Dead Conversations

Did you miss yourself ever
when you looked into
some eyes?

It happens.

Sometimes a droplet
is all it takes
to bring the dam down.

If only I knew!
If only I knew!

Words don't stay put in the air,
forever.
But yes, eyes deceive us
they show us marks which refuse to leave

I stand deceived too!

I believe often,
that I can go back-
to times with a better 'us'
or to times without an 'us'

Conversations die
when they find a face.

Should I add more to the grave
in a vain attempt
to bring them alive?
Or do I live on
with the dead?

If only I knew!
If only I knew!

If only I knew what!
If only I knew why!

If only!

Wasn't meant to be!

You left
me, a hint of that summer on the curtain cloud
when a waiting verse drove me home

You left
me, a thought of twilight prancing all around
when dinners and elephants were a quick affair

You left
me, a note of promise unconvincing now
about premature togetherness & rest of the world

You left
me, no reason to be mad at you
It was all, but my malediction

You left
me, a shadow, a night & a face
a shade darker than I had ever known

You left
me, everything & nothing at all,
when
you left!

You left?

Aankhon ka Shahar

meri aankhon me ek shahar hai
jiska naqsha tum roz badal dete ho

pichli raat kisi yaad ke bagal me
maine ek kamra banaya tha,
jisme kitne khayaal,
ajeeb-o-gareeb chehre lekar,
baith gaye the

phir tum aaye.

aajkal chehre to pahante nahin ho!
bas aawaazein pakadke aa jaate ho!!
kal bhi aise hi aaye the
aankhon me hawaa bankar...

aur saare chehre
aawaaraa pannon ki tarah
udne lage the aankhon me

na jaane kyun
meri aankhon ke shahar ka naqsha
tum roz badal dete ho

ab dekho,
na mujhe pichli raat wala kamra milta hai
na woh bikhre khayaalon ke panne milte hain

aise hi tevar rahe to
main kal se
in aankhon ki khidkiyaan
nahin kholoongi, haan!

Khat

har raat ik umr guzaarne ki aadat si hai

kaali raat khaali haath
to kabhi aati hi nahin
par jo maangti hoon, woh laati bhi nahin

kuch khote yaadein laati hain
kuch jhoote vaade karti hai
kuch poore tode jaati hain
kuch thode-aadhe bharti hai

ab tak us khumaar ka shumaar nahin kar paayi
na to har us khaab ka hisaab kar paayi kabhi

peeli lifaafon se chitthiyaan nikaalkar
baaton se roothe adhoore harf ghoorti hoon
kabhi lihaafon me leti hui main, baahar-
raaton se tooti kaari barf ghoorti hoon

kuch to hua hoga mujhe
do raatein char baatein nahin samjhi
ek sadi ke sannate samajh gayi

haan, baat thodi ajeeb hai-
tumhari nazrein bhi
kabhi aawaaz nahin karti thi
par baatein bahut karti thi

shayad tumne kisi khat me
gappi nazrein aur ek kaagaz bhar khamoshi
likh-kar bheja hoga
jo kabhi mere yahaan pahuncha hi nahin.

aise khayaal phoonke se nahin jaate
aur sukoon - sookha sa pada rahta hai

har raat yun ik umr guzaarne ki aadat si hai
shayad ab saari umr bas raat guzaarni padegi
------------------------------
each night, i live a lifetime...
all my life, it is, but, night!

Gharonda

main udhde ukhde ujhde lamhon ke tinke jodkar

gharonda bana rahi hoon!

bas aur do muththi mitti

phir mere char dinon ki chutti!!