Her toes painted red

Her bare slender feet
in white open sandals,
her toes painted red,
golden embroidered border
of her blue sari
touched tiny silver bells
tied around her ankles -
she walked softly
with gentle grace.

The bells chimed:
Jhan, jhan
Jhanan, jhanan
Jhan, jhan.
I looked at her.
She smiled.

Years later,
when I think of her,
I hear jhan, jhan
jhanan, jhanan.
I see her beguiling smile,
her glances sideways
searching my eyes.

PS: Inspired by a poem of Rahul Pandita.