Can you suggest me a playlist? Something that suits me,
My monotonous routine, my evening and morning tea.
I know it's just too much. Well! I am in no hurry.
Take your time and answer. I ain't an impatient lady.
What's so special about songs?
You may have a genuine doubt.
Hmm! Tunes contain a lot of clout.
Remember the jingles in TV ads?
That played while you solved Maths.
Or a chorus of the school hymns
That your peers played with strings?
Or the tunes that you downloaded secretly?
No matter of copycats, no matter how filthy.
The songs on which you danced at someone's wedding.
The songs in the parlour when mom got her eyebrow-threading.
Or the musings of a Bollywood hero while commuting to the office by bus.
That tune in your head when you saw your first crush.
Plus the incessant honking in traffic.
The noise your pet makes when in panic.
And the one that is playing in your head right now.
'Meow, meow, meow, meow, meow, meow, meow...' Holy cow!-
Man is a complex social animal.
And man includes a woman.
Neither of the two is extraordinary.
Gaffe after gaffe is common to both.
Oblivious to meaning, they survive.-
When it's unusually heavy on the chest,
As if nothing turned out to be the best.
And you crawl inside the internal flood,
Shaken by the ruthless agony of blood.
Words are harpoon but you ain't a Whale.
And now you don't even have a Tale
Of glory, courage, romance or magic.
Not even criminal, unjust or tragic.
Like jetsam and flotsam killing time.
YOU -your abode and only shrine.
But who is 'YOU'?
No idea anymore.
They say life is on the shore.
So, float and float, compete and overtake
Other jetsams like a piece of cake.
Lucky if someone finds you there.
Sells your fate layer by layer.
Or else you lie abandoned in hues of jade.
That's how you know it's a mistake.-
An examiner in a hall
Full of brains ready to fall
On blank sheets through ink.
Bells ring within a blink.
Brains sweat in competitive heat.
April doesn't feel like a retreat.
An Essay on 'Climate Change'.
200-500 words— a decent range.
Political jingles rallying on road.
Incessant writing a bit slowed.
A strong democracy for future votes.
'Don't dare to cheat', April says.
'Healthy Competition', April says.
'April fool', April says.-
गुल होके भी गुलशन से दुःखी हूँ।
सूरज को ताकती सूर्यमुखी हूँ।
यह मद है मेरा या मौन तप?
मृदु होके भी मशाल सी खड़ी हूँ।।-
बिखरें पन्नो में, लोग क्या लिखते हैं?
शायरी, ग़ज़ल, गाने, सपने, कामयाबी...
वही आम शौक जो हर रोज़ यहाँ बिकते हैं।
फ़िर सब बिकाऊ लोग, पैसे की बात पर,
ना जाने क्यों मुँह बनाए दिखते हैं?-
रिश्तों की इस दुनिया में, रिश्तेदार नहीं चाहिए।
कहानी लंबी हो या छोटी, उम्दा किरदार चाहिए।
सुना है खून के सगे, खून पी जाते हैं यहाँ,
मुझे लोहे से मजबूत अनजान चाहिए।।-
एक सितारा बोल पड़ा,
क्यों चाँद नहीं मैं, चाँद बता।
क्यों तेरा प्रतिस्पर्धी ना मैं,
जब आसमान ही मेरा पता।।
तू बंजर सा, उज्जट सा,
अपने तिमिर में खोया हुआ।
एक मैं तप्ता जलता गोला,
मेहनत की निशानी मेरा धुँआ।
कोई रोटी, कोई मामा बोले तुझको,
मैं ना ताया-ताई, चाचा-चाची,
मौसा-मौसी, फूफा-बुआ।।...
पूरा अनुशीर्षक में पढ़े।-
क्यों अकेला है इंसान?
रिश्ते लगते है चट्टान।
इतनी मेहनत से दौड़े ,
फिर भी शिखर ना आसान।।
लोग बोले चील बन,
जब आलसी ये तन।
खाली पीली क्या मिला है,
थोड़ा और कर जतन।।
ये जीवन घना वन,
आधे जानवर बिना वसन,
दिशाहीन दौड़े जाए
मस्त मौला ये मगन...
पूरा अनुशीर्षक में पढ़े।-
Together but not quite intriguing.
Just like a fan attached to the ceiling,
Or a broom and wiper for cleaning.
I am there for you without any feelings.
But can't drift apart in the name of healing.
For I know I am not a fan to suit a wall.
Or a packed wiper inside a cool mall.
A little bit ugly, not at all tall.
So small that I can even crawl
Inside a packed bus or train.
Maybe the only good about me is my brain.
You on the other hand my ceiling,
Are stationary, sometimes peeling
Your paints off and it's okay.
And I won't look at you in dismay.
For the stability that you portray.
For holding me the right way.
Off course I don't need a rose bouquet.
Who says marriages thrive on cliché?
Love? Maybe it will grow like dirt.
Even if it won't, at least we won't be hurt
In this coexistence.-