आंसू बन कर निकल पड़ा मैं...

आंसू बन कर निकल पड़ा मैं,
एक पतली पाक सी धार बन कर चल पड़ा मैं,
आँखों के कोनों से रास्ता बनाता हुआ
धीरे-धीरे नीचे गिर पड़ा मैं|

अपनी मर्ज़ी का मालिक कभी न बन सका मैं,
दूसरों की नज़रों से दुनिया देखता रहा मैं,
अपने मकसद के बारे में कोई ख़बर नहीं थी इससे पहले कभी
उनकी आँखों की गहराइयों में छिपा सुकून से सोता रहा मैं|

सामने सी आती हुई सर्द हवा का झोंका लुभाया करती थी मुझे,
अपने साथ उड़ने को जैसे बुलाया करती थी मुझे,
नम तो मैं हमेशा से ही रहा हूँ
पर हर बार मानसून के पहले जाने क्यों भिगोया करती थी मुझे|

उत्सुक था वजह जानने के लिए मेरे अस्तित्व की,
पर बताने वाला कोई नहीं मिला कभी|
भयभीत था आने वाले उस अनजान राह से,
पर दिखाने वाला कोई नहीं मिला कभी|

कई आड़े-तिरछे आकारों को पार कर
अचानक एक बड़े ढ़लान पर जा अड़ा|
एक हमशक्ल मुझे मेरा मिला जो
मुझे देखकर मुस्कुराया और फिर मेरे साथ चल पड़ा|

मैंने पुछा उससे 'कौन हो? क्यों हो?'
एक आम अजनबी सरीके मुझे देखा और बोला-
'कोई लिखित इतिहास नहीं है मेरे यहाँ होने की,
कभी हँसते-हँसते तो कभी रोते-बिलखते हूँ मैं निकाला गया'|

इससे पहले की हम धरती को छू पाते,
किसे ने हमारे होने की वजह उनसे पूछ ही लिया|
कुछ ही पलों की आहट थी की
उन्होंने सारी भावनाएँ शब्दों के रूप में उगल दिया|

जीवन रुपी नाट्य के अर्ध भाग में
परदे के खुलते ही रहस्य से रू-ब-रू हो गया|
जिन अभिनेताओं के पंखहीन पंछी सामान हैं,
उनकी भावना-अभिव्यक्ति के लिए मुझे बनाया गया|

A vicious box...

‘Think out of the box’ yelled everyone.
That was the very first time I felt dark clouds all over.
But had no idea about the thunder still to come.
I tried lending my ears to each existing individual there,
melting away my brain, searching a bit space,
seeking the answers, fighting tough to win the race.

Choice was not one of the virtues,
decision was not in a mood to appear.
Though I didn’t appreciate the cries and hues,
all I had with me was a frequently directed leer.
Sounds appeared to be like nails and my ears magnet,
but my eyes became still and the world seemed to be stagnant.

Exasperation caused my natural state to collapse
and emerge as a new but altered albatross.
Fate has its own purpose bringing me in perhaps
but didn`t I deserve to have at least one toss?
To write in my book, little pieces of my own lyrics?
To spring out strong from my own ashes as the phoenix!

Still I tried to resonate with the older version,
Only time witnessed my conversion from an asset to a liability.
There was one when I aimed high and wished becoming a surgeon
but why did I change my mind and suddenly became a casualty?
I found a way out and behind me held tight all the locks.
Breathing away as I turned around,I found a yet bigger box!

Think again...

Some American analysts believe that the education systems in India and China are far more advanced than theirs while some others deny the fact as a baseless and hypothetic theory. The former support their assumption on the basis of intellectual, innovative and talented brains while the later oppose the fact based on their visits in the two countries in the mid 20th century. They support their point saying “Indians still follow the traditional way of teaching using chalks and black-boards even in some reputed universities. The educational system is also affected by the Govt. policies, social systems and regional confinement.”

"We have already taken some steps that are building the foundation for a 21st century education system here in America, one that will allow us to compete with China and India and everybody else all around the world" US president Barack Obama stated. The topic was raised in a T.V. show seeking advices from experts, questions from people and aiming for the overall analysis of the present education system. But why did the president himself respond to a regular T.V. show broadcasted twice every week so seriously?

Are social systems and regional confinement that big threat for the US educational system competing against those of the developing countries? Are the chalks and the black-boards giving tough competition to the modern teaching techniques? Are the dialogue deliverers still finding India/China to be the same as they found in the early decades of the previous centuries?

Questions continue to appear in one form or another, some under debate, some unanswered, some ignored, some yet to appear but the thing that is clearly derived is that the opinions of each individual are at least considered in those countries and not just a group of old people, aged twice the average age group are the decision makers.

The podium is dedicated to a MLA in his late forties, a typical hypocrite, a deep conservative type as well as a chief guest to the cultural event of the college. He arrives late, an hour or two while the students who wait after a whole tiresome year for this event maintain the decorum till their patience sustains. In his ‘two minute’ speech he talks of the developmental areas he is involved in (sucking as much money as his pocket can support), and the various others he is going to get involved in (his future money-hive).

Saving lines from the political back lifts, why doesn`t such possible renovation- thoughts occur to the men sitting around those finely polished tables? Why can`t they show a little concern for the people who placed them in those positions, after standing in long queues hoping for a better and a bright future. If those countries can give it a ‘hard shot’ then why can`t we give just a ‘shot’? Are they really proud of the current systems or are they deaf enough to hear the students scream in front of the camera or blind enough to see the hanging bodies every month at some college or the other? Or is it really the time to put these old men behind and bring out some young minds out?

The developed countries and some developing ones have already opted and they`ve already got some ripen fruits then why can`t we? Is it really worth the time we spend electing them all along? It`s time to think again. It`s time to change.

The garden dried and the gardener died...

I fell sick one day, there was no one around.
‘Fate was calling me to itself’ that was the only heard sound.
One moment I felt my white beard
and the next, cough followed as an unorganized herd.

There was no one to fetch me a glass of water.
I wished I could have strong body parts back then.
Should I laugh or cry that over my head I found a shelter?
A dog with its tail between the legs was no different than my lane.

Rewinding my tape back to the brighter past
took me to the garden where I sowed the seeds once.
It pricked my heart deep every time it occurred,
that those seeds had grown up into my reputed sons.

They worked hard as hell and earned a million as gold,
shook hands with very similar hands every day,
all from a different garden and all equally reputed.
Every night they did come home but didn`t know what to say.

I`d talk to my garden seriously and she would smile,
I`d spend my whole day looking at the clear sky.
Sometimes I`d tell her about the infinitely growing tress,
but being a mother she`d reply ‘It`s all a lie’.

I worked hard to earn them the best bread;
and made sure that they get the additional butter.
During the night I`d kept them close,
although they were adults then, still I eyed narrowly on the shutter.

That was the time, I played tree as well
but I never gave up on my gardener.
I always watched him from the top as he grew old
till the day he left as does a visitor.

Time passed and they got their own gardens.
The race for more gold pinnacled eventually,
their status in the society made them so occupied that
they let go their gardener as time demanded practically.

They didn`t once glanced down from that height.
One day the garden dried burying all her screams and tears inside.
The gardener was at once all alone by himself
and wished there were no more seed to slide.

He sought for shelter, they gave him the roof,
he sought for food, they provided all the bread.
When he sought for a little time, they all refused.
After playing his part, he ought not a single drop to shed.

He fell sick one day, there was no one around.
‘Fate was calling him to itself’ that was the only heard sound.
One moment he felt his white beard
and the next, there was no more future he might have feared.

बड़ा हो गया हूँ...

लोग कहते हैं काफी बड़ा हो गया हूँ,
सोचने लगा हूँ, समझने लगा हूँ,
आँखों से अपनी दुनिया देखने लगा हूँ,
शब्द तो बड़े अच्छे थे उनके पर उनका अर्थ शायद थोड़ा अलग था...

जिनकी ऊँगली पकड़ कर चलना सीखा था कभी,
बार-बार गिरकर भी दोबारा खड़ा होना सीखा,
अब उनका हाथ पकड़ने लग गया हूँ
और लोग कहते हैं काफी बड़ा हो गया हूँ|

याद भी नहीं हैं वो पहले शब्द,
जिन्हें सुनने के लिए घंटों सामने बैठे रहते|
अब उन्ही शब्दों को ऊँचा बोलने लग गया हूँ,
और लोग कहते हैं काफी बड़ा हो गया हूँ|

आँखों में आंसू तो तब भी थे उनके जब
पहली बार स्कूल में अकेले छोड़ा था मुझे|
अब लगता है जैसे उन आंसुओं की वजह बदलने लग गया हूँ
और लोग कहते हैं काफी बड़ा हो गया हूँ|

दो साल की उम्र में बीमार होना मेरा एक सजा थी उनके लिए
रात भर खुली आँखों के साथ सोते थे|
और आज भी जब मैं उन्हें रात भर सोने नहीं देता हूँ
तो लोग कहते हैं काफी बड़ा हो गया हूँ|

पट्टियाँ तो मात्र एक बहाना हुआ करती थी,
आस-पास होने के लिए बस एक वजह की तलाश रहती थी उन्हें|
आज जब उनसे दूर रहने की वजह सोचना सीख गया हूँ
तो लोग कहते हैं काफी बड़ा हो गया हूँ|

पैसे तो तब भी नहीं थे मेरे पास,
पर कभी ज़रुरत नहीं पड़ी उनके अस्तित्व के बारे में सोचने की|
पर जब अपने ही घर चोरी करने लगा,
तब लोग कहने लगे काफी बड़ा हो गया हूँ|

इतना सोचने के बाद अचानक मैं स्तब्ध सा रह गया हूँ
भले ही जीवन के मायने कुछ बदलते हुए से दिख रहे हैं आज...
मैं तो आज भी उस पुराने वाले कल में जीना चाहता हूँ,
हमेशा दो साल का ही रहना चाहता हूँ|

It`s not civil...

I did n`t even know the question the answer of which I was looking for,
I did n`t even know the destination I was moving for,
I did n`t even know the name I was living for,
Before you came in.

I used to sleep in peace,
I used to have a normal heart beat,
I used to blink my eyes every few seconds,
Before you came in.

I never cared for emotions,
I never gave a call unless it`s urgent,
I never had shared,
Before you came in.

I always have to be financially active,
I always have to run and run and run,
I always have to say 'Yes',
After you came in.

I found my eyes red staring deep into the computer screen,
I found my hair style changed,
I found my words so soft and irritating,
After you came in.

I don`t want these renovations in me
I just wanna be what I used to be,
It`s not civil to ask a girl to leave,
It`s just a common sense if you see what I see.

Foul Play...

The sun was giving away blissful gestures

when they got out into the field.

The air waved smoothly, welcoming the life,

they unpaused after a long lead.

Mesmerized by the gloom, they started moving

through the woods, passing the springs.

After the world saw the black day,

there remained a few open strings.

The path looked different, scary and opaque;

their conscience didn`t help this time either.

She`d given them the time

to stop the upcoming unbearable glitter.

She gave the signs, waited long enough,

she melted the ice, sliced the glaciers,

she killed some fishes, removed some animals,

she did her best to show that she was the most precious.

They did have eyes but never opened them to watch,

did have fancy ears but who cared to listen to the fears.

All they watched was the sand leaking out of the pool,

all they heard were the laughs disguised to shadow the tears.

Though they were the birds who survived the fire,

and were happy to be breathing.

But they didn`t find any other heart beating

or and other soul healing.

It was only then they actually realized what had happened.

She`d replied again and this time it was hard.

Only when they`d continued screaming and stopped listening,

she had chosen to pick up this card.

She shed fire from the sky,

flooded the lands, made sure there left no air.

It was the single species that caused

but the result, the world had to share.

Now they wanted someone to hear from,

there were no gags then.

They remember the days when they were all alone,

but at least they did have a pen.

Suddenly they ceased to walk `cause there was no food,

couldn`t talk `cause there was no water.

They starred at each other for one last time.

The path to survival seemed to be just another murder.

This was her turn to laugh,

laugh at the helplessness once she had to face.

Only when we after a million seconds understood

that that was the end of the human race.