Duet 5

Real

Dark yet shining

Grim yet beautiful

Chill hearts are warm

looks tough but kind..

Picture courtesy: Amit Agarwal 

Duet 4

Wicked n wise

I have a world of my own

That I've made for myself

Somewhere between the rust and comfort

A hideout to treasure my laughter. 

Picture courtesy: Amit Agarwal

Duet 3

Lonely Universe

Entangled, entwined

Watching life from far

Fighting against chances and choices to reach it

The souls who found beauty in their own self

Being is fine, mingling is tough

Lest we lose the charming spark that we cherish in us..

Loners are fortunate

They wouldn't have lost them in the life's sea

But they are the ones who saw the whole universe in them..

Picture courtesy: Amit Agarwal

Duet 2

Pilgrims

I sprayed the dark sky with million stars, for you..

And found you scared in the dim light of an old lantern..

A prisoner to your own thoughts

Stuck in a space of emptiness..

Picture courtesy: Amit Agarwal

Duet 1

       Alive

    My branches dropped its green

    And dryness gripped its bones

    A skeleton of horror I was

    Glory lost..forgotten..

    Still strong for a lonely bird

    Or a reflection of a passerby

Picture courtesy: Amit Agarwal

Losing battle

A few years back one of my friends lost her mom. As we went to her house my friend repeatedly said 'My mom looked like Goddess Lakshmi, but see how she looks like now.' I looked at the lifeless body..there was nothing so attractive on her face to be 'good looking'. Rather I thought that she could never look like Goddess Lakshmi.
Perhaps my friend knew that her words were not enough to convince us. She went inside and brought a photograph of her Mom and with a loud cry, she handed it over to us. We passed it among us and when it came to my hand, I swallowed my shock. My friend was right. She looked like a Goddess. With her long hair and beautiful face, she looked stunning. I looked again to the lifeless body..the face was swollen and disfigured...there wasn't any hair on her head..As I stood in total disbelief, I had to accept the effect of cancer on a human being. No..I don't want to go to any detail of that sight as I can't even imagine the pain and agony caused when a human being suffers to the extend of losing everything that 'used to be' his or hers. There I saw the cruel face of cancer that disfigures a human face.
Last week I saw another lifeless body of another friend's mom. I heard my friend say how hard working and sacrificing her mom was and how she used to cook for everyone and took care of her children and grand children. Also that she was a great cook and how she used to bake cakes and that this was the only Christmas with no cakes.
I looked at the frail body wrapped in a silk sari. She was just 75, not the age to wither away into a thin being. I heard it again. She had cancer in the spine. Thank God she didn't lose her hair as she didn't undergo the procedure called chemotherapy. I felt so sad for her; a Mom who lived for her family, serving them happily till the end.
The best that I heard that day was this. Two of her children stay abroad. My friend asked her if she would like to see them, she answered after a pause 'No, I will see them in Heaven'
Too much pain for a losing battle!!

A salute to my brothers called Jawans!

They boarded the train with all their loads

Down the seats they pushed them all

As their dear ones waved them good bye

Both returned to their seats in a sigh

Hairstyle proved their identity

Nation's keepers, country's servants

Destined to leave their kith and kin,

To forgo home for their home country

Bravery, loyalty, their brains filled with

Devotion to Bharat Matha and her children too

With their uniform as a mask to their lives

To kill or be killed, all for the nation's cause

I was coming home after a visit to my parents

Returning to my family that waits in love

Drenched in sweet memories of love and care

I never thought of these simple people around

One of them spread the white jamakkaalam

He stretched himself, without a word

His eyes were swollen, maybe he cried all night

No smile, a blank brave face he wore as a look

A phone call came, from his beloved wife

A chat which broke in sad silence

His last words were too sharp and firm

"This is the life of a soldier..Don't cry"

He gazed at the phone as it ended with a beep

He left her to tears and tried to swallow his pain

There ended the tearful chat of two broken hearts

Silence couldn’t bring an end to their thoughts

She would've wiped her eyes with the edge of her sari

And must’ve taken a breath, to face her life alone

Or would've hugged her kids so close

To draw some solace and hope to move on

He didn't talk a word to his friend

With the white sheet he covered from head to toe

He looked like a corpse clad to be buried

I wondered if he was covering his tears

Late was his lunch, from a big pack he gulped

May be his mom packed it with a heart full of love 

When will he taste another homemade food?

When will he eat with his family again?

Never in my day or night or sleep or work

Have I ever thought about these guardian angels!

Each moment they risk their life for the country

While we kill each other in hatred and vengeance

In my heart a war had already started

Did I take all these people for granted?

The Jawans and Kisans who protect and feed me

Giving all the comforts which no money can buy 

There are very many Indians who know not

That there are soldiers on borders who guard

Ready to fight the enemy without a choice

To save us from swords and gunshots

Brethren, I feel sorry for my ignorance

I feel proud of you and your service

With no one and nothing to protect you

You provide us a place to live in peace

For many, you may be lesser lives made to doom

But you are the greatest, and deserve our respect

"Jai Jawan!" "Jai Kisan!" I'll keep you in my thoughts

My prayers and wishes for your homecoming, safe

As I got down at dusk from the train

He was hidden under the white sheet again

As I entered home to join my family cheers

I knew that I live in the charity of these selfless people

May your parents be blessed for their sacrifice

May your wife be blessed with courage to fight her pain

May your children look at you with respect and love

May God bless you for making our home, a heaven!