aankh bichha di kis aasha se
Yet with what desire did the sky gaze at the celebration of stars 
Meri maun kuti ko tum aate dikh jaate tab kya hota?
I wonder what it would be like, if I see you walking up to my empty chambers?

Baith kalpana karta hoon, pagchaap tumhaari mag se aati
I sit here and think, and imagine hearing your footsteps on the path
Rag-rag mein chetan-ta ghulkar, aansoo ke kan-si jhar jaati
Then I feel alive with spirit running through my veins and my tears drying up
Namak dali sa ghul apna-pan, saagar mein ghul-mil sa jaata
Like little drops of salt water, the tears become one with the ocean
Apni baahon mein bhar kar priye, kanth lagaate tab kya hota?
I wonder what it would feel like, my beloved, when I fill my arms with you and embrace you?

Madhur Prateeksha hi jab itnee, Priye tum aate tab kya hota?
When the waiting itself is this sweet, I wonder how it would be, my beloved, had you actually come?