नसीब...

आंखों से अचानक ओझल हुए जो तुम...

पल भर के लिए सांसे मेरी गई थम...

खुशियों के खज़ाने जो मिले थे बरसो बाद..

लुट गई पलक झपकते

और

फिर एकबार कर गई मेरी आंखें नम!!

Feeling...

This day...this time was Mine..

Not until the chiming clock struck nine..

Arms in arms..lips 'gainst lips..

Rollin' on the bed..flips over flips..

Maybe 'twas the skin..

Or somethin' akin..

Oh 'twas surreal..

Just too good to be real..

Shuttin' the eyes..Amazing it felt..

Lifting her..as she knelt..

In my lap she was..crouched as a baby..

Futuristic one..or so I assumed maybe!!!

Time had to stop and play along..

Stretch each sec for an unending prolong..

For 'twas special and had to last..

Even after the relationship had breathed it's last!!

तारीफ़...

एक शाम जब बैठे अंधेरे में..

स्याह रातों के अपने सवेरे में..

एक नर्म हवा सेहला सी गई..

क्यूं लगा तुम बेहला सी गई..

तुम्हारे गर्म होंठों की छुअन से..

वो नशीली खुशबू तुम्हरे बदन से..

रूह मेरी मानो थर्रा सी गई..

प्यार अपना जैसे बरसा सी गई..

Breathe...

Expanding my lungs as I gasped..

A fresh chunk of air to inhale at last..

Alas!! To breathe became such a tough ask..

For suddenly..

Every second of puff seemed to be so vast..

भोला...

बारिश की वो मीठी बूंदे...जब होंठों से..जा लिपटी थी..

आज़ाद हुएे कुछ ख्वाहिश मेरे...जो अबतक तन से चिपटी थी..

मूंद के आंखें जब मैंने..उसके गालों को टटोला था..

स्पर्श की गर्मी आह सी भर गई..क्या इतने दिनों तक मैं भोला था?

कर्म...

जीवन रूपी रणभूमि में..क्या मैं घुटने टेक अाऊं..

धर कटा के अपना..शीश झुकाकर..

क्या रंग हार का लेप अाऊं..

या उठा खड्ग मैं इन हाथों में..

दिखला दूं क्या इस दुनिया को..

दुष्कर्म से परिपूर्ण ये श्रृष्टि..

फिर..

एकबार इन्हें क्या चेत अाऊं..

जीवन रूपी रणभूमि में..क्या मैं घुटने टेक अाऊं..

सच...

अक्स जो मेरी मेरे पीछे..भागी भागी आती है..

सुख दुख है ये रीत जीवन की..

परछाई एहसास दिलाती है..

ना छूटे रिश्ता इससे कभी..

साथ है इसका उम्र भर का..

ठुकरा दो या प्यार करो..

करवा सच है ये जीवन का..

Hoon main...

Tarasti aankhon se chalakte ashkon ka boond hu main..

Tumhare hothon se nikle alfaazon ka goonj hu main..

Bebasi...

Num aankhon ki sacchai kam hi jaan paate..
Dard-e-tanhaai kam hi jaan paate..

Jo likh dete kore kaagaz pe..
Ya
Keh dete zubaan se..

Samajh kar v aakhr tum kya hi kar paate!!

The mile...

Touch my being...and plug in a soul..
A soul of trust..a soul for real..
A soul to make you feel completely surreal..

Turn it on and add on a little humor..
Do shoo away the "boredom tumor"..
For although it takes a little for one to smile..
It takes a lot to make one..walk that mile..

Bandhan...

Seemaon me mat baandh mujhe..

Aashaon pe mat taang mujhe..

Panchi bankar mujhe jeena hai..

Paani...har ghat ka peena hai..

Ooche..amber me udna hai..

Phr aasaman se girna hai..

Sukh me v mujhe hasna hai..

Or dukh me v mujhe hasna hai..

Khuli hawa me saanse khench kar..

Nadi ki..dhaaraon me behna hai..

Bas qhwaish ye ki himmat ho..

Thak jaane ki na tohmat ho..

Phr jo vipda aan pade..

Hothon pe tab muskaan pade..

Phr aaj ladai ladni hai..

Phr jeet v haasil karni hai..

Seemaon me mat baandh mujhe..

Aashaon pe mat taang mujhe..

Meri pari..

Shyd wo khwaab si thi..nanhi si ek pari..
Aankhen par uski thi..ashkon se labalab bhari..

Jane kisne rulaaya use..kisne dil uska dukhaya..
Badnaseeb hai wo.. jo us maa ke dard ko..naa samajh paaya!!

The Vacuum..

Brother..you leave today..you do..
A vacuum in the companionship that had begun to brew..
More than the span you graced here, the quality mattered..
For sadly enough there aren't people alike..to open up and chatter!!

An honest soul..a Piscean peer..
Not the one to be washed down over a sip of beer..
A wonderful mate..a pride to have one on your side..
A badge you'd want to put on...till your life bides..

A turn of tide and you're ready to fly again..
Soar high my friend..for life's precious which shouldn't go in vain..
For it's certainly another chance to live with your head held high..
When you retire, at least you'd wouldn't have regrets to sigh!!

And here I am... at loss of words today..
For I can't write more..from an ode's per se..
Do well and keep shining all along..
But never forget where you come from and where you belong!!

May you pursue well and the best job you pluck..
Here's wishing you all the best and a hearty good luck!!

Nerdy eyes...

Short was the time...
And short was thy stint..
But you've gained a many souls..
Leaving a lifelong imprint!!

Nerdy eyes..with a sharpened look..
That stealthy walk which none mistook..
Piercing the monitor through the specs..
Peacefully sailed the product's deck!!

An innocent smile that lightened up the desks..
Wonder did I,if a kid strolled in by mistake..
But that firm grasp on the laptop..
Always a reminder that she was 25 and top!!

Cherish the moments and laugh along..
Grace a little more where you belong..
Wear the corporate mask for a while..
Before tears smear down the happiness in guile!!

So,
Liberate them now and go with the flow..
Don't hold back your pearls..for time will grow..
Do remember however..
It's not a blank page with just a drop's hint..
Instead a firmly etched, emotional footprint!!

Bless your soul and wish you the best..
As I save my words in time's interest..
Eat the challenge in your endeavors..
But forget us you do, promise to never!!

The fallen branch..

Once again destiny has made a frown..
For once again a branch has broken down..
Irrespective of how difficult it is, to erase the invaluable trace..
A new shoot has to once again, grow up in place!!

A place..a boot so difficult to fill..
No matter how strong might be a person's will..
For it's large and big and too profound..
It's not easy to replace, as it may sound!!

The branch which always was so patient..
The soul which wilfully nurtured the nascent..
You leave today..you do it with a pride..
Life after this we wish may glide!!

A priest..a pure..with smiles galore..
Unsung may be you..the attitude didn't sore..
Nursing the bruises with a smile in disguise..
Indeed you bottled up a lot, do I surmise!!

Amazed at the way you approach your life..
While we keep grieving with ours full of strife..
With family and work time all in place..
Not surprised why happiness perenially graces your face!!

The mentor in you has been a leading light..
Catering to the juniors' sombre plight..
Innumerable questions asked and innumerable answered..
A plethora of knowledge in the process transferred!!

Tasking times and a uber calm head..
Talent at times should remain unsaid..
Address the issue at hand and not panic in vain..
You sure were blessed with a brain which was sane!!

You weren't a mere resource..you were a human being..
For empathy you were full off, we aren't used to seeing..
Reminisce we would the time we spent together..
Here's wishing you luck..we'll all miss you forever!!

Dad's decreased hairline...

Honking behind the wheels had been his deed..
Forty years continuous is quite a time indeed!!
Crowned with the glistening sweat, his forehead
today gleams with a pride..
Those pearls of hard work..shines with honesty,
Not a morsel do I surmise!!

Relentlessly redefining perseverance time and again..
With an acute sense of responsibility within ingrained..
Time and punctuality we just talk about..
For him it was all just sorted out!!

Labored on the fields, for quarter meal a day..
Yet slept on an empty stomach,never for once dismayed!!
A family of eight struggled to meet the needs..
As a stern self-respect restrained them to plead..
Destiny was what he gleefully embraced..
But not to be bogged down..
His village, he fled!!

A lean body walked into a city of dreams..
No..not on a tour as the line above makes it seem..
At thirteen when we talk about enjoying our teenage..
He was welcomed as a daily laborer garlanded with a mean wage!!

Fixing electric failures or cleaning cars..
Meticulous he was..always at par!
Just work and no pay..
Also were at times an order of the day!!
Wonder why it did not bother him ever..
A lost childhood, a savory teenage forever!!

A day starting at four with the world still asleep..
Too full of positives for negatives to creep!!
Stranded alone, the miseries wept..
Challenge to the fate proving too hard to be swept!!

Drenched in the scorching sun..with a torn vest..
Dichotomy of giving up and fighting, both abreast!!
Not a scorn on the face as he toiled all day long..
Humming all along the battle song!!
Evening came and he breathed a sigh..
Smiling with content, walking home with his head held high!!

As the evening breezed past the torn soul..
Scything through the fresh scars across the body taking a toll!!
Greeted in a shanty cottage what he called as his home..
Was he with empty dishes mocking his face turned all stone!!

To be continued...

Myriad....In my sketches I find peace...

Pearls...

Office Stereotypes...

Today was hectic..or so do I feel..
But love for the work..gets back my zeal!

Wrapping up for the day as I look around..
Pull away my attention does, a constant mouse-click's sound..

Glancing in the direction, from where the sound came..
Saw a pale shadow leaning in the official tame!!

Advance did I further to checkout the same..
And lo behold was the manager slogging this late..
You read it right... Stereotypes are to blame!!

With a sunken heart as I glanced at my watch..
It was about eight..with 15 mins to notch!!

Quietly I left and cheekily sauntered out..
Oh how low did I feel...for I badly wanted to shout!!

Made me feel guilty that he's working late..
At times I do wonder..
If they really have...so much on the plate??

Chewing through the thought as I, walked home sometime..
And there he was again, on the JABBER "online"!!

Look up did I, sadly at the clock..
Popped out, my eyes, reeling with a shock!!

It was about ten this time..
It was when I heard the clock chime!!

Crash into the bed did I and tried to be cozy..
My eyes won't shut, my dreams won't come..
For they wanted to be nosy!!

Drooping eyelids stared at the screen..
A moment's nap and back to the scene!!

Curious mind of mine, pinged him to convey..
Nothing on the work front..just to test "Hey!!"

Got a reply instant which left me in dismay..
He was really working!!
The status didn't lead astray!!

Three in the morning..and I finally rest my case..
I start doubting my velocity for I can't match his pace!!

And there he is on time, for the daily stand-up..
With ace up his sleeve and everything all planned up!!!

Amazed at it I am....and shattered and perplexed!!
For it only serves me...
A bucket full of complex!!!

Being Human...

There's an air of disappointment..
And it is with myself..
For I have lowered my bar..
But with an utmost dissent!

It is human, I seek solace in..
But I feel so guilty deep within..
Never before had I fathomed alike..
And that being envious of a person's might!

Was taught to love and appreciate success..
Mine or others' without being upset..
More so when the person's been primitive ally..
Immaterial of whether it's a girl or a guy!

A matured head has gnawed into that innocence..
Grazing away gradually a relationship's essence..
I tussle between the expected and the accepted..
For emotions I realize can't be perfected!

Seeking strength and faith from the reality..
I'm at least thinking about the duality..
Knowledge to judge the right and the wrong..
Is the only help I rely upon to dawn!

Factor out humanity and everything can be lucidly explained..
Rational it may sound, which sadly, reality can't sustain!
The only way out it seems..is to accept the "accepted"..
And move on to better the actual "expected"!!