कई किनारे छोड़ दिए

तुझे पाने की चाह में
ए जिन्दगी,
मैंने सैलाबों पर चलना सीख लिया,
गर तू ना मिली आखिर
तेरी खोज को मुकाम समझ लेंगे।

The man on the footpath

A man on the footpath re-arranges his merchandise kept on the floor, while SK and I walk down the road. I have enjoyed these thought provoking discussions (in my mind), rather small chats (in reality) with SK who in-spite of complaining about not having an ideal career growth is always optimistic about the future. His eagerness and desire to do something worthy in life has always motivated me, and so, my thoughts handed me over the key to a small but bizarre fantasy drawer in my mind-space. I think about that something worthy for me. I know being a published writer someday is one of them.

The man on the footpath now looks at me with sheer desperateness and his eyes tell me that business has not been good for him. His torn clothes re-affirms the fact. But I pay no attention to his sorrow, as I am in no urgent need of a notebook or a calendar.

Having reached home we both get back to our lives; SK indulges himself with his favorite soap, where as, I turn back to the leftover page of the book which is kept upside down on the study.

‘I need to write more frequently’, I tell myself with the same desperateness as the man.

I indeed need his notebook and calendar as much as he wanted me to have them.  The universe has its way of silently warning you.

Aandhi

Desert Walk

Sometimes

The world dances with you

Praises you

Loves you

But sometimes

You walk all alone

On a dark long path

Full of thornes

No one to hold your hand

And say - it's gonna be alright son

And you question yourself

What wrong have I done?

Your body aches

And there is only fear

No shoulder to cry on

No love, no care

Your sorrows

They multiply

But the road

It doesn't simplify

Should I give up?

And just go home?

I am no hero in my life

I am all alone!

But I can't give up

Not so soon

My dark nights

Sure have a moon

I walk

And I walk

My mind

Ceases to stop

May be my destiny is far

And peace a forgotten affair

But I won't give up

Not unless I am there

The dark side of the moon

In your silent mystique

And strange mysteries

I saw a fanatic dream

Resembling, a morning beam

Reflections mounting night and day

Like strong breeze by the bay

Pushing you towards the edge by noon

Into the dark side of the moon

Aks

कुछ वक़्त
गुज़र जाने दे,
थम जाने दे
ज़िन्दगी की रफ़्तार,
बेरंग होने दे
तस्वीरों का तहखाना,
मिटटी होने दे
मन की ईमारत,
और मिलने दे
दो पल,
उस यार से -
जिसकी आँखों में,
मेरी रूह का
अक्स झलकता है | 

Goa

Goa trip ended and I am sad. Being an official trip, could not engross into the real feel of Goa, however visit to the Baga beach was wonderful. I wanted to be alone for sometime but you cannot ditch your team members and walk away. Tried once, and they thought I was following the tall Russian Girl, which was partly true.

The sunset caught hold of my eyes. The magical changing colors - dominant dark orange sky slowly and slowly submerging into light pink with layers of sapphire playing hide and seek, the whole frame then turned into pale red. From far away, you could only see carefree shadows on the beach, lost in the beautiful silhouette where the ocean and sky kissed.

Manzil

दूर किनारों में मंज़िल मेरी

रोशन तकदीर से भी क्या वास्ता

रास्ता गर होता उस मुकाम का एक भी

चलना तो में गिर कर भी सीख लेता

Life @ room no. # 203

The wall had words scrubbed

Posters covered the dark

Rock-bands, mountains, celebrities

And sometime Indian gods

A table always dusty

Books untouched for long

Linux / windows on the Intel PC

As we wished to install

Videos, movies and games

Unusual genre of songs

Singing verses after verses

Missing her all night long

Voices of laughter

Serious discussion on math

Never ending arguments

To be continued over yahoo chat

But with the exams overhead

Our bond became stonger

Fearful faces asking each other

Can you stay little longer?

The room had a green veiw

With friends as neighbour

It knew us inside out

It knew us better

We lived a dream

An imaginary world of our own

A garden enriched with friendship

Trees of tresure we’ve grown

The bonds that we have made

And the achievements that we laid

Might not last long,

But these incredible memories

Will stay with us like a beautiful song

Tum

झील का किनारा हो तुम

आसरा हो, मन की कश्तियों का

समंदर हो, परछाई दिखती है जिसमें 

बिखरते ख्यालों की

जिनसे, फुरसत मिलते ही

बातें किया करता हूँ में

कविता हो, एक जवाब हो, 

मेरी खाव्हिसों की, पहचान हो

तस्वीर की तरह, मेरे अन्दर बसी हो

चेहरा दिखता नहीं तुम्हारा,

बस एक रौशनी है, एहसास है

जिसे बंद आँखों से महसूस कर 

मेरे रूह को

सुकून सा मिलता है . . .

Bombay

There is something about Bombay which remains mystery to me. I had been living in this city for almost eight years, before I left three month ago in search of something new that could add more meaning to my life, or probably something that this city lacks. Peace, solitude or serenity? I cannot tell. Only at that time, the city seemed unfit for my survival, for my dreams, for my future.
As karma would have it, I am here since yesterday without even knowing the duration of my stay. The feeling is mixed that of being a refuge at your own house. Whatever it is, the city has its special way of greeting you.

I've realized that I had been missing: my friends - those bastards; Raju bhai - with his 'one minute' cooking techniques; the watchman of our society -  who salutes by closing one eye; humidity in the air; the eternal rush at Andheri Station; the local trains; the red colored BEST buses; the sensational marine drive; the blue shade of the slums; the sky touching towers; the shopping malls; the weekend outlets; the 11 month rent agreement and the cheat brokers; the terrible traffic; the wicked and soulful girls; Haaji Ali dargah - the emperor of the sea . . . these and many more I've missed.

The city has won my heart all over again. I can positively tell that I can hate and love this city at the same time. I wonder, if I've ever felt anything like this before? I can assure you it's a funny feeling. I feel welcomed. No matter how long I stay away - I'll be a drop of its ocean. 

Bombay has been kind to this young aimless explorer.

Sapna

सांझ ढलते ही आती महक तुम्हारी

कभी रात के सन्नाटे में मुस्कुराती तुम

गुल्मोहर की तरह रंग बदलती 

दर्द, प्यार, तो कभी एहसास हो तुम

ख़याल हो तुम मेरी हक़ीक़त का

कभी उन ख़यालों में उलझा एक ख्वाब हो तुम

तमन्नाओं की गोद में जो खेलती 

कभी खुद ही में छुपा एक राज़ हो तुम

My Dreams

I dream to be a painter. Playing with colors, painting aliveness.

I dream to be a musician who buries pain under his music.

I dream to be a dancer who elucidates how beautiful life is.

I dream to be a student forever.

I dream to be a teacher who enlightens his students with every aspect of life.

I dream to be a friend who is around, at the least in times of gloominess, if not in happiness.

I dream to be a lover who loves the way she is and her changeability.

I dream to be a philosopher with his rightful philosophy.

I dream to celebrate life even if each day is stressful.

I dream to be a simple man with simple thoughts.

I wish people remember me after I set apart or die.

I hope to smile constantly even if on a death bed I lie.

Above all, I dream to fulfill all my dreams unwaveringly.

And even if I fail, my dreams - they will never be hindered and never be shattered.

They will be carried out by someone alike me.

My dreams they are everlasting and will continue forever indefinitely.

Words

No, these are not words

But wishes and dreams

You see them, you feel them

Unreal may it seem

You plan

And hold tight

But deep inside 

You already know 

It's an eternal fight

So what?

Don't give up!

Coz life is bittersweet

It's substance, it's real

Love it

With great passion 

And zeal

Chase your dreams

Dance in sync

Not to win 

Not to lose

As the end is unchanged

Whatever path you choose

Wander my friend

Untie the knot

Things might fall in place

If you simply follow your heart

Sometimes at night by my window,

I find it snow,

I hear an owl hooting,

and see a star shooting,

I make a wish and find myself abliss, then suddenly I'm ashore,

I'm called afar by a lore,

I don't know if I should respond,

I feel like a bond,

It's call from the wind,

and it awakes my inner child,

I want to answer that call,

but, I'm afraid of the fall,

A fall from the present life,

that will take me to a strife,

a strife from this birth,

but is it worth?

~p.a.

When i get older

Close your eyes, for just once and

Imagine that you are sixty four

A table and chair arranged for you

Near the lake, on a beautiful shore

The sun set view from your garden

Leaving behind an amazing afterglow,

Books kept in an orderly manner

Plants covered with a layer of snow

A perfect evening, as you can imagine

With the company of woman you love

Mug of hot coffee and cookies

Just waiting to be served

The breeze makes you feel cold,

The page turns to your favorite chapter

A glass of wine on the side table

While the radio plays an old memorable number

Your friends just arrived at the doorstep,

Looking all ugly and funnier

Everyone sipping wine in the moonlight

As the night turns colder

This is how I want life to be,

When I get older

Peace of mind,

summer rain,

Surrounded by nature

Travelling the road of my dreams,

on the way getting happier

and

older