"VIRAH"

wo kya pal tha jo beet gaya,
ek saathi ka daman choot gaya.....
na hum rahe, na wo rahe,
wo khushiyon ka saawan beet gaya.....


yun aankon mein meri jo aansoon aaye,
inhi dharaaon mein maine wo ghum bhulaye....
darta hoon, wo din phir laut na aaye,
kya pata zalim, ek janm mein do baar rulaye....


dhadkan ne uska naam liya, par maine kabhi suna nahi,
faasle badhe, dooriyaan badhi, tanhayeean bhi mili....
ye din bhi dekhna hoga ye maine kabhi socha nahi,
kya yahi wo pyaar tha, jo mujhe kabhi mila nahi....


main kya tha, main kya hoon, ye pata nahi,
har zarre mein dhoondh raha ...par mila nahi....
shayad meri saza yahi,
kyun maine usse kuch kaha nahi........

yun zheel si gahrai waale tere ye nain,
na jaane kitno ke loot gaye chaain....


shayad tumhe pata nahi kya ehmiyat hai tumhaari,
jitni jaldi jaan lo,ye kismat hogi hamari....


jo dil mein hai tumhaare wo bayan hota hai ye jaan lo,
chahe tum chaho , ya na chaho....


yun na bahaya karo in keemti motiyon ko jaani,
beparwah logon ke liye hain ye sirf paani....

yun tanha na jiya karo tum,
kyunki jinhe fark padta hai, unme se hain ek hum....


dosti ka haath jo thaama hai humne,
nibhayenge, na todenge vishwas jo kiya hai tumne....


chune hue raah se alag chalo kabhi,
mausam bhi badlenge, tum bhi badlo kabhi....


kyun karti ho khud pe itne saare zulm,
duniya tumhare kadamon pe rakh doon, bas karo hukm....


bharosa jo kiya hai use rakho kuch samay tak,
bas chahiye humein thoda, thoda sa waqt...........

SUBWAY

Long before the concept of flyovers was infixed, subways have been in existence and proved their worth, but in a completely different way altogether…. I realized this recently when I am making frequent trips to Bangalore. The subway which we use between the railway station and Kempegowda Bus Stand is one of the busiest subways I have ever seen. It is always hustling and bustling with commotion. Its kind of a whole world in itself. One can find all types of hawkers selling fruits, cigarettes, handkerchiefs, flashy watches, electronic gadgets, eatables, clothes, books, route maps and even human flesh!!

As you enter the subway, everyone looks up to you with eyes full of anticipation. The handicapped children spread their hands and keep bothering you until you get out from there. The pickpockets wait for a chance to strike. The hawkers try to prove their stuff as the best. And the common Indian hawaldar is busy fleecing them. As you move on, the strong aroma of smoke changes to ripe fruits’ to foetor urine and even sweat. You brush along with people of different caste creed and culture defying all barriers. As you move up the stairs, the whores sitting on the stairs try to attract you so that they may get a couple of notes to light the fires in their kitchens. As you move out and enter the silicon city of India it seems that in a couple of minutes you have made the journey between two Indias- one that is tied with a leash, ready to make a leap at the world and conquer it, and the other being the leash itself………