Up the Stream

The dried sea once asked the shrubs on its shore

The shrubs gave all their stored water to the sea

Thinking their sacrifices shall be respected by thee

Finally, after toil infinite, a snake of stream did reach the cliff

But only to see there more dried leaves and branches stiff

The clouds however were Still grey 

Looked as if , rainfall was just at bay

The remaining droplets of stream hence decided to wait

They decided that whatever is left of the stream, to the cloud , they shall become the bait

Days of  sharp sunlight on the drops of stream finally completed the grey cloud

Thus happily the  heavy stream of rain could now flow down into the sea so  profound :)

Reign of (K)night And Day

There was once a Reign called ‘Day’

Where elders were lost in their own egos and the kids made houses of clay

Mistress ‘Moon’ once said to the Princess ‘Sun’ of the Day

You bloom like a flame and put me in Dismay

The princess in arrogance of her power and throne

Planned to mysteriously kill the mistress and raise for her a tombstone

She first caged the mistress in Lunar eclipse

To check , if from everyone’s memory will she slip?

But the caging of Mistress Moon took of the Princess’s Sleep

For their was never pitch dark, no longer could she ever have a rest that was serene and deep

She thus decided to release the Mistress Moon

In the fear that if she could cause a lunar eclipse, a solar eclipse ploy by the Mistress of Darkness  could follow soon!!

That Yellow Scarf!

As you blaze through my eye,

your colours of shine give me a deep sigh

My girlies said that you are found in every corner of the local street

Lovers can be missed, but a peek at you halts my feet

you are not a view, not a contour rich moon

Nor a sparkling wave in the high rise noon

Still you leave an imprint enough to knock my dreams

Except me, I see streams of people having you, in my dreams, it seems

Not more than a night of such dreams could pass in such unease

I dreamt of you brushing through my hair, dancing in the breeze

You were my discovery, you only belonged to me

In my gloomy times, a thought of you was my happiness key

Lovers look for the sun to set

Our love is the love of a bright sunny day

Because only then, could I run to the corner shop and buy you right away !

Every Inch Matters

The heat of the sun strengthens the earthen pot

Ask a basketball player about his umpteen practices to get that right shot

who said life is seamless and with no knots

its about untangling those and still playing those shots

So smile and let no downs cause an ultimate fall

Because the miracles in life happen when an underdog like you breaks the wall

I am Moved

It was 2.30 pm.i was on my way to the railway station.Din't feel like leaving the privileges of home.But with an averse attitude, here i was about to board my train. Through the black film on the window of my air cooled car, I tried combing in the dark mirror…as i peeked through the glass, my sight landed on a grey haired man…with drops of sweat accumulated on his forehead, he paddled his cycle in the natural heat of june… his dabba hung from the right handle,he smiled at the crab race at the red light,waved back to a bhelpuri wala, there was an indubious calmness in his expression…no I am not saying he smiled like a fool in the drenching heat but I could read that he had no self jostle.He parked his cycle along the wall and went inside a carpentry shop before I could observe more …my car had already left him far behind…like many other cars on the pathway that went along the 15 sector market.

All of us have heard of people slogging their days and nights but seeing a lower strata person performing for his daily bread brings in a sense of utmost respect for them…and for the ‘hard work’ that a human has to go through for success, that success which is not in terms of recognition he possesses, no acclaim, no pat on the back, no peck on the cheek …but a success- in merely fulfilling the responsibility for his family, for which he does not have to be answerable to any authority. All this input for earning the daily bread is merely for that hearty satisfaction when he sleeps, and thats all that drives him-the beauty of bonding :) 

Epiphany of Shades

Once , over the cliff,on the wedding of Mr Blue and Miss Pink

Old Mr green questioned about invitation to the non elite yellow ink

Exclaming" who invited you?"

"You can see my river because of the yellow sun", in defense said Mr. blue

Being the humble bride she was,

Miss pink joined the tiff

Asked all to look around the cliff

And asked if the nature hadn't differentiated the primary elite from secondary shade

Then why are we the commoners, deciding which is a heart and which is a spade

Mr green apologized for being rude and mean

And the tiff was sorted before Grandpa Black and Grandma White could intervene:)

Deep Dive In Love!

                                         

                                      

None shall know the beauty of love until they take a deep dive,

Its as sweet as the nascent secretion of honey in the beehive,

Also as raw as first piece of a writer when he is naïve

Its far from ' things' like shame and fame

Put it in water of ease and fire of times,it would still feel the same

Its funny as a friend 

And strong as a tyrant 

Unlike a mirage, it is real and Myriad 

So its time to fall in love again:) 

With those small nuances of life

Fall in love with that little lotus trying to bloom in mud of times

Fall in love with those who flow with the air, fall in love with those chimes,

Fall in love with that strange fellow commuter who vaguely passes a smile,

Today fall in love again, for a little while:)

Happy Birthday Nitish !

On Jan 1, 1989 as the dew had turned into snow in the farthest north on the globe,

Doctors in Ferozepur were busy in a probe

The probe to deliver the cutest baby boy

though , against your birth, devils had built a ploy,

But this smart and cute kid made his way through,

You gave God good company but still he knew the world needed you

We met in heaven and I told you I will meet you in a year and a half

in 1990 Sept came I, Your toy, your mini dwarf

since then , more than me, the family albums reveal this tale

Happy birthday Cute Adorable brother who is now a handsome male :)

Beyond the 12x12 Window

Akmal, a curious boy of 14, loved how an avid smoker would blow up dreamy smoke rings which would rise up and glide over and then just vanish! To him, watching this was every day’s fascination.He was the helper boy at the corner tobacco shop. A shop situated at a fork in the city of Dehradoon where city cars would not just whoosh by every time. Sometimes, these cars would abruptly stop,sometimes make a gliding move and sometimes rush by. Thanks to the changing colours of the traffic light. He sometimes thought that his malik was like the yellow one in the traffic light, because like all those wagons ignoring the yellow light, he loved to ignore his malik’s voice. The shop was his window to the world. He loved having new customers and also a few regulars. On his way back home, he would always spot the insect ladybugs in the gardens by the side. He was amused how an insect could emit light on its own. He wanted to ask someone about it but he wondered who would know. One of his recent favourite customers at the shop was Benson, he was an Austrian tourist who had specially come to visit Uttrakhand. He too was an avid smoker. He was originally a professor who had taken a break from work to travel and explore. Benson wore a special velvety cow boy hat that always caught Akmal’s attention. It was studded with beautiful jewels.  The jewels were shaped as mini knives and were studded on to the black ribbon around the hat. Every time as the sunlight would fall on the jewels, it would produce an array of 7 colors on the hat. Akmal would always be startled with it. Benson, being a professor, noticed the curious child and convinced his malik if Akmal to accompany him in his travel plans that day. Akmal quickly left off his gamcha, shed dust off his clothes. Nothing could hold his excitement because he now had a chance to know what it is like beyond his window.

उँची सरहदों में उलझा इश्क़

उँची सरहदों में उलझा इश्क़

उस दिन की उलझी सी उजली धूप में

पीपल की छाओ तले

कुछ खतो की जमावट थी

काले बादल कभी धूप को पूरा सा ना होने दे पाए

शायद वो आसमान की उलझन, बरखा की आहट थी

बारिश से पहले आँधी का आना

जैसे एक इशारा था

उन खतो के लिए, जिनके कोनो से अरसो से किसी ने मिट्टी को नहीं उतारा था

दादी की दो साल की पोती खेलती खेलती उन खातो के किनारे से जा टकराई

हाथ में खातो को लिए उनका जहाज़ ब्नाकर लाई

दादी ने खत खोलकर देखा तो दादा जान का खत था, 1946 के ज़माने का

जब, ब्याह के बाद ,दादा लाहोर में गहनो का काम किया करते थे

और दादी अमृतसर रहतीं थी

वही वक़्त है यह, जब 'रावी, बेआस, चेनाब जेलम'-अमृतसर और लाहोर दनो की हुआ करती थी

खत में दादा ने अंद्रूणी शहेर लाहोर के किससे सुनाए थे

और दादी के वो  अधलिखे खत, जो उन्होने कभी ना लाहोर भेजे, उसमें  उन्होने अपने हरमिंदर साहब के अनुभव ब्ताए थे

जो इश्क़ और रिश्ता अभी तक सरहदों के अंदर था

1947 में वही रिश्ता सरहद पार हो गया

"सरहदें प्यार से उपर हैं" दुनिए के लिए यही नया सार हो गया

लकीरो से देश बात सकते हैं और ज़ाहिर है सरकारें भी

पर बिछड़े आपके भी हैं इस तरफ और उस पार बिछड़े हैं ह्मारे भी

यह आवाज़ जो मैं अपने उस पार के दोस्तो से लगा रही हू

यह उसी सार को बदलने की शउरुआत है

क्यूंकी 1947 का सबक आपकी क़बरो और हमारे पूर्वाजो की अस्तियो में तैनात है

एक गुज़ारिश है आप सबसे

लकीरो और सरकारें किताबो तक ही रहने दे

क्यूंकी जिस दिन यह लकीरे दिल नें उतार गयइ, यह उसी उलझे इश्क़ का आत्मघात है

हर रिश्ते का आत्मघात है...

Th Royal Blue

This poem is an attempt to pay homage to the Air force personal who lost their lives in the Uttrakhand Chopper crash. It’s an attempt to remind us that they are always there, sometimes guarding borders, sometimes risking their own lives to save others. This poem is their journey

From the stage when their dreams flowered and finally turned into a way of life ! 

THE ROYAL BLUE….  

The azure sky was beautiful…

But towards something, as a kid, I was unconsciously dutiful …

Something that made me run all through my lane…

It was the whitish cloud of air, left behind by the plane…

I followed it as long as the sun and baby feet could allow…

I would wave so hard and shout no low…

But never did the pilot wave back…

I felt, must be something I lacked…

I would look at my papa and point finger in the sky…

He got me right and would answer my “why”

He would say, the plane is far too high…

And then giving up, I would take a deep sigh…

As a teenage boy, the passion grew…

What gripped me, was the country’s love

 and the AIR FORCE attire… ‘The royal blue’

I knew for sure, that no dreams stand on shallow thoughts…

Concentrated blood can make nothing better than clots…

What flows with toil will get through…

What emerged from heart has to be brought true…

And since then I was set to be up there…

With patriotism that brings in care…

Controlling the big bird, I saw once…

Like one of my motherland’s responsible sons…

I was now the Aeronautical Engineer in Air Force

And now a flight lieutenant on board

On 25th June, as a part of the on-going mission.We were summoned by the chief…

To rescue the pilgrims in kedarnath, held in grief…

The adventure of every mission, 

Gifted me the same vigour every time…

A task done often ,yet novel in its own way..

Where fighting for their emotions, required us to drop our emotions at bay..

My Royal Blue hanged in my closet, ready to be worn…

 A wave of calm thought swung in between, like the noon between dusk and dawn..

Our chopper was ready to leave , all arrangements meticulously done..

The winds were erratic, missing was the sun

In The erratic weather, the chilly weather had caused ice cold freeze 

In the blanket of fog, in the wrap of forceful breeze..

What happened hence, shall be paged in history now…

There’s a proud of patriotism when the nation takes a bow

Wrapped in the tricolor,

Cremated in grandeur…

No death for me could have been more  pure

My epilogue read what I had dreamt of as a child..

“He died for the nation”

Night Outs!

Today let’s keep the accolades aside
Let deep thought and introspection together go on another ride
Because what follows is a fleeting reference of 12 of my best friends
With whom I have shared smiles, occasions, tears, and party spends tongue emoticon
You know my Mom always said, friends should be few
Ironically, if all my friends stand together, that’s a long queue
My hometown to Mumbai, was in itself a mammoth jump
a jump of choices, lifestyle and well, let’s accept , jumping the enormous fashion divide
But over the last 2 years, I have picked up a bunch of awesome people by my side
I am sure all of us , have friends, friends we are with, friends who were, school friends ,friends who have stayed through thick and thin,
Purely to boast being a science student , “ they are there like the equator when your life is on a spin
But believe it or not , they become a family, a family powered not by heavenly forces of a magical bond but by the normal human forces of enjoying each other’s company and being able to resolve fights
My family is called “night outs”
Baic Information : 2 years old
Demographics : North + West + South India 
Sex Ratio: 3:4 ( Not Bad) If you compare it to mba colleges in India
I will start with my Mumbaikar friend darshi,
Miss photogenic is never short of words,
An awesome Mumbai Guide
With a smile so beautiful and wide
she claims to knows it all-
or atleast attempts her best to transfer her knowledge pool to u
the surprise is that it happens when u dint ask for it or have no clue
The second is Mr. Vishal Purohit
The Royal Rajasthani lad
Never have I seen him a bit sad
Who , if puts his heart , in something, be it work or wife never backs down
One of my coolest friends in town
Ashwini From Hydeerabad is my one blunt friend
because the science of diplomacy she does not appreciate
Well, her dog needs to approve of u, if u wanna be her mate
newspapers , tv seasons, and food are enough to keep her alive
her anger with khaali time, she just cannot hide
Priyank Vora is one committed Jain I know
With Humour and wit, he is always on a go
The lady’s charm or ladies are his charm, I could never understand
God once asked for his jovial girl tricks by putting him in a witness stand
But a charmer never reveals his tricks,
and the God is still waiting tongue emoticon
Ever knew a guy your parents always wanted you to be like
who is intelligent and good at sports
he is funny and also understands financial reports
has a hot girl friend to add fuel to the fire 
said enough that u feel like igniting your own pyre
well , u always thought there’s no such super human
God had sent this to break all myths
a guy like that does exist, 
That’s our south Delhi Guy, Kunal Abrol
with 2 cups of chai
She is someone I can talk to for hours
she is a friend to whom I can tell secrets sans any bars
her love for gadgets is immense
You cannot sit silent in her presence
She hates feminists
and holds opinions you cannot ignore
But to know the joke appreciator inside her,
You need to know her more
she Get’s scared by any noise level higher than her normal threshold
Her expressions to anything interesting are contagiously tenfold
The next in line is the bhopali we all adore
Put him a lil high on booze, and you know there’s a tonne of fun in store
The stand-up comedian who hibernates during exams
but To help his friends, he can play those strategic pawns 
the grandeur with which he walks in college can put the kings to shame,
His first love is us , the second love is power authority and fame
Next in line is miss perpetual planner 
without comprising on fun, she loves keeps things in an organised manner
an excellent basketball player
if you back out from plans without an acceptable excuse , she is a slayer
With friends like us, her english has gone for a toss
I wonder , what happens if she gets a ‘ non-english’ speaking boss
Next in line is ankit bahri
unlike his sir name, he is a little too thin
But compete with him on PS3, he will make your mind spin
Before you realise he becomes a friend you can confide
But watchout his jokes on you might never subside
Another chai lover who has a mischievous bone
He is the best foe friend that I have ever known
Next in line is ooshav
whose love for trivia and sports knows no bars
who has watched all movies, all seasons, knows bio data of all stars
But sometimes words juggle as he speaks
that’s when the humour in his speech sneaks
Right now his fracture has kept him immobile
otherwise , it is soccer, that is his passion , his style
The next in line is ocean
not just for his name but because of the story bank inside
Too giving, ,that he will get off a running auto, so you could take the ride
a gaming freak
with a relentless helpful streak,
Quite of a ladies man as we discovered lately
Be it a kiss or a bite,
he attracts beauty innately..
and last but not the least is for the love I have found in a friend..
who caresses me like the drop of dew on a leaf
Who speaks less, and observes the sea like a reef
Enough for me to enjoy the world I know
But rests like a shadow wherever I go,
Listens to my persistent talking 
For whom, never shall my heart stop knocking
I admire you for being unique in you strange ways
In my heart, Your weirdness too has a special place
So that’s my family in all
In a crowd , they are the ones I look for
Words can never match what memories engrave
the sand castle of memories will be washed out with the time’s wave
Let silence not put its blanket on the storm of happiness we made
To you and to the city, a good bye I bade

Three Little Kittens!

That little kitty down the road,

With novel whiskers and tail straight as sword

She hides behind that stationed car

Launches for a jump by running a little far

For her, the pile of sand is no less than a cliff

Before you know, sister kitties get into a tiff

Its tiny little teeth try to grab its sister’s tail

The ingenuity it is known for, never lets it fail

The cunning mommy cat, like us, enjoys the show

Though mischievous enough, they settle with mommy’s raised brow

The mommy cat suddenly starts snapping its tail left to right

This indeed was a preparation to succeed in ‘mice fight’

Mommy’s tail wagged like a rushing mice

All this was an attempt to make the little kitties wise

It is the noise of the horn that comes from the rail

Which scares the little kittens, hence, to sleep they sail

I love you Dad !

In adversity, he is an angel

In my dilemmas, he is definite

He is a valiant with concise..

With thoughts myriad, and words precise

He has taught me to swim through the waves of life..

But has let me be ‘me’ in my stride..

He has been my shadow

And sometimes he himself was the ‘heat’

But  that’s what gave resilience to my bare feet..

With dignity he has surfed so far...

If not ahead, I always wished to be at his par

As a child he was my window to the world outside..

Sometimes a friend, sometimes the opponent and sometimes a guide..

He believes in me when the world gives me a toss…

It is his  perpetual wish and vigour, that trumps all lost.. 

His wrinkles and his unhurried pace..

Voice his experience though the layers of time..

Even in the parched of my days,

His love and care, resound in my heart’s chimes !

Garv ka Rang

                                                               

Main us desh ki wasi hu jiske mukut ki roshni ka kaaran, roz ki golabari hai..

Suna hai Kashmir sundar hai,  chah kar bhi waha na ja pane ki anjani beeemari hai..

Sach kahun, to Darr lagta hai mujhe,  ek betuki goli se marne mein kya rakha hai..

Kashmir mein to naa jaane kaun paraya ,kaun saka hai

Har roz sirf kashmir nahin pure desh mein  naye sudharo (meaning reforms) ki list nikali jati hai

Reforms nikale bina shasak ki kursi kahan bhaati hai

Aur 5 saal mein wo reforms parliament ka chakkar laga aate hain

Khushi mein Ruling party ki prashansa ke pul baande jate hain

“  Waise Gazalo aur reforms mein kya samanta hai aaap jaante hain?”

dono mein hi har desh mahaan lagta hai..

Aaj jaan liya, Wadon ke binah par to ek khokhla shasak hi jee sakta hai

Lekin bade wade khokhle phal jaise hote hain, Ek din to wakt ke chaaku ki dhaar sach ugal hi degi..

Lekin kya us “sahi samay” ke intazar mein hmari janta bus baithi rahegi

Pta hai.. khokhla phal pada rahe to uska  rus bhi zeher ban jaata hai..

Wahi kal ka masoom sa phal, aas pass ke phalo par keher chaata hai..

Ek sacha  yuva shasak hi hai jo is saghan daud  se upar uthkar kuch karna chahta hai

Lekin humare desh mein  suljhe Yuvaon ko shasak kaun bnata hai

Aji shasak banna asan kahan..

Bhuk nango ko roti de do..

Aur Kuch khokhle wade..

Andar se chahe ho jao kapti

Lekin kapde pehno saadhe

Ek school mein khana batwa do

Ek kapti police commissioner hatwa do

Kehdo ki “hum udhaar layenge”

Aur 5 saal tak aapke tax mein nahayenge

Hmare desh ke loktantra ki betukhi to dekhiye

Jo vote karte hain wo jante nahin kise karna hai

Aur jo jante hai unki ray social gatherings ki discussion tak ruk jata hai

Akhbaron ke column, dinner discussions par tham jaaati hai

Jo vote  karte hain ,

Unhe chup karata hai 2 wakt ko khaana aur paisa

Gar aap vote nahin karenge

To shasak ko aap se darr kaisa

Vote karna adhikar nahin zimmedari hai

Isiliye corruption ek badhti beemari hai

Yahan baithe sab jan shayad 18 se upar hain

Aap mein se kitne log matdaan karne jaate hain

Aur kitne log, sirf us din ki chutti manate hain

Jawaab mujhe nai khud ko di jiye

Kai baatein khamoosh hi bayan ho jaati hai..

“Kuch na karna” aur “kuch na paana”  ek dusre ke bachpan ke saathi hai..

The art of Giving

Only a blurry line separates disdain from acts of aid..

Like wounds they are, safe under rough clots..

Ripping them off, turns them into blots..

Let your doing of service, stay pure,

Because  once adorned into words, it remains a doing no more..

When you give with a veiled thought of giving, you have already held back a part…

You lost the purpose from the very start

Mumbai Ke Driver Dada

raat ko jaagta to hai ye sheher

lekin is jagte se sheher ko hum ghumate hain

apni laal kaali gadhi ko daudane wale

hum  colaba ke driver dada kehlate hain

umr mein thode bade hai na

to sab sadkarke bulate hain

log Mumbai doston ya parivar ke saath dekhne aate hain

parivar to hmara gaon mein hainn

to apni gaadhi ke sang hi chappa chappa ghum aate hain

passenger baithte hain to “on hire” ko neeche ghumate hain

8 baras hogye humein Mumbai aye, aaj bhi roz  naye raste dhunde jaate hain

Mumbai angrezo ki khaas pasand hai

to unse batiyate, thodi si angrezi hum bhi seekh jaate hain

kabhi pati patni aise mod par baith jaate hain

ke unki ranjish ka kaaran kya hai, jaanne ko hi taras jaate hain

kabhi doston ka samooh aata hai to apne gaon ke dost yaad aate hain

Wo laaparwahi ke pal, aish ke kya din the yaad aate hain

kisi lambi sawari mein to humne pyaar panapte bhi dekha hai

business wale baboo log phone par hi lage reh jaate hain

hum kabhi sochte hain ke najaane kitna hi paisa kamate hain

ek baar ek behad khoobsurat ladki hamari gaadi mein aakar baithi

samajh nahi paye

ki unhe dekhe ya gaadi chalayein

zulfon ka kinara unke chehre par aata jaye

hawa aisi thi ki chaha kar bhi wo use peeche na kar paye

humne bhi socha , yahi mauka hai ke hum hero ban jayein..

sheeshe ke niyantran button ko  humne jaise hi dabaya

rear view mirror mein dekh kar, wo muskaye aur sharmaye

chaahe to hum apni kahani sunate jayein

aise hi kisso ko piro kar hmara din banta jaye

Children of Lesser God

                                                         

She wipes that gummy hanky on her nose

As a speedy vehicle just misses her an inch close

Her tattered dress and dusty feet

Contradicts the smile with which she greets

Her house is the temple besides the crossing

Where the time of evening prayer is her only outing

She seems to be in her early teens

Other girls from her town have been earning through other easy means

She doesn’t know if she is scared or too full of self esteem

To not give into those filthy means

I somehow see her everyday

When I halt at the signal, in scorching sun and under clouds grey

Too early in her life, has she been told to earn

She begs on that signal, as her feet burn

As soon as any school van halts at the cross

She sees some kids frolicking, and some in their books, so engrossed

She wonders what must be in those sheets

That they become learned, and she becomes a beggar, so dependent and meek

Her curious mind asks are they so exceptional, and she just a part of masses?

She wonders if all those luxury cars that halt, drop their glasses

And pray to a different god just for a fleeting while

For she, who stays in the house of god,

Lives a life so hostile