untitled

काफ़िर हूँ
रंज छुपाता हूँ
तेरे दर पे आके
मैं बस मुस्कुराता हूँ

कतरा हूँ
तेरी ही ज़िन्दगी का
दायरों को मानता नहीं
दिल में रहूँगा सदा
मैं कोई अंत जानता नहीं

ज़िद हूँ
कभी तुम्हारे अलफ़ाज़ बनके
कभी तुम्हारी रूह की तहों में
यूँ लुक छिप करके
तुमसे ही मैं बचूँगा

चाहत हूँ
जो पूरी कर लो तो अधूरा रहूँ
और छोड़ना चाहो जो साथ
एक आस बनके तुमको तड़पाऊँ

मैं तुम हूँ कभी
कभी एक अनजान
ढूँढोगी तो भी ना मिलूँगा
बरसों की है तुमसे पहचान
रोज़ उलझन सी ज़िन्दगी को
जब तुम सुलझाओ
मैं वो हूँ
जो देता जाऊं तुम्हें मुस्कान

hisaab

सिकुड़ी है दुनिया,
मेरी नज़र आजकल बस
मेरे आशिएँ तक की
फ़िर टकरा जाती है
सख़्त निर्जीव दीवारों से
वापस मेरे ही ज़ेहन में,
सिमट, सिकुड़ जाने के लिए

आसमां का टुकड़ा है एक
जैसे हिसाब से दिया मुझे
वही टुकड़ा रोज़ देखती हूँ
गर्दन को लम्बा किये
उसके बदलते रंग निहारती हूँ
उड़ते पंछी रुख करते हैं
कभी कभी इस टुकड़े को ओर
मेरे मन को पुलकित करने के लिए

चाँद रोज़ नहीं दिखता
कभी मुझसे मिलता है
तो कभी मेरे पड़ोसियों से
हिसाब उसको भी आ गया है
पर चाँदनी है अल्हड़
रोज़ मिलके गुदगुदाती है मुझे

कितने हिसाब किये हैं
जीवन भर हमने
आज वही चुकता रहें हैं शायद
टुकड़े जो किये हमने कई बार
उन्ही को समेट रहें हैं अब

नज़र है बेचैन
और श्वास है व्याकुल
किन्तु सूर्य की लालिमा जैसे
रूह अब भी है प्रबल
कि जो पूरा आसमां मिले कल सर पे
हिसाब कर देंगे हम सारे लुप्त
टुकड़ो के फ़लसफ़े पीछे जाएंगे छूट
जो सृष्टि दे हमें जब ऐसा कल 

wo awaaz

एक अनजानी आवाज़
दौड़े मेरे कदम... एक दम..
फ़िर ठिठके और ठहरे
मैंने कानों को टटोला
सुना था क्या तुमने सही ?
या यूँ ही ख़यालों की बोलियों
को माना तुमने सच ही

नई सी थी वो आवाज़
पर कुछ थी जानी सी भी
जैसे एक भूली याद
मिलने को मचलती हुई
सोचा मैंने...
राज़ खोल दूँ,  कि जाने दूँ
पर फिर सोचा...
रुकने का नाम नहीं है ज़िन्दगी...

फिर क्या था...
मिनटों की थी दूरी
क्षणों में पार करी
खोला किवाड़ अपने घर का
झट से.... अकड़ के
आखिर हफ्तों बाद
घंटी बजायी थी
मेरे घर की किसी ने ... !!!!

doori

दिल तो कहता है,

पर रहने दे

ये कुछ कदम की दूरी है

बस रहने दे

तेरे बस में भी है

और मेरे भी
तेरा भी इक जहाँ है
और मेरा भी

आज खुद को ही
इस ख्याल से गले लगा
कि साथ होने का एहसास
कुछ तुझ में है
और कुछ मुझ में भी

दिल तो कहता है
फासलों को जोड़ दे यूँ ही
पर रहने दे
ये कुछ कदम की दूरी
आज... बस रहने दे 

Courage!

Questions knocking our door,

more than the neighbours next door

Fear finding it's place

in our minds, in our space...

What's next if there is one?

Will there be a day where anxious will be none?

That feeling of doom,

That was hiding somewhere

is out in the open

with a challenging stare

Worries dominate our eyes

shut or wide open

Panic is getting it's share..

whispering...we may be done!

Should we falter?

After all humans are we,

Should we surrender?

May be this is how it had to be

Should we give up faith?

After all ambushed are we,

The numbers, the charts and science

All struggling against an unknown enemy

Should we stall and retreat?

In the mid of our journey..

But...

Why should we surrender?

We are heart, minds and soul...

We form the life

for which this earth is known

Why should we bow to defeat?

without even a fight..

For we are warriors

Even though today, 

we are in a silent zone..

Why should we give up faith?

without first believing in our strengths

Why should we succumb?

before the enemy bends..

Why should we despair?

without building mountains of courage

Why should we not win?

For...

After all humans are we!!!

Yes...humans we are!

That day when it is over

That day when it is over...

I will just sit by the window 

And bask in the rising sun..

Take in the moment

Of a fresh start

After the fear of uncertainty is done

That day when it is over,

I will smile at my friends lovingly

For just remembering them some of the days,

Had put a smile on me assuringly

That day when it is over

My kids will get that special treat

It may just be my time with them

But it would be without this...

constantly rising disturbing number sheet

That day when it is over

I will thank the birds that are around me

For even though I was not listening to them whatsoever

They never stopped singing to me consistently

That day when it is over

I will forget that it had ever happened

I will forget these hopeless jitters 

I will forget to crave for virtual connection

I will enjoy, with people, the beauty of the evenings

I will hold every hand that needs me

I will welcome the warmth of humanity

I will embrace nature's soothing beauty

And I will forget these lonesome days

That day, when these days are over...


                  -Ritu Sama

Your home is your haven this summer

The universe is strange - there are so many of everyone and everything - humans, microbes, flora (though decreasing), insects, machines, phones, garbage, germs  and of course virus! There are so many of these and we are just one of them, but we are a part of this whole, so any of this can affect us, even though we are just a minuscule particle in one minuscule corner of the world. We are at a point where we have realised how linked we are and we can affect the whole chain and get affected too.

It's time to move ten (or perhaps hundred) steps back and change the course of our day-to-day life now - right away. It's time to be with yourself and let the universe be - it's time to cut off, just be spectators - not participate, build a world of your own in your corner. Let all the corners stay away for a few days, weeks, so that we are able to rebound. 

Is it so difficult? Are most of us scared of living with our own self or rather with just our family? Are we wary of a slow and simple living so much? What can we do?

A few steps in that direction - hopefully changes the perspective and helps us to embrace this temporary change with a smile....

1. Your house is your haven. Create corners and zones. Corners for reading a book, for finishing that long pending sketch, for watching television, for a board game with family, for that special cup of tea by the window, corner for introspection. Different corners add variety to your life and the day shall pass by without having to look at just a few boring walls. (mothers of course may not like to get out of their reading corner for the whole day though :-D) 

2. Set times - Don't let the hours blend in...it makes the day seem long and by the end of it you are thoroughly bored and exhausted by the monotony. Set different times of the day for different activities - more energetic in the morning - finish off that strenuous work or exercise and then after lunch sit with your favourite book or hobby. The enthusiasm will not die down this way - every hour would have something different to offer and your senses will always be pleased :)

3. It may be time to take out your old albums with slightly yellowed photos at the edges. Go down the memory lane with your kids. Reminisce your childhood and share with your kids. You may also realise how different their childhood is than yours was. Digitise the physical photos if you want. 

4. Ask the kids to organise their stuff and if you don't step into their room, they will be happily engaged for hours!!!

5. Learn a new language - make use of any language learning book if you have or you bought with the anticipation of learning but never got the time. Do it with your kids and mind you, they will overtake you in no time!

6. Don't be obsessed with television and news - while watching the idiot box may be our favourite pastimes but it creates a sudden vacuum as soon as it is switched off. Watch it in small time periods.

7. Step out - morning and evening are of course the best times to enjoy the cool weather. Don't do this in groups. Enjoy the solitary walk with your favourite music humming in your ears. Observe the nature and people around. You don't always need to be with them, to be with them!! 

8. Develop more indoor hobbies - there are many and with the power of net, there is no dearth to explore. For instance - kids would enjoy card making. Ask them to make cards for all their friends's birthday in the next quarter or if they are enthused then next six months. There are beautiful you tubes of 3D card making. Dust those big building blocks and thousand pieces puzzles!

9. Go for a run or jog - go for an early morning drive (no eating outside). Practice driving now that the traffic is less :). Go for hiking on nature trails or just cycle around. 

10. Read, read and read - step into the dream world of books and stories, it takes the stress away. Write book reviews and post it online (kids can also learn to write elaborate book reviews). Who knows that by reading so much, by the end of a few weeks, you start writing as well :)

11. Use technology to be connected to your near and dear ones - this is the time to do video calls - this will keep you happy after all humans are social animals.

12. If you have a garden - plant a few vegetables. See them grow which you wouldn't have been able to in your hectic lifestyle. 

13. Enjoy home food - involve your kids (boys or girls) in the kitchen. Appreciate the art of cooking - don't hurry. You may never know by the end of it, your kid may want to become a baker or a chef!!
14. Setup a small tent in the balcony or that terrace of yours - that may turn out to be the favourite corner of the young minds.

15. Let the kids get bored and then reward them by playing a board game with them after your work is over. Let their mind be idle for sometime, idle minds finally turn into creative ones. 

16. Talk to kids...let them talk and you listen. Let them share their dreams, mindless thoughts and ideas, senseless jokes and laughter. 

17. Needless to say, there is a lot of online stuff where the kids can enrol to. But let us do that in moderation - its time for us to connect with them and let all of us connect with ourselves too. 

18. Let the time crawl slowly and in no time, these days will be over and we will emerge richer (not in the literal sense of course!) and stronger! 

There can be many many more in the list...just shed your inhibitions of leading a slightly different life for sometime. And while you do all this, wash your hands often !!!
This too shall pass and soon we can go back into our connected universe!