O' Rann

The pitch black night kissed the vast white,
Even the moon dared not shine on that cold December night.

Then the dawn broke, etching a radiant glow;
To that surreal, sensuous, mesmerizing flow.

As if heaven was covering the virgin earth,
With a canvas, painted in azure white mirth.

Spellbound, silent, stunned, I stood;
Ecstatically revering the exquisiteness of you.

चलो फिर एक बार गुफ़्तगू करेंगे...

एक दिन चलो, फिर बैठेंगे - 
कुछ तुम कहना,
कुछ मैं सुनूँगी,
युहीं अपने फ़साने बयां करेंगे।

पूरी करना वो दास्ताँ तुम्हारी 
जो शुरू तो हुई थी,
पर चादर की सलवटों में 
रह गयी है अधूरी।

हाँ सच है की बातें हुईं 
कुछ ऐसे, कुछ वैसे, मुलाकातें भी हुईं,
पर इधर-उधर की बातों में 
जाने क्यों, वो बात ही न रही।

इस बार जाम नही,
चाय की चुस्कियां भऱेंगे ,
गिले-शिकवों की पोटली को दफ़्न कर 
वही पुरानी कहानी मुक्म्मल करेंगे।

आँख मिचोली के इस खेल को 
चलो अब बस बंद करेंगे -
सुकूँ की सांसे लेंगे,
और सादग़ी से ऐतबार करेंगे।

दर्द तुम्हे भी है,
और डर मुझे भी!
इन छलनी टुकड़ों को बटोर कर 
एक दिन चलो, फिर बैठेंगे। 

चलो फिर एक बार गुफ़्तगू करेंगे...  

Dear didi!

A smile so radiant,
A spirit so vibrant.
An understanding and patient soul,
You'd always empathise
And treat my worries as your own.
I've learnt so much from you
While you were in this world,
and now that you have moved beyond.
Today, on your birthday,
As I miss your presence,
And reminisce about 
All the fun-filled times -
Those walks, shopping trips, eat-outs,
Our little adventures,
Attending concerts and plays;
I know that you are looking
down from the skies,
Encouragingly, in the most gentle way,
Prodding me to be strong
Goading me to keep moving on...

Today is the day we had hoped to celebrate together...
Today is the day you were supposed to have been hail and hearty and better...
So many plans left unfulfilled:
That puppy we were supposed to co-parent;
To resume our ritual of the weekly grocery shopping;
To drive around and just have a good time!
This place will never be the same again,
Your fond memories shall always linger....

On shame

Shaming comes from various sources and in various forms. Some sources even mean well (like our families or friends). It can come as a comment or a joke or name calling. It can be about bodily attributes or personality attributes (too bashful/ too flamboyant / too loud / too quiet etc.)
I think the person resorting to shaming is fearful. They feel threatened when they see something that is not perceived to be 'their' normal.
For e.g., a parent might feel scared that their child will not be accepted by the society for being different, or they might be genuinely scared of the medical consequences of the child being different (too fat/too thin/too gloomy etc.) In my opinion, in this case the fear can be expressed in a more compassionate way rather than hurtful jokes or snide remarks. Instead of saying you have become fat, the parent can simply say that they are worried for the child's health, request the child to take care ('would you want to keep a check on your diet' or 'do you want to share what you are thinking and feeling') and leave it at that.
Another example - someone calling out another (perhaps unacquainted) person for their skin colour might just be fearful for some other aspect in their own life and feel entitled just because their skin colour fits the societal norms of a good skin better than the person they end up attacking. Entitlement is the most tragic expression of ones fear.

I hope and pray that we all are able to rise above our fears and demons and become more appreciative and compassionate.

Longing for what is lost

What will I not give, to relive those couple of days...
To touch the fold of your wrinkles,
To see you remove your dentures.

One more chance to talk and share -
To plan those grand plans,
To reminisce about simpler times,
A conversation between just you and me.

One more chance to live up to my word -
To see your smile, appreciate your beauty,
To hear your stories while relishing the savouries,
Another chance to get you to stay with me.

Even though now you are at peace,
There is too much anger, guilt, regret
That you've left behind with me.
A longing that will never cease...

Oh, what will I not give, to convince you to not give up,
For you are the only person whose absolute favourite has been me...