An Overthinker at Night

The voice humming inside our head
Keeps us tossing and turning upon the bed
Or leave us to just stare at the ceiling
All night. We all know that feeling
When our body tells us to sleep as we yawn
But we give up, and just wait for the dawn.
Or in silence we just listen to all the sounds
Like our ears have begun to scan around.
We hear dogs howl, bark and fight
At such an odd hour at midnight;
A truck honking loudly in a Bollywood song
Or a 'beep' sound going too long
Like a steccato beep of machine after a death
In the hospital ward; or the sound of our own breath.
Or on the chest when our heart beats
Against the now rippled bedsheet.

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O Dasharathi! During battle even in the moments of grim
When Laxman was wounded on ground by a deadly arrow.
And Hanuman went to bring the medicine for him
You remained calm and poised amidst the immense sorrow.

O Kakutstha! After slaying Ravana and crowning his brother.
After Sita proves her purity by passing through the flames.
You returned to Ayodhya to your family and your mother.
But not as a king, but as Lord Ram you came.

O Janaki Vallabha! For the Dharma you defeated your foe
And for Dharma you sent your wife publicly on a test.
Not just for revenge, but to protect Dharma you string your bow
And you were born, especially, to protect Dharma only to your best.

O Ram! For your deeds you have been revered since ages
And for the same an ignorant one defames.
But more than the lessons of righteousness and courage
You are remembered the most for your name.

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O Kausaleyaya! When the fate put you in such a terrible test
Mahadeva, as a monkey, himself came to your aid.
And hence you meet Lord Hanuman in the forest
With Sugreeva and his monkey brigade.

O Raghunath! Assisting Sugreeva to become the king
Of Kishkindha, you helped your dear friend.
On the shore of Rameshwaram you established a Shivlinga
And vowed to put the life of Ravana to an end.

O Rajendra! You sent Hanuman to Lanka, city gilded
With gold, to find Maa Sita and he left it all like ashen.
And how later with your army you build
The bridge over the vast sea in a remarkable fashion.

O Raghunandan! With Vibhishana there for you to guide
And in Hanuman you found your new kin
You laid siege upon the Lanka with Laxman by your side
To punish Ravana for his unatoned sins.

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The Ramayana

O Ramchandra! You are the pole star for the one who embarks
On the journey to explore the world; or conquer it.
Your mere name is like a burning fire in this dark
World by which every corner gets lit.

O Raghav! On the day of coronation you were cruelly exiled
From your own people and from your own land.
Yet you accepted it as your fate and smiled
Leaving for the forest holding Laxman’s and Maa Sita’s hand.

O Marayada Purushottam! Even after the demise of your father
When Bharat came to you with an army such rife.
You refused to return to Ayodhya with them and rather
Put your father’s promise above your own life.

O Jitendriya! After Ravana deceitfuly abducted your wife
And in search of her, like a common man you cried.
You asked the trees, the sky, but only Jatayu struggling for life
Told you the truth before he finally died.

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Ghazal on Twenty-Fifth

Happier, like never before, at twenty-five.
Leaving behind the shoes of twenty-four, at twenty-five.

Saw days getting worse and also the best
Life has been salty, sweet and sore at twenty-five.

Knocking at every door or being knocked out.
Every closed one opened another door at twenty-five.

Seen beaches, the mountains and the snow too
The sands of desert call me to explore at twenty-five.

Have you learned everything till here only, Samarth?
No, the journey ahead is still a lot more, at twenty-five.

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On Bhopal: A Ghazal

A walk at Lake view is all it takes in Bhopal
To fall in love with the lakes in Bhopal.

Where the world rushes in pursuit of their dreams
The sleep here is quite harder to break in Bhopal.

What else do you need to live a quality life
Good food, a weather and a chai as you wake in Bhopal.

What is it you actually see in this city, Samarth?
Come here once, for God's Sake, in Bhopal.

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My February Ghazal

Meeting new people to wave them goodbye in February.
I found a reason to be less shy in February.

With different faces came different experiences
Joy and learning, both came by in February.

The Sun is hot at noon. Cold winds blowing at night
Felt the winter was being pretty sly in February.

Taking the baby steps even after the setbacks
Still moving ahead to find my 'why' in February

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औरों में तो केवल मुझे अपनी ही सूरत दिखती थी,
फिर खुद को अलग देखा तो सब नज़ारे बदल गए।

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it would be on a hilltop. If, in case, you say no there's always a way down for you.

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On Love: A Ghazal

The long distance between us is what I hate in love.
The longing to meet you teaches me to wait in love.

In an era where physical pleasures are more convenient
My heart yearns to open its floodgate in love.

With you I realised you simply fall in love in life
There's no such thing as being late in love.

We fight, we argue and we even don't talk on some days
But we forgive too, to start with a clean slate in love.

I found in you a listener, a lover, a friend and an adviser
Is that what makes a person your soulmate in love?

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