Main Sone Se Darta Hun

Aaj Jo Sounga To Kya Dekhunga Sapne Me,
Aaundhe Pade Ye Sochta Hun Main.
Kal Aadhi Raat Chaunk Ke Utha Baitha Tha,
Aisa Kya Dekha Yaad Nahi Aata.

Bachpan Me Jab Maa Loriyan Gaati Thi,
Mujhe Nind Badi Pyaari Lagti Thi,
Sapne Me Pariyan Durr Desh Le Jati Thi,
Muskan Mere Oth Par Chhod Jati thi.

Aaj Nind Nahi Aati, Maa Ki Yaad Aati Hai,
Sona Nahi Chahta Shayad Sapno Se Darta Hun,
Ye Sochta Hun Ke Ab Kyon Nahi Aati Sapno Me Pariyan,
Kya Pariyan Sirf Bachhon Ke Sapno Me Hi Aati Hain?

Zindgi ...

Zindgi kiraye* ke makan jaisi hoti hai,
Jiski eeton pe hamara koi ikhtiyaar* nahi hota,
Hum jise jina samajhte hain wo mehez ek samjhauta hai,
Aur jise saans lena - 'Adaygi'*.

Kiraye - Rented
Ikhtiyaar - owning something
Adaygi - Payment

KASHTI

Aaj Chand Jane Kyon Itna Safed Hai,
Pahle To Ise Kabhi Aisa Nahi Dekha,
Khamosh, Sard aur Bilkul Akela Sa,
Aaj Badal Bhi Ise Kajal Nahi Lagata II

Kya Ho Gaya Hai - Ya Kya Hone Wala Hai,
Main Sochta Hun Baitha Nadi Kinare,
Har Leher Jo Kinare Se Takrati Hi - Kuchh Kehti Hai Jaise,
Na Jane Kaun Hai Jo Aane Wala Hai II

Pedon Ke Patte Hawaon Ki Dhun Pe Ga Rahe Hain,
Chakod Sakhon Par Baith Chand Ko Niharte Hain,
Swagat Sa Mahaul Lagta Hai Aaj Chandni Raat Me,
Jane Kyon Har Aane Wale Pal Pe Hain Meri Palke Tiki II

Jo Durr Dekhta Hun To Kuchh Dhundhla Sa Dikhta Hai,
Ek Aakriti - Jo Lehron Pe Uthti Aur Baithti Hai,
Mujhe Paas Aati Si Lagti Hai Wo Dhime Dhime,
Nadi Ki Dhar Par Bani Roshni Ki Diwar Ke Us Par Hai Wo Shayad II

Duri Jo Hai Lambi - Lamha Ban Mit Rahi Hai.

Aaj Phir Ek Maa Bhukhi So Gai!

Syah kali raat me,
Bijli wale khambhe ki roshni tale,
Fati si maili chadar me lipti hui,
Wo dekh rahi thi shunya ki or.

Bhao rahit chehra, aansu rahit aanken,
Sikur ke baithi thi maano koi gathdi ho.

Samne rakhi hui katori me kuchh paise pade the,
aur thodi si juthi chawal faili hui thi,
Main gujar raha tha wahin paas se, Rukha,
Dekha log aa ja rahe the, koi paidal to koi motor car me,
par unko shayad roz hi ye nazara dikhne ko milta tha,
isliye sambedana mar gayi thi.

Maine apni jeb tatoli, socha kyon na kuchh paise hi de dun,
par achanak laga ke is maa ko aaj mamta ki zaroorat hai,
rakh liye paise jeb me wapas,
Puchha - "Amma, kya aap kuchh khaogi?"
Koi jawab na mila mujhe, maine phir ek dafe puchha,
Wo kuchh na boli.

Maine bhi aauron ki tarah hi use pith dikha di,
Aur ye sochta hua ghar chal diye ke ...
Aaj phir ek maa bhukhi so gai ....
Shayad mujhe bhi aadat par jayegi ... aansuon ko nazar andaz karne ki...

Wo Baat Kahan

Wo bargad ke ped yahan kahan,
Wo sarson ke khet yahan kahan,
Jo chamak khinch layi hamein,
Ab jo khojen sakun to wo mile yahan kahan.

Udte the aazad gagan me jahan roz sham-savere,
Wo josh aur wo baat ab yahan kahan,
Pahle dano ki thi na koi kami aur pite the pani jharne me,
Ab chhaton* aur munderon** par baith kar khane me wo baat kahan.

Hawa me daud lagaya karte the jab,
Gaate the geet yaaron ke sang,
Wo chahat aur unchaai to ab bhi hai,
Wo alladpan*** aur diwangi ki misal yahan kahan.

Ji karta hai ke ab laut chale hum,
Ja wapas apne aasman ko chume hum,
Dum ghut ta hai in eent ke ghosalon**** me,
Jagti aakhon ke sapno me ab wo baat kahan.

* Roof
** Railings
*** Carelessness
**** Nests

Lolly to Lalita

Sitting lonely today,
I peeped into my teens.
How far I came – the realization dawn on me.
Oh … those were the golden days,
I was just me and no one else.

Running aimlessly in the corn field,
As if to discover new land of butterflies.
Throwing stones in the pond’s water to create ripples,
To find golden reflection of the sun shining to blind.

Those flowers and leaves,
Blue, red, yellow and green,
Used to pick them to preserve forever.
Still I can smell the fragrance in my old dusty thick college books.

Village fair used to bring pleasure,
Loved to be allured by the charm of the stalls.
Glittering bangles, earrings, tops, lipsticks and what not,
So to count my pennies to buy them all.

No pretension to be 'Lalita',
When I was adored as 'Lolly'.
What were envy, greed and lust,T
hose words were unfamiliar to me.

Window seat of the train was so important,
Used to fight with my brother for it.
Just to count stations, enjoy breeze and fall asleep.
Making faces to strangers was not vulgarity then.

Suddenly A day I become 'Lalita'.
Buried 'Lolly' in the backyard of my house.
Donated my exhilarations to the running stream,
To seek asylum in the courtyard of my so called man.
Now freedom is mock to me and joy is farce.

Sitting lonely today,
I peeped into my teens.

Once Upon A Time Air Was Free!

I was kid then,
Living in a down-town,
House facing the green field,
My life was cool.

I used to run; I used to fall,
I used to climb; I used to jump,
Friends were treasure then,
My kites never bothered anyone.

Getting up in the morning was so nice,
Playing cricket in the chilling wind,
I confess, used to get away from the ball,
My wit was at it's best.

I wanted to travel around the world on my cycle,
Cruising ahead was my passion,
Dreaming too was easy then,
My soul was supportive.

So many trees to tie swings,
Many flowing streams to plunge,
Life used to be party everyday,
My days used to be short for everything.

Oh - I am no more kid,
Now live in a big city,
House facing windows of neighbors',
My life is shit.

I earn to pay more,
Spend my days in cubical & gasp for fresh breath,
Drag myslef back to the cage in my car,
My routine sucks.

I'm planning to go for a vacation,
A place where fresh air is on sale,
I may have to look at the newspaper for the advertisements,
My breath is heavier.

I'm a bullet!

I'm a Bullet,
and that's what I'm.
With no brain, no emotions & no values,
I don't discriminate.
Killing is not my hobby,
Rather it's my duty.
Hey, I'm a bullet,
and that's what I'm.

Don't fool yourself,
and never expect mercy from me.
Just run away from my way,
as I rarely miss any.
Pleading will only bleed you,
so, run...run away far from me.
Becoz, I'm a bullet,
and that's what I am.
A Bullet!!!