Mann Ki Baat

Shabd jo na bayaan kar payein,

aankhon mein hi padh lo

Wo mann ki baat.

Kuch sapne hain,

Kuch Armaan hain.

Chamakti aankhon mein hain

Wo Mann ki baat.

Kai yaadein hain,

Kuch waadein hain.

Bheegi palko se chhanakti

Mann ki baat.

Kuch unkahe bol,

Jo na kabhi hue bayaan.

Koi unsuni fariyad,

Jaise khaali mayaan.

Inhi nazron mein padh lo

Wo Saari kahani.

Kuch nahi kitabein,

Kuch behad purani.

Rain basera banaye

Jaise Rahi Har raat,

Inn aankhon mein padh lo,

Mere mann ki baat.

Yaad toh Aani Hi Thi...

Standing at that threshold of my life where past and future appear better planned out than the present. This poem is a dedication to my family.

Yaad toh aani hi thi.

Sabse hatke

unn choti baaton ki

Jinhe Mujhe pyaar sikhaya.

Wo Har rishta,

Jo ek umra tak nibhaya.

Yaad toh aani hi thi...

Wo goad mein gaadi se ghar tak lana.

Wo gadde Ki fislan banana.

Wo behoshi Ka natak karna

Aur Meri gudgudi se uth jana.

Yaad toh aani hi thi...

Dhoop mein nahla kar sukhana.

Wo loriyan gaake humein sulana.

Wo raaton ko darwaza khadka ke darana.

Ulat-Pulat gana sunaake, hamare hosh udana.

Yaad toh aani hi thi...

Aadhi raat ko garma-garam paranthe pakana.

Ravivar ko dahi-doodh se nehlana.

Raat ko Lahore ki kahaniyan sunana.

Dinbhar aapas mein roothna-manana.

Yaad toh aani hi thi...

Har nayi gudiya ki gardan marodna.

Khud hi ladkar mujhse roothna.

Khud hi maarke, apni Shikayat karna.

Jahan bhi jaye, mere liye tohfa lana.

Yaad toh aani hi thi...

Wo laad-pyaar.

Kabhi thodi Si fatkaar.

Wo aam Ka meetha achaar.

Har teej, Har tyohar.

Kai bhooli-bisri raah..

Ek umar Ka saath.

Yaad toh aani hi thi...

Misplaced Rage

Loving someone so much it breaks your heart.

Every thought of bereavement

Each idea of separation,

When did this love transform to rage?

Misplaced rage, messed up emotions.

Fear, pain, torture.

This tragedy of love, 

Movies never mention.

Displaced rage with patience.

Lost faith, new founded insomnia.

Recurrent dreams of abandonment.

When did I become this weak?

Complex feelings, complicated conceptions.

Ill-shaped rage.

Leave me alone,

With my poor old compassion.

Love was to make me strong.

Love was to give me hope.

Love gave me pain instead,

So I never dare to care again..

The Many Me's

"Someday I am going to die!"

I realized with a shock.

This body will erode,

my brain will be go off.

I'll be burnt like logs on a winter night.

Someday I am going to die!

Will it hurt? Will I cry?

Will I writhe in pain the whole time?

Will I have someone by my side?

Will they come to say good bye?

Or will I have a lonely life?

Someday I am going to die.

What will they remember me by?

Would it be good riddance?

Or will they yearn for me?

Will there be grieving

On my final journey?

'Someday I am going to die',

A thought I had long back.

As a kid, a stranger to the world

Of time, age and healing power.

A kid I don't remember much of.

Weird How it never occurred..

Back when I was young

That you're too many, not one.

Every year, every stage, every phase

Through every love, loss or heartbreak

You shed your skin and mould

Into a new entity with the same soul. 

I visit you some times

In the garden of my memories.

Some old, some fading, some bright.

It's crazy how I see my own face

Yet find no resemblance

to that kid with shiny eyes.

I've changed without knowing.

No notice, no reminder or ultimatum.

It's funny how I used to worry

About dying a million years later.

Now all I care for is to lead the journey,

The destination hardly matters.

There are still so many Me's,

I am waiting to encounter.

Fairy Godmother

I wish I was a fairy Godmother…

You wouldn't have a moment of bother.

I know I would try to smother

You. I am known to indulge in a bit of coddle.

Oh, wouldn't it be great if I was

Your fairy Godmother.

You are no damsel

In need of saving.

You don't even want me

To be there defending.

And there in distress

Lies this guardian angel.

Who needs her protege

At the minimum, to trust her.

I am not indifferent.

I can see that I am not needed.

Yet I can't just leave you

To die of this suffering.

You are far from liberation.

Wrenched in your pain.

Since I can't help you,

I kill myself a little, every day.

I kick off my shoes

Walk over burnt embers.

I snatch your poisoned apple

And devour it with pleasure.

They seem not to grasp

The role of this parent.

Delivering from evil

Is her only saving grace.

So if you don't need me

I won't try to impose.

But I'll hurt myself

So I could feel close.

To you, my beloved

Darling child.

For I will forever,

Be your fairy Godmother.

Aaj Phir..

Saalo baad Aaj phir

Tumhari yaad aa Gayi.

Shakl toh ab dhundhli hai

Par baat yaad aa Gayi.

Rail gaadi mein baith kar Aaj

Phir wo raat yaad aa Gayi,

Nayi nayi thi aas tumhari

Wo dil ki tees yaad aa Gayi.

Uss raat ko upper berth par

Tumse door hone ka ehsaas tha.

Na Internet tab tha,

Na phone mera smart tha.

50 Rupaye ke aakhri recharge par

Ummeed meri jaag Gayi.

Wo raat humne yun hi

SMS mein bita di.

Saalo baad Aaj phir

Upper berth par leti hoon.

Achanak tumne jo khayi thi

Wo kasmein yaad aa Gayi.

Mann ki sooni galiyan

Aaj phir jagmaga Gayi.

Tumhari awaaz toh ab dhyaan nahi

Par usme bhare pyaar ki yaad aa Gayi.

Tumse hue lagav, tumhare aitbaar ki yaad aa gayi

Aaj ek baar phir, wo raat yaad aa Gayi.

If I Could Have you Forever...

If I could put you in a locket, I would.

Carry you around my neck

Show you the world as I see it,

Protect you from all wear & tear, I would.

If only I could.

If I could bring you to work with me,

Keep you nearby

Like a pen in my pocket.

Whip you out, only for the most precious tasks, I would.

If only I could.

If I could etch you on my ring

Like engravings on a wedding band.

Never take it off, and keep you safe

From the eyes of others,

Like a secret, I would.

If only I could.

Or maybe like a Kangaroo,

I could Hide you in my pouch.

Look out over you

And save you from all danger.

You know that I would right?

If only I could.

But all that I can do

Is cherish you like a childhood memory.

Sometimes hazy, sometimes sharp,

But always there in my heart.

If only though I could have you forever,

I would. I so would.

The First Damn Kiss

He called up,

Butterflies went astray

In my tummy.

It was Christmas in May.

I'd been building the courage

To tell him 'I love you',

And hug him so tight

I would never have to let him go.

But he seemed so lost

In his thoughts,

It scared me to think

He was into some other blonde.

So I sat there in my pretty pink maxi

And gave him a smile,

my nude lips spread wide.

While my heart lurched in my body.

We talked, we ate,

We drank and then he paid.

He said, "let me drop you."

And I said, "I rather walk."

He said, "let me come with you

I want to have some serious talk."

We crossed a lane and

Took a turn.

My house was built

In the greener part

Of the city and it was rather quiet.

And then it happened & took me by surprise.

He took my hands into his

(That he never ever did),

And came so close it caught my breath.

He said I have to do one thing...

He then kissed me smack on the lips.

I wish I knew how to respond,

Coz I just gave him a jerk at first

And then as he eased into me,

My mouth just opened,

Gave way to his tease.

Slowly my fingers crawled upto his face,

And explored each bit again & again.

"This was happening, wasn't it?

He was gonna propose to me?

Shoot it's too early

This is just my first kiss."

A mile a minute, my bran sprinted

As he devoured my plump lower lip.

I wish I could tell him how strongly I felt.

But at that very moment

My knees were a wreck.

He let me go finally.

It felt like a decade

Had passed in the meantime,

As we stood in a tight embrace.

That's when I realised

This is all I ever wanted.

To be in his arms for a lifetime;

Forever.

I could tell you more

But suffice it to say,

It's been 10 years

And he's still kissing

As if for the very first time.

A Game Called Love

Pushed and shoved to the sideline

Till they want us.

Hushed & forgotten in a corner

till they need us.

Used, abused, refused, rebuked.

Dissed, dismissed, discharged, banished.

We are not people,

We are pawns.

And they know how to play us.

Groomed and pruned and polished

For their comfort.

Trained and entertained

By our ruthless butchers.

Scrapped, snipped, slashed, sheared.

Chopped, sliced, diced and minced.

We are not people,

We are lambs.

And they know their choicest cut.

Like a jailbird, guilty of loving too much,

We're bound in the shackles of its complexities.

Caught in the incantation of our wizards,

We yield to the pleonexia of these mercenaries.

We splurge; we indulge,

We spoil them with our zeal.

Our passion mistaken for sightlessness,

We're played like marionettes, on string.

And yet do you hear a single squeal?

A word of complaint, whining,

Or even a cavil?

We let them use us for their behoof

For we're clapped in the fetters,

In a game called love.

Insaaf ki Maang

This is my first political poem, commenting on Delhi police's attitude towards protestors at India Gate and common people in general. It talks about a corrupt government and rotten governance, not just in Delhi but all over India.

वाह री पुलिस वाह!

हर चोर का तुमसे नाता है,

डकैतों के यहाँ आना जाना है।

यारी गहरी है गुंडों से,

पर बस जनता पे चलाना है।

लोगों का पैसा खाया तुमने,

पसीना हमारा बहाया तुमने,

रक्षक नहीं तुम भक्षक हो,

सियासत के संरक्षक हो।

वाह री सरकार वाह!

महराजा सी शान तुम्हारी, 

प्रजा की न कोई ज़िम्मेदारी,

रावन जैसा रूप अनोखा,

जितने चेहरे उतना धोका।

हर मुद्दे पर झूठे वादे,

देश-सुधार के नकली दावे,

पांच साल तक खून चूसके,

वोट मांगने घर आ जाते।

जीत के बाद कहाँ गुम जाते?

क़ानून का मज़ाक बनाके,

जनता के भाव से खेल-खेलाके, 

रात में कैसे तुम सो पाते?

जनता के ही पैसे ले कर,

जनता के रखवालों को

रद्दी-मोल खरीद लिया है।

जिस जनता ने तुम्हे बनाया 

उसका दम ही घोट दिया है।

खाकी वर्दी पहन ने वालों

खाक तुम बन जाओगे,

इस भड़कती आग को

अब अगर बुझाओगे।

क्रांति की एक लहर उठी है 

भारत के गलियारों से।

सच्चाई की मांग सुनी है 

लोगों के हुंकारों में।

जो अपना है वापस लेंगे 

आज ये हमने ठाना है।

इन्साफ के अब जो आड़े आया 

उसको सबक सिखाना है।

आवाज़ न नीची होने देंगे 

भारत-माँ से वादा है।

हक से ऐलान हम करेंगे 

हिन्द मेरा विधाता है।।

Waah ri police Waah!

Har chor ka tumse nata hai

Dakaito ke yahan Aana jana hai

Yaari gehri hai gundo se

Par Bas janta pe chalana hai.

Hum logon ka paisa khaya tumne

Paseena hamara bahaya tumne

Rakshak nahi tum bhakshak ho

Siyasat ke sanrakshak ho.

Waah ri Sarkar Waah!

Maharaja si shaan tumhari

Praja ki na koi zimmedaari.

Ravan jaisa roop anokha

Jitne chehre utna dhokha.

Har mudde par jhoothe waade

desh-sudhaar ke nakli daawe

Paanch saal tak Khoon chooske

Vote maangne ghar aa jate.

Jeet ke baad Kahan ghum jaate?

Kanoon ke mazaak banake

Janta ke bhaav se khel-khelaake

Raat mein kaise tum so paate?

Janta ke hi paise le kar

Janta ke rakhwalo ko

Raddi-mol khareed liya hai.

Jis janta ne tumhe banaya

Uska dum hi ghot diya hai.

Khaki wardi pehenne walo

Khaaq tum ban jaoge!

Iss bhadakti aag ko

Ab agar bujhaoge.

Kranti ki ek leher uthi hai

Bharat ke galiyaro se

Sacchai ki maang suni hai

Logon ke hunkaaro mein.

Jo apna hai waapas lenge

Aaj Ye humne thana hai.

Insaaf ke Ab jo aade aaya

Usko sabak sikhana hai.

Awaz na neechi hone denge

Bharat-maa se Ye wada hai,

Haq se ailaan hum karenge

Hind Mera vidhata hai.

Allah ka Sheesha

Allah ka sheesha hoon main,

Tera aks dikhata hoon.

Kabhi na samjha jo apne ko

Usko paath padhata hoon.

Paani se gehra hoon main

Aur apno se zyada apna.

Jo na bole the Tujhko

Wo baatein main keh jata hoon.

Allah ka sheesha hoon main

Tujhe sacchi baat batata hoon.

Dhake hue chehre Ko tere

Sabke saamne lata hoon.

Kabhi farishte padhe jo tune

Bachpan mein, kitabo mein.

Wo nayab nagina lekar

Teri saamne aaya hoon.

Allah ka sheesha hoon main

Tujhe Khudi se milwata hoon.

Chahe na chahe tu mujhko

Main ye farz nibhata hoon.

Zeher ugalke sacchai ka

Dushman kai banaye Maine.

Iss farebi duniya mein main

Hakikat jo farmata hoon.

Allah ka sheesha hoon main

Chhal nahi kar pata hoon.

Kabhi dost, kabhi dushman banke

Tere saamne aata hoon.

Allah ka sheesha hoon main

Allah ka sheesha hoon.

An Untold Fairytale

In a fabled town,

Season in and season out

The stone cold figure,

facing south

Stood guarding up

With an etched out frown.

Many mighty knights,

Traders and their wives

That had ventured past

Shared much a strife.

"What atrophy must we muster?,"

Asked kings to their wise men.

That may cause to spoil or fester

That rotten piece of crag.

And hence the plan was devised.

After much dialogue and dissension, 

To thaw the sentinel's escutcheon,

They beckoned the reclusive anchorite.

For who would understand better

The loneliness of the figure,

That braved each friend and foe

With an arrow and bow.

The scarlet sky did forebode,

She knew some mischief was to approach.

With weapon in hands she poised,

To bring down the enemy with reproach.

What came next

Left her stupefied.

She fell for the rogue,

Without as much as a fight.

He grazed at her feet,

Traced past her belly.

His warm touch melting

The coolness of her valor.

He whispered in her ears

Much not that she could fathom.

All that she cool feel

Was his hands around her cold shoulders.

With every stroke and caress,

She saw herself transformed

From a ruthless stone sculpture

To a girl with hair, coloured fawn.

The hermit knew not

What was to come next.

That sudden rush of passion,

He never did expect.

That day was removed off history

Since no one ever found,

What happened of the lovers,

Of that mystical, sylvan town.

The Route

All that she ever wanted

And all that she ever dreamt of,

In a wink was hers to keep

And she never even asked for.

Every moment that passed by,

Every word ever spoken.

Each thought and action that she took

Was all a noble omen.

She did doubt herself a lot

Left each road half-trodden.

For ages she was lost

To the miracles of the Lord.

Does life look easy to her now?

When all she wanted was hers?

Or was it just a beginning..

She stood on a new turf.

A long way she had come.

Even farther to go,

She found what she always wanted

And now she just had to Own.

Shaanti ki Talaash Mein

शांति  की  तलाश  में 

भटक  रहे  थे  दर  बदर 

कोई  सूना  ठिकाना  न  मिला 

जहाँ  सो  जाऊं  मैं  आँख  मीच  कर .

शाम  की  इंतज़ार  में 

झुलसता  रहा  पल , हर  पल 

अन्धकार  में  प्रज्वल  सडकें 

बुझने  न  दें  दिए  पलकों  पर .

तन्हाई  की  चाह में 

छान  मारी  दुनिया  सारी

के  कहीं  एक  जंगल ही  मिल  जाता 

जहाँ  स्वयं  से  कुछ  बातें  कर  पाती .

एकांत  का  अन्वेषण  ही 

अकरणीय सा  काम  है .

सब  कुछ  मिला  इस  जीवन  में, 

एकांत  मगर  भगवन  सा  है .

Shanti ki talaash mein

bhatak rahe the dar ba-dar

Koi soona thikana na mila

Jahan so jaaon main aankh meech kar.

Shaam ki intezaar mein

Jhulasta raha pal, har pal

andhakar mein prajwal sadkein

Bujhne na dein diye palko par.

Tanhai ki chah mein

Chhan maari duniya saari

Ke kahin ek jungle hi mil jata

Jahan swayam se kuch baatein kar paati.

Ekaant ka anveshan hi

akarniya sa kaam hai.

Sab kuch mila iss jeewan mein,

Ekaant magar Bhagwan sa hai.