एक लड़की / दिल की बातें

(This poem "एक लड़की" is written by a friend. And my version "दिल की बातें" is sort of a collaboration, like a response to that poem.)

एक लड़की

एक लड़की मुझको सीने से लगाना, चाहे भी घबराए भी 
रात गए उलझी ज़ुल्फ़ें, मुझसे सुलझाना, चाहे भी घबराए भी 

नाख़ून चुभो के मारेगी, अबके जो कमर पे हाथ गया 
शोर मचा के मुझको बताना, चाहे भी घबराए भी 

ख़्वाब से डरकर बिस्तर पर, घंटों घंटों पगली वो 
नींद में मुझको फ़ोन मिलाना, चाहे भी घबराए भी 

ऐन मुमकिन है उसे मुझसे मोहब्बत ही न हो 
दिल फिर भी उसको अपनाना, चाहे भी घबराए भी 

दिल की बातें

दिल की बातें जुबाँ पे लाना, चाहूँ भी घबराऊँ भी 
देख तुझे सीने से लगाना, चाहूँ भी घबराऊँ भी

याद करूँ हर सुबहो शाम, घर दफ़्तर या हो बाहर 
दिन की सारी बातें बताना, चाहूँ भी घबराऊँ भी

जब गेड़ी मारें सड़कों पर, झूम झूम के गीत सुनें 
धीरे से तुझे हाथ थमाना, चाहूँ भी घबराऊँ भी

मेरी फ़िक्र तुझे सोने न दे, तो चैन मुझे कैसे आए 
तब भी थोड़ा तुझको सताना, चाहूँ भी घबराऊँ भी

ये वक्त भी गुजर जायेगा

हर सावन के बाद है पतझड़,

हर शीत के बाद बहार,

ये वक्त भी गुजर जायेगा।

After every monnsoon, there is an autumn
After every winter, a spring
This time too shall pass!

ये कैसा नया साल है

ये कैसा नया साल है 

जो बुझा हुआ हाल है 

कोई ग़म है या मलाल है 

ये कैसा नया साल है

खून सफ़ेद है पर 

चेहरा सुर्ख़ लाल है 

किस बात का बवाल है 

ये कैसा नया साल है

बदली है रंगत और 

बदली चाल ढाल है 

किस बात का कमाल है 

ये कैसा नया साल है

खो गये हैं ख़्वाब औ'

पिघल गये ख़याल हैं 

रूह गुमशुदा फ़िलहाल है 

ये कैसा नया साल है

सुर नहीं हैं मिल रहे 

बिगड़ी सारी ताल हैं 

न हिज्र न विसाल है 

ये कैसा नया साल है

दौलत का मोल क्या 

तिजोरी मालामाल है 

और दिल से कंगाल हैं 

ये कैसा नया साल है

सोच में सुकूँ नहीं 

ज़हन में बस सवाल है 

ये जी का जंजाल है 

ये कैसा नया साल है

कद बहुत है छोटा 

और आईना विशाल है 

सारी गलत मिसाल हैं 

ये कैसा नया साल है

Saved

Sometimes 

I feel lost

But then

I am always saved

I have three lifelines

Which keep me alive

Art,

Poetry

And

You.

Gratitude poetry

An year has ended

So that another could begin 

And I am so much thankful 

For this year which has ended

For the year which will now begin

For the people who left

For the people who stayed 

For the people who entered 

For the memories which were created

For the scars that proved me strong

For the support I have recieved 

For the dreams I continue to see

For the faith that's still unshakable 

For the love which never fades

For the hopes that continue to rise

And most importantly 

For the spirit of never giving up

For welcoming everything with open heart

For continuing living life 

And feeling thankful for everything that is

I write poetry

I write poetry

When words fail me 

I write poetry

When thoughts are too much

And expression is difficult

I write poetry 

When I am hurt

And when I hope

I write poetry 

To communicate 

I write poetry

To share my dreams

I write poetry 

To show that I love

And most of all

I write poetry

Because it's all me

Spread on a piece of paper

I don't know 

Whether you read poetry or me

You say you understand neither

And I say I believe you

But I am most afraid

That you understand 

Of what I am saying

And pretend that you don't 

हर बात की वज़ह

हर बात की कोई वज़ह हो, ये जरुरी तो नहीं 
अगर कह के भी अनकही रह जाये, तो अधूरी तो नहीं 
खामोशियों को भी जब, मिलने लगे जुबाँ 
तो अल्फ़ाज़ों की कैसी कोई, मजबूरी तो नहीं 
कोशिशों के समंदर में, उम्मीद की नाव है 
जो पार लग जाये, फिर दूरी तो नहीं 

कितने दफ़े

कितने दफ़े सोचते हैं
उन तमाम सारी बातों को
जो करनी हैं आपसे
पर कभी समझ नहीं आता
कि शुरू कहाँ से करें
कभी सोचते हैं ख़त लिख दें
कई बार लिखना कह पाने से
ज़्यादा आसान जो लगता है
पर फ़िर सहम जाते हैं
न जाने क्यूँ
सवाल और ख़याल कुलबुलाते रहते हैं
मुझे मालूम नहीं ये थोड़ा डर है या कोई झिझक
पर कभी कभी शब्द यूंही थम जाते हैं
कभी सोचते हैं कि आप क्या सोचते होंगे
क्या आपके भी दिल-ओ-दिमाग में
ऐसे ही उथल-पुथल होती है
क्या आप भी वह कह नहीं पाते
जो कहना चाहते हैं
क्या आपको भी कभी किसी अनजान बात का
डर लगता है
आपके सपने क्या हैं
आपकी चाहत क्या है
आपके दर्द क्या हैं
आपकी राहत क्या है
कितना कुछ जानना है
कितना कुछ बताना है
कितनी सारी बातें हैं
पर कभी समझ ही नहीं आता
कि शुरू कहाँ से करें
कभी सोचते हैं खत लिख दें
शायद ये एक ख़त ही तो है
कितनी सारी बातें हैं
जो करनी हैं आपसे
आना आप कभी फुरसत से
ज़िंदगी भर का वक़्त लेके

Weird dream

Sometimes I wonder why it is what it is

Like those dreams,

Which wake me up in the morning before I want to wake up

They are weird,

Not as much as me though.

The last dream I watched asleep,

I saw you. 

Yes, isn't it weird? 

'coz I don't think if I still remember your face correctly.

Well, even in the dream,

I saw pictures of you

They were happy pictures,

Of you and your family.

There was everyone who probably matter to you the most 

And you were happy.

Though in few pictures, 

You had aged a bit, 

And started looking more like your dad. 

You had slightly longer and curlier hair

And you were cleaned shaved

But you had a magical smile

And you still possessed those tiny dimples.

I saw you had posted happy pictures

And that you have probably started writing

I saw you had written poetry

Though I don't know why some of them were about loneliness

And in one picture I spotted a guitar which you were happily playing with your brother.

You had a small house and satisfied eyes.

I tried to look for you in the dream after I saw those pictures,

But I couldn't find you or your poetry.

Its not likely of me to watch such dreams

Seeing happy people sometimes make me sad or envious

But it wasn't a sad dream,

I felt happy and strangely relieved.

I wanted to save that dream, 

I wanted to share it with somebody,

Who's better than you to share it with?

Sometimes I wonder why it is what it is 

That its making me write poetry

Its always easier to write poems than talk, right?

वो कवि नहीं है

वो कवि नहीं है 

वो कविता नहीं करता 

वो कुछ कहता भी नहीं है 

शब्द खो से गये लगते हैं 

आज भी मचलती है उसकी कलम 

उसके ख़यालों के साथ ही 

न जाने क्यूँ आज भी 

ज़िंदा रखा है उसने 

एक अधूरी सी कविता को 

जो अब पूरी नहीं होगी 

पर मैंने वादा किया है उसे 

नये शब्द देने का 

हम साथ ढूंढेंगे उनके आयाम 

और लिखूंगी मैं उसके लिये कवितायें 

क्यूँकि वो कवि नहीं है 

और वो कविता नहीं करता 

पुराने महल

पुराने महलों के मलबे को माथे से लगा रखा है, 

और सोचते हैं कि नसीब बदलता क्यों नहीं।

Puraane mahalon ke malbe ko maathe se laga rakha hai,

Aur sochte hain ki naseeb badalta kyun nahin.

नये रास्ते

नये रास्ते आज़मा 

नये तज़ुर्बे ढूंढ 

ढूंढ नयी मंज़िलें 

नये रिश्ते ढूंढ 

नयी ख़्वाहिशें पैदा कर 

नये नज़ारे सराह 

जो मुकाम न मिले कोई 

तो बस ये ज़िन्दगी चाह 

ख़लबली

खोज नहीं मुझे 
शांति की, सुकून की 
एक हलचल चाहिए 
ख़लबली सी 
बेचैनी है 
शांति भी है 
तड़प है कोई 
कुछ पाने की 
कुछ ढूंढ रहा है दिल 
नहीं जानता क्या 
गुमसुम रहता है 
उड़ाने भरता रहता है 
ख़्वाब देखता रहता है 
निडर छलांगे मारता है 
बादलों से समुंदर में 
एक शांत सी गली के एक अंधेरे कोने में 
रंगीली रोशनियों के  बीच थिरकता है
नशे में रहता है
उसे ज़िंदगी का सुरूर है
पर पता नहीं क्यूँ
डर जाता है फिर
गुमसुम रहता है
और ख़लबली ढूंढता है

ज़िन्दगी बीत गई है...

ज़िन्दगी बीत गई है, मंज़िलों को ख़ोजते हुए,

आज मुझे कहीं किसी राह में ही खोने दे। 

कितनी रातें हो गई हैं, करवटें बदलते हुए,

आज मुझे एक हसीन ख़्वाब की ख़ातिर सोने दे। 

जमाने को हँसाने के लिए, मैं ता-उम्र जोकर बना,

आज अपने ग़म-ओ-दर्द में डूब के रोने दे।

Life and Death

Today I don't want to believe that I'm going to last for 75 years.
I want to feel death. I want to feel what it is like to die?!

I do not mean to say that I want to die. I am not sick, I am not depressed, I am not defeated; and if you must think, I am not bored either. It is not like life is missing big adventures or surprises, I just do not feel that I am living.

Lub-Dub Lub-Dub Lub-Dub

That is how heart beats, that is how we know we are living. I do not listen to that sound. I want to immerse in that music which is above all the worldly pleasures. I want to feel my every heartbeat.

I want to feel the miracle - the miracle of life. Each day when I wake up, I want to be thankful for being still alive. I want to feel every time I breathe, knowing that I am fully alive.

I want to feel free, being capable of choosing every moment of my life to spend my own way. To be able to sing or dance like no one's keeping an eye on me. To be able to jump and try to touch the sky. To believe that I can fly, if not today, someday. I want to live my way with no people staring at me as I am different. Coz I want to tell them all - Yes, I am different. And so are you! What you think of insanity is only a measure for freedom. You dare not to be insane, coz you dare not to be free.

I want to feel a fear of death once; and then let go of all the fears, the fear of hatred, the fear of love, the fear of death, the fear of life!

Good Morning!

Good morning!

It's a beautiful morning, isn't it?

What's beautiful about this morning, do you ask? What isn't, I ask!

The beautiful golden sun rays coming through the window and shining on your skin, a breeze carrying the smell of earth, birds chirping everywhere and music in every sound if you listen with your soul!

Why rush? There are many who needs to, but you don't! You don't have to wake up because the world will stop, if you don't! You have to wake up because its time you start enjoying the mornings rather than counting it as another curse!

You are one of those lucky souls who don't have to wake up early to minister to the sick, to carry food for the mass or guard the boundaries to protect people and things.

Your job is easy. All you need to do is not worry and breathe. Take it slowly. Relax. And start the day with a smile. Can you do that?

You are lucky, because you have time to read this post. May be you are still in your bed, or taking a break from your never ending chores, or travelling in a train or metro. Feel this morning. Yes, this is like every other morning. There is nothing exceptional about today, except that you are trying to smile, aren't you? I will be happy to know that you smile everyday!

Why rush? Take a moment to close your eyes, not sleep, but close your eyes. And say this to yourself. YES! I AM READY!

Whatever it may be, the day will come, you don't have to anticipate everything in the world. But feel ready. In this moment. 

Once, while travelling, I found a little girl, 5 years old, just so happy. She wanted to play with me. So we played. We were playing and her uncle scolded her a bit for being too naughty with random stranger people. She started crying in a moment. I hugged her and she was happy again the next moment. Life is just this simple. Its always in the present, the moment which is NOW! We hold on to our grudges too long, that they become a lot of emotions. They become resentment, they become regret. They become anger, annoyance and blame. They self-destruct our emotional system. We need to feel gratitude. Hope and satisfaction will follow. 

Are you feeling grateful for little things?

You all are grateful for food that you get, do you enjoy every morsel of it that you eat? Do you realize every flavor? There is a lot to feel, if you just eat when you eat.

There is a lot to relish if you are just with the person that you are, and not lost in your world of worries. Do you ever look in the eyes and talk? Do you try to empathize and not just throw mere opinions? 

Look around. There is a whole world just waiting to be cherished. With all its little insignificant moments to offer. Those moments make our life beautiful.

The day will come, you can not control it. But enjoy your morning. And the peace that it will provide to your soul. 

Have a good morning! :)

वक़्त के पन्ने

वक़्त के कुछ पन्ने जो पलटे,
चेहरे कई नज़र आये
कितने उनमें ऐसे थे,
जो अब यादों में भी जगह खोने लगे हैं
कितने चेहरे उनमें दोस्त थे,
कभी वो दोस्त थे,
और कभी पहचान रह गये
वो भी न बची,
तो बस एक नाम रह गये।
कभी आती है याद,
तो ख़याल आता है
कैसे होंगे, वो कहाँ होंगे,
जहाँ होंगे, शायद वो भी कभी वक़्त के पन्ने पलटते होंगे।

Take a moment!

Take a moment - to pause, to relax, to give time to yourself.
Take a moment - just to breathe.
Take a moment - and listen to a calm and soothing song.
Take a moment - and actually enjoy your breakfast.
Take a moment - and pamper yourself.
Take a moment - to take care of yourself.
Take a moment - when everything's done and when everything's not done.
Take a moment - and not just rush to do the next thing in the list.
Take a moment - to just express gratitude... for everything.
Take a moment - because may be that's all you need.
Take a moment - because may be that's all you have got.

Carpe Diem!

Musings

I saw a dream
I wished it were true
And there came you
You're just a thought
Sometimes a shadow
Are you a face

I try to believe
That stories can have
A happily ever after
Reality is blurred
People often have
Just false hopes

I get confused
Between dreams and memories
Are both unreal
I kept a stone
If I see it closely
It thumps sometimes

I & You

When I am not with you 

I often dream of you 

And those dreams are such beauty

As perfect as a fairy tale.

I dream of two happy souls

Contently smiling.

Their hands are clutched

And shoulders leaned.

I dream of me sitting on your lap

My hands around your neck

And you reading to me

My favourite poetry.

I dream of moments

When we just know

That love suffice

And rest of the world fades.

I dream of those things

You say with your eyes

And then we look somewhere far

Silently savouring the moment.

I dream of times

When I see you after long

And hug you the tightest hug ever

And never let you go again.

I dream the days

When we travel the world

Measure every inch on this earth

Together.

I dream of starry nights

When we lie on the terrace

Talking endlessly

And loving.

.

.

.

And when I see YOU,

These beautiful dreams just shatter

Leaving me alone with

A grim Reality.