It's You !

The song that plays in the background, or just the silence of the kitchen,

The chaos and commotion of the traffic on the road,  or just the stillness of my window sill...........

In the midst of all this, I am present yet secluded

I am right there in the thick of things; near yet aloof !

You sing the same songs to me, you suddenly clutter my kitchen

You wait at the other end of the commotion;

You peep right through the window sill !

Both smiles and tears play games with me,

For one often becomes the reason for the other.

I remember the moments of shared laughter and;

welled up tears follow my memories;

I weep in memories of sweet nothings and;

a blushing smile crosses my countenance !

You are the breeze that glides past me gently; you are the raindrop that moistens my face;

You are the radiance that brightens my eyes; you are echo that resonates in my ears !

The song, the silence, the chaos, the stillness,

You are the one who pops in through it all !

The smile, the tears, the memories, the shyness,

You are the one who has a share in this all !

Tired Eyes !

They speak !

Sometimes out of sadness, sometimes out of sheer excitement,

Sometimes out of anger, sometimes out of sheer frustration !

Now they are muted.

Tired eyes !

They look around !

Sometimes out of curiosity, sometimes out of sheer boredom,

Sometimes seeking attention, sometimes beseeching acknowledgment.

Now they are still.

Tired eyes !

They listen !

Sometimes to the sound of silence, sometimes the stories that the world tells,

Sometimes to the laughter of a happy heart, sometimes the sobbing soul.

Now they are indifferent.

Tired eyes !

Tired they are, not so lifeless, though

They still twinkle, they still glow

momentarily though !

Seeking solace from within,

Tired eyes !

वो माँ है !

सवेरे नींद से जगाते हुए भी आँखों में जो नए सपने भर दे

जो नाश्ते में एक मीठा दुलार, एक खट्टी सी डांट और ढेर सारा गरम गरम प्यार परोसे,

वो माँ हैं

जिसकी  सारी के पल्लू को कभी अपना तौलिया तो कभी पर्दा मान लिया

जिसको गोद में कभी अपना सर रखके चैन से सो गए,

तो कभी रुआंसा सा चेहरा चुप के आके छुपा लिया

जिसे कभी खाना खाने के लिए तंग किया

तो कभी अपने मनपसंद पकवान बनवाने की जिद्द की

वो माँ है

पापा से छुप के जिसे अपने दिल के सारे भेद बता दिए,

जिससे नज़रें चुराके भाई के साथ रोज़ एक नयी शरारत छेढ़ी

वो माँ है

वो जो घनी, तपती धुप में स्कूल के बहार शिकंजवी लिए खड़ी थी

वो जो कड़कती सर्दी में अपनी रजाई मुझपे दाल देती थी

वो जो बारिश में भीगने पर खूब डांटती 

और फिर गरम गरम हलवा बना कर मेरी सर्दी दूर करती

वो माँ है

वो जो मुझे रोज़ दिखती तो नहीं, 

पर हर पल मेरी हिचकियों में मुझे पुकारती है

वो जिसको परछाई हूँ मैं,

जिससे अलग तो हूँ , पर उसी  में समाई हूँ मैं,

वो माँ है

Stay !

Whisper to me, for i am all ears,

tell me stories, both told n untold. 

Clasp my hand and take me forward,

or just hold it and let the moment stay !

let me sit at my window sill and gaze across the overcast span of sky,
let me play with the raindrops while you just sit across and smile !

Oh ! what a day would that be.

let me just stay tight-lipped for the day,

let my eyes say what my heart speaks !

let me just enjoy the quietness of the silent breeze;

while you just sing those songs that lend a symphony to the surroundings

Oh ! what music would that be.

Speak to me, for i just want to listen,

transpire from my thoughts to reality !

Let me look at the mirror and smile,

don't roll down my cheeks, just stay at the corner of my eye !

Is this Bombay or me ! :)

She has her own way; she lives her own life. There is a unique way in which she wakes up to greet the day. She rambles and trudges; wanders and meanders her way through the day. At times she would just gaily promenade her way through the twists and bends while at other times she tends to hiccup a little. You see, the day doesn’t yield to every whim and fancy of hers ! Why would it, after all ? So, she cribs, complaints, grumbles and moans. But towards the end of the day she still finds herself striding along the same pathway; she has got used to a tumble here or a topple there. 

And then comes the evening. So she has her own distinctive or rather idiosyncratic way of hailing the twilight, for this is when the world actually notices her.  Up until now everyone around her is so engrossed in finding ways along their own pathways that no one really bothers to observe where is she leading to; even though they cross hers unimaginable number of times. So, as dusk falls, she lights up, grapping everyone’s attention (and even the deliberate lack of it!). Some see her as independent, some tied up in clutches of routine, norms and conventions; some hail her as a rebel, others pity her solitary existence; some find her magical, others wicked. For some she is the epitome of exuberance, excitement and life itself while there are those for whom she’s symbolic of eternal and tedious grind. She’s both avant-garde and regressive; she’s unconventional but also conservative ! 

As night falls, she curls up but hardly sleeps. Her dreams keep her awake. So many hopes are pinned upon her; she is to fulfill many aspirations. And of course she wishes to spruce up her own pathway, she is not too fond of the hitches and the glitches, you see. But yeah, she has to be patient and also let time enjoy its veto power over certain matters. 

And one morning come the rains ! Ahhh! She both awaits and dreads them (actually she is biased towards the “awaits” part!). For the rains bring with themselves freshness and sparkle but she has to be very cautious to not let the raindrops soil her….. for she loves to hop and skip and soar and fly and enjoy the rains :) 

That's my song !

It’s a regular day. You are busy with the routine chores, the clutter of everyday life strewn all around you. You are engaged in completing a jigsaw puzzle, putting together pieces; sometimes trying to create a new picture altogether. And suddenly a tune echoes somewhere near you. You stop. Raptured. Enamored. Captivated by the intensity with which the melody touches the chords of your heart. It is strange how a song, written by some stranger somewhere; a tune composed by someone unrelated, unknown, cuts across the deepest recesses of your hear and stirs your soul. You feel an instant connection with the words, the music, the interplay of melodic chords that create a divine symphony. Sometimes it is almost like it’s written for you. The very words you keep away from speaking to yourselves, the very melodies that you “unlisten” even when you can hear them all around you!

Such is the power of music and songs. They make you talk to yourself; they make you aware of the sound of silence around you and they make you conscious of what your heart really desires. Haven’t there been times when we listen to a song and instantly leave our world of mere “survival” to reach a world where we “live” with our thoughts, our very own dreams and desires.  How many times has it so happened that you instantaneously, in a reflex go, “That’s my song!” Funny it is, how we can associate songs with ourselves, with the people around us, with the places we have been to and with our thoughts and fears and fantasies!

Songs…..they ache and soothe our heart; they stir and satisfy our soul; they make us dance and sometimes leave us motionless……Songs!

And as I end this, those playing on my playlist, “my songs” are:

Aoge jab tum o saajna http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwnCMv--L9Y

Titliyaan http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWr9BXBXxek

Kaminey title http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Te374eAaA3w

Tears in heaven http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRsJlAJvOSM

Ye safar bahut hai kathin http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tbJdWxOhuA

Roobaro http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8Ni_NStSxU

And of course the list goes on..... :) 

  

ख़ामोशी का शोर

इस खामोशी के शोर में गुम सी गयी है मेरी खुद के आवाज़

वो पल जो गुज़र गए, कुछ अनकही, अनसुनी सी सिसक छोड़ गए हैं

ये पल जो यहाँ, अभी है, बहुत कुछ कहना चाहता है

लेकिन ख़ामोशी के शोर में इसकी आवाज़ दब सी गयी है !


इस ख़ामोशी के शोर में, मेरे कानों में कुछ लव्ज़ गूंजते हैं

होठों तक आते हैं,
 
इस शोर में वो अपनी आवाज़ ढूंढ़ रहे हैं

लेकिन ख़ामोशी का ऐसा कोलाहल मचा है चारों ओर

की मेरी खुद की आवाज़ गुम सी गयी है !


इस ख़ामोशी के शोर में
, 
एक गर्जन भी है, एक रुदन भी
 
बहुत सी आवाजें जैसे अपना अस्तित्व खोज रही हैं

लेकिन ख़ामोशी का ऐसा कोलाहल मचा है चारों ओर
 
की शब्दों का मतलब, उनके मायने ही जैसे गुम से गए हैं !


गूंजती, सुबकती, सिसकती, हंसती, चिचियाती,

कई तरह की आवाजें है ये

लेकिन ख़ामोशी के शोर में, आज सब चुप हैं !