Tulika..

Applying that wet handkerchief on the forehead, i tended to plunge into the past, involuntarily.

"Vivek, for god sake! just stop behaving like a little kid!"

Please, take medicines and go to sleep, honey!

Hell no, I'm not gonna take any damn medicine anymore, that's all. You have no freaking idea but you are nothing short of a panacea to me. How on earth these so called medicines will cure me then (with a teasing wink).

Gosh! You are blazing like anything with 104 degrees, still can't you stop letting out your tricky cheesy lines? (with love soaked anger).

You know it very well my sweetie-pie, that I can't help it.

(Grinning devilishly).

See, the mighty pen of a poet, running blood into the veins and brimming romanticism within me can never be restrained. They only can if...........!

Shut up! you never think of, what to say, don't you? She just stopped me to utter anymore putting her fingers on my lips.

Tulika!

hmmm.... (with teary eyes)

I wanna say something..

Yeah, please..

If you were not in my life, I could never imagine those tears as valuable as pearls and those blisses as stars.At times I wish this fever not to come to end, my forehead remains on fire, then your loving aroma of being around and your silky hands on my forehead inculcates those myriad reasons within me to weave those loveful verses.

Oh! got you..those poems are more important to you than my love and care,aren't they? Huh..!

No way! with a teasing smile, he said.

The thing is, it's you who makes my beat skip and that birdies of my heart fly to the horizons just to pick those glitters and die to tag them onto your immaculate attire. This is how poem sprouts by its own, I do nothing darling! So, now do you believe these poetry of mine is nothing but the embodiment of your being. Don't you?

Oh God! you know, you are just impossible. (blushing helplessly)

Whose hubby i am, after all.(winks)

With the trailing off,she was into my arms, He, then realized how one can complete one's whole world with this loving gesture.

Tulika! Tulika! .........!

Voice weakens and reality bumps in, ruthlessly.

She is not gonna respond you vivek, go sleep. He murmured and starts peeping through the window..

9 years..

it's been 9 long years when her giggles used to reverberate through each and every corner of this house and how did this time limit it merely to my heart now.

Sigh..!!!

Sipping the coffee he keeps on pondering..

Instead of sharing my life with anyone else after the departure of her, I decided to live it all alone, whatever it took so far, Who cares.

'Tulika' is no more in my life today, but under that Gulmohar tree that is standing still in that corner of the park,at the bus stop nearby my place, in those teary and blissful letters, with every single cup of tea in the mornings, at the dinner table of every night, in every single folds of my bed and above of all these, she is more than lively and alive everywhere in my soul.

When it was around, didn't make me feel incomplete even in my dreams and they say she is not there anymore still I feel so complete with that eternal love.

Moon Shines Again!

 

  

                                                             Feeble Moon blazed                               

                                                             with a everlasting twinge                       

                                                             few unsaid words echoed!

                                                             I was left with a volatile dream

                                                             and a perennial longing

                                                             When I plunged into 

                                                             that fascinating night

                                                             But you cropped up

                                                             out of nowhere

                                                             with angelic charm

                                                             and elfin grace

                                                             and revived my 

                                                             glimmering hopes again..

 

'औरत'

कभी रग़-ए-ख़ून 

कभी क़तरा-ए-अश्क 

कभी मुस्कुराहटों की हसीं तासीर है 'औरत'

कभी हिजाबों की रौनक़ 

कभी हया की शोख़ी 

कभी ज़लज़लों से दो-चार होती शमशीर है 'औरत'

कभी जद्दोज़हद की आँधी 

कभी समन्दरों का सुकून 

कभी सियाह अब्रों पे खिंचती चाँदी की लकीर है 'औरत'

कभी बादा-ए-इश्क़ 

कभी नग़मा-ए-वफ़ा 

कभी ग़ज़लों की बेइंतहाँ पीर है 'औरत'

कभी रानाई कुदरत की 

कभी रोशनी चिरागों की 

कभी तर्जुमों से परे होती बेनज़ीर है 'औरत'

कभी आबरू की मिसाल 

कभी तहज़ीबों का आईना 

कभी मुर्दा इन्सानियत को जगा दे वो ज़मीर है 'औरत' 

कभी ख़लाओं की हसरत 

कभी दुआओं का करिश्मा 

कभी मुफ़लिसी में साथ देती कोई हीर है 'औरत'

कभी कुछ अनकहे मिसरे 

कभी दम भरते अशार 

कभी शायरों के दिलों में धड़कती तहरीर है 'औरत'

एक सवाल

क़तरा अश्क़ का आँखों से बग़ावत सा कर गया 

तेरी पनाहों में महफ़ूज़ हूँ तो बहाता क्यूँ है 

मक़बूल करके बेनियाज़ी तमाम सालों की 

अब हर लम्हे में उसी काफ़िर को सजाता क्यूँ है 

सितम तूने दिए इतने कि बदन ख़ाक हो गया 

आतिश-ए-इश्क़ से उन्हें फ़िर तू  जलाता क्यूँ है 

बड़ा बेपीर और संगदिल रहा है हमदम मेरा 

खुली बाँहों से तू  फ़िर इश्क़ लुटाता क्यूँ है 

कमनसीबी मेरी या कि लकीरों का ऐब है 

सदाएँ दे कर उन्हें फ़िर भी बुलाता क्यूँ है 

सुकूँ का सफ़ीना बहा तो बहता चला गया 

हर एक मौज को ज़िन्दगी तू बताता क्यूँ है 

जहाँ इंसानों का तसव्वुर फ़िज़ूल है 

वहाँ फ़रिश्तों को तू ज़हन में लाता क्यूँ है 

मुमकिन नहीं दिखता हाल-ए-दिल का बयाँ अब 

कभी लबों कभी लफ़्ज़ों को फ़िर आज़माता क्यूँ है 

अन्दाज़-ए-बयाँ औरों से मुख्तलिफ़ है ज़रा सा 

फ़िर रोशनी में 'विवेक' तू आता क्यूँ है । 

एक ग़ज़ल

आज भी वफ़ा को सीने में दबाए हम 

मोहब्बत का पुरसुकून सितम माँगते हैं | 

जिस्म जला रूह जली ख़्वाब जल गए 

मुफ़लिसी में अब एक नज़र-ए-करम माँगते हैं | 

लोग बेपरवाह थे सर-ए-बाज़ार में हबीब 

चन्द रातों में तुम्हारे हिज्र की जलन माँगते हैं | 

तुमने बेरुख़ी के सिवाय कुछ भी नहीं दिया 

बेख़ुदी में डूबा फ़िर भी दीवानापन माँगते हैं | 

तन्हाई में अब दिल के वो साज़ नहीं छिड़ते 

नज़्मों ग़ज़लों से रोशन वही अन्जुमन माँगते हैं | 

जहाँ के मखमली लिबासों में कोई जँचता ही नहीं अब 

हिजाब से सजा तुम्हारा रुख़ पे  पैरहन माँगते हैं | 

ऐसा नहीं कि कोई चेहरा निगाहों से नहीं गुज़रा 

हसीं शोख़ी से लबरेज़ वही बाँकपन माँगते हैं | 

एक हादसा..!!

                                      कल रात छत पर
                                      फलक की जानिब
                                      टकटकी बाँधे
                                      सियाह चादरों तले
                                      सितारों का खेल देखा
                                      कुछ मद्धिम कुछ उजले
                                      कुछ सर उठाए कुछ कुचले
                                      सब अपनी रोशनी में
                                      छुपे अंधेरों पर
                                      रोते-बिलखते से दिखे
                                      जब शायर ने
                                      किसी नाज़नीं के निगाहों
                                      को सितारा लिखा था
                                      सारे कैसे एक साथ
                                      मुस्कुराए थे,
                                      तभी अचानक
                                      एक हादसा हुआ
                                      हाँ, हादसा ही तो था
                                      धू-धू कर मेरे अरमान जले थे
                                      ख्वाबोँ का बेरहम क़त्ल हुआ था
                                      चाँद पर भी शायद खून सवार था
                                      तभी एक सितारा दूर कहीं
                                      मेरे नाम का टूटा था
                                     और
                                     सभी ने सोचा
                                     कोई दुआ क़ुबूल हुई ।

ख़ामोश मेहरम..!!

कुछ बोलो मत
ख़ामोशी को यूँ रग़ों में
बेपरवाह बहने दो,
बहने दो कि जब तक
क़तरे-क़तरे का जुनून
हर एक नब्ज़ पर काबिज़ है
मैं लबों से फूटे कुछ हर्फ़ों के बजाय
तुम्हारे रूह के तिलिस्म को
तोड़ना चाहता हूँ
खोलना चाहता हूँ
उन तमाम गिरहों को
जो हमारे दर्मियान साँस लेते हैं
भीगना चाहता हूँ
उन बेमौसम बारिशों में
जो क़ुदरत को भी बेमानी कर दें
डूबना चाहता हूँ
उस रोशनी में
जो मेरी बेज़ुबान रातों का नूर है
फ़ासलों के एहसास से
इसे सुफ़ैद रहने दो
एक अल्फाज़ भी निकला
तो रिश्ता मैला हो जाएगा
कुछ बोलो मत
तुम लहर दर लहर
यूँ बढ़ती जाओ
मैं बूँद बूँद घुलकर
उन निशानों पर बहूँगा
जो कभी तुम्हारे थे
तुम कुछ बोलो मत
कुछ मत बोलो ।

डरता हूँ मैं..

 

                                                 वो हँसी वो शरारतें तेरा वो संजीदापन

                                                 तेरा साया भी मुझसे दूर हो तो डरता हूँ मैं ।

                                                 तेरे एहसास  मेरे तहरीर में यूँ रवाँ-गवाँ हैं
                                                 तू जो ख़ामोश हो पल भर को तो डरता हूँ मैं ।

                                                 लाख हमदर्द मेरे ग़म को कहीं बाँट भी लें ग़र 
                                                 न हो  हाथों में तेरा हाथ तो डरता हूँ मैं  ।

                                                मेरे ख़्वाबों में तेरे साथ तमाम ज़िन्दगी जियूँ
                                                पर तेरी आहट को भी हूँ महरूम तो डरता हूँ मैं ।

                                                मेरी रूह को सर-बसर है तेरे उल्फ़त की आरज़ू
                                               मयस्सर और को है ये सोच के डरता हूँ मैं  ।

                                              मेरे पहलूनशीं होकर तू जब हाल-ए-दिल कहती है
                                              बेरहम पल वो जब गुज़रे तो डरता हूँ मैं  ।

                                              बेबस मेरी निगाहों को है तेरे विसाल की हसरत
                                              तू आकर भी चली जाए तो डरता हूँ मैं  ।

                                                

Love Goes Wordless...

 

                                            The chaos 

                                            pales into the insignificance

                                            all worldly desires 

                                            seem to be mere a pittance

                                            A tender touch

                                            bestows a solace

                                            When love goes wordless..

                                            A disposition slithers

                                            to a heart

                                            Afew shadows tribulate

                                            and things get drifted apart
                                            A vague starts taking a shape
                                            When love goes wordless..

                                            Everything else plunges
                                            into the dearth
                                            Dreams start finding
                                            a reason of mirth
                                            Pangs and pleasures
                                            are there to embrace
                                            When love goes wordless..

                                            I get captivated
                                            with the gentle charm
                                            Feelings are dormant and unborn
                                            What I keep craving for
                                            nothing but that glistening face
                                            When love goes wordless...

A Tormentor...

 

                                           On the agonized path of

                                           my deserted life

                                           a lurching stride 

                                           took me to a poignancy

                                           where I coaxed to my pains

                                           but they rebuffed

                                           they wanted me to be

                                           with the same somber nights

                                           and a false aura of love,

                                           Where those pipe dreams

                                           were there to ravage

                                           my soul,

                                           with all the despondence

                                           I just kept on

                                           strolling,

                                           lightening bolts continued

                                           to flash across the sky,

                                           accidentally I witnessed

                                           a distraught cloud

                                           that was torn asunder,

                                           gulping sobs of grief

                                           I still went on 

                                          crooning

                                          with the same 

                                          nagging pain,

                                          and a tattered heart

                                          of mine.

ये मेरी धूमिल होती रेखाएँ..

                                                  ये मेरी धूमिल होती रेखाएँ
                                                  ये टूटती और जुड़ती आशाएँ
                                                  अब दम तोड़ रही हैं
                                                  शायद इस घुटन का अंत अब सन्निकट है,
                                                  शायद,
                                                  प्राणवायु इससे छिन सी गयी है,
                                                  अब तो कुछ शब्द भी विकृत हो चले हैं
                                                  अब बदल रही हैं कुछ परिभाषाएँ
                                                  ये मेरी धूमिल होती रेखाएँ..

                                                   सुदूर किसी बंजर के जर्जर होते
                                                   घरौदों में
                                                   कुछ किरणों की आस संजोया था कभी
                                                   सूरज की आभा भी रुष्ट है अब इनसे,
                                                   थके-हारे क़दमों से
                                                   ये असीमित दूरियां नापता  मैं
                                                   और,
                                                   ह्रदय के किन्हीं कोनों से उठती ये
                                                   आत्मीय संवेदनाएँ,
                                                   अतीत का अधिकार मेरे वर्तमान पर
                                                   इस विमूढ़ मन की
                                                   मृतप्राय सी होती आकांक्षाएँ,
                                                   ये मेरी धूमिल होती रेखाएँ..

                                                   उन दो टूक शब्दों की विचित्र सी
                                                   वो लालसा,
                                                   दो घड़ी में पूरा जीवन जी लेने का 
                                                   वो अभीष्ट,
                                                   वो पत्तों के सरसराने मात्र से
                                                   चक्रवातों का सा संशय, 
                                                   अश्रुधाराओं में डूबता-उतराता मैं
                                                   बस तुमको ही सुनता फिर,
                                                   मूक बन जाता,
                                                   किसी छद्म  आश्रय पर फलती-फूलती
                                                   कुछ  चंचल अमर-लताएं,
                                                   ये मेरी धूमिल होती रेखाएँ..

                                                   अब ये राहें दौड़ती हैं
                                                   मैं एकटक इन्हें निहारता रह जाता हूँ,
                                                   सब मेरे होने का आभाष कराते हैं
                                                   पर मैं स्वयं को ढूंढता रह जाता हूँ,
                                                   स्वविचारों से ही विद्रोह करती ये मेरी
                                                   नीरस होती कविताएँ,
                                                   ये मेरी और पूर्णतया मेरी अपनी
                                                   धूमिल होती रेखाएँ..

  


                                                   

LoVe : an ANSWER with no question

                                     Something prods somewhere
                                     suddenly
                                     everything  starts rattling
                                     on the dreamy track
                                     but sounds like
                                     a percussionist's passion
                                     turning into a soulful melody
                                     We start getting captivated
                                     and steadily plunge into
                                     the enticing spell,
                                     we crave for it
                                      to last forever
                                      The mist blocks
                                       the ways
                                       and the nature
                                       starts chilling out all
                                       but it muffles all the way
                                       to make us feel
                                       that everlasting warmth
                                       The wind gets blowing on
                                        relentlessly
                                        and leaves every single leaf
                                        in a gruelling pain
                                        and they end up with
                                        nibbling to death
                                        for the reincarnation
                                        and it is like salvation
                                        The sun sets everything on fire
                                        we are left thirsty
                                        despite being amidst
                                        all the worldly possessions
                                        but it appeases all the desires
                                        It rains and
                                        wipes all dreams out
                                        thunders weaken all the hopes
                                        every drop jabs into the soul
                                        but it appears like
                                        a rainbow
                                        that makes us forget all
                                        and invites to embrace
                                        this divine happening
                                        When a nomad heart
                                        finds a place to live on
                                        when the moments deny
                                        to move on
                                        then we realize that
                                        this is how a soul completes
                                        another one
                                        and we are least bothered
                                        about all  known unknown
                                        All I can say
                                        this must be love
                                        because we still are not so sure
                                        about the question
                                        but what we own,
                                        is our answer
                                        So its LoVe
                                        an ANSWER with no question..
                                                           
                                    

every NIGHT when...

                                         Every night when
                                         I try to close my eyes
                                         someone takes me away
                                         in a wonderland kind of
                                         Where everyone has
                                         a different identity
                                         like I have never ever seen before
                                         People were together
                                         not for any worldly desire
                                         but they were completing each other
                                         the sun was shining there
                                         but with a strange grace
                                         winds were blowing there
                                         but with a loving rhythm
                                         birds were chirping there
                                         but with a amazing exuberance
                                         rivers were flowing there
                                         but with a hope to be lost
                                         in the ocean of love
                                         There were
                                         No grudges
                                         No grievances
                                         No jealousy 
                                         No cut throat competition
                                         All it was around
                                         was the LOVE
                                         the sacred LOVE
                                         the unconditional LOVE
                                         without any manipulated definitions
                                         without any self made limitations
                                         Every night
                                         when I try to close my eyes
                                         It does happen to me
                                         and every night
                                         I wish that
                                         the night never comes to an end
                                         because beyond this dream world
                                         everything is a delusion for me
                                         No one has even a moment
                                         to share it with me
                                         It saddens me all the time
                                         But sun has to arise
                                         I have to awake
                                         a brand new morning awaits for me
                                         with some promising hopes
                                         and momentary pleasures
                                         don't know why
                                         but I am indifferent to all
                                         and I know it has to go on
                                         perhaps its called reality
                                         but I love that tiny space of mine
                                         with no boundaries
                                         where someone awaits for me
                                         Every night when
                                         try to close my eyes..!!!
                                         Every night when...

it HURTS..!!!

                                                              When I walk alone
                                                               I feel a pat on my shoulders
                                                               all of a sudden
                                                               I look back stratled
                                                               it's the same who
                                                               I ever dreamed of
                                                               but I see an unknown grief
                                                               in her eyes
                                                               It really hurts...
                                                               

                                                              We just stroll along
                                                               I seem to splutter
                                                               that's why I decide
                                                               better to keep quiet
                                                               she utters
                                                               I am in a trance
                                                               I wish if this
                                                               moment never ends
                                                               but when she has no words
                                                               It really hurts...


                                                               I try to hold her hands
                                                               but I can't find myself
                                                               to dare even
                                                               because she is so immaculate
                                                               but when she starts
                                                               moving away
                                                               It really hurts...


                                                              A part of me always
                                                              expects her to be here
                                                              in fact I find her
                                                              beside me sometimes
                                                              but when I come to know
                                                              it's a pipe dream
                                                              It really hurts...


                                                              I don't know
                                                              what the love is all about
                                                              but I do know
                                                              how does it feel
                                                              to live with some false hopes
                                                              I don't know
                                                              how she could be mine
                                                              but I do know
                                                              I am made for her
                                                              when someone says
                                                              things don't work
                                                              the way you think                                              
                                                              It really hurts...