Sunday 23 October 2016

#Writetime poems : 1


Aaj khud se yun mulakat hui...

Dil ke dariya me chhipi wo baat hui,
Muskurahat kyun gum ho gayi hai,
Aankhen kyun itni nam ho gai hai,
Haalat ki saazish me, sazaa hume sare-e-aam hui,
Aaj khud se yun mulakat hui...

Anjaano ke sheher me apne dhundta hun,
Apne na sahi, kuch matlabi sapne dhundta hun,
Sapne khote rahe, apne paraye hote rahe,
Ye bezubaan aakhir unhe kahe bhi toh kya kahe,
Is matlab ki duniya se kuch bematlab si baat hui,
Aaj khud se yun mulakat hui...

Hawa ke jhoke zindagi ke panne palat te rahe,
Kahani humari thi phir bhi ruki hui,
Phir shuruaat ke maayne na dikhai de kabhi,
Us shuruaat ki wajah, kya pata kaha h chupi hui,
Aagaz ke intezaar me, anjaam se haar hui,
Aaj khud se yun mulakat hui...

Wednesday 21 May 2014

Three magical words

Avni was busy looking out of the window, slowly humming the song playing on her phone. She was on the window seat, her favourite seat which she always preferred since childhood.  A big heap on her lap- her final year accountancy book, her personal diary, her handbag, her ticket, and on top of the pile was her phone attached to clean white earphones which were making Neeti Mohan’s voice reach her ears.

“Chali re , Chali re.. Junoon ko Liye..”

The afternoon sun was beating down on the seat next to her. A hefty man was sitting next to her, while a person using three phones at the same time was sitting in front of him. The compartment was not very crowded, Avni was the only lady; but she was least bothered. Her love for cushion seats made her a first class favourite.

Her blue eyes gazed at the adjacent tracks that passed away just like sudden old memories.  A few curly locks of her hair were constantly disturbing her view, but they were too insignificant to disturb her sightseeing. Suddenly the song stopped and her phone vibrated-

“Yes Payal, What happened? “

“You stupid girl, where are you? It’s been 15 minutes I am waiting at Andheri station. Why are you not replying on Whatsapp?

Avni bit her tongue, realizing that she had turned off her data pack just before getting in at Bandra.

“I am sorry yaar. I guess there are some network issues, I actually caught a slow train. I will be there in 5 minutes pakka!”

“You not with someone na? Some male company?” asked Payal sheepishly.

“Yes!” chuckled Avni, “There are only men around me, but none of them like my prince charming you know!” she said with a sly blush.

As she hung up the phone, the announcement came- Next station- Vile Parle.
“As if I don’t know"

She put her data pack on. The first thing she saw was her daily horoscope notification. “Today could be the day when someone would say the three magical words to you! And the world around you would freeze!”

Avni chuckled initially but then said in a childish tone “I wish someone would actually tell me those three magical words… Lord, please!”

She closed her eyes to have a brief chat with God. As she opened her eyes, she saw a man enter the compartment. He was slow to enter, almost royal. His eyes were protruding all over the compartment. His white checks shirt was without any crease and his pant seemed the longest ever in length.  At 6 feet, he looked like a tower entering the local train. But in Avni’s world, her prince charming had arrived.

He stood there just for a slight moment before venturing towards the other end of the compartment, but the few seconds of view were enough to fasten Avni’s heart beat. The train left Vile Parle with a loud roar, but her heart was threatening to beat the sound of the local. She had never seen such a handsome man on this planet.

 “Wow! That’s really quick! "she couldn't stop smiling. I never thought horoscopes were so accurate. I read it one second and the next moment, my man is in front of me! exclaimed Avni as she started looking for her prince charming. She could not move as Mr. Hefty sitting next to her had dozed off to sleep, while the UP wala bhaiya sitting in front of her had spread his legs wide open. A young boy was further obstructing her view. Adding to the obstructions, her conscious made her hesitate.

“No Avni, why are you going after him? A prince always finds his princess. God has sent him to the compartment, he will also make him come to you !" her inner voice kept confusing her actions.

Her flight of imaginations was running faster than the train itself. Avni was lost in wonderland, where she could tell her prince how much she loved him. She could witness it all- A huge chariot, white horses, green lawns on the sidelines.  Heading towards their palace, hundreds of small children with pink cheeks were showering rose petals on the couple madly in love with each other.  She was looking in his eyes which constantly were staring at her blue eyes, slightly moist. She could hear the wedding bells, the applause of the people who had come to witness the marriage. She could feel the sounds running through her ears. The sounds got just a bit louder as she heard-

Pudhil sthanak Andheri, Agla station Andheri, Next station Andheri.

She opened her eyes and looked at the display screen.
“My tutions! My friends are waiting! But my prince?

She still found it difficult to head towards the door. She jumped over Mr. Hefty’s broad legs while the UP wala bhaiya was gracious enough to move his legs aside.

As she approached the vacant door, she still wanted to have a look inside the compartment to catch one last glimpse of her prince charming.  But much to her disappointment, she couldn't find him. 

As she just took one step closer towards the door, she felt a strong touch on her shoulder. The hands were strong, the sensation was hard to miss out. She slowly turned around as the train slowly entered the platform.

Her prince had a shiny object  held in his hand. She anticipated a gold ring! “Great! Proposal with gold! Diamond on the engagement!" thought Avni as she almost going to fall down nervously!

The man was looking at her with keen eyes. As he slowly moved his hand towards her, Avni held the nearby pole with a tight grip. The platform was behind, but her world in front! Her heartbeat had long surpassed the normal rate. She could see the world about to freeze as soon as she would hear those three magical words.

She slowly looked up as her prince spoke the words Avni was waiting for-

“Your Ticket Please? “


Friday 9 May 2014

The football magic

8th May 2012.

As he left the stadium, Ravi Gupta kept repeating the same line again and again, “Why did Malinga bowl a no-ball?” It cost Mumbai the match!” As his sympathy for Mumbai continued, the repent for spending a hefty amount from his salary for the ticket was visible on his strawberry-shaped face. He kept tucking his shirt in his trousers, while his bulging tummy did its best to fall outwards.

Walking away dejectedly, he reached Girgaon Chowpatty. It was close to midnight and the area was illuminated only by the stars that twinkled merrily in the sky.

Walking along the shore, Ravi felt like something hit his right leg.

“What's that?” said Ravi, scratching his head. He removed his torch-cum-ball pen from his shirt pocket and tried to look out what lied on the sand.

The light slowly increased as he saw a glowing football.
“Oh! A football! But how come it is so shiny?”
Ravi tried kicking it.

Suddenly, there was a loud sound. A glittering gas released from the football. The wind started blowing very fast, as if it was coming from a table fan.
“What is it? What’s happening?”

“UDIBABA!!!!! I am Gen-X Genie.! I am here to make your wishes come true.”

Ravi wondered how come the typical genie from the Arabian Nights is in front of him.

“Genie? In a football? You people usually come out magic lamps, closed bottles, etc. Right?”

“Why cannot we stay in a football? If criminals can be in the Parliament, film stars on the cricket field and cricketers acting in movies, why cannot we people in a football?”

“Ok, calm down..Here, have some water...” said Ravi.

The Genie emptied the bottle in no time. ”Thanks for the water. Global warming is not sparing even our community. It is so hot even at midnight” said Gen-X.

“Have you settled down, so that I can ask for my three wishes?”
“Not three, only two.”
“Why only two?”

“Recession, my friend. We have cut down the number of wishes from three to two. Take it or forget it!”
“No, two are enough for me.”

“Then my friend, what is your first wish?”
“I want Mumbai to win the Indian Publicity League. Please.”
“Sure, just wait a minute. “

Genie removed his Blackberry phone.
“Hello. Mr. Bookie?”

“Speaking. Who’s this?”

“I am Gen-X Genie. One of my clients wishes that Mumbai must win the IPL. Please fix the match accordingly. I will fulfill one of your wishes in return.”

“Ok, it will be done. Bye” said the bookie as he disconnected the phone.

“Your wish will be fulfilled. Mumbai will win the IPL. Make sure you watch the final.” said the smiling Gen-X.

“But how come you did it so easily?” asked Ravi.

“My friend, you people use the phonebook. We have got the contacts! Second wish?”

“Gen-X, I want to live the most luxurious life in the city.”

“Wait a minute, have you shot down many innocent people at CST station?”

“No, not at all.”

“Then you are cannot ask for this wish. The man, who has done so, is currently living the most luxurious life in the city. In order to fulfill the wish, you must have more credentials to your name than him.”

“Shit! It is near impossible to be as lucky as him. Let it be.”

“Any alternate wish?


“If not luxurious, I want to live a relaxed life. No work, just lazing out all the time. Please fulfill this wish. “

“Alright, no work at all…I get that. Here it goes.”

Gen-X rubbed his hands and read out a magic charm:

“HUMPTY DUMPTY SAT ON A WALL; HUMPTY DUMPTY HAD A GREAT FALL!

TAKE THIS MAN TO SUCH A PLACE; WHERE HE DOESN’T HAVE TO WORK AT ALL!”

With a flash of lightning, Gen-X disappeared along with the football.
Ravi’s wish was indeed fulfilled. He reached a place where there was no work at all.

He was in a government office.


Tuesday 29 April 2014

The Decision

As soon as she entered the gate, the tremors beneath her skin became lot more lively. As she held her breath to make sure she didn’t run out of it, she passed by the casualty ward. The very place where her parents had bid her good-bye 18 years ago.

She knocked at the doctor’s door, “May I come in?”
“Yes, please have a seat. “
She settled down as the doctor went through her reports.
“You sure want to go ahead?”
"Yes doctor”
“Ok then, next Thursday.. But you need to get Mohit along. You cannot be alone on that day”
“Alright.”
She immediately called him as she made her way out of the hospital. But he was not responding.
She went to his house.

“Divya, you here?” asked Mohit.
“You did not pick up my phone.”
“Ya, I was out with my wife.”
”Just wanted to inform you that the doctor has given an appointment for next Thursday.”
“Sure, I will be there. What else I can do for you?”
“No thanks.. You have already done enough” Divya said with her eyes down.


With heavy feet, and heavier emotions, she went home.
Surprised at the number of neighbours gathered around her house, she rushed in and straight went to her granny’s room.
She lay there motionless, but looked like moving closer to mortality.
Divya sat next to her, tightly holding her wrinkled hands. They seem to infuse energy as she also gripped her only grandchild’s hand even more firmly. But it was a moment too short, as the grip of her hand just gave way and she slowly succumbed to death.
Divya did not cry. She just shed few tears to make things believable around her.

As she was ready to light up the pyre, some sparks started burning her from within. She could witness two deaths at that moment. One already over and the other to happen on Thursday.
Her scars were not that visible, but her grief was deepening every moment. But maybe it was the spark that was helping her.
As Thursday came, Divya was not thinking about her past. She was desperate to set the uncertain future clear.
She made her way to the doctor’s cabin with a slight shiver.  Mohit looked at her with a fake smile, but she did not feel the need to respond.
“So are you ready?”asked the doctor.
“Yes, but not for what I have come for. I am not letting this happen.”
“Are you sure?”she asked.
“Yes. My parents, my granny all left me. Whatever happened was not in my hands. But my granny maybe blessed me just before her death... I couldn’t hold on to her, but want to hold on to my child!”
Divya sternly left the cabin. Mohit tried calling out to her, but straight headed home as he saw the ‘Wife Calling’ flashing on his phone...