Untold Stories

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

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

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

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

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

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

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...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

khaab the

woh betaab se

the machalte

jal gaye

raakh mal gaye

jalte jalte

aag kisne lagaayi

jaan kaise ganwaayi

kya pata

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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

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

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

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!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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