When Hunger Strikes

An entity in a land of kings got into profession even before understanding the meaning of food, but what hunger meant was always known to her.

Being an infant she served the purpose of attracting mercy in the hands of a symbolic helpless mother. At the age of crawling she was under fed to prepare her for the job. As a homeless creature without a roof and footpath as shelter, she took a step releasing the support of her hands from the ground, for the first time she was standing on her legs. She began to walk towards the road and stretched her hands to touch and feel the world but suddenly some passerby left a coin in her palms. . . The first step also became a step into the occupation mercy was easily attracted towards her innocent face.

This was instantly noticed by her forbearers and celebrated as a mark of luck. She became a little star in a dark sky radiating an invisible light. She earned more than anyone else at that signal; her education involved only an introduction of the three colors.

She did noticed children of her age but they were very different from her.

They carried bags on their shoulders and wore clothes of the same kind but were clean unlike her.  Their bus took them to a building where they spent half the day then returned on the same route. Often they were accompanied by people who took utmost care of them. This was dissimilar in comparison to her elders.

She often communicated with them when the bus stops but the words were never exchanged, she used to go and stare at them and they returned her look. An amazement of watching something alien was carried in the stares.

She begged elders but never raised her hands in front of children, something inside her compelled not to. This was not acceptable to the seniors in her profession.

They left her hungry for a couple of days to teach her a lesson. But for her, hunger was more of a weapon than a cause of torture. She had learned earlier in her life how to be calm when not fed at all. She finally refused to beg!

The little star was now radiating a light which was disturbing the harmony of a supposedly darker sky. She was threatened to be abandoned, but this also proved an ineffective measure on an already unsponsored life.

On the third night of her punishment she left that footpath and started walking towards the building where all children went in a hope to return with people who will care for her.

She never realized whether she reached there or not. Hunger struck her but she didn't strike back.
Her birth was not of significance but her departure was set on route of enlightenment. 

For Me

I don't know when I first felt a need to see you
but thank you for coming for me

I don't know how I can live without you
but thanks for descending on earth for me


I don't know how long I can look at you
but thanks for being in front of me

I don't know where to take you
but thanks for relying on me 

I don't remember when you started missing me
but thank you for smiling at me today

For You

Separation will be long
I can’t carry everything along

so I left my soul with you
To keep you one with me

and I left my smile with you
So that we can still share a laugh

and I left my thoughts with you
So you never feel bore

and I left my hug with you
To give you comfort every time you need

and I left my kiss with you
So you never feel alone

and I left my dreams with you
So you sleep nicely

And then I left my life with you
So that I can come back one day

A little Encounter

I have never seen her before and she was waiting there, for me?

As usual a late comer, I was walking towards the office gate and could see her silhouette from a distance

‘Hope you didn’t hurt yourself while descending from the heavens’ I started a conversation with her in my mind. I need to get the first lines correct while striking a dialogue!

50 more steps to go before I could reach her. Who could she be and what is she doing at my office gate? Maybe someone is looking for a job! This thought crossed my mind.
I can help her in that regard, my manager will never refuse my request, he is a nice man and a close friend.

35 steps to go, and I could see her dress was a perfect mix of an era defining this generation, not provocative but classy. Somehow I always felt that you are born for certain types of dresses but in her case dresses should take birth for her.

20 steps more, I was getting closer, somehow gorgeous seemed a pity word to define the beauty she possessed, English dictionary was not sufficient to portray her elegance.

10 Steps and I will be there, ‘Would you like to have Tortellini or Spaghetti?’ definitely she would like Italian food –my favorite, I almost took her to our maiden dinner date but I sounded more like a waiter than her mate.

I was very close now and could not asses the number of steps it will take to reach her, I was always bad at math! but close encounter with a sensation is more complex than any mathematical equations.

I kept all my imaginations aside, come back later I instructed them, now get ready to break the ice!

She was standing facing the office and I went and stood parallel to her “Excuse me” I said while we were both facing in the same direction.

“Hi” she said with utmost pleasure, maybe she has found ‘The Man’ she was searching for years and there I was. I looked her from her right, the hair looked lovely and could see a hint of her ear rings through the strands.

“Hello darling how are you?” I did not said that but my mind told me someone has just spoken these words. I turned and watched the doors of my office were flung open and there stood someone I knew.

“Sweetheart! I am waiting for you from 10 minutes now, now quickly tell me where you are taking me” she said to her darling.

“Sid! what are you doing here, is this the time to come to office?” he said when he realized how close I was standing to her.

My emotions went in exile and my esteem was searching a place to sit, I did not broke the ice but he has broken the entire ice berg on my head.

“I ehh, ….” My mind experienced a general strike of words!

“Never mind, it is almost lunch time when you are coming to office” he said sarcastically “Please do me a favor, can you book a table for me and my fiancé at the Italian Restaurent”

“Sure sir” I responded and he took her away.

How can I refuse his request, he is a nice man and a close friend!

That wasn’t Easy - A tale of Proposal

Instances create history but moments make our life

Never was I so desperate for that moment to come, yes I was trying to say this for over six months now.

But believe me “I love you” is not an easy thing to say especially to someone who you cynically adore to extent of devotion.

She was there in front of me and I was running out of words, phrases and ideas to express what I have been rehearsing all night.

“You know, this evening reminds me of someone”  A sudden flow of words from her mouth dragged me out of my thoughtlessness into a rather baffling state.

Who can it be? Or he be? or they be? May be??

‘Ask her you fool!!’ The Wise Me reminded the Foolish Me

“Whom do you recall, O beholder of a beautiful face?”  I can’t believe I just said that! The Wise Me slapped the Stupid Me at least a thousand times.

“What don’t flatter me” as she responded with a hint of smile and took her hair strand behind her ears, the Stupid Me face turned content and the so called Wise Me went blank. I think this internal conflict posted some unreadable expressions on my face.

“What happened to you” before I lose my ground and forget everything in the world including the reason why I am having this conversation I opened my mouth but the Wise Me shouted ‘Not so Fast you idiot, take your time and let it sink’

Now this act of “Smart” Me left my mouth half open, and this was not a very charming expression again.

“Are you all right?” she said

“No, I want to Sink” a disbelieve on what I said was evident and Mr Wise was furious again ‘What are you saying O beholder of a Stupid face’

“What are you saying?” when she said that, it was a do or die situation for me.

“Yes I want to sink, sink in the ocean of love, true love… your love” these words just flew from my mouth but the intelligent mind was still not happy

‘Do not sound like a boring poet you fool! say something wise, intelligent and impress her’

And then I said “don’t judge the veracity of my idiom and consider it my idiocy” I actually said that! Of all sentences framed in English language to impress a girl, this was definitely the worst of all, this was told to me by none other than the “UnWise” Me

Now I went down on my knees something which I should have done much earlier

“Look there is a fight going in my head and they are both asking me to do a very important thing but in opposite manner”

“What?? I don’t understand” she said but at the tiniest fraction of a second could see a hidden smile behind that rough look, this was my moment

“My princess I don’t care what these two say after this, at this moment I don’t want to know what you will think of me, you will reject me or Kiss me, but all I want to tell you is that I have so much love to give you that you will never find any reason to come out of it”

… and rest as they say is History.

Leaving

Leaving was never easy for him, especially the preparation of it.

He had spent last four hours assembling his paraphernalia from every corner of the house. If only he could pack and carry the atmosphere that prevailed in here. From past two years this was his home… their home, and today he was leaving it, alone.


Although in his late twenties he was yet to find the right direction to start the journey of life. In his professional life, they called him an expert. In his own eyes, he was just a beginner, he always has been one. “It isn’t me” he often used to mention this to his roommates.


The group of four moved in two years ago when they were settling with a new career in a new city. Their roads crossed while house hunting.

A world he had recently stepped into after years of a carefree and protected stint. This was the first time when he was away from his family, but he discovered it in his roommates.
He quickly recognized that his chaps were not very different from him “What?? You too! And I thought it’s only me”.


Three months back AJ left, followed by Dean and GK a week ago. His luggage which was kept in one corner will be the final one to move out.
Just a couple of more hours in home, a final check to make sure everything went in. 

Where is that?

He realized something is missing from his packed stuff. He went inside his room, opened the closet and looked into once filled drawers and cupboards. After some time, he found what he was looking for.

How can I go without this?

His home has kept everything’s safe for him ever since he needed it. After glancing over it for a minute he kept that snap in his wallet. That was a rare picture in which the four sat in a pub during their early days, those days were never coming back.

From the beginning, they struck the right chord and tunes of bliss and laughter accentuated thereafter. After any tiring day at work when they used to sit at the terrace under the open sky all pain and misery were replaced by a cocktail of good company and great music. The dwelling proved to be their shield from the brutalities of the real world.  

His phone rang and he knew that the cab is here to pick him up. His final few moments were left to spend in this house. Leaving this place became the reason for him to leave the city, leave the work and leave his memories behind, forever…

A couple of loud horns made him realize that he should start moving. One by one he kept his luggage outside and the driver transferred them to the dickey of the cab.

“Let’s hurry sir we are already late” the driver said while starting the ignition. He gave a final glance to his home and then turned his eyes from it forever as he had done with her later in the day.

He never said I'll miss you and neither said see you again he just parted with these words…

“I am leaving”


and the beholder of the eyes watched him with bewilderment.

My Relationship with your Memories

What took months to build is broken overnight
And it turns hard to raise my arms in plight
Sophistication of the situations drains out all hope
Light seem to be at the far end of the globe

In times when darkness pushes me to the end of torment
My relationship with your eyes makes me come back

When a thunder in the sky makes the heart sink
And an obscurity around breaks all links
Sincerity of the effort has nothing to offer
A struggle is there, just to stay longer

In times when I am surrounded by turmoil
My relationship with your dreams makes me smile

When I fell from a height so great
The blow makes my existence reverberate
a catastrophe inhales whatever it takes
And leaves everything shattered in rakes

In times when life isn't easy and hard to survive
My relationship with your memories keeps me alive

The longest poem of my life - Did you follow your dream

Did you follow your dream

When I wake up in the middle of night

The panorama shifts from fantasy to real sight

A confusion from veracity comes to be

A feeling similar to a new born baby

I sit on the bed with legs resting on one side

And stare at my palms holding my destiny lines

They seem to be struggling in their own mess

These lines decide my future, the thought fails to impress

What I believe often hits a road of questions

Strange is how the answers change my perception

As my eyes rolled towards the window at my right

I ask myself a question, do I understand the meaning of life?

The way our being take us to diverse destinies

Not all of them fulfill our fantasies

I had built castles for other unknown personalities

And surrendered my vision in hands of commerciality

I then walk towards the window and stare at the darkness outside

I ask myself – why is there so much confusion in life?

We struggle to earn and live in decency

All is rejected which is far from reality

It is not because there was a lack of courage

The size of our dreams are confined with age

I peep out my head and look towards the night sky

I ask myself - Did you have what you wanted from life?

Close to my being and far from reach

Some efforts were left in between

Chosen was the path which no one had crossed

But taken was the one where the herd just passed

I walk back to my bed, laying down I close my eyes

The shutting lids raise the question- is this the reality of my life?

From the forefront to the end point of day

Is a game which everyone has to play

A goal is just an unclimbed wall

Any player on the ground can take the ball

The answers to all disappointments and confusion of life

Lies in the question - Did you follow the dream shown by life?

The Passage

Between the rising light and its fall 
I daily follow unchanged paths 
No wonder I take similar turns
and end up at same place to burn

  

The passage takes me to a daily routine 
Where I often cross an empty bench in the green

Like a liberated soul trapped in initial chores
carrying a saddle, promise to take him to future shores
That lone soul waits with great expectations
Eager for a world of new transformations

When I walk by he looks at me without a hunch 
I have often seen a school boy sitting on that bench

Insulated from world and far from horizon
Taken by the tide and drifting in the motion
I seldom feel this could go on forever
They sit aside and look together

When I walk by they never seem to tell the difference
I have often seen a couple cuddle on that bench

In the mist of the times and hustle of technique
For the tough world one cannot be weak
The busy soul explores the cell and nothing within
Everything seems small when ears are plugged in

When I walk by he seems to plunge in trench
I have often seen a young executive texting on that bench

Juggling with the swiftness of passing time
the eccentricity of unknown, he can’t decide

From the heads which once ruled the era

Comes a spirit which searches his saga

When I walk by he searches himself in my discernment
I have often seen the old man sitting on the bench

The passage with its never changing scene
compels me to reach for places unseen 
Before I keep my dreams aside to fill my pockets
I search my soul for the lost attempts

When I walk by and the scenery looks quite
I have often seen myself settling down on that bench  

The Women of my life

When I think of care, I think of her
I can’t feel down if she is there
She was the one to always inspire
God can’t be everywhere, hence he conspire

I never slept without a dream to inhale
Every time I go to bed my Mom told me a fairy tale

When I think of puerility, I think of her
Life would be incomplete if she wasn't there

How we spend days teasing each other
One day she left home forever

When I see a girl living with independence
I think of my sister tackling world with confidence

When I think love, I think of her
I always knew that she was somewhere
One day she appeared to make my world upside down
In a few days her name became my favorite noun

How special she was even in a crowd of thousand
I knew how this is true with my Girl Friend’s tender touch of hand

When I think of life, I think of her
I don’t know when, but soon she will be near
That face will be with me, night and day
Life will be incomplete without her say

Feel like I am in a long distance relation with a girl in my future
Sometimes I Miss my Wife who will be with me in my adventure

Then I Felt an urge to

Whose emotions are these? a boy's or a girl's? Read on...

It was the first time when you put eyes on me
that wasn’t an ordinary look, nor a courtesy
The gaze had since reversed my blood flows
 you were sitting far off but still seemed so close

For a teenager it was the first love’s glimpse
Then I felt an urge to spread the smile waiting on my lips

That was the first time when someone had liked me
And expressed the hidden feelings openly
This triggered a teasing tendency around quite instantly
I was single, no more! and got an emotional company

It was a dream come true for someone in the early twenties
Then I felt an urge to hug the one I want to spend my life with

It was the first time when you had withdrawn hands from me
That was something quite reverse of my fantasy
The palms which I held close to my being
Had suddenly become a foreign thing

It was a nightmare for someone crossing a quarter life
Then I felt an urge to deviate to solitude of compromise  

It was the first time I saw you with someone else
The emotions erupted but were suppressed
The same palms were resting on another shoulder
The lips were immersed in a union with not a stranger

That was not an easy sight for a human of any stage
Then I felt an urge to let out the tears I held for an age