Hope

टिक टिक कर 

निगलती जा रही ज़िन्गदी मुझे 

जैसे प्यासी घूंट  

निगलता है मुसाफिर कोई 

इल्तेजा है इतनी 

रात के उन अँधेरे सन्नाटों में 

एक-आधा चाँद मेरा भी झलक जाये 

Phir Ye Sanjh

आज फिर ये साँझ
एक चादर ओढ़ आयी

जिसकी हलकी छाव में
छुप गए हम तुम

आसमा देखो
ललचा रहा जैसे

वक़्त देखो
इतरा रहा जैसे

चुपके से
हो गयी रात

जिसका बहाना लिए
चले गए तुम

और छोड़ गए हमें
तनहा अकेले

उस चाँद की
रौशनी में

जो खुद तुमसे
शीतलता चुराता है

Khamoshi

उनकी ख़ामोशी

एक सैलाब सी

हम जान

मुसाकत कर बैठे

टटोल कर जेब

कुछ पुरानी यादों को

आज़ादी की

रकम बना बैठे

Bittu

Bittu came with two bags full of cloths and plenty of hopes to make his internship a success. His athletic build and thick eyebrows surely do injustice to his shy and simple personality, but his voice and smile will win over your heart.

With most of the space occupied by my large bed, study and the keyboard, he adjusted quite well in my small room within the little leftover space, trying not to discomfort me in anyway.

Seeing him uneasy while moving stuff from his bags multiple times reminded me of the hard time when I had to live in my suitcase. So, I offered him to create some space in the cupboards and managed to clear two racks for his day-to-day movements.

Today, when I came back home in the evening, I was surprised to see that within the limited space I provided him, he kept one-forth of the space occupied with a beautiful picture of Lord Ganesha, while adjusting his stuff in the remaining part.

Makes me think – It doesn’t matter how grand your life is . . . but what matters is, who you share it with, no matter how ordinary it may be!