Glistening Shadows

221. The Sky Songstress

2011-11-14T02:40:00.000-08:00

It was not until

She came along

that algorithmic silence

was so hummable

She would sit

and tune the skies

while the tone deaf evenings

and pitch dark nights

rumbled on

The skies were Her swan song

The now-intolerably-altered song

still plays to

packed audiences -

the seasons,

the undiscerning yet devoted seasons

the unfashionably fanatical seasons

She fled

when they started re-writing her work

(the people who talk in inspired whispers

of things they knew little about

of things they could do little about

of things they cared little about)

She fled and now

She keeps to herself

while She walks through strange silent towns

to hide from taunts of unfinished songs

The winds,

which hoot and whistle in applause

to the off-key skies,

turn mute when they hear Her hum

and She wonders -

would She have felt less miserable,

if She were a song and not a songstress?

220.

2011-11-13T04:58:00.000-08:00

muskaate-hanste the, gurrate-danste hain

saleeqe seekh gaye, zamaane ke, kuch ham bhi

ittefaqn sukoon jo mile, bechaini hoti hai

jo dard se ishq sa ho, sazaa lage marham bhi

guzarte hisaab se hai saare paaband pahar

manaaye do pal ke jashn, bas do pal maatam bhi

tasveeron ke teelen bahut sajaate to hain har jaanib

par bun-ne ko yaaden yahaan, waqt hai kuch kam bhi

rah rah-ke sulagte hain, rah rah-ke baraste hain

haan, apne hi jaat ke hai is shahar ke mausam bhi

------

Ruko. Gaur karo. Dekho -

Mehfil me kya rakha hai!

Lutf uthao to safar ka zara.

Manzil me kya rakha hai?!

219. Identity

2011-11-01T03:50:00.000-07:00

I bring the blinds down
though the streets outside are deserted and dark
double-lock the doors
turn all the lights off
and return to where he lies

I sit by him
and close my eyes tight
needless as it be

I run my fingers
over him
over
the ridges
the contours
the grooves
familiar yet cold and hostile

I want to learn him
by rote
because knowing him was owning him

I was free till now
because I belonged

But
now?!

Now
that he leaves me
unfettered,
I sit here
just a name
trapped in his history

218. belihaaz shahren

2011-08-20T12:32:00.000-07:00

phoonk-ke bujha chali, abr surkh-o-zard se

pharsh pe chodke kahkashaan gard ke

bezubaan raat ye,

badgumaan raat ye

jaa rahi hai;

jaane do!

------

dareechon se jhaankti

zakhmi khamoshiyaan jaanchti

har dar se lagaake kaan

goonjti aahen sunke kaanpti

aadatn tatol-ke,

har makaan, raat ye

jaa rahi hai;

jaane do!

-------

isi shahar me the aashiyaan

khamosh se, syaah se

moondi aankhon pe jahaan

milte the khaabgaah se

kab se hai talaashti,

wo aashiyaan, raat ye

jaa rahi hai;

jaane do!

--------

aahaton me uljhe log, bejaan, sard se

jeb me liye nishaan gumshuda dard ke

ise batao, bas ab yahaan

sukoon ke mazhaar hai

rakh-ke girvi neenden apni

har shaqs bezaar hai

kya karegi, rahke bhi

ab yahaan raat ye?!

jaa rahi hai;

jaane do!

---------

217. Dreams

2011-06-14T09:58:00.000-07:00

You come by

every now and then

You don't tell me why

neither do I ask you

I mix us both drinks

the usual,

just a tad stiffer

than the last time

(we need it)

My living room

is where I sell you

reassurance and endurance

You stopped talking

the night I stopped listening;

so now I do most of the talking

They say purple umbrellas are the in-thing, this monsoon

Did you hear of this new salon that has opened up?

Ah, my boyfriend - he is such an adorable sleep-talker

All this while I notice –

the purple bruises on your ankles

the blisters on your hands

your eyes sore with fear

But no, we don't talk about all that;

Why wish away our woes, when we can pretend and make-believe?

What we don't acknowledge, does not exist!

You listen

You get high

You slur

You want to be silent

but your stares are intrusive and questioning

and then I know -

you are ready for the same old lies

And then I lie

about hope

I talk of statistical proof

I talk of super heroes

I talk of human kindness

(and the play I saw last night, that made me choke)

I talk of

how a lion adopted a baby antelope

in Kenya, not too long ago

It is all about faith

It is all about learning to wait

What else do I say

when I know - what you want; and that you want it bad

when I know - you try; and that you try hard

and I know it is still not possible

So I lie

about hope

Good - you know not

that hope

is just another four lettered profanity

Good - you know not

that I have buried,

in my backyard,

about two dozen

bruised dreams like yourself

murdered by skepticism

And while you fear that

the end may just be around the corner,

I hope that

the end actually is

216. Indignation

2011-05-14T13:56:00.000-07:00

do you know what it means
to be oppressed?
to be labelled?
to be categorized by presumptuous humankind?

do you what it means
to be thought that
what you stand for
what you feel,
what you are,
does not warrant
respect
consideration
understanding
or
at the very least, an attempt at any of these?

do you know what it means
to be thought of
as irrelevant...
and worse still,
inconsequential & disposable?

do you know what it means
when it's a foregone conclusion
that you are not as human as the rest of them?

I know.
I noticed what it means.
I thought I was free.
Yet, I chose to walk out last night
foregoing the right
to hold the hand of the person I love most,
my boyfriend.

For the fear
of being arrested or worse,
I walked out
foregoing the right
to hold his hand.

For I am gay.

& there was a mob of moral police
waiting to make the world a better place.

a better place?!

215. choohon ki daud (rat race)

2011-05-12T03:54:00.000-07:00

samjhaana bujhaana to hai shauq sabka ich
kuch bhi jaane na jaane samjhaane me kya hai?

aise ich har din hamshaql subahein mile aur
pooche - "be-shaql shab me gum jaane me kya hai?

saare manzil ye gar ret ke hain mahal to
yun hi gumnaam se tham jaane me kya hai?"

main bola - "miyaan, aise load le re tum kaiku
daftar, manaane ko maatam, jaane me kya hai?"

---------------

logaan nahin, aise ich baataan karte jaa re, karte jaa re!!!

kya soch le re ki kya ki, maaloom ich nahin!!!!

2011-04-27T12:30:00.000-07:00

kuch apni bhi aql thikaane shaayad nahin hai, sadiq
ke har subah yun be-aqlon ki mehfil me chale aate hain

213. Midnight Confessions

2011-04-27T12:20:00.000-07:00

Tonight

the room smells of silence

and so I hum to myself

But it doesn't suffice

I need you around to

make this flawed reality

a little more tolerable

I want you to hunt it down

with your electric racquet

and tie it up

in a barbwire of conversation

(we are way too sweet with each other

usually)

We could talk of

this

that

and the other

Oh, you love to travel!

I love it too...

I particularly love

this one trek

from behind your pierced ears

to your stubbled chin,

and further!

Ah, what a view?!

(yeah, It's like my private resort

and I intend to keep it that way)

We could mumble midnight confessions

and fumble in the dark

and stumble upon unspoken places

and crumble to nothingness

We could;

could we not?!

Well,

tonight

our room smells of silence

and I hum to myself

But it doesn't suffice

I need you around

I could say that

I need you to mint memories

but they are too potent

and pointless

I could say that

I need you for eternity

but that is too trite

and trivial

I will just say that

I want you now

now

however long that be

come

defuse this night,

for loneliness is intolerably symmetrical

come

let's go on a midnight trek again,

and stumble upon another unspoken place

----------------

Some penguins do fly!! :)

212. Journeys

2011-03-05T11:48:00.001-08:00

1.
1.
2.
2.
3.
3. ?!
3. !
3.!!
4. !
4. !!
5. !
5.!!
6.!
6.?

7.!
7.!!

8.
8...
8..?
8.!?

9.?
9.!

10.!

11.!

12.

13

14

15

16

-------------------------

Love knows no grammar or arithmetic!!
Stay put and love will find its way... it has always!!

Untold Stories

2011-02-23T22:22:00.000-08:00

When the evening starts breathing heavily
twilight
silently slips away
a shade of red, however, still stains the sky

As the evening steps off the sky
a crowd of shadows settle in my courtyard
to gossip
about the things that happened through the day
about this, that and the other

how the maps have started to change faces
how the days have started to melt away
who was trying to fill moments in empty chasms
whose love is shifting loyalties
where are colors out on strike,
and why in heaven are they so?

some complaints
some judgements
some questions
some advice

I turn witness to these conversations
each night

If there be a hint of your name
I sit by and listen to stories all night long
in desire of a few consonants
in this crowd of shadows

There are many stories
lying
restless and impatient
somewhere inside me too
waiting to be told
Come by sometime to chat me up
won't you please?!

------------------------------------------------------
An old Hindi poem re-written in English for certain audience!!

210. Free

2010-09-27T10:11:00.000-07:00

what makes you think
i want to be free?

what makes you feel
you ought to come to my aid
and liberate me?

how do you know
that i have not quit flying
at will?

why do you think
just because the sky is wild
i need to follow suit?

why do you think
i will find freedom
'invigorating'
'intoxicating'
or all those fancy adjectives
you picked up in books?
(Did you hear of 'nauseating'?)

so much for your claims of empathy
you refuse to see
i love my cuffs

so much for your campaigns for my liberation
you choose to do my thinking
for me

oh yes,
you want my future
captive to your vision
of how I ought to live tomorrow -

free

209. The Biographer

2010-09-03T04:55:00.000-07:00

He did not bother me much then

He just wanted me
to rearrange his past.

You know,
how memoirs ever so often
need a facelift

He showed me
his years with creases of crudity
which he wanted me to paint over
with ink

He led me down dark alleys
to his ugly stone secrets
which he wanted to do away with

You see,
I did not have much experience writing fiction
But I had significant experience
in starvation
which I did not need more of
So there,
I agreed

I never wanted to make history
I preferred writing history
for well, what is history
but the choice of the scribes
who anoint heroes to hide their flaws
and label villains to hand them claws?

So there I was,
publishing his black & white portrait
concealing more more than revealing

Writing the history
of my choice
to his liking

And he died a happy hero

Some read it
and rewarded me with sighs
of boredom and disbelief

…

Then I realised
there must be a reason why
good news and case studies
only find a weekly column
in most dailies

Then I also realised
there must be a reason why
gossip
fills scores of pages
in most dailies

…

And then
I rewrote history
a scandalous one

Whoever said
“do not pan the dead;
the dead are always virtuous”
(but of course,
one needs to be alive
to cultivate vices)

I brought out his ugly stone secrets
ah, what a museum?!

They do not talk ill of the dead
in public
but then,
they take more delight
in seeing heroes fall
than in seeing them anointed

And you see,
I did not have much experience writing trash
but I had significant experience
in starvation
which I did not need more of

So there I was,
publishing his portrait
in color this time
exposing the sinner
who left, unpunished

I went easy
on the blue;
(red is in vogue
every other season
& definitely more scandalous)

Many read it
and rewarded me with whispers
of interest and disapproval
& then many more read it

He does not bother me much now
particularly since the time he died

He was a good man, I guess!

---------------------------------------------

"I wonder how different would our lives be if we were to find out that our history is half farce & our heroes much more so." - The shelves

208. Aa gaya

2010-08-31T04:13:00.000-07:00

dil mera nayi tajveez koi aazamaane aa gaya

kooche me mere phir koi sukoon ganwaane aa gaya

dekhne mujhko deewana, aata hai dar pe har pahar

mahak utha mehfil hai - dekho, phir muskuraane aa gaya?

maasoom in dilchaspiyon ka bas main nahin kaayal yahaan

main kam-z-kam dhoondhoon sabab, wo bin bahaane aa gaya

ham-nasl nahin wo, lafz-o-lahje uske kuch judaa se hai

phir mujhe mehfil me apni zubaan banaane aa gaya

khwahishon ke kaafile khatm ho bhi to kaise, bata

ek armaan bujha nahin aur ek lubhaane aa gaya

wo gaya tha dareecho pe pehnaake peela aasmaan

din dhala to mujhme phir thodi shab bitaane aa gaya

khwaabeeda lamhon me guftagu ka lagta hai shaukeen bada

rah rahke neendon me naye naqshe bichaane aa gaya

kaash waaqif hota aashiq, muhabbat waqfe leti nahin

daayron me yaaden bhar bharke faasle bujhaane aa gaya

jab dekhta hai woh mujhe, uth-ta hai khaabon sa dhuaan

phoonk phoonk-ke wo apne naqsh-e-nigaah mitaane aa gaya

pyaas pala hoga bahut paimaanon ki talaash me

mere labon par, dilbar, apna munh jalaane aa gaya

--------------------------------------------------------------------

guzarte mausam ko karna nahin tha aahon me gumraah yun

apne mausam ke bichde hisse, aasmaan uthaane aa gaya

207. Monotony

2010-08-17T07:02:00.000-07:00

let me out
let me out
I have been this restless
for quite a while

let me shout
let me shout
from my steel fortress
of a fake smile

I see no
hope
nor consequence

I seek no
shape
and no substance

my fortress -
it dodges accidents
which I seek around corners

but I want one (so bad)
I want a navy blue
denim clad accident
to break open
the padlock
to get over
this bad shock

I want to sleep
and sob
and stretch
and swear
Oh!
I want an accident so bad

and I am not alone...
they are so many around
in this crowded city of electronic sounds

but there are more rules than tools
and there just aren't enough fools

how will I ever find an accident
stuck in this city of
airconditioning and airsickness
traffic signals and tragic chivalry
?

let me shout
let me shout
from my steel fortress
of a fake smile

let me out
let me out
I have been this restless
for quite a while

206. Dodging Alliterative Exclamations

2010-05-24T07:34:00.000-07:00

I am aware
I am awake

But let me ignore
the knocks on the old oak door

Let me ponder instead
about
the convenience of prejudice
the uncertainty of emotion
the sanctity of stupidity
the reliability of dreams & dead-ends
the ambiguity of dynamics
(and the dynamics of ambiguity,
if I may)

Let me pretend there is more
to this evening than mere sighing bliss
Let me paint a little pain
Let me amuse myself
Let me marvel

What lies beyond that oak door
but happiness?!
Well, they say
I am already as happy as they come

So let me ignore the knocks for a change

Let them wait -
the thoughts of
porn and projectiles
paandus and piñacoladas

Let them wait-
the alliterative afternoons
with nondescript happy endings
(& snappy 'bending's)

Let them wait
It's been a while
since I traded words for gasps

You still ask me why?
Did you not notice that
for many a month now
happiness has been the pain in the ass?!

You know what I mean!

-------------------------------------
-------------------------------------
While we are on alliteration,
Voluptuously virile V**** valiantly verbalized various vagaries vindictively!
Sexy sweetie S********* somnambulantly saunters streetwise singing slokas somberly!!

:D :D :D :D

But of course I did not come up with them.
I do not possess such talent, do I? They just inspired me to explore alliterative alternatives! :P

205. Security Check

2010-02-23T21:54:00.000-08:00

No,
I should not have packed them;
and now the guards
are going through
my luggage-
scanning through all
the unfinished conversations
I stuffed in my suitcase

I can sense their smirks
behind their straight faces

I should not have packed them-
all those embarrassing conversations
But I did!

I was in a hurry!!

-----------------------------
Until a while ago
my city of yesterdays
was sequestered

the city
where
I stood by the tracks
and waved at trains passing by -
trains of thought
full of stories
with blurred faces

the city
where
the sky was wide
and wept too much;
and words flew down
to dance on my terrace

the city
where
I sowed smiles
by the side of blue evenings
and by dawn,
the streets would be abuzz
with laughter

the city
that knew
no ketchup
or aerated drinks
or accidents
or running water

yes,
the city was sequestered;
but now
it is open for me to return.
---------------------------------------------

I had to hurry
in my bathroom slippers
and an unpressed shirt;
but in my city,
they never notice these things!

So I hurried,
only to find all the tickets
to yesterday are booked
All the roads are jammed
All the flights are full

So yet again,
I booked
a round trip to noise

I will drown in the din again
and maybe this time,
discover my pseudonym

If only they let me go

A few sighs more
and the flight will take off-
but they are still scanning
through my unfinished conversations

-------------------------------------
Culture Shock - the much needed vacation!

204. All in the name of...

2010-02-10T04:22:00.000-08:00

I think I will charm
the maverick moon –
the one that hangs high
when he is in the mood

I will roll him a joint
and sit with him on a branch;
I will wait for him to pass out,
but then you know why?!

I am in love with a werewolf
& so I have not a choice,
but to pin up the moon
on my bedroom window sill.

So I think I will charm
the maverick moon -
the one that hangs high
when he is in the mood
--------------------------
:) :) :) :) :)
Are dinosaurs extinct?
Are werewolves mythical??!
:) :P :D

203. Khat

2010-02-02T00:37:00.000-08:00

sochta hoon
khat me ik nazm likhke
tumhe mere khayaal
tohfe me bhej doon

likh doon

kaise
har subah
main tumhare sapne sambhaalke,
utaarta hoon aankhon se
aur takiye ke neeche
chhipa deta hoon
(haan,
wahi khaab,
jo betaab se kaanpte rahte hain
aankhon me raat bhar
aur kabhi kabhi
din ke beech-o-beech)

kaise
intezaar me
lamhon ka hisaab lagaata hoon
to pahron pe shikan se ban jaate hain

kaise
main ajnabi lafzon se
rishte jodta rahta hoon
judaa se lahje pahanke
nikalta hoon
aaj kal har kahin

kaise
khwahishon ke kaafile
ummeed liye mere dar khade rahte hai
jab din ke paar utarta hoon
to us paar bhi mil jaate hai

kaise
hawaayen saazish kar jaate hain
aur jab main bekhud sa baitha rahta hoon
baraamde me
to tumhari mahak sa bikher dete hain

kaise
muhabbat se fursat nahin milti

kaise
rooth-ne ko jee karta hai
ke tumhare khayaal
ik chote waqfe ko bhi
tanha nahin chodte mujhe

sochta hoon
mere haal-o-harkat
alfaazon me baandhke
bhej doon tumhe ik khat me

mujhe pata hai
tum mujhse bandhi
lafzon ke gaant
khol nahin paaoge

mujhe pata hai...
tum bas mujhe phone karoge
aur udaas sa chehra banate hue kahoge
"Sweetie, you know I can't read Hindi"

par mujhe ye bhi pata hai,
ke tum apne fridge pe lagaake
yaa apne jeb me rakh-ke
is khat ko dekhoge
baar baar shab-o-roz;
aur chuu-chuu ke
is peeli si kaagaz ko
mera naam loge
aur muskuraaoge...

bas isi liye sahi,
sochta hoon
aaj tumhe ik khat likh doon
-----------------------------------
Like I said earlier,
Bezubaan bhi nahin, hamzubaan bhi nahin
guftagu kya kare tu yahaan bhi nahin!!

202. Padosi

2010-01-12T23:13:00.000-08:00

phir se darwaaze band kar jaaye koi
band kamre me kahaaniyaan
bikhri rahen

ranjishein parose ek mausam
aur guftagu ke chand cheente
chidak jaaye khaamosh deewaron pe

sulagte se
do kadam faaslon me
ek jazbaat chadhata tha
dheemi si aanch pe

woh rasm ik rishta tha
jiska naam kabhi mila hi nahin

sulagte se
do kadam faaslon me
jo baat thi
meelon ki dooriyon
me wo baat kahaan?

phir se chulhe pe
ubalne ko
pahren chadha de koi

ghar pe taale lagaake
nikalta hoon har savere
phir har subah
kuch taraana gungunaake
tasavvur pe chod jaaye koi

mujhe phir se jhagadna hai
phir se dekhne hai daraawne tasveeren
aur bedaar baithna hai raaton me
phir se besabab gappe ladaane hain
phir se taane maarne hai
kisi na kisi ko
har shaam

thodi si peeli roshni ke parde
pahnaa jaaye
aur eent ke is bakse ko
phir ghar banaa jaaye koi

mujhe khule darwaazon
ki aadat nahin rahi
phir se bagal wale kamre ka darwaaza
band kar jaaye koi

---------------------------------
well, yes - miss is happening!!

201. Frayed Thoughts

2010-01-07T21:34:00.000-08:00

Sometimes things change! taking off from Cotton Thoughts !!!

-----------------------------
The seamstresses scout for the satin smile
while thoughts fray
& the last few grains of sand in the hourglass
remain slaves to arithmetic

I look out of my window
You look at your sky
We patch it up
with blue
pieces of conversation
the blue in my heart
the blue in your eyes
the blue of the sky...

When I refuse to move,
I smell of you.
I was still when I began.
I am,
still.

Art is still my chosen pastime

None else would
weigh this silence
weigh the sky
weigh your sight
weigh my smile;
aren't they all nothing?

Art is the pastime of a desperate heart

& to kill hours in desperation
while I sit still,
I
don stone deaf metaphors
so you can catch me unaware
& unwrap words
to find tremulous blanks underneath
for you to fill with love bites!
---------------------------------------

Yes, intolerable miss is happening off!!!

200. Unusual Winter

2010-01-04T08:42:00.000-08:00

You have left
a winter
on my trail
unlike any I have seen before!

each night
while the trees dance
in the cool silvery breeze
and shed
their crisp yellow leaves
you visit me

I shed
two strands of dreams
on your pillow
and a dozen inhibitions
in your bed

and at dawn
I find
a heap of star dust
in my backyard

while you toss
restlessly
in your sleep
each night
does your sky
shed
stars too?!

Is your winter
as unusual as mine?!

199. The Tippler

2009-12-09T01:50:00.000-08:00

there always is
some rum in her glass
and some scandal on her trail

while the rest of the world
opens eyes
each morning
to a new day
with stale hope

she stirs from her sleep
to a new past
each noon
and unwraps the night gone by
with obscene anticipation

but then
she has always been one
to turn her back
on rules;
or so they say

she refuses to plan

plans are such addictive armours
against accidents.
it is a shame-
people plan

accidents are such charming things.
the pleasant ones kill cynicism
and make futile memories,
and the unpleasant ones-
they make for such appetizing gossip
over alcohol

and thus
she dances on

while each night
adds some more red to her cheeks
and some more adjectives to her stories

while each night
gifts some more snickers
to her dwindling set of denouncers
and sends some more admirers to the grave

she dances on

what does it say of her
if intoxication
is the mainstay of her immense appeal
and sobriety?
Oh, of that, one has not heard much!

what does it say of her
if intoxication turns her into a celebrity
and sobriety, a celibate?

what does it say of her
and what does it say of the world?!

---------------------------------------------

She still knows not what she did last night! :P :P

198. Uljhan

2009-12-01T02:18:00.000-08:00

maine kabhi
ik nazm ka haath
saunp diya tha
kisi musaafir khayaal ke haathon me

woh musaafir to
nazm ko mere yahaan chodke
ab kuch laapata sa ho gaya
aur woh nazm ab bhi
mere dil me baithi hai

kabhi kabhi jee karta hai
main is nazm ko
kisi aur khayaal ke sang
byaah doon

par main kisiki dulhan ko
kisi aur ke saath
bhej bhi doon
to kaise?

is uljhan me
main us gumshuda khayaal ke lautne ka
intezaar karta hoon
shab-o-roz

aaj subah bhi
main phir yun hi
us khayaal ko khojne nikal hi raha tha
ke mere dil me baithi nazm ne kaha -

"abe o nikamme shaayar,
bahut hua!
apne tahriir ka joda pahnaake
mujhe kisi na kisi khayaal ke saath
ab to kisi kaagaz me bithake
bidaa kar de

kise pata
woh mera shauhar khayaal
kabhi lautega bhi ke nahin

nautanki band kar
aur jaldi mere liye
dooja dulha khayaal dhoondh!

kyun 'drama' kar raha hai?
apne liye to
kabhi 'monogamy' me
'believe' hi nahin kiya!

bas mere paas aakar
'moral science' shuroo?"

197. shaq

2009-11-29T08:34:00.000-08:00

khaab the

woh betaab se

the machalte

jal gaye

raakh mal gaye

jalte jalte

aag kisne lagaayi

jaan kaise ganwaayi

kya pata

tu tha yaa woh thi, aawaaz jiski suni thi

kya pata

khayaal the yaa ham the, mausam tha ya roshni thi

kya pata

gunehgaar laapata

aetbaar laapata

phir bhi sab se sab mile

ab mile tab mile

jaane kab kab mile

haule haule shab chile

par besabab se lab khile

silsile phir chale

dil jale mar chale

woh kaun tha

kya pata

-------------------------

roshan se shab aur sahar siyaah nikle

kya kahe aabaad ya tabaah nikle

kab se mushq-e-rooh gum hai

ab to ashq-o-aah nikle

kyun bhala

kya pata

-------------------------

tauba ki jagah ab to waah waah nikle

muqadama chala, saare begunaah nikle

qaazi gumraah nikle?

qaatil khud gawaah nikle?

kya hua

kya pata

-------------------------

gunehgaar laapata

aetbaar laapata

phir bhi sab se sab mile

ab mile tab mile

jaane kab kab mile

haule haule shab chile

par besabab se lab khile

haqeeqaton ke kaafilen

jise mile mar chale

woh kaun tha

kya pata

196. Embarrassment

2009-11-17T05:22:00.000-08:00

I am allowed to indulge myself!!!
(nose in the air and looks away and recites)
------------------------------------------------
aeroplane
aeroplane
shame and pain
not again

window seat
window seat
close your eyes
and be discreet

chief chief
cake'o'beef
country thief
oh what grief?!

shake a leg
shake a leg
ostrich egg
tries to beg

ogle ogle
giggle giggle
oh my god! why
did i wriggle?!

brief brief
handkerchief
no fig leaf
disbelief

felt the heat
felt the heat
neither could i join
nor could i beat!

not again
shame and pain
aeroplane
aeroplane

195. entropy

2009-11-16T04:31:00.000-08:00

a hint of vitriol
a glimpse of violet
two seasons of a sun soaked in
a sea of many scented shades

no

seldom are such riots - by design;
the inconsequential precursor may have been.

else
would algorithms not have spurred romance
and levers -
would they not have spawned love?

but well,
they do not!

not thought through too well,
i agree;
nonetheless
history has always been
but an afterthought

sigh!

194. Chambalimericks - I

2009-11-09T03:01:00.000-08:00

yet again I am off to chambal
wrapping myself in a warm kambal
all I want is a daaku
brandishing his chaaku
who would come use me for a dumble

but well, there are none in Morena*
no daakus shooting in the arena
And I'll jus sit and grumble
under my breath I'll mumble
daaku ke bina yahaan jee kare na!
---------------------------
*My current client location, bah!

193. Gaye

2009-11-03T04:34:00.000-08:00

gaye gaye chale gaye
saath saare maamle gaye

palate bhi to do pal ko bas
muskuraake jaan le gaye

unke aane ki tayyariyon me
manzar sabhi badle gaye

aaye to dekha saare naqsh
bure gaye. bhale gaye.

ab to gayi nazdeekiyaan
saath saath faasle gaye

kiya bhi hai to kya kiya
mile. gaye. mile. gaye.
....
thande kaandhon se the gile
ummeed hai gile gaye
....
No no... false alarm in previous post.. season's good and so am I!!
:D :D :D

192. Halloween

2009-11-03T01:31:00.000-08:00

Of pumpkin lamps and pauper kings
candy wrappers & tramps & paper wings
and though I'm told all are lies and more
the hope does stay

i make signs and mime for all to see
none notices; all see through me
but still i'm sure if i try some more
they will look away

make polite sounds and drink their martinis
look in disdain and enquire what this is
they act like they've got some strange disease
now can't you say?

i never wished to play the game to lose
coz i clearly can't see the use
but i have not found the words to refuse
not till today
----------------------------------------
My annual bad mood time is here! Beware!!

191. Horcrux

2009-11-02T23:40:00.000-08:00

ignorance is bliss
sometimes;
sometimes,
just a convenience

How many have died silent
excavating the relics of silence?

How many others
have been been convicted
for sacrilege?

and the nights, they fray
holding on tight
and the days try to slay
the invincible

do not seek the secret
to the silence
that parades by my dreams

i live safe in fetters
inside the cold tomb
pronouncing
visitors guilty

do not seek the secret
for once you know,
i will be no more.

190. tu tu main main

2009-10-09T12:06:00.000-07:00

SB:

teri ik aawaaz ki chahat thi,
tune aawaaz de di hoti to
maine apni jaan de di hoti

Sri:

ijaazat ki intezaar me murjha gayi na jaane kitne hi shab
betalab dastak de jaate to sukoon kuch kam nahin milti!!

SB:

masha alla, kya likha hai

Sri:

kuch aur farmaiye kuch aur farmaiye
jo kaha hi nahin, uspe gaur farmaiye

SB:

yahaan to apni shaam ka anjaam karte hai,
aye mere kalam padhne wale tere dar se khali haath jate hai

Sri:

:)

SB:

aye khuda yun zulum na dikha,
bas apni ek zalak to dikha ja

Sri:

mushkil hi sahi kuch der ye faasle rahne de
tadap tadap ke khwahishein bujhaana sikhaa doon tumhe

SB:

aaj saqi hi bol raha hai
dard-o-gum ko bhul ja
par mera sahara na le

Sri:

saaqi se gila na kar zaalim ke
gunaahgaar yahaan aur bhi hain
pyaale me pyaas bhar bhar ke de
aise yaar yahaan aur bhi hain

189. Sawaal

2009-10-09T12:04:00.000-07:00

1.

ghar se nikla to sadak pe
kuch noorani muskaan
bikhre pade the

kya tum
meri gali se hoke nikle the?!

2.

tumhare zahan ki zameen
bahut chikni hai

main apni itni yaadein
tumhare kitne vaade
rakhta hoon
wahaan baar baar

aur wo!
wo thaharte hi nahin

har baar
phisalke nikal jaate hain

aise me
tum hi batao
main kya karoon?!

188. Aabshaar VII

2009-10-09T11:31:00.000-07:00

1. Fear of death by love?!

hame khauff hai bhi to ishq me jaan ganwaane ka nahin
bas darte hai is silsile me kahin jannat naseeb na ho jaaye

2. Can I call you in the evening when you are free?

Kabse bejaan hain guftagu se mehroom galiyaan meri
aur aap aawaaz chidak-ke jaan phoonk-ne ki ijaazat maangte hain?

3. The craving for that smile

rah rah-ke kabhi muskura de zaalim
ke mere hisse ki sukoon khatm hone ko hai

4. You never call only!!

sabab-e-sukuut poochte to pata chalta
kis nazm me jaan phansi hai meri

5. The silence that ensued!

der se hi sahin khamoshiyaan jalaa de zaalim
kuch kam raaten nahin guzri, karvaton ka hisaab karte

6. The unpredictability

uski muhabbat bhi kisi begaane mausam ka mohtaaj hai
kabhi rah rahke jalti dhoop aur kabhi bevajah kohra

7. Those who see the poetry, seldom notice the poet! I protest!!

sochte hain alfaazon ka naqaab utaar hi de ab
khamoshi ke bahaane hi sahi deedar kar loge hamara

187. The Protagonist & The Italics

2009-10-03T04:07:00.000-07:00

he plucks ripe pauses,
& hangs strips of silence
to dry in the sun.

he touches
the brittle pale yellow sheaves
and they crumble into powdered memories;
the rest -
he pickles in a jar
of spicy dreams.

light years,
are not a whim.
light years,
are not a part of the recipe.
they are just traitors,
by design-
much like
the ringlets of smoke,
he blows into the air.

he steals a half-baked night
& saves it in his closet.

he does not notice anything amiss.
well, he had too many to begin with,
left behind in admiration
by voyeur winds -
the ones he stunned to silence.

(for
he refuses to play
by the script)

he
is the script
inane & convoluted
while his audience
watch with bated breath
though they know the story

(well, he does not)

his audience -
a jar of pickled dreams
& a heap of powdered memories
----------------------

186. Sadiyaan saanjh chale!

2009-09-30T02:14:00.000-07:00

It has to happen... Once every few months I need to get into a filmy mood... This is a rather old piece.. but feel like posting abhi.. No, no prizes for guessing why?! :P
So here's to the adamant evenings which refuse to pass... and the ruthless nights which refuse to come!!

:) :) :)

......................................................................

sadiyaan saanjh chale

mori to jaan nikale

raah tak thak jaaoon

par na chaand nikale

daiyyaa! raina aave na

saiyyan, aag jale

tose milan ki kaamna

ki dheemi aanch chale

--- --- --- --- --- --- ---

chhin dooje chin ke beech bair hui gavaa?

yaa saanjh ko mose pyaar hui gavaa??

raina kaahe aave na?!

chhin dooje chin ke beech bair hui gavaa?

yaa saanjh ko mose pyaar hui gavaa??

jaa jaa re jaa re

saanjh sakhaa re

raina bhijaa re

more angna re

raina ko odh le

isi aas tale

raah tak thak jaaoon

par na chaand nikale

--- --- --- --- --- --- ---

kauno badra ke bhool bhulaiyya me bhatak gavaa?

kauno angnaa ke peepal pe atak gavaa??

chanda kaahe aave na?!

kauno badra ke bhool bhulaiyya me bhatak gavaa?

kauno angnaa ke peepal pe atak gavaa??

preet ki rang hai

preetam sang hai

bas ik chanda

more sang na, re

chanda ko tod le

isi aas tale

raah tak thak jaaoon

haan, bas jaan nikale

..........................................

Is the evening in love with me? or is this moment having a spat with the next?!
Why does not the f***ing night arrive?!

Is it stuck on some tree? Or is it lost in the maze of some dumb-a** cloud?!
Where the f*** is the moon?!

Phew!!

Come off fastly fastly, I say!!

185. sabab-e-hayaat koi to de

2009-09-28T08:32:00.000-07:00

sabab-e-hayaat koi to de

misaal-e-marg ke siwaay bhi

sabab-e-hayaat koi to de

tamaam karna hai kya

yeh bhi to pata nahin

baaqee rah gaya hai kya

yeh bhi to pata nahin

naa ibtedaa ka hai pataa

naa hai nazar me intehaa

yahaan wahaan kahaan kahaan

bas taqariib ki talaash hai

befaez-o-besabab se sab

is justajuu me koo-ba-koo

firaa karen giraa karen

jiyaa karen maraa karen

nabz nabz bas hisaab hai

lafz lafz bas naqaab hai

ehd-e-rasm to kiya nahin

sabab-e-hayaat koi to de

misaal-e-marg ke siwaay bhi

sabab-e-hayaat koi to de

---------------------------------

The Reason?!

184. tajveez koi tarkeeb koi

2009-09-26T08:39:00.000-07:00

hogi koii tajveez to hogi
sochoon main bhi tarkeeb chala doon

har chauraahe ik aah chadha doon
har chaukhat ik armaan bitha doon

tu guzre jahaan se shaqlein badalke
mere khayaalon ka pahra lagaa doon

mere naqsh-e-kadam se rang doon naqshe tere
har shaqs ke lab, mere kisse sajaa doon

har mez har chat har wark har aahat
sab pe tonaa kar meri yaad banaa doon

aasmaan tera hi hai mere sar bhi
mere muskaan ke shafaq ke tukde tangaa doon

gapshap kar le tu kabhi mujhse bhi
betaab main apna hisaab chukaa doon

shikasta bhatkaa sa dar pe mere kabhii aa
tumse uljhe mere shab-o-roz dikhaa doon
---------------------------------

:) :) :)

sabke dardi o bedardi
kaisi hai teri khudgarzi
maine bhar di apni arzi
haan kar naa kar teri marzi...
saiyyaaan!!
(The above five lines of the program are an extract from the song "saiyyan" from the film Nayak)
:D :D :D

183. Muaafi

2009-09-24T02:58:00.000-07:00

kis kis-se iltajaa karen koi yun na kare
jab bhi sahar naya ho uska khoon na kare

kitne tabaah khaab-gaahon ka gawaah - waqt
khamosh sa guzre ye guftaguu na kare

khaamkhwaah sab nigaah ummeedwaar hain
ye zidd to hai fizool ka junoon, na kare

shamsheer-e-zubaan se ab koi kah bhi de
jaan leke koo-e-dil pursukoon na kare

taa-umr bas talaash-e-firdaus hi rahi
kahta koi ke aisi justajuu na kare

gustaakh tha naapak tha par ab subuk bhi hai
tauheen musalsal sabke roobaroo na kare

kabse giraft me taariiki liye hain Sadiq
nijaat-e-dard aakhir koi kyun na kare

182. Ek Kahaani Aur!

2009-09-23T05:38:00.000-07:00

woh nahin aaya

parson tak woh roz aaya karta tha
saayon ka libaas pahne
bujhti saanjh ke saahil se hote hue

meri peshani pe rukta
aur intezaar karta
mere sone ka

jaise hi main
kisi muskuraati karvat ko chun leta
woh haule se, bina aahat kiye
meri aankhon me utar jaata

aur us mod se nikalta
jahaan main woh
ek sau satrah taaron wali potli
rakha karta hoon...

kabhi kabaar woh ek taara chura leta
aakhir amaanat to usi ki thi
aur us taare ki roshni me
meri aankhon ke galiyaaron se guzarta
jahaan woh hairat se dekhta
maine kaise
uske shab-o-roz
beraham-o-besabab se
qaid rakhe hain
na jaane kitne kamron me

woh aahat to nahin karta
par kuch jaamani rang ke maile saaye chod jaata
mere naarangi deewaron pe

par woh pichli raat
to nahin aaya
na jaane kyun

yun bhi nahin ke main
bedaar baitha tha

koi poocho use
kisi kaanton wale taare se
lagke kahin ungli to nahin kaat li
usne apni

aur haan
ye bhi poochna
kahin woh meri syaah aankhon me
yaadon ke nau hazaar maale
dekhkar
darr to nahin gaya
-------------------------------
that
was inspired!
this
is inspiring!!

181. Aabshaar VI

2009-09-22T07:15:00.000-07:00

1.
Nayyy, time cannot be an anagram!!

lamhen nichodoon to yaadein tapak jaati hain
ungli jo chodoon to raahein bhatak jaati hain

tajjub hai - waqt to kabhi rasta nahin bhatakta
----------------------------------------
2.
- So?!
- ham na... (pauses) kuch nahin! nothing important!!
- (grunts) hmmm! (breaks into a laugh)

muskuraa lo ke main khushfahami aazmaaya nahin karta
kaif-asar khwahishein meri yun hi sunaaya nahin karta

----------------------------------------
3.
- What do you think?!
- (rolls eyes) I think that you think too much!!

shamme bujhaate muamme suljhaate waqt katne se raha
bas itna bata de main apni shaam kahaan chod aaoon
-----------------------------------------
4.
- How are you?
- Fine, just about! (smiles and looks away)
- Why are you like this? What does one do with you?! (smiles)

bedaar-o-betaab karke hame yun
hamse hamara mijaaj na poocho
marz-e-masarrat lagaaya tumhi ne
khud hamse ilaaj na poocho

180. Paigaam

2009-09-20T22:45:00.000-07:00

pichli raat bhi
main aasmaan se guzar raha tha;
wahi - har shab ki tarah!
thode taare jode ungliyon se;
thode taare pheeke pad rahe the to
tod bhi diye

kisi kahkashaan se guzar raha tha
to dekha ke
khalbali si machi hui thi!

kisi ne payaam choda tha mere liye
wahaan par;
shaayad pata hoga ki
main wahaan se aksar guzarta hoon...

maine taaron ko tatola
to lifaafa mila
us shaqs ne
kuch noorani khayaal
aur kuch sunahre alfaaz
pahnaake
mere naam
ik ummeed rakh di thi
kisi taare ki hatheli me!

lifafe me
thodi si khushfahami bhi thi
thodi si badgumaani bhi
aur ek tasveer thi
jispe muskaan ki aamad se
un rukhsaaron me yun bhanvar pad rahe the
jinme saare taare doob-ke bujhne lage the

aise me khalbali kyun nahin machti?!

main
us payaam-o-tasveer ko
apni neeli kameez me baandhke
waapis to laut aaya hoon

par sochta hoon
is dafa jo jaaoon
aasmaan pe
to wahaan se na lautoon...

kya pata
wahaan pe mere liye
us shaqs ne aur bhi
payaam chode ho?!
---------------------------------
Could I live in the stars?
Could I be your neighbour?!

baatein

2009-09-18T06:43:00.000-07:00

Barks and bites!! lolm lolm lolm :) :)

------------------------------------

guftaar nahin deedaar nahin
bevajah yun ham bedaar nahin

kah-ne sun-ne ko hai to bahut
bas tu sun-ne ko tayyaar nahin

sukuun-e-sukuut thi apni kabhi
par ab kahin uske aasaar nahin

khamoshi mere hisse ki khatm
ab lafzon ka koi shumaar nahin

tu thahra badgumaani ka ghulaam
kisi baat pe bhi aetbaar nahin

haan, hai khaamiyon ki dukaan meri
par tu kuch kam aebdaar nahin

-----------------------------------

Shush! dont speak!! :D

178. mujhko aawaaz de - II

2009-09-17T08:59:00.000-07:00

Quit Caution - For the one who wants to tread where fools don't!! :) :) :)

-----------------------------

ehteyaat ab bahut ho chuka beraham
ab to kar de yahaan se wahaan parde

dareecha-e-nigaah kab se shaffaaf hai
kuch na aaye nazar sab dhuaan kar de

fiqr-e-furqat to fitrat me apni na thi
ab khalaon me apne nishaan bhar de

kitna masroof hai tu kitna mashghool hai
koi fursat meri thodi wahaan par de

hai giraftaar teri aahon me shab meri
kuch to kar, ab to inko rihaa kar de

dasht-e-falak pe sitaare tishnaakaam kyun
saraabon me mashroob-e-muskaan bhar de

sukhanwar bana hai ye kaayal tera
aake chuule ise bezubaan kar de

------------------------------------------------

Ehteyaat : Caution
Dareecha: Window
Shaffaaf: Transparent
Furqat: Separation
Khalaon; Vacuum, Space
Masroof, Mashghool : Busy, Occupied
Dasht: Desert
Falak: Sky
Tishnaakaam: Thirsty
Saraab : Mirage
Mashroob : Drink
Sukhan war: Poet

The last line, though, is a rip-off from another piece of mine

177 Come again

2009-09-14T10:38:00.000-07:00

:) :) :) :)
------------------------
then i was scared
now i am armed
well, you just stare
and lo, i am charmed

you stand and smoke
and draw me near
i touch and stroke
till the dawn is here

you come and go
i fill the time
you raise a brow
i write a rhyme

why can't i smudge your neck
when you are sober and sane
oh please, what the heck
will you please come again?!

-------------------------------------
When sense
is an inconvenience!!

176. Mehmaan

2009-09-02T08:25:00.000-07:00

bezubaan bhi nahin hamzubaan bhi nahin
guftagu kya karen tu yahaan bhi nahin

aake kuch yun gaya shaam kya sahar kya
ab to mere yahaan aasmaan bhi nahin

ho bhi to kya gumaan, kya karoon ab gila
tu beraham bhi nahin, meherbaan bhi nahin

tha kaarnaama kisi kaif-asar raat ka
karen guroor koi aisi daastaan bhi nahin

soch le ke har koi dilchasp lagta hai mujhe
ummeed hai tu aisa badgumaan bhi nahin

pichli dafaa tha kaha bas bula le mujhe
ab dikhake gaya tu kaa'iyaan bhi nahin

------------------------------------

kaif-asar = intoxicating
kaa'iyaan = miser
badgumaan = suspicious
hamzubaan = one who speaks the same language

sometimes the intended audience does not know Hindi (terrible!), so there! :D :D
-------------------------------------
It's incomplete but i don't want to think, yaa!!

175. The Poet

2009-09-01T02:21:00.000-07:00

there,
he has done it
to me.

he has framed
my stillborn pauses
in lively silhouettes

the callused cobblestone streets
now sprout
insane anecdotes

the nights come donned
in crumpled sheaves of sleep;
and the days, once grey,
are now stained with hope

my months are no longer about
just changing faces on walls
my journeys no longer about
just counting stars

he stalks me around
and whispers unholy truth
unveiling colorful worlds
erasing my happy ending

i could shout bloody murder;
but how would that resurrect
my dead grey itinerary?

and even if i want to,
tell me-
how does one
hang an apparition
to death?

174. Kaafir Nigaahen

2009-08-25T02:39:00.000-07:00

uljhi khayaalon ke kaayal teri kaafir nigaahen
galiyon me jaan phoonke musaafir nigaahen

.............................................

kitne shaharon me pahrein tatole hain tune

kya pata kitne koochon me kharchein lafz kitne
chand safhon ke badle saansein bas ek din ki

kitne chehre yun thahre batore hain tune

pata pooch-ke peecha karti hain kiska
wo mile jo thahar le muntazir nigaahen

....................................

kahaaniyaan yeh kaisi bichhake rakhi hain

kal ko khaali kiya, aaj phir bhar chala tu
kaale konon me khone chale, chod bhi de

nishaaniyaan kyun aise bachake rakhi hain

badgumaani bujhaa den zaraa kah de inhe tu
syaah kar den ye manzar musavvir nigaahen

173. Troubadour

2009-08-24T01:50:00.000-07:00

Of werewolves
and dinosaurs

Of tigers
and troubadours!!

------------------------------

Have you ever watched evenings leave tattoos
on vermillion windows?

Have you ever patched your walls up with blue words
talking of
the skies in some eyes on restless days
the storms in some gasps on turbulent nights?

Have you ever pawned pieces of your thoughts;
Have you ever gambled moments away
to send smiles
flying out
each dawn?

Have you ever tried out faces
Have you ever tried on places
and left creases
on wild stranger winds?

Have you ever lived
in checkered hearts?
Did you like them?

Tell me all this
Troubadour
and tell me some more

Maybe,
you can help me find
my share of silence!

----------------------------------------

when one borrows pieces of yesterday...
like I said...
shuffling memories!! :)

Because some questions do not change!!

172. My Share of Silence

2009-08-20T23:57:00.000-07:00

-----------------------

Blow life into...
Have conversations with...

Wild gusts
of dusty wind

A flickering screen
of fairy tales

The raw potato
and the bent knife

Strange friends
Friendly stranger

Old yellow pages
crumbling to pieces
under a light touch

The never-ending flight
of stairs

Obstinate visions
Seductive beats

Smiles flying by
on busy streets

------------------------

The last time
it took three days
to spot a tiger in the wild

------------------------

Was I asleep when
he walked by me
while my share of silence
left dancing freckles
on his skin?

-------------------------

Once upon a time
not too long ago
in a land not too far away

-------------------------

Sometimes
I wonder
if
my life is an anagram

Maybe
I have already seen
the vermillion stains and the camouflaged stripes
the grand ending

Maybe
I am just living
some white noise

Maybe
all I need to do is
shuffle my memories
to find my share of silence

-------------------------

171. Maa

2009-08-12T00:32:00.000-07:00

Maa,
aaj-kal rahne ko itne ghar ho gaye hain
ke main be-ghar sa ho gaya hoon

yaad hai mujhe
ik woh bachpan ka ghar tha

jahaan chimney se rah rahke eent baraste the

chat jab jab tapakta to
ham saare ghar ko
bartan se sajaate the

raaton ko jab bijli chali jaati
to tum koi puraani akhbaar se hawaa chalati thi
taaki ham jaag na jaaye

kabhi kabhi chuttiyon ke dopaharon me
ham ek rupaye - aath aane wali kulfi khareed-kar
ghante bhar uska mazaa lete the

aur itvaar ko
teenon
bistar pe lete lete
radio suna karte the

wahi radio jo baaki dinon
hamari ghadi ka kaam karta tha
kya tha woh
saat baje - 'paadi pantalu'
saade saat - 'vaartalu'
aath baje - 'archana'
aur phir - 'janaranjani'

bewaqt barsaatein hoti thi
to ham bhaagte the
woh kapde laane
jo chat pe sukhaaye the

deedee aur main har raat ladte
bistar ke daaye aur sone ke liye
tumhare paas

mahine me ek baar
ham palang ka 'navaar' theek karte

tumhe report dikhaane ke liye
ham donon kitna darr jaate the
----------------------------------------

sochta hoon -
is dafaa jab ghar aaoon , Maa,
har raste ka ek sira
tumhare edhi ko baandh-ke
lautoon!

Phir har shaam
jo bhi rasta pakdoon,
bas ghar pahunch jaaon
tumhare paas!!

Deedee

2009-08-11T03:33:00.000-07:00

yun mahakti nigaahon se dekhe
sunaaye koi saundhi khabar
sooni aankhon me bhar de bahaaren
har subah

kabhi baaton me din ye utaare
aur ladaaye gappe raat bhar
badgumaani se mujhko pukaare
bevajah

woh gila bhi kare to mazaa hai
har gali khaamiyon se bhara
aise andaaz se maare taane
kya kahen

beech baazar ye jashn kar le
jo dikhe jooton ki dukaan
edhiyaan gungunaaye taraane
kya kahen
-----------------------------
:D :D :D

169. teri kya kahaani hai

2009-07-09T07:43:00.000-07:00

Pagli
The harmless flirtation - The Beginning

qaatilaana si tajveez hai kabhi, jee kare to khud hi taaweez hai
girte sambhalte, samajhke ye chalna- mera ishq kya cheez hai
tujhi se churaake jaan,chupte chupaate, tujhi ko parosa kare
kos le aur dua de, tujhi ko de dhokha,tujhi pe bharosa kare

bas aana tha jaana tha
par kyun ruk gaya

bolo bolo jaldi bolo

tera kya bahaana tha
teri kya kahaani thi
--------------------------------
Nigli
The hopeless illusion - The Saga

fursat thi furqat thi, qurbat ki hasrat kii, do pal faasle bhi gaye
lamhein mangaaye jo,der aaye bahut, aur aake chale bhi gaye
kahin raat tooti, silwat bani aasmaan pe, magar fiqr kare bhi to kyun
jannat me the, jeene marne ki baaton ka koi zikr kare bhi to kyun

ek pal bhi aashiyaana tha
yun dil rakh chala

bolo bolo jaldi bolo

tera kya bahaana tha
teri kya kahaani thi
--------------------------------------
Agli
The ruthless enlightenment - The Aftermath

meri raat nikli sarakhti sarakhti jaake tere shab se mili
koi baat pichli bhooli si bhoole se haule mere lab se giri
yaadon ki bori, kholi chori chori, khoja jo mila hi nahin
soorat jo badli hai, seerat bhi badli, ab tumse gila bhi nahin

bhool gayi kya bataana tha
tu kyun chup khada

bolo bolo jaldi bolo

tera kya bahaana hai
teri kya kahaani hai
---------------------------------------------

ek din ka hi thikaana tha
phir darwaaza dikhaana tha
tumhe bas aana tha jaana tha
kisne bola ke bajna bajaana tha

aur tum kya kya kar gaye, babu

bolo bolo jaldi bolo

tera kya bahaana tha
teri kya kahaani thi
:D :D :D

yes yes, slight insanity is happening off!!

168. Sultry Summons

2009-07-07T13:22:00.000-07:00

do not cringe your nose
do not take our names
loudly on the streets
when will chinese whispers
go out of vogue?!

when eternity is crammed into a paperback
or a bean bag
an abridged edition
becomes a collector's item

so what do you like-
history
or science fiction?

but then i swear
but then i swear
today isn't
as hopeless as yesterday
neither is it
as restless as tomorrow

oh no,
you wistful listless railway platform
let me kill all hope
and make your day

I am sure,
I left your version
somewhere here

thank god
the truth changes
with the audience
--------------------------------------------
he asked me - "are you?"
i answered - "i could be; do you want me to?"

167. Clouds

2009-06-30T22:58:00.000-07:00

Ok ok.. I know it looks like a monsoon marathon. But aren't they rather rather seductive and addictive, these rains?! well.. awright!! I shall get over my obsession with the rains and yes, the word 'rather'!!
----------------------------------------------
No purpose or desire but to tease the senile scorching sun,
this summer, all the sky wore were some wispy lone clouds.

Just some cold color, but neither shape nor substance;
today why do you feel like you are my clueless clone, clouds?

Why do I always invite strangers to show my stories to?
Yet again I am talking of you to uninterested unknown clouds

I lived in a dream where winds were love messengers;
How did I reach this city where each day they bemoan clouds?

Do not taunt my rain-warriors with your dull black umbrellas
Either match my seductive season or go- get your own clouds

Please take away these hideous mirrors that morph monsoons
I show them paper rainbows, they show me woe begone clouds

Some move on with time, Sadiq, while others just melt away
Come, for a change, let us try & put up some stone clouds!

166. Barsaati

2009-06-30T01:12:00.000-07:00

ulatke tirchi ambar barse
jogan baithi bheetar tarse

bhog chadhake megh mangaaye
ab to kundi bajaa de baalam
chunariya ke chaanv, bajariya na jaaoo
ik barsaati laa de baalam

chanda bujhake chap chap rakh de edhi chat pe rain
chikne gagan se tap tap tapke tedhe chat pe rain
thaali parose raah main dekhoon
bujhe bujhe chulhe pe nindiya senkoon
luk-chup dheere dheere, laake jhini jhini heere
boondon se bindiyaa sajaa de baalam

saanjh ko angna se uthaake bhagaa gayi phir mui boondein
rain bhar mera dar khatkaake jagaa gayi phir mui boondein
ghat ghat-ke ghataa dar keel se chode
milon har raah ye jheel si odhe
saundhi dagariya pe aundhe se sheeshon me
apni suratiya dikhaa de baalam

165. Barsaati

2009-06-29T06:49:00.000-07:00

a. Why is it so difficult to find an umbrella which is pretty yet proper?! I refuse to bow down to convention and get myself a hopelessly boring black umbrella!! Let the skies pour down on me. I care two hoots!! I shall possess only a nice umbrella, if at all!! Will someone find me one?!

luk-chupke badra se bach na sakoongi, khul gayi mujh pe bhed
mujhe ik barsaati laa de baalma, ambar me pad gaya ched

PS: those of you who will go looking for one, be informed - my color for this season is green!!

164. The journey to the other side

2009-06-25T22:55:00.000-07:00

They served death with breakfast
today
when sleeping adjectives came to life
to do a charade
again for a while
only to go back into hibernation

And paunches
still rhyme with
haunches

Exclamation!!

The sky comes down in shards
every now and then.
There is always
too much
or too little!

Listen,
all the purple questions
on the table in my drawing room
are colored so,
to keep you from noticing
the brown hypocrite.
Stay amused;
stay entertained.
Just do not look further.

When one can't beat them,
one joins them.
What one can't cure,
one endures.

I know-
plastic flowers
don't smell real;
but well,
they don't wilt either!

163. Aabshar - V

2009-06-25T07:55:00.000-07:00

a. Today B and I were having a conversation where 'marathon' became a metaphor and he insisted we 'train' in public. :D :D :D and when I feigned embarassment, he said - "Jisne kii sharam, uske phoote karam". Lolm!!! :D :D

chalo ab ham yeh bhi kaam kar len
tujhe ruswaa mujhe badnaam kar len
darwaazein to rasmein puraane hai
jo bhi karna hai khule aam kar len

Lolm.. Don't give that look!! I won't go through with it! I haven't gotten there yet!! :D :D

162. ek raat ki mehmaan

2009-06-25T07:02:00.000-07:00

Last evening, I was sitting at the window listening to saiyyan by kailash kher staring at the rainy outdoors. And it hit me, like it does sometimes!! I have tried defying the cycle; but admit I have failed!! Sometimes I wish I could talk of that 'awfulness' inside when I feel it as easily as I talk of 'awesomeness'; maybe with time!!

------------------------------------------------------

jabse tum gaye ho
mulaqaat hoti rahti hai tumse
shab-o-roz
kahne ko sab badal gaya hai
dekhne ko kuch nahin badla
ham roo ba roo baithe rahte hai
guftagoo sahte rahte hain
kahin kahin pehle se manzar bhi mil jaate hai
aur main raat ke ek-aadh pahar
guzaar leti hoon us puraane mausam me
aur subah naashte ke saath saath

koi note chod jaata hai
mujhe yaad dilaane ke liye
main to bas
ek raat ki mehmaan thi

jabse tum gaye ho
main thak gayi hoon
daakiye ko batate huye ke
tum ab yahaan nahin rahte
jab tum paas the
tab maine apne chaukhat pe
tumhare naam ki muskaan taangi thi
apni daastaan ki numaish karte hue
ab yeh pheeki muskaan mere haathon utarti nahin
aur aate jaate musafir
khat chod jate hai dar pe mere
mubaarak-baat dete hue

ab main inhe kaise bataoon-
tumhari zindagi me
main to bas
ek raat ki mehmaan thi

jabse tum gaye ho
saanjh aake jhaankti hai
haan, maine tumhe tohfe me dene ke liye
baadalon me lipti hui bahut si shaamein mangaayi thi
tumhe barsaatein behad pasand hai, na?!
ab yeh har roz aake poochti hain
"woh hain?"
aur main bas khamosh si barasti rahti hoon
unke sang dareeche pe baithe baithe
aur raat ko
tumhari shaql tahalti rahti hai
aankhon me

subah ko rukne ko kahoon
to kahti hai-
"main to bas
ek raat ki mehmaan thi"

jabse tum gaye ho
tumhari yaadon ke safhe udte nahin
bas seene me pade-pade peele pad rahe hai

tum gaur karte kabhi to
dekhte
maine bhi koshish kii thi
ke tumhare jahaan me apne thode nishaan chod doon
shaam ke benaam rasmon me
roz ke betaab paigaamon me
lafzon ke besabr tohfon me

ab farq to nahin padta
par ek sawaal bedaar sa baitha hai seene me
kya
meri yaadein
kam-z-kam
ek raat ki mehmaan thi?!

161. History

2009-06-19T12:34:00.000-07:00

I am listening to "Where do you go to, my lovely?!" and it is all coming back again... The terrifying JBness ... no, no, NO...!! This can't return... can't be happening!!
I am a reformed person now! Or was I deluding myself?!! I just need some sleep; maybe!

----------------------------------------------

What does one do -
when yesterday becomes tomorrow?
when the day suffers while the night sins?
when the ritual becomes a rule?

What does one do
when the snowflakes do not let hexagons go
out of fashion?

What does one do?

What?!
-----------------------------------------------------
I am scared; tell me something nice and interesting, quick!!

160. Aabshaar IV

2009-06-19T08:04:00.000-07:00

a. Now this is not written by me. B today sent me this 'coz I was too busy to reply to his messages. He hasn't written them either, I am sure!! But ain't it really sweet?! I love the lines... so decided they deserve a place here! :) :) :) and despite the horrendous horrendous way the day was going, I ended up smiling! Thank you! :)

Hue masroof woh is qadar
qadar hamari na rahi
kahen kis-se haal-e-dil
ab kis-se fariyaad karen

lagta hai unke shahar ka
har shaks begana sa
kahaan jaa-ke ab ham
dil ki basti aabaad karen

hota tha bada shor
pahlu mein jis dil ke
hua khaak jalte jalte
ab kise nashaad kare

kab tak rahen zinda
teri ummeed ke sahare
talaash-e-sukoon me ab
kaun kambakht na jaa mare!!

------------------------------------------------

b. I am tired of waiting... so wrote this today!! if you know what I mean :D

Where are you
while my mondays are blue
and my fridays green;
you know what I mean?

While dark is dusty
and light is murky
while days are musky
and nights are quirky,

where ARE you, cotton clouds...
WHERE are you?!!!

:) :) :) and yeah!! I got a dozen reassuring 'I-am-here-only' replies when I put this up as my status message!! :) Thank you!! Louuvvee you off bigly bigly!!! :) :)
-----------------------------------
yeah... at 8:41 on a friday I am at work.. Don't gimme that sad sorry look! don't gimme that horrified look either! nor the disgusted cringed nose look!!
anybody giving looks... Can you see my finger?!! :D :D :D
ok ok ok... shush ...!! back to work... theekke?!

159. Aabshaar - III

2009-06-18T05:24:00.000-07:00

a. I was dying at work, yesterday ... and the act is still in present continuous!! Hey congratulate me, I have adopted a new pseudonym - Sadiq; ain't it nice? I know! I know!! :D :D :D

ek mehfil thi teri, Sadiq, abek mazhaar hai mez pe tere
ye kaisa junoon hai ki daftar me dafn hone chala tu bhi

----------------------------------------------------

b. I was flirting with B(yet another guy) and he was trying to write verses for me... and failed (but aawww!! so cute!! :D :D)

Paanv pada jo aasmaan pe, hawaon pe ab shikan se bane
Kah do – aur koshish na kare, baithe rahe bas roobaroo mere

---------------------------------------------------

c. Yes, my ode to Murphy Mornings where Murphy came around to screw me yet again!!(For those who know not- he is the guy who ensures that everything that can go wrong , does! Yes, I have been trying to dump him for ages - 'coz he was cheating on me. I realised he is screwing the whole world, not me alone!!)
Anyways, about morning today - crowded trains.. sloowww autos... and other slow phenomenon .. yes, talking about Jimbu, the man!!
my ode to the pains in my life!!

duniya, tu bahaane maang khadi
kahin taang adi, lee chalaang badi

phir ret pe pahiye phisalne lagi
ghadiyaan sadiyon si chalne lagi

fursat kabse dukaan me tangi padi
bikti hi nahin, hai mahangi badi

har roz me hai kyun kam waqt- bata
jitna bhi hai, kyun hai kambakht- bata

marammat kar, mue ki, mere maalik
marammat kar mue ki, maula mere

---------------------------------------------------

yes yes, I louuvveee you all!!! :D :D :D

158. Aabshaar - II

2009-06-16T06:55:00.000-07:00

a.
teri aahaton ki aad me chehra aata nahin nazar
shaayad mere aaine ki tarajuma sahin nahin

teri sohbat ke sukoon ke badle sood me meri yeh jaan
yun maangna ae mere meherbaan sahin nahin

sadakon pe subah ki shaql surkh si hai aaj bhi
naqsh-o-rasm wahin hai par tajariba wahin nahin

muskurake de diya hamne apni sabz ye zameen
badle me de gaye ho tum khaali aasmaan. sahin nahin

---------------------------------------------------

b.
raah phir wahin chale par kaayde alag se hain
baat phir wahin chale par maayne alag se hain
raat khatm kar doon ab; yeh baat khatm kar doon ab
apne dil ke purzon ki poori zaat khatm kar doon ab

---------------------------------------------------

c.
neend dhoondh-ne chale to phir subah milti hai kyun?
kisi aad me aap hi ki baat har jagah milti hai kyun?
jitne dafaa kii koshishein ke apna dil bujha hi de
phir se dil jalaane ki hame vajah milti hai kyun?

------------------------------------------------------

mediocrity has a new home; and I am not going to evict it anytime soon!!!

157. The Vain and The Cursed

2009-06-15T22:48:00.000-07:00

It is difficult to ignore
your porcelain face!
You say you want to live
on my door to ward off love and pain;
but I don't need corals
to adorn my desires.

Did it ever happen
that you spent the evening
at the casino at the end of the street
playing roulette with your emotions
to gamble pieces of yourself away?

Did it ever happen
that you tried hard to choose
the right color for your cushions
only to realise each color has a story
and none can be your favorite ever again?

Did it ever happen
that your secret fears
were on air for the late night comedy
and you tried in vain to disown them?

Did it ever happen
that you returned to your apartment
fleeing from the world
only to find it was too small
for you to fall apart?

Did it ever happen
that you tried to simplify
the equation
only to open a few more brackets?

I have lived in that neighbourhood
forever

But I still don't have a Gorgoneion on my door
nor do I own a mirror shield
my ruby red companions
are still at full mast

Medusa
you can't turn me into stone!!

156. The pleasantly sore evening encounter

2009-06-15T05:27:00.000-07:00

I should have been warned
that godzilla could be beautiful
while still being insidious

I should have been warned
that there was no point
pruning my chocolate-brown love nest
just because the tide was low

I should have been warned
that hurricanes change course
at short notice-
sometimes without notice-
and ravage the coast

I should have been warned
that silence is an aphrodisiac
and my heart is an amnesiac

I should have been warned
of neon lamps and mirages
and wet paint and dry ice

I should have been;
but well, I was not!

and so there I was
making a death wish
in a foreign language

Though the beach bon-fire tried hard
to scorch the sea
we died together
with a piece of him in me,
while his moans left rocks
on the virgin shore
which the wild warm waves
couldn't wash away.

Thank god,
I chose to ditch our funeral date
Thank god
he did not wake up for breakfast!!

155. Aabshaar-I

2009-06-11T05:15:00.000-07:00

This is when I collate all my thoughts about all the inconsequential things over a week or so; and present it all at a time... whenever I find time, that is!!
Clearly Vella I am, no??!!! :D :D :D

.................................................................................

a. There is this handwriting analyst(lets call him X) I was hopelessly flirting with and had written him a verse; Aravind (who had nothing to do with this yet believes he can be a part of any conversation in this world) replies... It deserves a post 'coz it's hilarious... here's to you, Aravind!! and yes, I still hate you, Loser Aatma!! :D :D :D

Me:
Tahriir padhke tasveer parakhne wale, bata
kaisa chehra banaate hain musavvir alfaaz mere

Aravind:
Nihaayati badsoorat chehra banaate hai tumhare alfaaz miyaan
inhe dekhkar to aaine me bhi daraar pad jaaye

-----------------------------------------------------------
b. J had to do this amusing job today - where he has to type in a wadever to his database and his database replies to him after 3 hours.... wooowww!!! :P

kishton me guftagu karna hai pesha uska
sabr ka sabaq seekhne ka munaafa milta hai

------------------------------------------------------------
c. I am asked to decide what color I want my walls to be... I, who have a default setting of confusion, clumsiness and craziness!! I will live with whatever, no?! Don't ask me to choose!! No, no, no, no!!

marz utha leta hai jo har dar pe
us mareez se marzi poochna
munaasib nahin, Maula mere

mil jaaye jo bhi manzil pe
manzoor hai mujhe
mubaarak woh manzar
------------------------------------------------------------

154. The Prostitute

2009-06-02T07:12:00.001-07:00

Warning: Viewer discretion requested. Some of you may find the content objectionable!! But what the heck, yaar! blog mera hai na!!

--------------------------------------------------------------------
I now am open/ for business;
do you want a ride tonight?
this or that /or this and that-
that you decide tonight!

You old bachelor/ Gere look-alike,
don't you look so forlorn.
Screw all the girls /who turned you down
I'll be your bride tonight!

Johny Darling!/ But haven't you
turned eighteen but today?!
And you already/ want to do something
you've never tried tonight?!

Ha ha!! /My sexy loyalist,
Role play it is again, eh?
Why else would you/ act just so coy
and try to hide tonight?!

You naughty boy/ you naughty boy
you want me to whip your butt?!
Where are my cuffs?Now let us have
you bound and tied tonight!!

You sexy hunk/ in Armani!
Don't, you, just stand and stare!!
Night after night, I've seen you here;
just come inside tonight!!
winks

Oh, you /insatiable monster
what haven't I done with you?
It's almost dawn,/ I hope that you
are satisfied tonight!!

------------------------------------------
How dare you slap me /across my face,
you son of a gun?
Don't treat me like this/ 'coz I'm here
to pawn my pride tonight.

Shut up you bitch/ or I'll smack you again
who do you think you are?
You are a whore/ just stay a whore
and open wide tonight!

153. ... and me!

2009-06-02T06:51:00.000-07:00

ok... my mind was just acting up... I realised!! and also that nothing is the end of the world. :) :)

-------------------------------------------------------

This evening I walked out alone. There was just the city and me.
a horde of empty hours lined up. Tear-jerkers and hilarity and me

My heart is dis-oriented. What it proposed, I declined. of course.
all it had on the mind for the evening. some hopeless self-pity and me?!

I found a much better plan which suited my mood and the weather,
the perfect one - my playlist, my dancing shoes lying pretty and me.

Oh my love story. it ended last night again. but well, what's new, I say!
Don't you worry! We are great friends - hope, serendipity and me!!

My sense will fail me again when someone nice meets me this weekend;
Same old story again- silence, vibes, someone sexy and witty and me!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Checked the mirror & found why the last one turned me down in a hurry
Don't we look kinda like reaalllyy similar, that alien thing - ET and me?!
:D :D :D :D

152. My Taj Mahal

2009-06-01T20:46:00.000-07:00

I wrote this, aeons ago ; the context, then, was fictitious!
I felt like editing it and reposting it again... so there!!
My mind has called in sick... so you will only get to listen to borrowed and/or old words for a while now, until it reports back!! :) :) :) enjoy nonetheless!!
---------------------------------------------
Why do I write of love?

It is neither pressing
nor impressing
nor depressing

Why do I write of love?

It knows no grammar
It holds no glamour

Then why do I write of
the skies in his eyes on restless days
the storms in my gasps on turbulent nights

Why?

---------------------

I keep moving on
from one story to another
leaving tombs on dead ones
in faceless times
in nameless places
clueless
about the next tombstone.

-----------------------

In the courtyard next to mine,
they are celebrating.

Another love story died today.

Time for yet another Taj Mahal
a tomb
not for a lost lover
but for a love story
dead & dusted.

So tonight
I write of love
I write my last Taj Mahal .

until tomorrow.

-------------------------------------------------

raat yeh bhi guzar jaayegi...

2009-06-01T10:06:00.000-07:00

I give in to borrowed words...
for the first time, I post something not mine at all... here...

Gulzar takes over...

ek wo din bhi the
ek ye din bhi hai
ek wo raat thi
ek ye raat hai
raat ye bhi guzar jaayegi

waqt saalon ki dhundh se nikal jaayega
tera chehra nazar se pighal jaayega
aankh band hogi to
neend aa jaayegi

raat ye bhi guzar jaayegi!!

While the mood swings under the tanned sky...

2009-06-01T01:44:00.000-07:00

spew venom
sew buttons
rue the night
sue the knight

write rhymes
fight time
bite steaks
white flakes

twiddle fingers
middle fingers
muddle shots
huddle thoughts

watch palindromes
catch fallin' gnomes
patch some torn season
match and scorn reason

I douse my days
and hand-paint desires
they grouse and say
I am but a quaint liar

the sky has been tanning
near the sun forever
should we dye it again
or just set it on fire?
---------------------------------------
I refuse to answer any questions...
by the way, my 150th post ... :D
God save the world!!

I try to wake up
just die to make up
too wry to break up
ask why to take up

and yes of course, my obsession with the sky!!

main abdullaa

2009-05-30T10:52:00.000-07:00

shahar me aao phir jo kabhi
mujhko bhi bula lena

shaadi begaani hi sahin
main bhi abdullaa deewaana

---------------------
Dedicated to a stranger soul who came visiting town this week - he likes my blog apparently!! Thanks...! :) :) :)

andha kuaan

2009-05-30T10:41:00.000-07:00

kaash
tera koocha bhi hota
ik andha kuaan

main
jitni baar
aawaaz diye jaati

jawaab
na milta na sahin

kam-z-kam
meri aawaaz ki goonj to laut aati

aarzoo meri

2009-05-30T10:10:00.000-07:00

aarzo meri hai ke ye talti nahin
yun na dekho mujhe meri galti nahin

dil ke nakhre yeh sabhi ko to maloom hai
iske aage kisi ki bhi chalti nahin

ishq me aks mera bhi hairaan hai
shaql meri mujhi se milti julti nahin

raat dar pe mere der aayi bahut
ab jo aayi hai ghar se nikalti nahin

aazmaaye hai tarkieb har kism ke
uski neeyat nikammi phisalti nahin

main bhi kuch kam nahin jaake kah do use
baar baar main bhi marzi badalti nahin

---------------------------------
hoon deewani jiski woh kaayal kisi aur ka
sadiyon se ye kahaani badalti nahin

at 1:30 am in the night standing outside Takshila after a long day...
wierdness..!!

garmiyaan

2009-05-30T10:04:00.000-07:00

aaj ki raat
maine khidhki se
aasmaan dekha to
yaad aaya

maine kabhi
nookele chaand se
tumhari qatl karne ki
saazish kii thi

yaad hai?!

aajkal
ek to tum
bade masroof rahte ho
aur chaand bhi
jaldi me rahta hai...

suno na...
is khwaish ka
kuch karo bhi...
is zaalim ne tabse
mera nabz
roke rakha hai

ab tum kabhi
fursat me
aake mar jaao
mere haathon;
yaa main hi mar jaaongi
baithe baithe
intezaar me

aaoge?

Screw you!!

2009-05-28T08:30:00.000-07:00

Think I eat up all your space?
Go - find another place!!
Screw you!

Think I am just another face?
I know a gazillion ways (to)
Screw you!!

----------------------------------------------------

Take me up; Try me out
Believe me – if you don’t,
screw you!

On your knees, and say please
Then I guess, maybe I won’t
screw you!!

-----------------------------------------------------
A long day at work... and a trip into my archives!! :D :D :D
Arey baba... don't look so alarmed also!! :P :D :D

pareshaan

2009-05-28T08:18:00.000-07:00

ye kiski shaql hai jo uthti hai utarti hai

baaraha kyun rah rahke ye pardon se guzarti hai

ye kaisa shaqs hai jo har pahar ka mehmaan hai

keh do - naa laute kabhi yaa aake thahar jaaye

main kuch samjhi nahin!!

2009-05-22T05:31:00.000-07:00

agle din pe ugte tinke
kuch kuch purze guzre din ke
chehre kuch dhundhle hai jinke
farsh pe rakh diye gin ginke

khayaal banke laut aaye ho

pak jaate hain murjhaate hain
ud jaate hain muk jaate hain
kooche khaali kar jaate hain
ud ud-ke phir thak jaate hain

sawaal banke laut aaye ho

Ishq to kar jaani!!!

2009-05-19T05:53:00.000-07:00

As Filmy as I can get!! What do you expect from a soul who wakes up listening to Mar jaani mar jaani... buaahahaaa...!!! so my version of mar jaani!! :D :D :D
Ruk kyun gaye bajao!!!

ishq to kar jaa
ishq to kar jaa
ishq to kar jaa ni

jag chod de jogi,
chahe jag le daroga
ishq to kar jaa ni

ishq to kar jaa
ishq to kar jaa
ishq to kar jaa ni

ruk ruk ke thak gayi
aankhen. tu aake
inhe ab bhar jaa ni

--------------------------------------------

aa, aake aahen bhar le
rasta kyun ruka hua hai
dhakka de,aage kar le

seedha sa pul bandha hai
khaali hai, jhuka hua hai
tera dil bilkul andha hai

...........

tere raste rasmein hain
inme kyun uljha hai
aa, apne bana lenge

gurraake danste hain
zahreeli meri raahe
pairon me daalenge

raahen jo dans jaaye
ishq me phans jaa
tu bhi bas ab mar jaa ni

--------------------------------------------

mujhe tere dil me rahna hai
kiraaye me jaan bhi le le
bolo, tera kya kahna hai

kabse khaali khade hain
tere dil ke kamre akele
maile se ye pade hain

...............

goonge deewaron pe
tona yun phoonkoongi
mauseeqi mal doongi

rookhe nazaaron pe
nazrein yun phenkoongi
mausam badal doongi

mere dil ke shahar me
sabaa sa sahar sa
tu bhi aake thahar jaa ni

ishq to kar jaa
ishq to kar jaa
ishq to kar jaa ni

---------------------------------------------------------

Ajee... sunto ho...?!! :D :D :D

Oblique Sabbaticals

2009-05-18T09:49:00.000-07:00

Some new muse.
Some new ruse.
Some won't wait;
some can't refuse.
Lying in a tomb,
they call for a truce!
Same old news,
there ain't any use.

We want grain;
so does the weevil!
which of us, then,
is the greater evil?
We all shout war -
conscience and free will!!
And who'll draw the lines-
they will or we will!

Let us bored souls
now don new roles.
Why fence on the roads?!
Let's dance by the poles!
Whoever said - there ain't any
atheists in foxholes!
Blue balls and sore soles,
we still live by potholes!
----------------------------------
Indignation...!!

udhde parde

2009-05-16T23:06:00.000-07:00

tum na jaane
kis pahar me
atke hue ho

main
lamhe taan-taan-ke
lapet-ti rahti hoon
apne ungliyon pe

zindagi ke parde
udh-de jaa rahe hain
par pardon ke peeche
tum to nazar nahin aate

ab bahut hua

bata bhi do

tum
kis pahar me
atke hue ho?!

----------------------------------

Aa paas aa... :) :) :)

someone is in the shadows!!

2009-05-14T10:47:00.000-07:00

beware, beware the star is let loose!!
last I heard, he is the moon's muse!!
hiding in shadows on lazy afternoons,
he smiles and pouts while the world swoons!

should I wait for another fortnight
when the black moon wont follow twilight;
and make the most when it's my turn
before the next adorable moon's return?

nay, nay I know how to douse my lust
with just two whiffs of addictive star dust
I will sit, for him to come by my open windows
or maybe I will spend noons scouting shadows!!

---------------------------------------------------------------

someday when he's here and the sky's starlit
I will sing to him, soniye love mera hit hit
and when he smirks and finds my words funny
I will tell him... kasmanu khaaye mar jaani mar jaani
:D :D :D :D

tark-e-muhabbat ka hamaara iraada to nahin hai

2009-05-12T09:52:00.000-07:00

ishq maqtuul yahaan aaj ho bhi jaaye agar
marg-e-aashiq yahaan ho bhi jaaye agar
tark-e-muhabbat ka hamaara iraada to nahin
ishq me jo bhi ho jitna bhi ho zyaada to nahin

tamasha-e-chasm-e-nam ke shaukeen zamaana
aankhein tar nahin hongi, khaab beghar nahin honge
ehteyaat dilwalon ki fitrat me hai kahaan
tu jaake kahin aur kar salaah-mashavra
dil-e-maftoon ko aaj to tu aazaad kar,
kaafir to nahin hai yeh kaafir to nahin hai
kar le koshish har chaurahe pe bana le kachahri
tu bane mera qaazi mujhe qubool nahin hai

ishq maqtuul tere haathon me ho bhi jaaye agar
marg-e-aashiq yahaan ho bhi jaaye agar
tark-e-muhabbat ka hamaara iraada to nahin
ishq me jo bhi ho jitna bhi ho zyaada to nahin

tajaruba-e-tohmat-e-aashiqui to aam hai
dil diya hai mujhe, khuda, tujhpe yeh ilzaam hai
mere haafiz mere haatim ae mere haatif-e-zaalim
dil diya hai mujhe to inhe tum maghz bhi dete
khush-mijaaj ho sab dekhna to tera hi kaam hai
dil diya hai mujhe, khuda, tujhpe yeh ilzaam hai

Phir bhi tark-e-muhabbat ka iraada to nahin
ishq me jo bhi ho jitna bhi ho zyaada to nahin

kuch to!!

2009-05-11T22:09:00.001-07:00

jee lee
jee lee
sadiyaan surkh geeli
tanha ladke jhagadke
yeh sadakein
woh sadakein

-----------------------------

jaldee
jaldee
khamoshi kyun mal dee
bejaan si hain galiyaan
ab chalaa aa
ae chhaliyaa

-----------------------------

bas rah le
ab rah le
yahaan subah se pahle
raat bhar saath mar jaa
phir ghar jaa
tu ghar jaa

-----------------------------

kuch to!
kuch bhi!!
kabhi to sachmuch bhi!
ho sake to sab kuch bhi!
par kuch to!
haan, kuch bhi!!

Khudaa sa ajnabi

2009-05-11T09:32:00.000-07:00

ajnabi sa lagta hai woh khudaa mera
woh jo mera haafiz hai
mera waaqif hai
main har roz utarta hoon sajde main
aur woh har roz guzarta hai mere kooche se
par na woh dekhta hai mujhe
na rukta hai mere dar pe

khudaa sa lagta hai woh ajnabi mera
woh jo mera haatif hai
mera qaatil hai
woh pahchaanta tak nahin hai mujhe
par har dafaa meri ibaadat ke jawaab me
muskaan chod jaata hai meri raahon me
raunaq chada jaata hai mere manzar pe

ab to darr sa lagta hai to
bas is baat ka-
koi mere ajnabi ko
mere naam-o-pata na bata de

Cryptic

2009-05-11T03:48:00.000-07:00

he is all runes
I, hieroglyphics
he fancies the clouds
I love tomorrows

he lives on the shore
I live in my head
he always walks ahead
and yet stalks my bed

he is an algorithm
I am all smiles and sobs
he is a celebrity
I celebrate every other hour

he is so deep; I want to die
in a heap, I just lie
each time I see him fly
he sees me dead and then goes red

don't ask me why I live in
a city that never sleeps
a city with perennial hard-ons
seeking, out, the sky

but well, he just moved in
to live me in my head
I wish he leaves this metaphor
with me forever instead

Soliloquy souvenirs

2009-05-08T12:16:00.001-07:00

bonsai bob
a tiny corn cob
lazy traffic
impatient honks
a restless cuckoo
a potted plant

sit and see me
sip my soul

glass rectangles
creased reflections
wooden tables
colored uncertainty
guavas are pink
apples are green

sit and see me
sip my soul

Greasy noses
sweet mother of moses
cheques torn up
wet tissue papers
snacks and suspicion
smiling solos

sit and see me
sip my soul

lost I was
lost I am
fish! shoot!god!
fcuk! shit! damn!
superman! superman!
samosas and shiny floors

sit and see me
sip my soul

it's not a puzzle
just a mental tussle
crazy tug-o-war
they wait in a car
think me up
think it through

sip and savour me
suck my soul dry
--------------------------- ----
classic eccentricities!!! trademark me!!! :D :D :D

Phir se...

2009-05-05T02:01:00.000-07:00

Aaj subah uthi to dekha

mere dareecho pe lage naarangi parde

udne ki koshish kar rahe the

khushi se

tum aaye the kya pichli raat?

ye itne khush kyun hain?

baraamde pe

darakhto ki shaakhon se guzarte dhoop ki cheente

rangoli bana rahi thi

khushi se

tum aaye the kya pichli raat?

nahin to ye itni khush kyun thi?

mere bistar pe itne silvatein bani hain

jaise jang chhidi ho yahaan pe

maine to karvat hi nahin lee thi

to phir ye bistar

aise muskuraake ishaare kyun kar raha hai

khushi se

sach bolo- tum aaye the na pichli raat?

varna ye itna khush kyun hai?

tum bade badmash ho!

har raat aise hi aate ho

bina aahat kiye

nange paanv

range paanv

aur saare ghar me kahaaniyaan chod jaate ho

aur main

har subah sochti rahti hoon

tum aaye the kya pichli raat

kal bhi aise hi aaye hoge

kitni baar bola hai

jab bhi aao

utha diya karo

par tum na!!

meri ek nahin sunte

jaao

main tumse baat nahin karti!

My whim! My wish!!

2009-05-03T08:56:00.000-07:00

No, no, no!!!
I am not going down that street

I heard there are stalls,
where soothsayers hard sell sobriety!!
Oh yes, they are the ones
who sought a stay order-
because they did not like
that the sky stalked them.

Boo, Boo, Boo!!
Let 'em bray! Let 'em bleat!!
I am not going down that street!
Bloody sure, not going down their street!!

Screw their sobriety,
I so wanna be drunk!!

GO tell them I warned them-
they will soon close shop.
I want to hoist my obsession
on my rainbow roof top!!

How dare they ask me
to hide it in my trunk?!
Screw their sobriety,
I so wanna be drunk!!

---------------------------------------
Did I hear you say something about me? I concur!!
But then, Hon', when was I not?

2009-05-03T08:42:00.000-07:00

sard-o-nam-o-namkeen si in aankhon ke

par khol de
dard bhari gamgeen si in aankhon ko

parwaaz de

sard-o-nam-o-namkeen si in aankhon ke

lab khol de
dard bhari gamgeen si in aankhon se

aawaaz de

yeh rasm-o-naam-o-kaaydo me gumshuda se maayne
aankhon me tahriir kiske dhoodhte hain aaine

yeh shahar kyun hai gumnaam rishton ka ek baazaar sa
har pahar khamoshiyon ka karobaar sa bezaar sa

ab bahut hua, band kar dukaan, aaj to kuch bol de
aahaton ki aad me ud, aasmaan ko tol de

ab har dareeche ke peeche, sanjeeda si ranjishein
posheeda si koshishein, khwabeedaa si khwahishein

barf ke teelon me kyun behis bani hain hasratein
chod de, mat kheech tu ab nazron pe yun sarhadein

khol de dar, aaj har bedam nazaara ghol de
narm-o-naazuk khwaabon ko ab ek khula mahaul de

sard-o-nam-o-namkeen si in aankhon ke
lab khol de

dard bhari gamgeen si in aankhon se
aawaaz de

sard-o-nam-o-namkeen si in aankhon ke

par khol de
dard bhari gamgeen si in aankhon ko

parwaaz de

Be-ikhtiyaar

2009-04-28T23:29:00.000-07:00

tu har shab kartab karta gaya
besabr-o-besabab sab bharta gaya

mere lab to rab rab karte rahe
par betalab har matlab marta gaya

chaunk-ke ulajh gayi ab raahein meri
yahin kahin kabhi mera ghar tha. gaya!

mujhe khush rakhna hai kasoor tera
muaaf karne ko main ab marta gaya

jis jaanib jaaoon jahaan me tu
tujhe sochoon dil jab jab karta gaya

ikhtiyaar aur ishq to raqeeb se hain
bekhabar main kya kab karta gaya

tere kandhein pe khwahishein likhni thi
pichla pahar ik mauka agar tha, gaya!

le chaloge?!

2009-04-27T03:21:00.000-07:00

le chalo mujhe tum

kabhi us jagah

jahaan pe zameen aur aasmaan milte hain

jahaan aazaad bhatakta ho har pahar

na saleeqa na hisaab

na tareeqa na paabandi

ham thahar jaaye kisi raat par

aur peecha karte karte

kisi nanhi narm subah ka

kabhi baarish me bheeg-ke raqs kare

kabhi barf ke teelon ko gudgudaaye gaa gaa-ke

kisi ped pe apne naam likhe

kisi dariyaa pe apne panv ke nishaan chod de

yaa phir sochti hoon

rahne do

tum mujhe bas apne yahaan le chalo

aur main

saari raat tumhare kaandhe pe

apni aarzoo likhti rahoon

ungliyon se

le chaloge?!

Kuch to kaho

2009-04-24T00:50:00.001-07:00

main dasht hoon besabr si

tum zaalim se ek abr ho

tum udte ho main tarasti hoon

tum kishton me baraste ho

ye ret ke jism-o-rooh mere

bikharne lage hai hawaon me

tum kabhi kabhi kuch bol bhi do

yaa ab main bhi jo udne lagoon

beraham si khamoshi odhe-

dhuen sa chehra lekar apna

tum mujhse shikaayat mat karna!!!

2009-04-24T00:45:00.000-07:00

yeh kya paagalpan hai?

tum
ek bahri yaad bankar
meri aankhon me soye pade ho
pichli raat se

kabse
aawaaz diye jaati hoon
na sunte ho na jaagte ho

bas muskuraakar
karvat lete ho
aur phir so jaate ho

aise hi rahoge
aankhon me
to baaki duniya kaise nazar aayegi

ab bahut hua-
tum niklo abhi aankhon se
raat ko phir laut aana.

arey baba!
daftar me hoon!
kaam bhi to karna hai!!

------------------------------
:) :) :)

tum kabhi yun bhi karo...

2009-04-23T10:03:00.000-07:00

tum kabhi yun bhi karo
ek lifafe me bhej do hame-

ek kaagaz bhar
muskuraati khamoshi

thodi baatooni nazrein tumhari

tere sufiyaana khayaalon ki mahak

thodi surkhi jo ugti hai
apni guftagu se

teri aankhon me base
mausam ke hisse

tumhare ungliyon ka ehsaas
jo tona sa kar jaata hai
waqt par

thodi si muhabbat
kisi bedaar raat me lapeti hui

aur haan,
do chaar bose
jo sabaa se choo jaaye
rukhsaaron ko

ham to
teri zameen par
bhool aaye hain
jaan apni

tum kabhi yun bhi karo
ek lifafe me daalke
bhej do hame

do chutki zindagi

yeh kya karte hain

2009-04-23T09:30:00.000-07:00

khaabon me har shab chhila karte hain
subah phir khud ko sila karte hain

dooriyon me bikhar jaate hai murjhaake
mulaqaaton me simatke khila karte hain

sochte hain rah lenge ham judaa aapse
phir bunke bahaane aap hi se mila karte hain

berahami aap hi ka hai, khushfahami aap hi se
aur ham jaa jaake aap hi se gila karte hain

haan.. pahunche!!

2009-04-20T00:00:00.000-07:00

nikle the kis taraf, aur ham yeh kahaan pahunche

aise me bataaye kya ke kahaan ko daastaan pahunche

pata to diya nahin, bas nishaan mile paanv ke

peecha karte karte tera, ab ham aasmaan pahunche

kitne betaab se nikle the, aur tum mile kuch ho gaya

is liye to tere dar, hairaan-o-bezubaan pahunche

raat karvat leti hai itni, lamhon pe shikan se bane

beraham se tum jo banke aankhon ke mehmaan pahunche

hamaare kooche me bhi aakar, alfaaz chidak jaao kabhi

khamoshi ko aaraam mile, labon pe muskaan pahunche

kuch hai tum-me ke har dil hai ghulaam tera

bas tere aashiq mile, ham jahaan jahaan pahunche

ab deewane se teri aahat pahanke nikalte hai ham

kahaan ko nikle the ham aur ab yeh kahaan pahunche

mujhko aawaaz de...

2009-04-19T23:58:00.000-07:00

mujhko aawaaz de kabhi, aasmaan bhar de
choo le mujhko zaraa, bezubaan kar de
de ijaazat, tere khaabon me aa jaa sakoon
tere seene me mujhe ik khushnuma ghar de

nazm

2009-04-17T01:58:00.000-07:00

woh shaam
ab bhi meri aankhon me padi hai
tum saahil pe lete hue the
aur lahre daud daud-ke aati
aur tumhare shahad se badan pe
namkeen bulbulon ka libaas pahnaa jaati

tere chehre pe
ik saundhi si hansi thi
jis-se saara ufaq mahak utha tha

sooraj
baukhlaaya sa
tumhare pairon pe pade samandar par
ik gulaabi kahkashaan bikher gaya tha
jaate jaate

agle dopahar
teri narm aawaaz choo gayi to
aasmaan pighalke
betaab samandar me ghulne laga tha

teri saundhi si hansi ki khusbo
ab bhi nikalti rahti hai
seene se har shab
woh shaam-
woh shaam ab bhi
padi hai aankhon me meri
aur har pahar tasavvur me
teri aawaaz gungunaati rahti hai
'ae ajnabi tu bhi kabhi aawaaz de kahin se.'
-------------------------------------------------------
Happiness is happening off!!!! :D :D :D