Grown into a Woman

Still waking up from my sleep, 

A realisation greets me in the morning. 

Overcome a deep-seated fear have I, 

Woken up alone on bed without you besides. 

Since the day I met you, 

The day we merged as one,

I have grown into a woman.

The girl in me is fearless now, 

she has taken the giant steps ahead now. 

I walk on the Causeway to reach out.

Syria, the world cries for humanity too

Newspapers paint a disturbing picture. A picture depicting melancholy, total apathy and disregard for humanity. We move from one news piece to another to place together the overall impact of ISIS crisis. To know that even a retreating terror army will leave deep gashes on the Syrian soul, body and mind. 

As a traveller, I always wanted to explore the Middle East including countries with rich history like that of Syria. But today, I read stories about its people. I always believed that a true traveller will be touched by every culture it encounters in his numerous journeys. I believe that travelling is futile if it doesn't teach you a lesson or two on humility. And today I stare at my cellular phone, reading long articles on the apathetic conditions of Syrian survivors. Is there any light for them beyond this dark tunnel? 

When and how will they 'move on'? The children who apart from losing their limbs have also  lost their precious, innocent childhood. Their innocence will never come back. 

But it will change them forever. And not every change in such situations is for the worst. They will now seek pleasure in simple joys of life. Nothing will scare them anymore. They will be true survivors. God bless these children!

Bharat 'aage' badh raha hai

Dekh rahi hu maula,

duniya ke rang badalte.

Is chalchitra par kabhi aise toh kabhi waise,

duniya ghum rahi hai.

Bharat badh raha hai aage shayad,

ya fir yeh sab ek Media Circus hai,

samay sabkuch batla dega.

Kaha ja raha hai yeh desh apna,

Bullet train ki seeti jaisa bhaag raha hai

Bharat apna. 

Kahe kavitri sab jan ko, 

sambhal kar rehna, 

Circus ke is mayajaal se.

Ring master chabuk ghumaaye, 

Daudaaye humain ek kataar main. 

Note badalte der na lagti, 

desh badalne ka intezaar hai.

Ab hamari saari jaankari, 

is sarkar ke paas hai.

Daudta rahe insaan,

Bullet train ki speed se. 

Yaha jaaye ki waha jaaye, 

hain hum toh isi Circus ki rekh main. 

Sunset

There will be a sunset one day, 

hope it won't be alone. 

As the sky will turn golden in its last hours,

hope there is much to see.

Much to live before the sky turns blue. 

As I see my sunrise today, 

happy and glowing,

over a glorious future. 

But the sunset comes by quickly,

in the blink of an eye. 

Grab your piece of sand, 

for this time won't return. 

Making happiness is a farce, 

a lie we are meant to live. 

Live each day as it comes by, 

play along as life hits by, 

with a milliard of hues. 

Your greys, the mean reds and the sad blues, 

they all make a palette to live by. 

We are mortals in this world,

only memories live on forever. 

The words spoken shall reflect on our lives forever. 

We will open our lives then to those who seek us.

Long after we are gone. 

Long after the gold turns blue.

Long after the stars are out. 

Those who seek us, 

shall meet us. 

I need a fortune teller, a crystal ball

Fear tears me down,

Worries run down my eyes.

Dark and bleak,

You are fading away.

Can’t hold you enough,

Future looks bleak to me.

I need a fortune teller, a crystal ball.

Foretell me my destiny.

Are you in it with me?

Or will it be dark without you?

I need a fortune teller, a crystal ball.

Is this an augury?

Will I ever touch your softness?

My fears gnaw at me.

I would like to touch you,

Now and forever.

I need a fortune teller, a crystal ball.

Burn bright with me

Don’t fade away my love.

Feel my cry, O love.

Burn bright with me,

And light the future together,

Make our own destiny.

We are travellers

We are all travellers.

Travelling through time,

through an empty space.

Connected with one end of breath to another.

We play our game of dots. 

We connect our dots,

one step at a time.

Lakes, rivers and oceans, 

Vast spaces within and without us. 

The mountains, rivers and space will stay the same;

for generations before us witnessed them

and generations after us will.

We will drift along,

One end to another,

One space to another,

One form to another. 

Dancing our way to the other end of this string,

the act shall end.

The stage will be razed.

But the circus will move on,

beyond my time and presence. 

I lay here today, I shall rest elsewhere tomorrow.

But rest I must and rest I shall

as the twilight shall come,

It always does. 

We are all travellers

Travelling through time.

through an empty space. 

Dedicated to a little girl

Manzil badal gayi hai teri,

Raah main kuch kaante aagaye,

Zindagi jaisi sochi thi,

Ab use alag jeeyegi tu.

Zindagi ne jaldi zeher dikha diya,

Jaisa socha tha, use alag sheher dikha diya. 

College jaaungi main,

Doctor banungi main,

Ache ghar main shaadi karungi main.

Shayad ab alag hoga,

Shayad ab bhi doctor/engineer ban jaau,

Par logon ko alag nazariyen se dekhungi main,

Allah toh jaha tha wahi rahega, teri rehmat ko alag nazariyen se dekhungi main. 

(Dedicated to the little girl (Chashmawala family) who lost everything in Bhendi Bazaar crash on 31 August 2017)

That Sunday Morning

That Sunday morning 

a morning I woke up 

full of promises. 

Promises of love and kisses

A future as a Mrs 

That Sunday morning

I woke up thinking 

Of all the Sundays I have with you 

Of the bond we share 

Of the love we shall make

That Sunday morning, 

a lazy nakedness snuggles me onto bed

A morning where I fear nothing, 

Nothing bad could happen to me. 

That Sunday morning, 

a morning long gone 

a morning I longingly await. 

I wait for ye. 

Breaking down

I hope I don't break down,

Break down or break up into smithereens 

An empty bed

Many a restless nights 

My cheeks moist with sadness and fear

Fear of an empty future 

Fear of a broken self 

Paradise is lost 

Dreams seem unfulfilled 

Unrealistic are these dreams 

I weave a picture in my mind 

To fill empty spaces of the corners  of my heart 

But I'm cold 

I'm alone 

The dark night reflects my inner space 

Half dreamy eyes

 

I click on yet another verse. 

Feel the pain fading  away 

With each line 

Each stroke brings me closure to composure. 

I thank ye,

I thank ye for sleep Oh Lord! 

Aging with serenity

I see these 100+ year-olds 
With calmness and rigour in their eyes and breath
I see them giving hope for the Future
Despite living through the War years
Why have we,
Why have we the Millennials
Lost all hope to Live.
Lost hope and can't find faith even in Death.
Why do we write prose on Pessimism,
When our war torn Grampas and Grammas continue to live in Hope?
They have things to look forward to
They have cakes to Bake
Memories to Cherish
Nothing to Regret
Nothing to Forget
Their eyes dim with Age
But happiness begets them till the last Breath.

Living every day of my life

So this is a short verse I wrote as I celebrate World Poetry Day.

Living through everyday

Waking and living every minute of my life

Conscious my being

Conscious of the people surrounding me

The sound of the bubbling chai

I am aware of my happiness

Happiness of being surrounded by my loved ones

Happiness of having you around me

Touch of your skin

Your lips caressing me

I am aware of my happiness

I am happy being me

I know, I know

How you despise 

Whipping eggs and cheese for me

Humming away in your honest man's sweat in our tiny kitchenette

But you still do it

Dear Husband

You do it for me

Breaking my mental barriers

Breaking your physical boundaries

I love this little world of ours

Swearing and sweating our time on Earth

This is love

And this is happiness

I am aware of my happiness

I am happy being me.