Q&A

I usually bring questions,
hardly ever answers.
I now find questions,
where there used to be explanations,
just yesterday.

Life, I believed, were a quest
A journey from question to answer,
endless, relentless.
Could it be instead
that I'm a girl lighting candles
replacing the darkness of ignorance
with the flame of inquiry,
wick by wick?

Could my journey be
from answer, to question
from certainty, to uncertainty
from belief, to possibilities
from opinion, to truth?

Ignorance is an adept impostor
It exists not as nothingness,
but everythingness
It exists not as vacuum,
but as a truth,
that is too firm to be true,
too singular to be real
Is any single answer ever correct,
I ask. What about non-duality, then?

Singularity bears the seeds
Of separateness
Oneness comes dressed in plurality
A perplexing paradox...
The simple truth...

1:15 a.m. 

Runningbrook Dr.

29th March 2018

Zanzibar

My sun-drenched hours

Dissolve away

Like semolina sand

In turquoise sea

I wade, through liquid glass

And chase the horizon

Where else, O where else

Would I rather be!

Prisoner of my own device

3rd August 2012

Like the soul of a bird
With wings of stone 
My heart yearns for freedom
From a cage my own

I built it from my fears
Raised it from admonitions
And fastened the door tight

With the lock of expectations

My mind holds the key
Yet my hands shudder
Of my own device,
Alas, I am a prisoner. 

~Prajakta

The other world

There exists a world

Beyond our own

Where crumbs of bread

Are worth more than gold

Where lives are at the mercy

Of mosquito nets,
Not car crashes

Where hope and despair
Coexist like brothers,

Where brothers coexist

In despair, and in hope

Where poverty has not taken 

The dignity of young folks
And mothers still aspire

Where our world ceases to grow

Theirs thrives endlessly.

गुस्ताखी माफ़

गुस्ताखी माफ़, मेरे यार

तुम तो निकले गद्दार

प्यार करो शायरी से

और नोटों से इकरार?

A prayer

May this soaring inspiration

Never let my soul rest

Upon the ground of reality

May this determined vision

Never be interrupted

By trivial fears of the unknown

May this unwavering gaze

Remain fixated

On the infinite promise of the blue sky

May my conviction

In the endless possibilities of life

Never hide behind clouds of self-doubt

Sunshine

Freeze

Freeze!

Freeze!!

Freeze in time

Freeze in space

Freeze in existence

Freeze this breath

Freeze this emotion

Both hope and anxiety

In blatant protest

Of time, the Almighty.

Freeze! before tomorrow

Seduces my sanity

Avalanche of change

Unstoppable reality

Expressions, creations,

Relations thrive,

Ideas spring

In my mind

I grasp, I gasp

I capture some,

To shadows of nostalgia

Will my 'present' succumb?

Freeze now!

Don't let them take

What is rightfully mine

Rescue from time,

Today's sunshine...

Writer's Block (Marathi)

कविता आजकाल सुचतेय कुठे?

मनाला पालवी फुटतेय कुठे?

आतुरतेने पाहते मी प्रेर्णेची वाट

पण पावसात मन भिजतेय कुठे?

आनंदाचा स्पर्ष मनाला पोहोचेना

हास्याचे वजन ओठांना पेलवेना

मनाने जणु मिटून घेतलेत डोळे

प्रकाशात देखिल वाट दिसतेय कुठे?

New Year Wishes

May the New Year be
The first of many more
When raindrops of joy
Incessantly pour

May the future unfold
At a melodious pace
And fill your live
With benevolent grace

Some of life we sculpt
Some of it occurs
May we still rejoice
In the heaven’s offer

May this year be
Generous with its gifts
May contentment reign
And each morning uplift!

Happy New Year 2010!

दुआ उसके दिल की ...

मंजिल की चाह जब डगमगाए

हौसले दिल के जब कतराएँ

बेखौफ बढ़ते रहना फिर भी

दिल में रखना यह एतबार

रोक सकेगा न कोई तुम्हारा रास्ता

न कोई तूफ़ान न सैलाब न चट्टानें

उस खुदा के दिल से निकली दुआ हो तुम

यह कुदरत भला उसकी कैसे न माने?

आपकी आँखों में
हम अपना चेहरा, ढूँढ़ते ही रह गए ...

खो गई सारी खुशियाँ
आप न जाने ऐसा, क्या कह गए ...

अपने खुदा के भी हो गए दुश्मन
जाने कौनसा ग़म हम सह गए ...

कभी हमने भी माँगी थी, इश्क की मन्नत
सोचा था, हम भी पा लेंगे जन्नत
लेकिन तू तो निकली बेवफ़ा, ऐ मोहब्बत
अब तो तेरी दुआ से भी रुः काँप उठती है।

एक राज़ की बात

दिल जीतने के हैं,

सौ तरीके।

कोई अपने रूप से, तो कोई प्रतिभा से,

कोई मन की सच्चाई से, तो कोई अच्छाई से,

और कोई केवल सादगी से,

कोमल से मन में प्रीत जगाए।

हर शख्स का अपना

अनोखा अंदाज़।

इसीलिए तो इश्क रहा

न सुलझनेवाला एक राज़।

लत

लत जब दिलको लगी हो
तो शराब को क्यों कोसिए?
उसे भी छोड़ ही देंगे आख़िर
पहले मोहब्बत तो छुडा दीजिए.

यह अश्क भुला चुके हैं,
कि इनकी वजह क्या थी
कब से खामोश लब हैं कि
लव्ज़ भूल गए इल्तजा क्या थी

इश्क कुछ ऐसे हो जाए, की दिल को भी ख़बर न हो

इश्क कुछ ऐसे हो जाए
की दिल को भी ख़बर न हो
छिन जाए करार, और फिर
बस कोई सब्र न हो

काफिर जब नज़रें होने लगें
तो मासूम दिल को हो हैरानी
जब आरजू ही दिल से खेले लुक्का-छुपी
तो कैसा दूध, कैसा पानी

नाप - तोलकर हम मुस्काएं
बेखबर ख़ुद राजदार , कि वह कौनसा राज़ है छुपाये
यह कैसी बात है जो सिर्फ़ नज़रें फ़रमाएँ?
लेकिन इकरार से भी इतेरायें ?

हमारे गाल पर उतरी एक पलक
बन जाए उनकी चुराई हुई झलक
हमारे दिल में गूंज्नेवाली
उनकी आवाज़ कि वह खनक

एक ख़याल , दो लव्ज़,
उनकी हलकी - सी एक मुस्कान
इनके लिए तरसने लगे हम
बस इतनी सी होगी इश्क कि पहचान

नया कारवां ( a new journey )

मन बहक जाता है
कभी- कभी ।
बेगानों, अन्जानों से रिश्ते बुन लेता है
कभी-कभी ।
लेकिन आँखें न धोखा खाएँ कभी
ये तो हैं रूह की परछाइयां।
खोजती रहे उसी पुराने हमसफ़र को
जिनसे बिछडे अब एक अर्सा हो गया।

जब ख़्वाबों, कहानियों की सैर कर रहे थे आप
ये कर रही थीं आपका इंतज़ार,
और आज मिले हैं तो झुक गई हैं
क्योंकी अब खत्म हुई इनकी तलाश।

फिर मिल रहे हैं बिचडे हमसफ़र
फिर से एक नया कारवां,
हाथ थामकर यूँ चल पड़े हैं
जैसे कभी कहा ही न था अल्विदा ।

A walk to IP...err...Temasek tower...aargh I meant, remember

Slow down,
Your footsteps hurried,
Slow down, slow down.

Play along,
As the breeze flirts with your tresses
Ticklish like fingers of babies.

Savor,
The sunshine warm caressing your skin
Coyly imploring for just a smile.

Look,
Into the eyes of towers high,
That reflect the soul of the bright blue sky.

Inhale,
The fresh gust of air,
It’s yet unparalleled by designer perfumes...

Any stroll could be your last
But take it like your first
And pray,
Pray that it lasts long,
If not in time,
At least in memory.

(Inspired by the quick tea-break strolls that we all love to take once in a while :))

The Dance

Her fingers dance
On ivory, black that shine
And music begins to soar
Like a response divine.

Soulfully they dance along,
They hold my listening gaze.
Dreams awaken in a drowsy mind
Her music unlocks this cage.

Innocence of an unmarked mind
Descends into their dance agile
Her symphony so pure, liberates
Stifled thoughts in exile.

आज फिर एक बार

आज फिर एक बार,
आप करीब महसूस होते हैं।
आज फिर एक बार,
हम आपको चाहने लगे हैं।

अदा को आशिक की चाह है जैसे,
और शायरी को इश्क की जरूरत,
जिस तरह ग़ज़ल को दर्द की तलाश है,
उसी कदर आप हैं हमारी हस्रत।

जिस तरह रूह के होने से, चलती हैं साँसे ,
आज फिर एक बार,
आपके एहसास से ही तो , धड़कनें चल रही हैं।

Don't summon my tears at will

Don't summon my tears at will
As if drawing from an endless source.
I don't even know if in your heart
You feel the slightest remorse...
Invincible, you are at this skill,
Why this strange ‘Phantom’ force?
I am my own, my own, alone
Yet on your cue, I’m all yours.

Missing something...

The long ride home

A melody unknown

Moments alone

Sweep me into our past again

Evenings cold, melancholy

Desire a stroll along memory

Impossible flights of fantasy

Still conjure in my mind, in vain

Sensation of a lost touch lingers

Your warm hand squeezing these fingers

Of a 'return', is this a harbinger?

The 'last' pleasure or lasting pain?

Hold this distance taut

Hold this distance taut,

As we stand closer

Than breath;

And grant my eyes

A moment of freedom

To soak in the beauty of yours.

Let me gaze at him,

To my heart’s content

He, who finally won,

My heart and my dreams

My tears and whims.

Who is profound,

As to hold them within,

And to calm my soul,

With his placid gaze.

Hold this distance taut,

And let me take my moment…

To admire the conqueror

I surrender to,

Whose word I abide by

For once, trusting without a ‘why’.

Hold; please hold this distance taut,

And let this joy

Percolate to my heart.

I finally know who I sought,

I finally know who I sought.

अनोखी साज़िश

पलकों के पीछे
मासूम-से जो सपने छिपे
क्यों नहीं हो जाते वे बदमाश?
क्यों न उडा ले जाते
हमें अपने साथ?

जीतकर हमें यथार्थ से
क्यों न देते आज़ादी का तोहफा?
क्यों न करते कोई जादू
कि हो जाऍं हम ज़माने से बेवफ़ा?

उनमें है वह काबीलियत,
तो फिर कैसी है बन्दिश?
खुशियों से मिलकर हमारी
क्या नहीं रच सकते यह साज़िश?

सहर

दिल की ख्वाबगाह में
हुई सहर
शीतल दस्तक पर बरसात की
तसव्वुर की रज़ाई में लिपटी
मेरी ख्वाइशों ने
ली अंगडाई
रुः की शैया से उतरीं
ज़िंदगी की ज़मीन पर

वास्तव में अपना एक
वजूद कायम करने...
रुकी हुई-सी सासों ने
की थी जिन बुलंदियों की दुआ
उन्ही नामुंकिन-से ख्वाबों में
सासें भरने...

Divine

All that is beautiful;
And pure,
All that glows with health;
And kindness,

All that looks skyward;
And gives earthward,

All that loves,
All that liberates,
All that dreams,

And all
That lives in the hearts of children

Is divine.

On the Ferry to Home Sweet Home

A green so green
And a gray so gray
The shades of magic
On a drizzly day
A misty scent
Lures me away

On the ferry
To home sweet home

Springs a fountain
Of vocabulary
Sings the heart
Of a wandering fairy
Christmas carol,
A song that’s merry

On the ferry
To home sweet home

The breeze is mystic
It tickles my skin
Frolicking flora
Of hues akin
Winter bells,
Wine with kin

On the ferry
To home sweet home

On your behalf...

She was awake,
when everyone had left.
She stayed sane,
when everyone had lost it.
She smiled,
when you had broken down.
When really,
She was the one crumbling to pieces
Beneath that placid face
Facing this brutal world,
Lonely and silenced…
With haunting memories,
Guilt for deeds undone,
And bitter tears for
Your discrediting words
Spoken carelessly.

She, who bears your burden,
With pleasure
She who does what is right,
Because unlike you,
She does not have the luxury
Of letting go…
When you fall
Who else will hold you,
Otherwise?

She, who has always been there,
Is there beside you,
And will be there till your last breath,
Hiding tears…
And fighting fears
Of her imminent tomorrows,
Without you…

You have nothing to lose,
You live warmly cared for,
But if you leave,
She will have lost everything.
Sacrifices of those in pain
Are visible,
And are made visible.
But those who suffer in silence
Are forgotten
Like Lakshman’s Urmila.

A long life,
He may bless you with
But she blessed you
With her support life-long.

And though you may not fulfill
the promise of ‘forever’,
You made to your second half,
Last words
of acknowledgement could
On your behalf…

And I had thought…

I don’t understand love;
It is too complex.
I understand friendship.
I understand togetherness.
I understand silly tiffs
And then inevitable patch-ups.

And I had thought…
All of these together would make up love,
But apparently,
Love is made up of really big things…
Like commitment,
Responsibility,
Sacrifice,
Respect and many more…
And among these big big things,
The tiny simple ones just get lost!

And I had thought…
That when the tiny things are in place
The big ones would naturally happen
But apparently,
Love begins with ‘commitment’
And ends…
with ‘just friendship’

When really, I had thought…
It would blossom
The other way round.

बेनाम जसबात

ये कैसी उल्झनें?
ये कैसी हैरानियॉं?
अजी, गुस्ताखी कैसी?
जब हमने रखी सरॉंखों पर
आपकी मन्मानियॉं?

इन जख्मों का क्या मोल?
जी लेंगे; इन्हें मानकर
आपकी महरबानियॉं...

अल्फाजों पर न करें
और जुल्म
अब छोड भी दें
ये परेशान खामोशियॉं

हमारे दिल को जख्म देने की
इतनी बडी सज़ा?
अजी, माफी कैसी?
इश्क में आपके जख्मी हुए,
ये तो कुबूल हुई
हमारे ही दिल की रज़ा...

ऑंखें

उनकी ऑंखों से बेह्ते
जसबातों का झरना,
मेरे मन की प्यास
कुछ ऐसे बुझाए,
कि रुक न सके
मेरी प्रीत का सागर.

ऑंखों की वह हल्की चमक
कुछ कह गई,
अनकही...
मेरे सप्नों की दुनिया
आबाद कर गई,
मासूमियत उनकी...

उनके मन की परछाई
जैसे ऑंखों ने ओढ ली हो,
हल्की मुस्कान ने उनकी
जैसे मेरी ख्वाइशें चुरा ली हों...

न छूने की आस,
न प्रीत की प्यास,
अब है, सिर्फ एक एह्सास
जो मेरी रुः को
कर चला आजाद...

ख्वाइश

आप हमारे खयालों में रहिए,
नज़रों के सामने न आइएगा ,वरना
शर्म से कुछ ऐसे झुक जाऍंगी ये पलकें,
कि मुश्किल हो जाएगा इश्क का इज़हार

वह मुलाकात होगी तो बेहद हसीन,
लेकिन चाहेंगे फिर भी हम यही

दिल को आपकी तलाश रहे
रिश्ता आपसे नहीं,
शायरी में कैद
आपके एह्सास से रहे

Promise of the skies

Azure skies
A radiance fluid,
An eternal promise,
For a future,
Infinite; immense; unknown.
I walk the earth
My gaze skyward
I long...for flight
I await...my wings.

Froth

Floating froth
Leaves a trail
Of little bubblets many,
That drift away
All alone,
In search
Of a shore unknown.
Many burst
Into a mist
A thousand particles tiny,
Abducted away,
All astray,
The breeze
Now far, far; far-away.

Dad, I have nowhere to go

Dad, I have nowhere to go.
I'm stranded
In a blizzard of frozen tears
In the chilly winter of lonely fears.

I see no light, no path,
No warm embrace.
Groping, I collapse
Into an agonizing haze.

My dearest, my family are distant
And loving friends flee
A deafening silence pervades
For a haunting eternity.

Some Friendships...

Some friendships are short-lived,
But last forever.

Moments when smiles assure a support
Too meaningful for words.
Such readiness to help
That it's almost always assumed
So easily.
Often, being there and being around
Is the best friendship can offer.
Yet the world seems complete.

Friends may not know
How deep thoughts are
And eyes are careful,
For fear of misunderstandings.

Sometimes I wonder,
What keeps friendships and love apart
Probably friends,
Are too unexpecting to be possessive.
Too free to be caged in vows?

New Year 2007

Dazzling Success,
Adventures may abound!
Caring friends and family
May always surround.

A fulfilling journey,
Through the New Year
May take you beyond
Dreams, cherished and dear.

Fly

Let me fly,

Let me soar for the blue sky.

Let me feel the soft white clouds,

Let me sing my songs aloud

Let me see,

Set me free.

Standstill

There must be a place,

Somewhere on our earth

Where time stops existing

And life comes to a standstill,

Yet stagnation is absent,

For in that stillness,

There is silence

A stillness too dynamic

To be motionless

A silence too audible

Not to hear

And in that silence,

There is simplicity,

Simplicity of the placid surface of a lake

On a breezeless day

And the sound of oars

Of a solitary boat sailing across,

That calms the heart

And liberates the mind,

And gushes the waterfall

Of thoughts and ideas.

That is where poetry is born,

Enlightenment attained,

History created.

Free to love

If races were non-existent,

And religious differences, an illusion,

If only nationality

Was a mere formality,

And silent understanding,

The universal language,

If affection was a strength,

And not an exploitable weakness,

If the person as he is,

Was all that mattered,

Irrespective of who he belonged to,

As a son, as a brother, as a friend,

If all prejudices and doubts

Just melted away into friendship,

If only we would not bother

About reactions, and opinions,

We would find the freedom to love,

And express it,

With all innocence.