The Unforgettable One

Every passing day brings back memories from the days gone by in our lives. Some are happy ones that we relish and some evoke lingering feelings of loss, longing and pain. It is this set of mixed feelings that make many of the moments, events and companions unforgettable.
Here is one such unforgettable one........

The Unforgettable One

Childhood is a world of memories,

Nostalgic and filled with stories;

On the table, the other day,

Dad told a fable, in his own way!

There was a king, who had a queen;

A saint gave him a ring, which was green;

The ring was lost, on the way back;

The thief was a ghost, hiding in a sack!

All the king's lords, and all their men;

Swayed their swords, but all in vein;

They camped in woods, set-up their kitchen;

Drank to lift moods, grilled hundred chicken!

King tried for weeks, searching the ring of dreams;

Deep in the creeks, beyond the streams;

None saw the bags, lying in the dens;

None cleaned the rags, littered by the hens!

Although tired yet trying, they returned defeated;

Queen started crying, when the king greeted;

Princess and the prince, the lovely twosome;

They didn't wince, even at a loss so awesome!

Prince tamed the horses, 

Princess soothed the royalty;

All forgot the curses,

Thanked the men for their loyalty!

From the magical kennel, out came Jadoo,

With a sack of flannel, like a voodoo;

It wagged its tail, jumped over the rope;

Resolved not to fail, it beamed with hope!

Even queen did smile, forgot her pain;

Kids scrambled around, oblivious of the loss or the gain;

Jadoo tore the sack, out came the ring;

It tinkled on the ground with a swing!

Everyone taken aback, stared at the pup,

That got busy slurping milk in the cup;

Queen had no love for pets, only hate;

But what a surprise, what game of fate!

She slept the sleep of this little creep,

She knew its bark was a laughter or a weep;

Jadoo would eat out of her hand,

Her fingers casting a spell like a magic wand!

One night Jadoo didn’t appear at the door,

Queen made calls, King the regular chore;

Looking for it, Prince ran all around,

He feared neither the dark nor the hound!

But Jadoo had vanished the way it came,

Just the way wind takes away the flame;

No obituary, no epitaph, not even a tomb,

Just memories of  its love and its aplomb!

Me and My Penny

Life has many facets that need to be taken care of for sustaining life itself. There are various levels of needs defined by Maslow and different sets of motivators classified by Hertzberg. The basic need of money for food, clothing, shelter can not be questioned and social security is also dependent on the financial position. Interestingly, the higher needs of recognition and self-actualization have also become dependent on finances due to the materialistic society and culture of consumerism.

Thus, it is important to understand the importance of each penny and have a look at each penny that passes through our hands...... 

Me and My Penny

One fought with me for a penny,

One carried me on his back for a penny,

One begged me for a penny,

One cheated me for a penny.

Did I not loose that penny?

Did I not pay that penny?

Did I not drop that penny?

Did I not throw that penny?

One toiled the whole day for a penny?

One sold his women for a penny?

One sold his God for a penny?

One sold himself for a penny?

Why did I not care for that penny?

Why did I not use that penny?

Why did I not collect that penny?

Why did I not invest that penny?

Every saved penny is an earned penny?

Every well used penny is worth its penny?

Every earned penny attracts another penny?

Every invested penny brings many a penny?

Let me now not loose a single penny!

Let me now count each penny!

Let me now save quarter a penny!

Let me invest each of my penny!

Right and Left

We as individuals are tuned to follow the two sides Right and Left in our day to day life. Since childhood, I have been thoroughly confused about which side is Left and which is Right. In the army training they tell you to take out your Left foot first along with Right hand. Now, this itself started creating problem because I tried to remember Left first, Left first, Left first.... So when the command came March Ahead... I simply moved Left foot and Left hand out, and Ahoy! Bang came the cane of the instructor at my butt!

He admonished Left foot and Right hand! And then I learnt the most natural way of walking in this unnatural setting.

The complications further deepened when I was taught the meaning of Right. They said it means something similar to Correct or Acceptable. My mom told that I should eat with my Right hand, while I should wear my watch on Left. Now, I had to take care to be right with Right and Left, when I was doing different daily chores.  

Later on in life when I learnt something of politics and economics, the issue turned complex from complicated. There are parties who are known as Left parties while there are others who are called Right to the Center.

Final nail in my understanding was hammered when I tried to wade my way through the corporate world. They say, Boss is always Right, while I have found that my boss has been Left many a times in the promotions and me too ..... 

I am sure when you go through the following lines you will be empathizing with me....

Right is Right and Left is Left

If right is right, it is certainly right,

And if left is left, it is also right,

But if right is left, then it is not right,

However if left is right, even then it is right.

If right gets left, then right may become left,

And if left becomes right, still right may become left,

However, if right gets right, left may be left,

And if left gets left, then also right may be left.

If right is left, it doesn't mean right is not right,

And if left is right, it doesn't mean left is not left,

However if right is right, it doesn't mean right is not left,

But if left is left, it doesn't mean right is not left.

Left right, left right, left right, left right!

O God! Help Me!!

Living on the edge in this world full of people who, just like us, are in search of basic amenities, some moments of happiness, someone to say a few soothing words, a safe world for their loved ones, a ray of hope a bright tomorrow and similar natural wishes, makes me realize that help must come from Almighty to make all our wishes true!

A few lines seeking an ear from the One, who has given me these words:

O God! Help Me!!

O God! Help me!! Help others!!

O God! Help me help others!!

Let all hands have work,

Let all mouths have food,

Let all feet have paths,

Let all wings have feathers!

O God! Help me!! Help others!!

O God! Help me help others!!

Let all minds have dreams,

Let all calls have ears,

Let all eyes have sun,

Let all children have mothers!

O God! Help me!! Help others!!

O God! Help me help others!!

Let all trees have fruits,

Let all seeds have plants,

Let all eggs have chicks,

Let all plants have flowers!

O God! Help me!! Help others!!

O God! Help me help others!!

Let all breaths have air,

Let all rivers have waters,

Let all lands have woods,

Let all peoples have brothers!

O God! Help me!! Help others!!

O God! Help me help others!!

Two Birds in the Evening

The day our kids pay a visit to our place, the incident virtually becomes an event in itself. In a similar moent I got reminded of the day from the past when I paid a surprise visit to my parents who are living on their own in a home raised by them as a dream place to live.

The feelings that evoked on that occasion have take shape in the following word....

Two Birds in the Evening

Beheld two birds in the nest,

Crouching together, taking rest;

The two looked serene and content.

Having flown world on feather,

Braving together, the rough weather;

The two looked frail and clement.

Having explored the woods,

Flying together, searching foods;

The two looked tired and hesitant.

Chicks flown-away at dawn,

To trade either brain or brawn;

The two looked marred but confident.

When the chicks visited,

Withered wings, tried and tested; 

The two looked worried and benevolent. 

Talking of the chicks,

Gazing together, at the clicks;

The two looked pristine and ardent.

Search For The Lost One

Life is a journey that takes us from place to place, from one group of people to another, from one work to another and from one role to another. We get many things in ourselves from our heredity, from our childhood, from our friends, from our teachers,from our neighbors, from our family, from our colleagues and even from our enemies. Some of these we carry with ourselves and some of them we drop on our way. A unique admix of all of these is what we are today!

We take this journey of life in search of living for today and security for future. But a quest always goes on within ourselves either for something that we want to have or something that we lost in our way.

A look at something that you and I have been searching for.....

Search For The Lost One

In my fight for survival,

Where did I lose him?

He, who shared his own bread,

He, who accompanied a lame’s tread;

He, who helped little wings spread,

He, who kept heart over head.

In my race of life,

Where did I lose him?

He, who called a spade a spade,

He, who preferred sun over shade;

He, who licked swords at blade,

He, who hated shirk and evade.

In my journey to horizon,

Where did I lose him?

He, who was always on quest,

He, who always gave his best;

He, who laughed at every test,

He, who put every hurt to rest.

In my strife for unknown,

Where did I lose him?

He, who gives me my breath,

He, who welcomes all after death;

He, who listens to every faith,

He, who gives body to wraith.

In my search for myself,

Where did I lose him?

Where did I lose Him??

We in India

India is a unique place in terms of its geography, its seasons, its traditions, its people, its history, its literature, its politics, its culture, and everything that our minds can conjure! We live in a society that is plagued by all types of evils, we eat food that is contaminated by all types of adulteration, we survive in an economy that thrives on chaos, we worship god-men/women who suddenly become under-trials, we follow the law made by absconders of justice.....!
Yet, we are one of the happiest people in the world, we are one of the most satisfied people in the world, we are the most resilient people.......!
A few lines on the indomitable spirit of being an Indian!!!!!

We in India

We walk on the road,

With spirits so low and nowhere to go;

Testing our tryst,

Across scorching sun and rivers without flow.

We wander on the road,

With tremble in feet and breath without air;

Seeking the path,

Across flickering signals and signs with glare.

We perch on the road,

With death on prowl and just minutes left,

Chasing the mirage,

Across seas of sand stretched beyond the cleft.

We march on the road,

With dreams in heart and gleams in eyes;

Searching for hope,

Kindling lights in darkness and smiles in cries.

O Lord! Thou the Omniscient!!

With every day passing-by and we moving from one stage in life to another, one success to another, one achievement to another, many a times all of us must have felt that "I" am doing so many things. I am able to do this, I can do that, I have done that, I will do that..... etc.

Only when I find that there is so much I am not doing, there is so much that I could have done but have not done that a question comes-up......

Have "I" really ???!!!!

O Lord! Thou the Omniscient!!

O Lord!

Thou the Omniscient!

I was sent by You,

To play my role in the show;

I walked on the stage,

With shaking legs and quivering voice;

You gave me the script,

You gave me the word!

Thou the Originator!!

O Lord!

Thou the Omniscient!

I was given strength,

To carry the arrow and the bow;

I faced the world,

With mild action and wild choice;

You gave me the disc,

You gave me the sword!

Thou the Nurturer!!

O Lord!

Thou the Omniscient!

I was given time,

To live, to love and to grow;

I left this stage,

With palms open and peace to rejoice;

You gave me the song,

You gave me the chord!

Thou the Destroyer!!

O Lord!

Thou the Omniscient!

You gave me my parents and my home!

You lived with me in this world at my home!

You took me to my destiny with You to my home!

Thou the Originator!

Thou the Nurturer!

Thou the Destroyer!

O Lord!

Thou the Omniscient!!

Travellers on the Port

Travellers at the Port - no matter whether yesterday or today

Lucknow is a historical city in the province of Uttar Pradesh in our country. It is very very famous for its etiquette, its culture and its Nawabi style of living; the Mughlai cuisine like Kebabs, Biryani, Chats; the Chicken embroidery, the kurta, the Bhoolbhulaiya, the Bada Imambara, Chhota Imamabara, Roomi Darwaza et al and even a language of its own spoken by the weavers and artisans of the Chickenkari......

The most interesting site I saw once was at the International Airport at Lucknow - Don't get shocked : Lucknow has an International Airport known as Chowdhary Charan Singh International Airport! There were innumerable simpletons in the boarding area after security check-in, looking lost in the glaring precincts of the airport waiting for their turn to board their flight.

The following lines flowed incessantly and I have now compiled and an putting here for you :

Travellers on the Port

Travelers on the port,

Waiting for their turn to board;

To board a ship going somewhere,

Going somewhere from land of nowhere.

Travelers with gloomy faces,

Of all colours and of all races;

Carrying heavy hearts and light baggage,

Baggage salvaged after the ravage.

Travelers seeking secured lives,

Of their children and their wives;

Some in this world full of misery,

Some in the next world full of mystery.

Travelers those have pulled carts,

Will fly today in air like darts;

For a tomorrow brighter than today,

Dream having taken them under its sway.

Travelers with roots dug in ground,

Reaching where riches abound,

Seeking happiness away from sorrow,

Sacrificing today for an unknown tomorrow.

Travelers with hope in air,

Searching reprieve from despair;

Leaving names, streets and towns,

Getting crowns, browns or frowns.

Delhi - Delhi - Delhi

Delhi is the centre of attraction for one and all across the country. On the "Independence Day" everybody was looking at the Ramparts of Red-Fort where our Prime Minister was hoisting the "Tricolour" and all hearts were filled with expectations. It's not sure as to how many of the expectations were fulfilled and how many of them were just shattered silently.

I have been in Delhi for last 5 years and have felt that this city lives its own-life that is different than the lives of its inhabitants. All roads seem to be leading to this great historical city that seems to shower power on anyone whose address has "Delhi" written on it. How many of us know this city and its life??? 

Delhi -  Delhi - Delhi

Rowing in the human-streams,

Human-streams lost in the maze of roads ;

Roads for you from nowhere to somewhere,

Somewhere to go, someone to meet!

                      Meet the unknown to greet him luck,

                      Luck to realise his savoured dreams;

                      Dreams of a secure and bright tomorrow,

                      Tomorrow that is better than today!

Today marred with shadows of past,

Past that was filled with pearls of tears;

Tears of failures, tears of pain,

Pain of losses, pain of hunger!

                      Hunger for life, hunger for love,

                      Love that's lost in frivolous anger;

                     Anger of endless journey and wait,

                     Wait for beginning, wait for end!

End of sufferings for riches and growth,

Growth of nation ruled and exploited;

Exploited by mysterious names,

Names without a caste or a creed!

                      Cast or creed of the slaves and kings,

                      Kings of a nation sleeping and weeping;

                     Weeping over spoils of millions,

                     Millions of guilder, millions of people!

People with ray of hope in heart,

Heart beating with deafening pace;

Pace of traffic, life and death,

Death of relations and of feelings!

                     Feeling so rare and so weak,

                     Weak friendships and lost families;

                     Families of haves and have-nots,

                     Have-nots, who build this city!

City filled with myriads of statesmen,

Statesmen flaunting vivacious flags;

Flags that are hoisted on ceremonies,

Ceremonies of conquest and of freedom!

                    Freedom from vanquish and from slavery,

                    Slavery for existence and for survival;

                    Survival of the fittest is the key,

                    Key to success and to wins!

Wins keep you here else you flee,

Flee from opportunity and leave the race;

Race to make both ends meet,

Meet the fortune forever unseen!

                   Unseen is this great historical city,

                   This great historical city of Delhi !