The roots braided
The Earth's deep crevices
Holding Nature's Bosom in sync..

-

Talking to you is like
braiding my hair.
On some days,
I just don't want to do it.
On some days, I realize
it's the only thing that
sets my face right.
But, every time I attempt,
it takes away parts of my hair,
just like our conversation
takes away a lot of me.

Also, it always leaves behind
more tangles, for me to sort
on another day.

-

खुले बालो की अब चोटी बनाना सीख गयी,
नज़रें मिलाकर अब मुस्कुराना सीख गयी ।
पहले तो शरमाकर, नज़रें मिलाया करती थी,
अब नज़रें मिलाकर, शरमाना सीख गयी ।

-

And I grew up from bread to braid.

-

चुटिया में थी वो जबतक
सीधी समझी जाती थी
संस्कृति के नाम पे
सभ्यता बालों संग बंध जाती थी
तेज़ हवा से एक दिन
उसकी जुल्फ़े आज़ाद हुई
शुरु शुरू में मुश्किल आई
पर अब वो ये जान गई
जुल्फों के खुलने, बंधने के
मौसम को पहचान गयी।

-

चोटी के बल में
कुछ यादें हैं
गुँथी हुई...
कुछ आड़े,
कुछ सीधे
हल्की कुछ,
गहरी हुई...

-

It’s funny how one’s life goes through highs and lows
But we put some kohl and brush our brows.
We someday realize we have no one but foes;
So we sit back to paint the nails on our fingers and toes.
For that might be the way one can drop that frown,
To let not the world and its people pull you down,
For I can see my life all blue- the hue I dread
But I can change my hair to a better shade of red.
I may wake up to find a messy work life
But I can neatly braid my hair and pretend it’s all fine.
I can find my job dull or whine that it’s not fair
But I can take out a magic wand and curl my hair.
I may cry all I can, as if I’m trapped in Medusa’s lair
But tomorrow I’ll still show up with a confident flair.

-

जो इस चोटी की उलझने खुल जायेंगी
बवण्डर की तरह तुम्हें बहा ले जायेंगी।
बंद हैं इसमेँ कुछ तेरे अहसासो अल्फ़ाज़,
कुछ खट्टे मीठे लम्हे,
कुछ भूली बिसरी याद,
और फिर तेरा वो इंकार।
मत उकसाओ की, खोल दूँ इन ज़ुल्फ़ों को,
तुम्हारे साथ मुझे भी बहा ले जायेंगी,
जो इस चोटी की उलझने खुल जायेंगी।।

-

Mili had deep auburn waist length hair...The girls in school loved to play with her thick braids...Her mom took great pains in oiling and shampooing the ten year old's mane...Then one day, the whole class was shocked to see her climb down from the school bus sporting a clean shaved head...The reason ? Her best friend Amit was undergoing chemotherapy for cancer and had just rejoined school after a long gap...He was bald these days and some of the boys mercilessly teased him about it...Mili could never stand it and just decided to give him some company...

-

It was not her hair that was chopped but
Her confidence that was shattered,
Her secrets that were unveiled,
Her individuality that was despoiled.

Believe me, just met humanity,
Heard it yelling and shouting,
Tasted bland and lousy,
Saw it crying and bleeding,
Smelled malodorous and stinky.

-