She finds herself

Standing in the long forgotten bylanes

The one where the misty roads are surrounded by trees

With a line of vehicles parked on either side

Where when the night breaks into morning twilight

One tiny ray of light seeps in through the leaves

And suddenly the hustle of the streets takes over the silence

She re-lives those slow moments,

Savoring in the memories of

People sipping tea while reading newspapers,

Children walking hurriedly towards their school

Office goers rushing towards the station

Opening of shutters of small kirana stores

The whiff of sauted onions from a nearby eatery

And many other mundane life moments

Which are too easy to miss otherwise

But it's when the day turns to night

And stars lit up the entire sky

That's when the day really comes alive

People rush to the streets with their families

Some to shop and some to spend quality time

Her heart brims with happines at this sight

Which she often finds difficult to explain

The celebrations flow like magic in the air

And in these moments

She tries to find a piece of herself

Which she lost long-time ago

Somewhere between the night and the dawn

As the brightest light pulls us to abyss

And life slips away into darkness

Maybe we will find

There is a world beyond the nothingness

Where there are no rules to bind us

Where our soul is free and happiness prevails

Where we find meaning to our life

And purpose of our existence

Where we discover joy and eternal sunshine

And the flowers bloom on either side

Where there is no wrong and right to decide

And our brokenness heals as light flows inside

Where we realise our hustle has finally paid off

And we will finally find ourselves and our true home

The journey from life to death will come a full circle

But until then like the black hole and bottomless pit

It will be glorified

Call it Hell or Heaven or maybe afterlife!

Let me tell you all about

The places to visit 

The mountains to climb

The bridges to cross

The rivers to dive

And the houses to build

But if I tell you that

How will you find

the beauty of the roads less travelled;

the rivers that drown you;

And mountains that crush you

How will you find 

the houses that are all brick and stones

And bridges which collapse at every fall

How will you learn 

Not every mountain needs to be climbed

And some bridges need to be burnt on time

How will you realise

That you are brave enough to survive

For you are your own sunshine!

Do you remember how a sip of cold water 

satisfied your thirst on a sultry summer afternoon

Do you remember how the warmth of winter sun 

embraced you while you enjoyed your siesta

Do you remember how the pleasant petrichor 

just before the rain filled you with glee

Do you remember those lazy Sundays

that were all about spending time with your loved ones

Do you remember the days 

when life was not about the checklists

but about the experiences

when you didn't have to rush through things

but could actually savour the moment

All of this now seems like memories of a distant past

which even though stirs up unsaid emotions inside

Yet we continue with our race, thinking we have got 

enough 'tomorrows' to enjoy life

And before we realise life slips away like grains of sand

For there is no tomorrow to race against time

Them

When they met each other

They had fire in their bellies and dreams in their eyes

Like every other youngster chasing the stars in the sky

Over the time they realised

The weight of expectations is too heavy for mankind

Life in a bubble, surrounded by darkness

Everyday spent hoping for a ray of light

Like the lost travelers in this journey of life

They were searching for their Northern star

Their eyes twinkled when light consumed them

The bubble had burst 

And they found home in each other for one last time

Before they fade away forever

To a place where sky falls down and world ceases to exist

She

She is magic

For her eyes hold the stars and sky

Yet somedays she finds herself 

Drowning in the blackhole

The burden of secrets are too heavy to carry

As the darkness swallows her

She accepts her end is near

Yet she finds herself reaching out for a hand to hold

She feels the warmth on her skin

And holds onto it tight

But the tighter she holds, the more it slips away

Was it all an illusion of her eyes?

Questions arise in her mind

Questions which also brings her realisation

That she didn't want to disappear

She was just waiting to be found

All she needed was a little faith in herself

And no matter how many tragedies suffocate her

She'll always breathe in hope and find happiness around

He

He is a mystery, waiting to be unraveled

With his soul on fire and emptiness inside

He is at the crossroads of life

Looking for a way out of this maze

Tired of running away from the demons

He searches for that spark outside

To calm down the storm brewing inside of him

Yet the outside world is oblivious 

He carries a lifetime of untold stories

Waiting for the day when he'll finally spill out the secrets

And yet the universe will accept him

For he is one of their own

But until then 

he'll remain a prisoner of his own thoughts

His phases of emptiness will cloud his vision

And darkness will cover his existence

Yet like the crescent moon

 Light within him will shine on till he feels full again..

A stormy night

Thunder for company

She lies cozily wrapped in a blanket 

With a book in hand, ready to drift off into a fiction world

Lights out, and darkness engulfs

Forgot buying candles again, she curses herself

Living alone in the cottage of a quaint town has its perks       

Solitude, freedom and no nosy neighbours 

But on nights like these, when nature shows its beauty

She sits uptight

Her ears alert, knife in hand, half expecting to hear a sound

Yet there is a eerie silence around

So much that she could hear her heartbeats aloud

A drop of sweat trickle downs her face

And the cool breeze sends shivers down her spine

A perfect night for a perfect crime

Her bibliophile mind wanders to the dark place

Rattling windows sent her heart thumping out of her chest

A silhouette near the window added to her nightmare

Clutching the knife, she moved ahead

To find the murderer lurking in the shadows

Darkness brings the fear of unknown

The things you know only makes you stronger, she said to herself

She reached the window and found no one

Relaxed, she let out a sigh and drew in the curtains

Double checked the locks and went back to bed

Something was still amiss, she could sense

Fear gripped her again when she heard him say

Did you forgot about the monsters under your bed? 

Dark and gloomy skies outside

portray the feelings of her chaotic heart

Her mind rushes back to those happy memories

which were her safe haven in this storm

She navigates her way

To the home which was now in ruins, abandoned years ago

sounds of laughter still echoed within those four walls;

To that one dance they had, before he went away forever

neither of them knew it would be their last;

To those entwined fingers and their souls intoxicated in love

overwhelmed by the fear of separation;

To that one hug, as warm as the first time

which sends shivers down her spine even now;

She moved ahead, alone in these unexplored territories

looking for a way out to the other side of the world

Where there is no pain, no sorrow and happiness all along, she had been told

but she found herself surrounded by the walls, high and secured

It did feel like a journey to another world

yet she was a prisoner in her own thoughts

She tried to break free and find the key to the locked doors

all she got was disappointment in return

She had lost again 

dejected she was about to give up

When she saw the boundaries falling down

and blinding lights all around

The sun was shining again

and there was a rainbow too in the sky

Here she was, 

Looking for a pinch of happiness 

for her broken heart and bruised soul

And she found love sprinkled with stardust

abundant to heal her heart and magical enough to heal her soul

He saw her again

Amidst the wailing sirens

He had never imagined 

A meeting like this

Yet here he was

Trying not to break

He looked at her again

Just to be sure

Its been so long since he had seen her

The calmness of her face gave it away

Yet he put in all his might

To bring her back

And give her another chance

Seeing no sign from her

It finally hit him

That she was gone

It took every inch of strength he had

To calm the turmoil rising inside him

Never before has he felt such helplessness

Amidst the other burning pyres

He lit her's too

Choking on his years of love and memories

That were now reduced to ashes

All his life he lived in the bubble

And now that the bubble has burst

He was drenched 

In the wave of dejection

Yet with a broken heart and soul

He got up again

For he had lives to save!

हर शहर कि सुबह अलग है

कहीं ठंडी ओंस कि खुशबू

तो कहीं कड़कती चाय कि महक है

कहीं के स्वच्छ हवा से दिल खुश हो जाता है

तो कहीं कि पुरानी यादें एक खालीपन का एहसास दिलाती हैं

दिल के कोने में छुपे उस बंद दरवाज़े पे मानो

ज़मानों बाद किसी ने हल्की से दस्तक दी हो

दरवाज़ा खोलने का मन तो बहुत करता है

पर दिल हार जाने का डर भी लगता है

बस उस लम्हे कि तस्वीर आंखों में उतार लेते हैं

और रोज़ के तरह आगे चल देते हैं

अपनी मंज़िल कि तलाश में

शहर दर शहर अंजानी गलियों का यह सफ़र 

ना जाने कब खत्म होगा

आज़ाद पंछी भी शाम होते ही घर लौट आते हैं

और हम है कि पता बदलते रहते हैं उस एक घर की तलाश में

मोह का यह जो मायाजाल है इससे कोई नही बच पाया है

बस दिल में आस लिए बैठें हैं

एक दिन वो खुशी हमे भी नसीब होगी

जिसके लिए हम घर छोड़ के निकले थे

बस उस दिन हम भी अपने घर लौट आएंगे

यहीं इस गंगा घाट पे फिर से तुमसे टकराएंगे

फिर वोही आरती होगी

फिर वोही सुकून होगा

फिर वोही गहरी बातें बतियाएंगे

पर तब तक इंतज़ार करना हमारा

हम लौट के ज़रूर आएंगे

He was just a mortal with an immortal soul

Wandering in this beautiful world

Leaving behind his fragments

In the smile, eyes and life of people he touched

His dreams ignited the fire which kept others awake at night

Yet when the morning rays ruffled the depths of his heart

He found himself lost again

In the wreckage of his broken dreams

He had found his solace in the solitude

And peace in the chaos

Yet this time he found himself searching for that northern star

In every soul that passed by him

Maybe it was time to seek light

He kept looking out for someone

To share his part of the world

To fight the everyday battles with him

To go out in that field where there is no wrong or right

To be together in this beautiful disaster called life

For a long time now, he had carried a universe inside him

Millions of stars in the vast galaxy held together 

With a string of hope

Yet all of that seemed ethereal

And with easy passing day

He could feel himself fading away

Thoughts I've today

Are the thoughts I've everyday

When I look out of the window

I see them walking past each other

Are they strangers?

I question myself

Then for a few seconds I see

Their eyes twinkling

Their nose crinkling

Their smile lingering a little longer

When they spot a familiar face in the crowd

Yet they walk past each other

Their feelings unexpressed

Their hands untouched

They juggle between controlling their increased heartbeats

And their nervous breathing

Their eyes stare blankly at the road ahead

Giving away the sadness in them

And just like that they take one step at a time

Away from each other

Wondering if their paths will cross again

And if it happens

Will one of them have the courage to break the shackle?

Maybe yes, maybe no

But until that day comes

They'll be the known strangers!

यूं ना हो मायूस तू

सुन अपने दिल कि तू

अपने सपनों को बना हक़ीक़त

खुद पर कर यकीन तू

हो अगर बुलंद हौंसले

तो भला तुझे उड़ने से कौन रोक सकता है

आखिर तेरे जीवन की डोर तेरे ही हाथ है

लोग क्या कहेंगे ये क्यों सोचता है

अक्सर पहाड़ काट कर लोग पहाड़ देखने जाते हैं

लोगो के बेड़ियों में ना बंध तू

हर अड़चन को राख कर

बन उस चट्टान की तरह

जिसके पीछे से सूरज निकला करता है

Searching for something

I can't seem to find

Going in a loop

Over things again and again

I find myself wandering

Far away from home

The path is less traveled

And full of unexpected turns

I being naive don't know

If the turn will be a dead end

Or a new path altogether

There's no map to feed in

The final destination

I struggle with the turns for sometime

Finding no way, I decide to go with my gut 

As the harsh cold winds engulf me

I search for the joy of summers

And warmth of a winter sun!

She came from the land of beaches

Smell of sand mixed with salty water

Pristine cliffs overlooking the sky

Where houses carried a soul inside them

And trees spread warmth all afternoon

Yet somehow they failed to console her

When her world collapsed

She was out all alone in the cold November rain

Drenched and broken, she picked up the pieces 

Made it whole, and rose again

To spread sunshine in life

With a ray of hope, and belief in heart

For she knew there was no next time!

Round and round

With the blades of fan

My mind also wanders

Going in a loop

Over the things that happened ages ago

The skeletons of my past

Tumble out of the closet

And I find myself

Reliving the emotions

The fear

The pain

The horror

The tears

The dejection

And the despair

All rolled into a blanket of emptiness

Which covers my soul

Every now and then

A blanket so thick that it weighs me down

yet somehow it's invisible

To the people around

They think it's in my head

The fan stops rotating

And suddenly I feel lighter

Maybe they are right

Maybe it's all in my head

He looked in the mirror

At his frail figure

Eyes popping out

Sagging skin

Lifeless smile

His face showed the truth of his life

He had moved mountains for them

He gave up his joy for their smiles

He killed his desires for their future

And in return all he got was a dead soul inside

He had neglected himself far too long now

But not anymore

His dreams needed a life of its own 

He felt a ball of fire rising within

And it was time to add fuel

Afterall in this surreal world

He was his own hero

Perhaps it's time to

Take everything in your stride

And break those shackles

Perhaps it's time to

Rise above the things

Pulling you down

Perhaps it's time to 

Look away and beyond

Those burning meadows

Perhaps it's time to

Lay your heart bare

And fly high

Perhaps it's time to

Take that decision

Which will change your life

Perhaps its time to

Be the masterpiece

And bring magic back to life!

I ponder sometimes

Aren't we all prisoners?

Of our thoughts

Of our dreams

Of our disappointments

Of the nights we spent overthinking

Of the tears we cried 

Of the people we left behind

Of the moments of evergreen time

Of the stories we live in

Of the every breath we take

And of the memories we make

If we all are prisoners of life

Then isn't death the ultimate freedom we crave?

She sat by the window

Gazing at the night sky

She has always been fascinated by the moon

How bit by bit it looses himself

Yet never fails to shine

Its light so bright that it

Pierces through the darkness

And illuminates the entire street

And she wondered

Isn't this nature's way of telling us not to give up?

That no matter how dark the night is

It'll always give way to the light

That no matter if you turn into pieces

You'll always grow back stronger

That no matter how many scars you have

You'll always be beautiful

And that no matter how much broken you are

You can always brighten up someone's life

Today she was on the stage

Dancing to her heart's content

Her feet picking up on every beat

Her body swaying to the rhythm of music

The sound of her anklets widened her smile

This was the day she was waiting for

Today she had no fear 

Of what people would think

She knew the people who mocked her everyday

Were today, in awe of her

Today she could be whatever she wanted to be

So she lived as a free soul

Her freedom will soon end

For tomorrow she he has to be a man again

Tomorrow she he has to take on the responsibilities

Tomorrow she he has to be strong and not shed a tear

Tomorrow she he has to die again

Like everyday

Waiting for that one day of freedom.

A drop of sweat

Trickled down his forehead

On a warm sunny afternoon

He twisted and turned

In his bed 

Looking blankly at the fan rotating above

There was an eerie silence in the air

Though not unusual

Thousands of thoughts

Running in his mind

Yet he was so calm outside

That nobody could guess

The storm building inside of him

From days or maybe months

He kept the secret safe in his heart

Dying each day, each moment in the process

But how could he betray his own

It was getting difficult now

Afterall how much can a little heart hold

So he did what he knew best

Pulled out a pen and wrote down the story of his life

And even though he bared it all

There was no one who could see 

the hidden words he had slipped in between

Once again he was back at the bed

On a warm sunny afternoon

Thousands of thoughts 

Running in his mind

And like everyday the loop continues!

Walking together on that full moon night

you reached out to hold my hand

shy and scared at the first touch

somehow our fingers interwined

we spoke about our dreams and life

and with a promise of forever, we parted our ways

a decade has passed since then

yet here I am

still living in the memories of that night

wishing for you to come back

if only wishes were horses

and promises were meant to be kept

I would have asked you 

to bring a tomorrow 

in which we are together

She was a rainbow in the gloomy sky

He was the warmth of winter sun

She wore her heart on her sleeve

He was a closed book hidden deep in the closet

She was willing to explore

He was waiting to be found

And when they met

They fit in like a jigsaw puzzle

She was the sparkle he was longing for

To brighten his mundane life

Days pass by in the blink of an eye

Thousands of thoughts cloud my mind

And like everyday I push them away

Dejected and tired, I lie on my bed

Looking for a way out of this maze

The clouds are dark and it's going to rain

Yet all I want is a bit of sunshine

To seep into my broken soul

And fill it with all the light it has got

The warmth is enough to fill in the cracks

And pave a path

To embrace my imperfections

And accept my flaws

I'll come back stronger than before

Though the scars will always remain

As a memory of all the battles I fought

In an alternate universe

I lit the pyre

And saw the fire erupt

Quicker than I expected

As the flames spread in its full glory

I saw it engulf 

My body

My thoughts

My feelings

My dreams

And the whole of me

I saw my life in a flash

And realized

Slowly inch by inch

It burned my entire existence

Turning it into ashes

And I realised how tiny we really are

Like every other evening

I was at my terrace

Sipping on a hot cup of coffee

And watching the sun go down

Spilling it's colors across the sky

Even though its mesmerising

It makes me realise

How similar humans and nature are

Just like the sunsets

People leave behind the void

And no matter how much you try

You'll never be able to replace them

You just move on and 

Embrace the hues they left behind

In an alternate universe

I lit the pyre

And saw the fire erupt

Quicker than I expected

As the flames spread in its full glory

I saw it engulf 

My body

My thoughts

My dreams

And the whole of me

Inch by inch, within minutes

The fire burned down my entire existence

Turning it into ashes

But somehow

It healed my brokenness

And cleansed my soul

Maybe it was time

To rise back and shine with a new zeal

I still keep you safe

In the darkest corners of my mind

Memories of the night we met

Are too overwhelming at times

They haunt me yet I seek refuge in them

When the world becomes 

A little too harsh to bear

I seek solace in your words

The moments we spent

Fade away a little with each passing day

But no matter how fragile I become

I believe you'll always be my guiding light

Because even though I'm the sun

It's your warmth which keeps me alive

"What's happiness?", you ask me;

Night sky

A freshly made bed

A warm blanket

Rain drops falling hard on window

The smell of hot chocolate

A book in hand

Words in my mind

And you by my side

"That's happiness", I reply

I prefer nights to days

There is a peaceful silence 

And calmness which the darkness brings

Thousands of stars illuminate the sky

Making the city look mesmerising yet

Mysterious

The nip in the air makes me shiver

Yet the night gives me comfort

Like no one else

A long drive

wind blowing in the hair

and music for company

Invokes a thousand feelings

Which I kept hidden

Under the deep layers of my heart all day long

But at night, I let it all out

Knowingly or unknowingly

I bare myself,

vulnerable yet guarded at the same time

And the universe is kind enough

That it puts all its might

To repair my broken pieces

And give me the strength

To take on the day head on yet again

Ever wondered how much power nature holds?

A drop of water is enough 

to quench your thirst

A whiff of wind is enough

to relieve us of the summer heat

A ray of sunshine is enough 

to brighten up our gloomy days

They have as much power to nurture us

as the power to

drown us

uproot us

and burn us down to ashes 

All of this is as simple as 

washing away our footprints left on the sand

Yet we consider ourselves superior beings

talking about having control over everything

When in reality we are just a tiny dot

In this map of universe

Maybe it's time to realize

how much powerless we really are!

Have you ever seen someone's scars?

The lines on their wrists

Which are now barely visible

Each having a story of its own

Of the multiple battles they fought alone

Have you truly seen someone's eyes?

Their twinkle diminishing

With each passing day

And emptiness filling the void

Isn't it an oxymoron in itself?

You say you've seen it all

And life has been tough on you

Well have you truly lived

 If you haven't connected to someone's soul?

ख्वाहिशों का बोझ लिए चल रहे थे हम

यूंही रास्ते में तुमसे टकरा गए

सपनो को हकीकत में बदलते देखा मैंने

जब हम और तुम यूं पास आ गए

ठोकर लगी ऐसी कि ज़िन्दगी कि काया ही पलट गई

खुशियां मानो छिन सी गई और सपने कहीं खो से गए

खालीपन ने ज़िन्दगी को ऐसा जकड़ा

कि मेरी पटर पटर करती ज़ुबान पे ताला लगा दिया

शिकायते तो बेशुमार है ज़ेहन में

पर चाहे जितना कोस लूं तुम्हे

अगर आज भी तुम सामने आ जाओ

धड़कने बढ़ जाती हैं और गाल टमाटर से ज़्यादा लाल हो जाते हैं

कंभकत ये दिल तुमसे आज भी बेइंतेहा मोहब्बत करता है

तुम पे भले ही अब मेरा हक नहीं

पर इस अधूरे इश्क़ पे हमेशा मेरा हक रहेगा

When this pandemic is over

Will things really change?

Will we start appreciating 

Our relationships and the freedom 

to come out of the four walls and move around 

to enjoy a meal at a fine dine

to breathe into fresh air instead of a mask

Will we realize  how long we have waited

For this liberty

to see our loved ones

to hold them close

to feel the warmth of their breath on our skin

Will we forget the nightmares we've been through

All the days and nights which we spent

Scared at how the things were unfolding

Walking blindly into darkness

With no clue as what may hit us

Loss of job, life or loved one?

Will we really become human again?

Will the life after pandemic be any different?

Or will we go back to our own selves

And pretend as if nothing happened?

Maybe some of us will change

Maybe we'll be 

A little more compassionate

A little more kind

A little more caring

A little more human

Maybe a better world awaits us

Once all of this is over

Or maybe not

Only time will tell

A little hope is all I have for now

Love...

It's a strong feeling

which people play with

writers weave a story

music connects the dots

and it makes way to our soul

somehow the lyrics invoke

emotions which we never felt before

It's an emotion which brings out 

the best and worst in people

you'd go to any length

to protect your loved ones

Love...

It's omnipresent yet missing

look around you and you'll find

everyone craving for it

as if it's the ultimate elixir of life

and those who have it

they live in a world

where everything's fine

as long as they have loved one by their side

Love...

It's invincible

even death can't destroy it

people die and maybe souls do too

who knows, but love?

it lives on

in the memories which you leave behind

in a child's laughter

in a mother's prayer

in a father's scoldings

in a lover's eyes

Perhaps in this mortal world

Love is immortal...

Remember that evening

which we spent together

lost in deep conversation

with hot cups of coffee in hand

we spoke about everything

under the sun

I had never opened myself

so much to a stranger

but you were different

with you words flowed like water

evening turned to night

and we walked out of the cafe

strolling along the beach side

sand and sea

and the breezy night

made up for the perfect date

and as my soul connected to yours

we became timeless!

They say eyes speak a lot more

than words ever could

there was a time

when you could catch my tears

even before it reached my eyes

when you could read my fears

which I was too afraid to say out loud 

when you would make me laugh

just to see the twinkle in my eyes

you read me like an open book

but times have changed

and so have we

I wonder why my eyes

don't talk to you anymore

have the words changed?

do you see the sadness in them?

do you see them hoping for a miracle?

do you feel the pain in them?

does it even matter to you anymore?

or is it just a pair of eyes for you?

thoughts like these often crop up in my mind

and all I can do is stare at you

longing for one look

waiting for one touch

spiralling into darkness

and looking for a way out of this mess!

Bit by bit

I feel myself sinking

Deep down

Into another world

Where silence 

Is all I could hear

And darkness 

Is all I could see

I felt tired

Not only physically

But mentally too

I could hear my soul

Breaking into a milion pieces

And each piece 

Crying for help

But all I could hear back

Was silence

Some find solace in silence

I found chaos

Remember when

We used to sneak out of our homes 

To meet at that tea shop

Remember when

We used to search for reasons

To go out and call each other

Remember when

We used to bunk classes

To see the new movie at the hall

Remember when

You used to hold my hand

While crossing the road

Remember when 

Your blood boiled

On knowing the sufferings I've been through

Remember when

You promised

You'll always be there for me

Remember when

You said that you love me

Do you remember any of these?

Or I'm the only one taking the fall?

I tighten my grip

and the sand spills out of my hand

failing miserably yet again

I curse myself

I hold onto the last few grains

carefully this time

I hear the clock ticking

time...time is running out

all I want is 

to hold you closer

and feel your breath

my eyes try to soak in

every detail of you

before the darkness arrives

my hands are empty now

I see you withering away

and the darkness

has yet again won

With unspoken words

I crossed over 

to the dark side

And built a wall around myself

Everyday I woke up

To fight a new battle

But today was different

A knock

Made me realize

Every wall that I built, had a door

Surprisingly, I opened it

And found the magic, I had been looking for 

Searching for the ethereal world

I didn't realise, I carried a universe inside me

A universe

Of dreams and struggles

Of chaos and solace

Of the stories and battle scars

Of scars which have healed and are yet to heal

Seeing the brokenness

I realised our souls are stronger

Than we believe

So I sprinkled some stardust

Spread my wings and flew away

With a newfound strength

Like a phoenix rising from the ashes!