ANAMIKA

उन भूली बिसरी यादों
और अनकही अधूरी बातों,
की एक यादगार रूपिका
भेंट करता मैं तुम्हें अनामिका,
बदले में चाहता हूँ बस यही
याद कर लेना ऐ यार, हमें भी कभी.

मन के सूने रेगिस्तान पर
जब कभी यादों के काफिले गुजरते हैं,
हमारे तुम्हारे रिश्तों की माधुरी
कुछ आंसू बयान कर जाते हैं
महसूस होता है यार हमें भी अभी
आँखें ही नहीं,दिल भी
रोता है कभी-कभी.

हासिल

मुस्कुरातें हैं आज वो हमें याद कर

रिश्ते वो थे जो हमने निभाए कई

हर बार आए मुश्किलों के सैलाब, पर

पल कुछ चुराए हमने, और वजह खुशी की कोई

चाहे हो फ़र्ज़ की, या क़र्ज़ की हो पुकार

रिश्तों के हर अंदाज़ को गले लगाया

सोचा इस रात की भी, सुबह होगी नयी

मुस्कुरातें हैं आज वो हमें याद कर

जिन दोस्तों से था दोस्ताना हमारा

उठा लो हाथ में गर कोइ पुरानी तस्वीर

बचपन का नटखट आज भी नज़र आएगा सारा

ज़िन्दगी के सफर में, हर एक मोड़ पार

कई बार मिले दोस्त, कई बार छूटा कोई प्यारा

जियें हैं हमने दोस्ती के दस्तूर और दायरे, पर

नहीं छोड़ा किसी का दामन और विश्वास अधूरा

कितने मुसाफिर मिले हमें सफर में

कितनी मुस्कुराहटों में था मैं शामिल

बना कितने हमसफ़र का साकी मैं

और कितने ख्वाबों का बना साहिल

आज लेटऐ सोच रहा हूँ कब्र में

यही है मेरी ज़िन्दगी का हासिल

यथार्थ

मन ही मन में

स्वर्ग से भी सुंदर, शायद

तथा कल्पना से भी परे

अनुपम किसी दृश्य को संजोये

देखो अधीर निगाहों की पीडा;

और उसे जीवंत रूप देने 

चित्रपट पर प्रयासरत

तुलिका से रंगों को मिलाती

उँगलियों की व्यस्त क्रीडा;

पुलकित है मन लेकर यह आस

अधूरी कृति जो पूरी होगी

रंगूंगा ऐसे की इन्द्रधनुष सी होगी

देगी सुन्दरता का अनुपम आभास.

 

शेष है अब कुछ अंतिम रेखाएं

रंगों से रिक्त बस ज़रा सा कोष

पूर्णता की ओ़र है समस्त आशाएं

थोडी ही दूर ह्रदय का संतोष;

पूर्ण तो हुई वह कृति

पर हाय कैसी यह विडम्बना

मन में थी कितनी सुंदर आकृति

और कितना विकृत यह है बना;

तो सुन! ऐ ज़िन्दगी के मुसाफिर

फूल ज्यों सब नहीं खिला करते

विश्वास भी हैं कुछ टूटा करते

बना लें  हम कितने ही नक्शे पर

अलग ही हैं कुछ ज़िन्दगी के रास्ते.

 

 

 

To Lose or not to lose a Friend - Forethoughts & Afterthoughts

I was in std. 1 or 2 back then. As dad got transferred to another location, we had to move on… to a new city, new surroundings, new school and most importantly new friends.

New friends were okay, but leaving the old ones behind was one thing that was troubling me to death. I wasn’t ready for it at all and the very thought of not getting to see those best-friends around any longer was more scary to me than the worst of nightmares.

In those days, I used to look forward to going to school every morning and the biggest reason for that was of course meeting my friends. As with most school-going kids, I used to study with them, play with them, gossip with them, fight with them… used to do almost all important (back then J) things with them only. They were kind of my co-passengers in the journey of life… exploring and learning new things together on the way… beautiful days those were, I bet.

But my feelings for my friends wouldn’t change anything… I took my time to gather that, but after that came to terms with it. I had to, I mean it was painful but I consoled myself and hoped that I would visit them sometimes or may be they would come and visit me, as promised.

Since then, I had gone through many transfers, many new schools and many more friends…but the friendships of early childhood are still very close to my heart and to this day I cherish those friendships and those moments. I cried back then, when parting but thinking of those days now fills me with joy and lifts my spirits up.

Above were the thoughts flashing through my mind a few days back. I was pretty upset that day with an old friend. People change, in response to change in surroundings or environment but when that change is not for the good, it is like the situation taking control of you rather than you taking control of the situation. I have always believed in that, but when an old friend does that, it is pretty upsetting. I also believe that a friendship can exist as long as the two people concerned feel the need for the friendship. The friendship is over as soon as any one of the concerned starts doubting the basis of it. My friend’s behavior that day forced me into thinking if he has lost faith in our friendship and if that be the case, there is no point lingering to it.

It was then that a sudden thought came to my mind and changed the equation of it, entirely. I analyzed what that old friend meant to me and that what kind of difference his absence would make in my life. I realized that our friendship was not based on any expectations from each other. It was also not based on anyone’s dependency on the other to achieve something. So, technically his absence in my life should not make any significant difference and that I should easily move on. But in this case, it was not true. I had always loved the time spent with him chatting and laughing together and at other times discussing myriad issues on various subjects. We had traveled few interesting places together and enjoyed each other’s company. We understood each other pretty well and commended each other on the other’s good qualities, strong areas and pulled each others’ legs on the not-so-good qualities.

I realized that it was indeed like my childhood friendships – friendships in their purest form when you don’t have any expectations attached to it and you just love it for the very experience of it. You just share your life, your adventures, your joys and sorrows with each other and feel that sublime comfort within yourself as well as in each others’ company.

His absence would definitely reduce the no. of happy moments in my life, I was sure by now. I heaved a sigh of relief, having thought it through and still left with time to make-it-up. I immediately dialed his no. from my mobile and once hellos were exchanged, asked him if he had his dinner. In a sleepy tone he answered in affirmative and informed me that it was well past midnight already. I knew I was smiling at the other end of the line. I said good night and disconnected.

Friends are a strange species. They are seldom on top of the “priority list” of life but they are always there helping you get your priorities right. But then, that’s the beauty of friendship.

YOU IN MY LIFE

You in my eyes …

I see a beautiful life

of soothing music all around

of whispering breezes abound

love flowing like a spring river

and hope reaching for the skies

… you in my eyes.

You in my heart …

I feel closest to purity

in all things human

and in all things beyond

the thought of your sweet smile

fills me with sublime goodness

you are my best happiness

and my meaning of beauty and art

… you in my heart.

You in my mind …

I think through time

the endless seeming days

when you weren’t there

and the moments that flew

when you were by my side

I pray - for you in my life

and leave my worries behind

… you in my mind.

You in my life …

like each river finds its sea

and each nightingale its song

you are my lucky star

for life’s journey short or long

through roads unknown or dark

you light up my life

… you in my life.

THINKING OF YOU

Thru days sunny and rainy
and nights of various darks
while driving down daily roads or
watching the sky turn b'quet of sparks,
I have been thinking of you
and that's the way I love you.

I was lonely a few days
and happy go lucky the other time
whether it was the party hours
or moments of silence sublime,
I have been thinking of you
and that's the way I love you.

I meet people all the time
and learn things otherwise not
I enjoy the friendly conversations
but your smile is the best I have got,
I have been thinking of you
and that's the way I love you.

You have been there with me
Through in and through out
whether you have known it
or hardly got a clue about,
I have been thinking of you
and that's the way I love you.

...thinking of you
is the way i love you...

अनोखी दीवाली

दीनभर खेल कीरणों की होली
आदीत्य समा गया है मानो
पश्चीम बाला की झोली

गोधूली की ये बेला अलबेली
संध्या के मस्तक पर देखो ज्यों
सद्य अभीषीक्त कुंकुम रोली

आ रही है नीशी बाला मतवाली
हाथों में सजाये है देखो
सुंदर सपनों की थाली

नज़र कहीं ना लग जाये अली
कह रही है मानो
सल्लज गालों की लाली

की्ड़ा ऱत है तारक वृंदों की टोली
आसमां का आँगन सजा है
चंदा मामा के घर आज दीवाली

इन सब से अनजान दुनीया पगली
बेखबर पलकें बंद कीये है
जग का आँगन खाली-खाली...