हँसी तेरी

हँसी से तेरी खिलखिलाए सारा आलम
तू रूठ जाए तो, रूठ जाते हैं मौसम
देख-देख कर तुझको, आहें भरते हैं लोग
कातिल अदाओं को तुम्हें छुपाना नहीं आता |

तुमको खबर ही नहीं, कितनी कीमती हो तुम
कुछ और बताए गर कोई तो सुनना ही नहीं
कभी तो समझा होता, कितना मरते हैं तुमपे
बस मरते रहते हैं, पर बताना नहीं आता ||

क्या खूब धुन है तेरी, मदहोश हैं सभी
महफ़िल बाँध ली है, तेरी ये दो आँखों ने
बस नज़र उठने गिरने से, मरने को बैठे हैं लोग
एक तुम हो ऐसे ज़ालिम, जिनको सताना नही आता |

इनायत-ए-नज़र बस पड़ जाए, सब हैं इंतज़ार में
क्या क्या नहीं करते, नज़र भर देख लो केवल
आगे-पीछे फिरते हैं हम, यूँ ही आवारा बनके
फकत प्यार भर उनसे, जताना नहीं आता ||

Farewell Poem

Smriti patal par dabe
kuchh adhoore hain vaade vikal
fursat ke kuchh palon ki
chaah mein baithe hain
Manzilon ka nahin bharosa
nit roz badalti rehti hain
hum to nayi raahon ki
chaah me rehte hain

Khabar nahin kal kahaan honge
kya apne bhi kahin nishaa(n) honge
par ek wada ha zindagi
chalte rahenge, jahaan honge

Aalochako aur mitron ka
karte hain shukriya
ek aur udaan ki
jinse prerna milti rahi
ye iti nahin hai
ek aur shuruaat hai
ek aur chunauti ki
hum to chaah mein  baithe hain

Majboor ho gaye

Bina par-e-surkhaab ke

sabhi magroor ho gaye

kya baat hai, sochne ko

hum majboor ho gaye!

Wo uth gaye itne oonche

neeche hi reh gaye hum

paas the jo kabhi dil ke

wo bahut door ho gaye!!

Jo farmaaye tune mehfil me

wo lafz hue ibaadat

do gile kiye gar maine

wo kasoor ho gaye???

Gaate hain aj kauwe

udne lage hain mendhak

nahate nahin jo kabhi

wo aaj hoor ho gaye????

...begane ho gaye

Mehfil mein tanhayee ka, sabab kya batayein

roothe hue se aaj paimaane ho gaye;

kisi ko bhulayein itna hosh hi kahan hai

hum to khud se hi begaane ho gaye !

nahin lagti hai ab to chandni pehle si,

yatharth me khayalon ke thikaane ho gaye!
furkat to milti hai, milti nahin fursat

kehne ko khatm saare, bahaane ho gaye !!

Zindagi bahut tez hai, main hoon zara dheere

khud se milke dekha-hum puraane ho gaye

kaise batayein hum, kya haal hai zindagi ka

itni bheed mein bhi aaj, veerane ho gaye !!!

Sab chhupe se baithe hain, ek naqab chehro par,

dil ki baatein kiye to zamaane ho gaye,

lafzon ka nahin bharosa, matlab badal jate hain

main aankhein padhta hoon, shabd be-maane ho gaye !!!!

The Big Bang(alore) (mis)adventure-Final part: A friend in need

[The last part. If you dont understand see Part 1 and Part 2. This one's 3rd and the last]

As soon as we came to know that the fine for WT in AC is more than we expect, we decide to alight and board a general coach. We somehow fit ourselves in the crowded compartment. Some people let us sit too when they heard of our couldn't-catch-the-train story. Here we were, in general compartment contemplating on what could have been a peaceful Rajdhani ride back home converted to Utpal Dutt chasing Amol Palekar (Golmaal if you haven't figured out yet) kinda don't-take-a-breath chronicle. We had a look at our fellow journeymen. There were these two 30 something lads who worked in a Mall and going home for some wedding. There was this calm composed 30 something (probably 35) married lady hung neatly onto the window seat. And there were two more nonchalant fellows who went about their business(travel) without a fuss.

After a while, the situation dawned upon us. We looked at each other, eyes shouting-oh man! we could have been travelling in Rajdhani! It still wasn't sinking in. We had decided, we'll pay the fine if need be; else we'll reach Hyderabad in the morning and will buy tickets. But the train won't stop there for long. Manjari, earlier our lab-mate(now at hyd), had come to that Bangalore conference and wished we'll meet while passing Hyderabad. Your wish is granted lady, whether you really wished it or not. Dhir called her. "We have left for Delhi. Will reach Hyderabad by morning". "NO! I am not coming, Secunderabad is too far from here". "You have no choice. We aren't asking. We are telling you to come", said he as he narrated our mis-adventure. It was late night. We hadn't eaten much and were tired and sleepy. How could you sleep in a general compartment where you could barely sit. The night seemed like an eternity. In the morning, we called her yet again to confirm she's woken up and coming. "Kitne kameene dost hain, savere jaga ke poochhte hain, tu aa rahi hai ya nahin? Aa rahi hoon baba, aa rahi hoon!", she shouted on the phone," I am ready, just leaving for the station!". These words seemed so refreshing after the morbid night.

And yes, she was there on time-ready with two tickets, laughing uncontrollably at our condition. We could laugh too now. Happy that she came knowing how clumsy she can be. We are still thankful. "Raat kaise kaati?", she asked. "Bade maze mein. I had your book to read", I replied, showing the cover of 'Phantoms in the brain' which i had borrowed from her. She and Dhir strolled for sometime chatting. I was too tired to budge. I gave her money for the tickets which she directly refused. Only when I showed her that we had ample money, she took it. With happy faces, we bid adieu, "See you in feb, we're coming for a conference".

The rest of the trip was again too dull and all I did was try to read the book. Could not focus and the short attention span made my progress snail-like. It still kept me busy. Second law of thermodynamics increased Dhir's entropy so he couldn't sit quite for long and kept moving around. After Mathura, the journey became more painful as the anticipation reached its maximum but the speed of train reached its minimum with stoppages more frequent than a blueline bus. When finally we arrived at Delhi, we rushed to our homes to get as much sleep as we could. And the pattern(rushing home to sleep) carried on for a few days at least.

(Yes!!! Finally the marathon story is over... :) And I am as happy as you, the reader).

The Big Bang(alore) (mis)adventure-part2: The Desperate Dash

...(contd) We sprinted out of the station, in a flash through the maddening crowd of vehicles in the parking lot (our desperation made it appear all the more crowded), and onto the road in no time. We stopped an auto,"Yeswantpur?"."100 rupees",he said. It is uncanny how easily an auto driver discerns your urgency and decides the fare accordingly."50", I said, hoping he would agree on 60-70, but obviously we didn't have time at our luxury; not even for arguing on the ransom fare. He declared "80", fully knowing we had no choice. It took just a second for us to hop in. It was time for split second decisions. Anyways, we weren't going to travel to Yeswantpur daily. 'How long does it take to reach there?', we enquired. 30 min. "Drive faster, we have to make it in 10-15". As Einstein has rightly put it - "Put your hand on a hot stove for a minute, and it seems like an hour. Sit with a pretty girl for an hour, and it seems like a minute. THAT'S relativity". We were on the hot stove. The 15 minutes seemed like eternity. Looked like we were going in slow motion. It kinda irked me but I told myself to keep my cool. This will pass. Finally we arrived at Yeswantpur. The train was at the platform, ready to leave. There was no time for getting a ticket. We'll pay the fine if need be. Let's just board it. So we boarded the AC coach and dumped our luggage on an empty side berth...(2 be contd-yeah yet again)...

icecream

We walked towards the road, silently. "Ice cream?", she asked. I woke up from my thoughts,"Huh, in this winter?"; paused for a while she waited for approval. "okay fine, it will be fun", I finally said.

"cornetto", I told the eager ice-cream vendor(I don't really remember which ice cream I ordered). He fished into the box quickly and had a cone in his hand and quoted the money. It was awkward when I asked,"you have just one left?". He started smiling,"sab log to ek hi lete hain sir !". It was as funny as it was embarrassing  I was laughing uncontrollably inside. I somehow suppressed my laughter and waited for her to clarify than me saying something stupid. Realizing I wont say anything, she quickly controlled the scene,"give us two, we eat more". It almost had me in splits...but I thought it would be much better to just enjoy the ice-cream.

Khwab nahin aate !

Sochta hoon ajkal mujhe kyun khwab nahin aate?

bachpan ki manind kyun behisaab nahin aate?

kya sota nahin hoon main

ya ab kalpana hi ksheen hai?

ya fir pehle jaisi ab

aati nahin wo neend hai?

ichchaon ki kami hai ya

pane ki chaah hi prabal nahin?

sab kuchh to paya nahin hai fir

kyun chahton me bal nahin?

yatharth ki lakeer kya

gehri khichi hai mastak mein?

kyun tej nahin dikhta hai ab

chhote sapno ki dastak mein?

sapnon ki kshanbhangurta ki

kya tees ho uthi tez hai?

sapnon se chalti yeh duniya

kyun sapnon se parhez hai?

The Big Bang(alore) (mis)adventure

"What???", we exclaimed together. The coolie looked at us as if we either did not understand his language(common problem there) or dont want to believe him. It was the latter case. There we stood, flabbergasted. The news didnt sink in well. Infact it didnt sink in at all. How desperate we were to get to Delhi at the earliest possible time but now we stand here, dumbfounded.

Lets rewind the story two days ago. Our work at Bangalore was finished. We were very happy we will not have to suffer from its intolerable food (according to our taste that is). To our dismay, we couldn't leave as our e-ticket wasn't confirmed. So, we came back and reserved a tatkal ticket for RAJDHANI. We were disappointed that we will have to wait for two more days with nothing to do. And very bored we were.

Cut back to current situation. We were drenched in cold sweat. Our minds defied to think. The ugly Bangalore traffic held us long enough so our train could leave us behind. Dhir suggested we take an auto or something. I was trying to tell myself "All is well, all is well...", not believing a word of it. I was still in a shock. Dhir ran off to check the info at the inquiry counter. Now, i was beginning to soak in the news. I understood the train had left, and we cannot do anything about it. I told myself-keep it cool mate, think what to do now.

Dhir came back-yes the train has left. We should look for alternatives. We went to the platform, i took out my laptop, connected the data card and searched for alternatives on the internet. 'Oh no...there's no train until another day', i said. Dhir suggested-"Only option - Sampark Kranti from Yeswantpur station. Needs half an hour. Then he suggested we take a bus to Pune and look for options from there. We weren't going back at any cost. "Do we have that much money?", i asked. Probably yes. We counted. There was enough money to get us home but not as much to travel luxuriously. I wasn't too keen on traveling in a bus. We finally agreed on trying for "SAMPARK KRANTI" before we settle for the bus option. We were left with just half an hour. We packed up things in a jiffy and made a rush for Yeswantpur...(to be continued)

...baithi hai

Dikhayi deti nahin usko bechainiyaan meri,

mujko har aah bhi uski, dikhayi deti hai.

Aawaz apne dil ki, sun pata nahin aksar,

har aawaz uske dil ki sunayi deti hai.

Kya asar hai uspar, maloom hi nahin hota,

wo mujhko to deewaana banaye baithi hai.

Pahunchti bhi nahin arziyaan dil ki us tak,

mere sath khud ko bhi sataaye baithi hai !

JAWAAB DE...!

Haan kar ya na kar, Kuchh to jawaab de !

Paagal keh de ya deewana, Kuch to khitaab de !!

Zindagi de de mujhe ya, jaan hi le le meri !

Teri yaad mein jaagi raaton ka,Kuchh to hisaab de !!

Kuchh keh nahin sakta, meri aankhon ko hi sun !

Khamoshi bhi suno meri, bas hogi pyaar ki dhun !!

Kyun hai tu pareshaa(n), ja sab kuchh bhool ja ab !

Bhool ja saare gham, ashkon ka mujhe sailaab de !!

GIRTE DEKHA HAI...

Thehre huye paani mein,

Saagar ko ufante dekha hai;

Har gehraayi se jyaada,

Insaa(n) ko girte dekha hai !

Matlab ki is aandhi mein,

har rishta udte dekha hai,

Vishwaas aur vishwaas-ghaat mein,

Bas ek ghaat ki rekha hai !!

Kahin nahin

Insaanon ke beech aaj, bas rishtey reh gaye hain,

kisi bhi bandhan mein, ab pyaar kahin nahin .

sab akele reh gaye hain, is duniyaan ki bheed mein,

kahin bhi chale jao, sukoon yaar kahin nahin !

Woh madhoshi ka aalam,

woh chanchal man ke sapne;

ishk mein bhi ab woh,

khumaaar kahin nahin.

saath baith jinke hum,

baantate the khushi aur gham,

ab to yaaron ki bhi,

woh kataar kahin nahin !!

raah dekhte the kabhi ,

jo raaste humaare liye;

un raahon par humara,

ab akhtiyaar kahin nahin.

saara jahaan lagta tha,

kabhi sirf mere liye ;

aur aaj lagta hai mujh sa,

koi lachaar kahin nahin !!!

Jaane hoon kahaan main?

Saara jahaan tha jab mashroof,

khushiyon ke samaan mein;

kyun khada tha main akela,

barbaadiyon ke jahaan mein !

Itne bahaa diye maine aansoo,

ghamon ke samandar mein;

ik boond bhi na bachi,

khushiyon ke aasmaan mein !!

kabhi dekhta hoon jo aaina gar,

to khud ko dhoondhta hoon;

aaine mein bhi nahin tha,

na jaane hoon kahaan main ???

kabhi sochta hoon ki main,

sochon mein hi reh gaya hoon bas;

jaane kab se gaya nahin hoon main,

angaaron bhare, haqeekat ke gulistaan mein !!!

KYAA KAREN...?

Humne kiya kayee baar,

izhaar-e-ishk unse yaar;

bataayaa ki nahin aata,

bin tere dil ko karaar.

Woh sunte nahin, kya karen...?

maine khamoshi se kahaa,

kahaa aankhon hi aankhon mein;

kayee baar kiya isharaa,

maine baaton hi baaton mein.

woh samjhe nahin, kya karen...??

kayee baar maine toka,

unko aate-jaate roka;

aur dil par har-baar,

unhen bijli giraate-roka.

woh rukte nahin, kya karen...???

Woh aaye mere khwabon mein,

maine wahaan bhi batayaa;

kitni baar kiya hai ghayal,

kaise-kaise mujhe sataaya.

Woh maane nahin, kya karen...???? !

MERI GIRLFRIENDS

badal raha hai zamaana, badal rahe hain trends.

badalte waqt ke saath main, badal raha hoon girlfriends.

pehli waali badi hi sundar, high society ki chick,

mujhpe thi all-out fida, aisi thi apun ki pick;

lekin wo bas impress thi, dil mein khula naa khaata,

maine proposal de maara, aur usne toda naata.

dooji ke kya haal kahoon, jaise meera bhakt shyaam ki,

din raat japti rehti thi wo, bas maala mere naam ki;

kuue-se gehre nainon se, wo darshan karti mere,

maine kaha-maaf kar bhaktan,laayak nahin main tere.

teesri bold n beautiful , par height mein thodi kam,

dost ko dil ka haal bataaya, wo nikli uska gham.

socha koi baat nahin,dosti par mohabbat qurban;

dost bhi kuchh keh na saka,kisi aur ki ban gayi jaan.

chauthi kabhi bhulaaye na bhoole, wo sundar susheel sa chehra

harpal jiski aankhon par, sharm-o-haya ka rehta pehraa;

uske pyaar mein jaane maine,kitni poems likh maari,

par dushman gang ki chaal se,meri mohabbat yahan bhi haari

paanchvi ko dekhte hi fida hua,par usko mujhse nafrat huyee,

main bhi deewano ka deewana, kam na meri himmat huyee

foota fir se love ka ankur , mehnat rang laa hi gayi,

uske baap ka hua transfer,shahar chhod wo chali gayi.

chhathi ne yaad dilaaya mujhko,yaaro chhathi ka doodh

yun peechhe pad gayi mere,jaise ho wo koi bhoot;

main to usse kanni katoon,par wo rehti hardam peechhe,

jab tak usne haar na maani, main bhaga bas aankhen meeche,

saatvi saat suron ka sangam,par usko koi jaane na,

tanhayi mein jee bhar mujhse bole,bheed mein pehchaane na;

main samjha dhadkan hai meri,lekin wo thi ek parchhaayi,

mujhse judi rahi hamesha, par chhaya kab haath hai aayi !

aathvi ek pyaari pari thi,jaise doodh mein dhuli huyi,

uski to gaali bhi lagti,jaise shahad mein ghuli huyi;

par wo thi kuchh chanchal si,jaane kitne dilon se kheli,

sab usse bhag kar settle huye,  par wo aj bhi hai akeli.

nauvi yun to thi aishwarya,par kitaabon se use fursat nahin,

ghar jaane ki rehti jaldi,date par jab bhi jaate kahin;

exams agar paas aa jayen,mujhko jhat se bhool jayegi,

kitaabon se hi karegi shaadi,unhin se rishte nibhaayegi.

dasween ne mujhe maari line,maine counter-attack kiya,

aage-peechhe chakkar kaatkar  , usne mujhko flat kiya;

samjhne lagi fir khud ko heroine,uske bhaav badhe hi-fi,

maine kaha bahut hua ji  , ok ab tata bye-bye !

ye thi apun ki love story,thodi si incomplete,

11vi ke liye entrance hai,bina fees karo compete;

i believe in pyar mohabbat, pyar do aur pyaar paao,

12vi is also on cards, kabhi na apna bhaav badhao !

...REH GAYE

KEH HUM SAKE NAHIN, AUR TUMNE BHI NA SAMJHA;

PYAAR HUM AANKHON SE HI, JATATE REH GAYE !

HAR BAAT AAPKI HUMNE, SAR AANKHON PAR RAKHI;

AUR AAP HUMKO YUN HI, SATATE REH GAYE !

Kya tha tumhare man mein, tumne bhi na jaana ;

Qayamat ka din tha wo, jab hum izhar kar baithe !

Yaadon aur Khwabon mein, ek aks reh gaya bas ;

Aap yun chale gaye , ki hum bhulaate reh gaye !

Aaj aap laute hain fir se, jaane kya sochkar ;

yeh khayal humko raat bhar, jagate reh gaye !

Ab door hi rehna hai, azad panchhi hain hum;

bekaar hi wo aaj humko ,  manate reh gaye !

OH MY LIFE...!

Oh my life , what a bless you are !
Oh my life , what a mess you are !

i love u for the glorious days,

which you have always given me;

i condemn you for the miseries,

with which you have stricken me !

i 've loved your charms,
i 've felt your calms;
you made me think,
in the time of a blink;
the laborious days,
the assiduous nights,
n then the glory,
reaching ecstatic heights.

but everything 's gone in the eddy of life,
i've lost my tranquillizing,intoxicating fife.
but glory will have to return to me,
someday again i 'll make merry in glee.
oh dear AMIT have faith in you,
this is what LIFE is-with ups n downs
when i've accepted its loving smiles
why should i be afraid of its frowns.
it is often darkest before the night's over,
then comes DAY-with its shining crowns

मेरी खर्चीली GIRLFRIEND

तुझे date पर जब ले जाता हूँ
तू band मेरा बजाती है ,
मैं सादा पानी पीता हूँ
तू mushroom pizza खाती है ।

लंबे -चौड़े से menu की
हर चीज़ तुझको भाती है ,
तेरे खाने का bill देख-देख
मेरी नब्ज़ डूबती जाती है ।

Movie का कभी plan बनाऊँ तो
बस multiplex ही चाहती है ,
और interval में भर पेट ज़ालिम
महँगा pop-corn खाती है ।

टहलने को जब भी कहीं निकलें
सीधे mall में ले जाती है ,
जी भर शॉपिंग करती है
और मेरा माल उड़ाती है ।

छोड़ भी नहीं सकता मैं तुझको
दोस्तों में धाक जो जम जाती है ,
अब जैसे -तैसे काट रहा हूँ
बस किसी तरह कट जाती है ।

जान तो जब फँस ही गई है
अब किसी तरह तो निभानी है ,
पर मैं अकेला नहीं हूँ यारों
तुम सबकी भी यही कहानी है । ।

तेरी यादों के दम पर

मुद्दतों से तेरे दीदार की
इनायत ना हुई हम पर
फ़क़त रूह बाक़ी है जिस्म में
तेरी यादों के दम पर ।