A tribute to Sher!

To him who was there in the dark of the night,
to listen to my happiness and my plight
Who, without saying a word
made sure i don't feel like turd
Who knew i was home before anyone else had a clue
Walks with him were fun and true
Who now, is making another life well
Alas! i wont meet him, for he is in heaven and i sure will be in hell!
To Sher, the Spark of life!

Not that important

I really don't care about her anymore.

Did she get her auto this morning, did he overcharge?

Did she comb her hair or just ran her fingers through them?

Did sun burnt her yet again?

Was her boss rude this morning too?

Did she argue with another colleague?

Did her dog eat his favorite ice-cream?

Did she stop and consoled a random person she saw upset today?

Did she scold her mom for eating sweets?

Did she wake up her boyfriend this morning too?

Did she freak out at this friend of his who hits on him?

Did her headphones work when she needed them too?

Did she learn how to drive?

Did her bhabhi settle down post marriage?

Did her mom recover well from her ailment?

Did she scroll down and looked at my no. before deciding on not calling?

Did she sent a silent prayer on my birthday?

No, I really don't care about her anymore...

Man over matter..

"There is a village some 35 km from Abz where i integrated the community to make it a rural tourism village in 3 years" "oh wow! but three years? i am a fauji, i do things quickly, like in a blink of an eye. i opened 3 schools for impoverished girls in 6 months. that is my speed" "oh UP is not that difficult. the real challenges lie in Jharkhand" " what is it in Jharkhand that is so difficult? there are more poor people, more chances. had i been here, i would have opened 30 schools in 3 years and integrated i don't know how many communities" "its easier if you are in a region where you are well versed with language, try working in areas where communication itself becomes a challenge" "oh what is so difficult about it, i can learn languages in a snap of a finger" "it's easier said than done. i have worked across India and i know 15 languages. Don't tell me how to learn languages" "no no i am not, just saying quick learning abilities help!" "u mean i am dumb.." "@#%^&*.." "*&^%$##$%" .....

and i thought they met to share experiences, help each other and lead towards a more eg'a'litarian society....

Alas! The 'o' has defeated the 'a' ... yet again...

The Illusion

Wandering alone in the woods of eternity

I find myself lost in the labyrinth

Occasionally, there is a marker here or there

But alas! i know not, i want to go where

My soul is lost in the darkness that surrounds

It has forgotten what light is

It takes steps, directionless

These footsteps, they echo back in the void

My soul has wandered for ages now, one lifetime to another

In search of a place it can call home

Its quest seems never ending, with nothing in sight

I thought this will complete me

I worked hard and achieved it

But it seems meaningless now

like a plant that doesn't grow even after sown

I need to keep looking

Keep searching while i walk

I might stumble across something that would heal the wounds

Made by repeated falling on the ground

The pain now seems addictive or maybe i have numbed

Tears flow down and flood my life

I know myself i will need to wipe

From somewhere a tear sneaks into the wound

It burns I yell with no one to hear

Its time. I look at the shining knob

Still sobbing, reluctantly, I open the door

I step into blinding light

Ah! there is my family, my friend and my enemy

Together they welcome me back

To the Illusion they call Life..!!!

Can i be me?

I walk through the forest, lost in the labyrinth

Of not the trees around me but thoughts that clutter my mind

The trees they sway their branches, leaves flapping in the breeze

They seem to call out to me, make me feel at ease

Oh is it me, i wonder, who feels so sad

or is it just the world that is so bad

It might be either, i hear a voice, or none at all

Don't erect around you, a formidable wall

Let yourself breathe, it says, the air liberates

Give people a chance, comrade it might generate

But i am scared, i said to the wise old tree

of becoming a person that never was me

of getting lost to the crowd that surrounds

of loosing my voice in the cacophony of sounds

It looked at me with ever knowing eyes

You always have an option to choose

its the courage that you lack, that makes you loose

You are born to be happy and free and fulfilled

Not here to think every task is uphill

Have faith in yourself, believe in the Lord

Keep looking for what will resonate with your heart

Then even at the most trying times, your spirit will sail you through

You'll be home with yourself, peace prevail, your eyes will smile too.

A chance to be..!

Give myself a chance to be

Let me know, who is me

Let me cut the strings tying me down

I am trying to swim before i drown.

The skies are wide with clouds and birds

I look up and think, am i one in the herd?

Just then i see a solitary bird

Weren't he supposed to be with his flock.

It seemed he smiled at me and said

It's by choice that i am made

Did you notice, my wonderful dive

I had to for it, strive and strive.

Then he said pointing to his flock miles away

Had you noticed me if, with them i sway?

Don't be scared, listen to your heart

It'll show you the way to your world.

The uniform and the hoop

The birds woke me up with their chatter. 'The' morning was finally here. I opened my eyes, and there it was. On the hanger on the wall opposite. Hanging smartly, ironed, my uniform. My first day to school. I stood up from the bed hurriedly, and started to get ready. School. Wow! My dream. I'll have children my age to play with, masters who set me lessons to do. I'll get free lunch during recess. I will become a doctor and treat my mother who is always ill. I got ready, put on my new shoes, packed my new copy in my new school bag. Combed my hair. While looking at myself in the mirror, i hung the bag on my shoulders. I do look smart. Very handsome indeed. Then i heard the honking of the school van. Slap! Yell! Honk! Honk! Cough! Dust! Smoke! Another slap. i saw my father shouting for me to wake up - "Uth, roti kahan se aayegi warna." I woke up. Stood up from the rug, put on the slippers made from used plastic bottles. My eyes searched for my metal hoop. My brother was standing at a distance with a small drum in his hand. I looked around, saw my mother coughing, father already gulping down the desi tharra. I saw the children across the road on the pavement, going to school. "Chal jaldi" came my brother's voice. I looked at him. I looked at them. Picked up the hoop. Went to the traffic light with my brother and his drum and my hoop and began to perform.

Perhaps, someday, i will hear a school van calling out for me. For now, i'll have to do with honking trucks and cars passing by.