uP in the AIR...

You must have heard this line so many times, “Life is a race”; not a new statement. But this race is quite interesting. Everyone wants to be ahead in race but don’t want to cross the finish line, the end point. So the technique to enjoy the race is to try to be up in the air as much as possible, run like a Kangaroo or walk like a frog. Implement PHYSICS theory- use parabolic path up in the air, you will definitely enjoy the race having two constraints in mind. But the problems start when we try to mix COMMERCE in this PHYSICS, money overcomes the real happiness of life and the situations become worse with CHEMISTRY comes in form of chemicals, which we use to forget our sad moments. These chemicals are like catalysts which will accelerate your ride and you will definitely reach to the end point sooner.

So don’t be the product of environment, apply PHYSICS and have a joyful ride uP in the AIR...

यादों का पानी...

आज यादों के पानी में डुबकी लगाने का मन हुआ

डुबकी सोचके डूबा था ये तो गहरा गोता हुआ

गोता जितना गहरा हुआ

खजाना यादों का और सुनहरा हुआ... 

सूरज शायद आसमां में अपने पूरे जोर पे था

और मैं भी कहीं छोटी राह पे चलने को मजबूर था

हाफ-पैंट पहने बड़ा रहा था मैं छोटे-छोटे कदम

और धूप-प्यास से निकला जा रहा था मेरा दम

गले में मिल्टन की एक बोतल जो लटकी थी

शायद उसी पे ही मेरी जान अटकी थी

धूप से चेहरा लाल था

और कुछ बड़े से बैग ने किया हाल बदहाल था... 

सारे मौसम शायद दोस्त थे मेरे,

तभी तो सर्दी , गर्मी और बरसात का ना था कोई मलाल

बस थोड़ा मायूस होता था बरसात में,

जब देखता था मैदान का बुरा हाल

घर पे कैसे टिकूंगा ये सोचकर,

चेहरा गुस्से से होता था लाल

फिर थक हार के बैठ जाता,

होमवर्क निपटाने का था जो बड़ा सवाल

बेसब्री से इन्तेजार करता था संडे का

दिन भर क्रिकेट का, जो होता था पूरे साल

यूँ ही गुजरता था हर साल,

फ्यूचर का कहाँ था कोई सवाल...

आज में ही जीता था

और आज का ही पानी पीता था

अब तो कहने को आज में जीता हूँ

कल की यादों का पानी पीता हूँ

कल की फिकर है ज्यादा इतनी

फ्यूचर का टेंशन सीता हूँ

बस यादों का पानी पीता हूँ,

और कहने को आज में जीता हूँ...

Naina d girl with specs...

There is a girl in my building, my building means office building; there are around more than 50 buildings inside campus. Her cube is in the ground floor and my place is on the first floor. When I take stairs exactly from the 6^th step I can have a glimpse of Naina. I don’t know her name but she reminds me the character 'Naina' from ‘Kal Ho Naa Ho’, played by ‘Preeti Zinta’. She wears specs and having those dimples on her cheeks,’Zinta wale’. I guess sometimes she wears hair-band and why not, beautiful hairs need extra care. 

When I use to go for lunch most of the time I find her sitting on the bench outside the building with soft-drink glass, I guess ‘Pepsi’. Sometimes I can find her sitting at the building reception sofa reading novel with the intense expressions. I like those expressions in girls, intense reading expressions with specs.

I am not sure but there is something missing in her life. I haven’t seen her laughing with the full of mouth. It’s very bad actually, a beautiful girl with dimples on her cheeks doesn’t laugh much. I am recalling the day when our HR people did some innovative tasks; not much innovative, but for the sake of some good ratings people have to show something innovative on paper, “the balloon burst”. I have to say the only innovation I found in that balloon activity was, Naina was laughing really like a kid. Thanks to those HR people for that innovation.

When someone laughs with that intensity, I hold for a moment and really that movie type of things happen with me, “time freezes up” and somewhere in the background I hear those sounds coming from every corner; sometimes one small football and lot of small feet, all chasing the ball with the Maradona intensity; sometimes that green tennis ball on a big ground having 3 or 4 cricket pitches; sometimes those colourful ranger cycles...

Boooomb...sound of balloon burst, Naina found a balloon; now she is laughing and only laughing with that black ribbon on her eyes. After finishing her turn, now she is enjoying other colleague’s game, but not laughing with the same intensity. I don’t know the reason but may be without that black ribbon she is now back into present and somewhere her present is not much happening like her past.

O Naina...Naina...where are those Rohit, Rahul and Raj...

I wish I could give her that black ribbon which sometimes works as the time machine, which doesn’t switch the time but Naina into the real Naina... 

P.S. : I wrote this story 3 months back, when I was in Bangalore. Today it just got the touch :) 

आज चाँद भी कुछ है ख़फा-ख़फा...

आज चाँद भी कुछ है ख़फा-ख़फा

इतनी देर से यूँ जो नहीं दिखा

इस अंधियारी-सी रात में,

शायद हमने कुछ की है खता

ये चाँद तो सबका चाँद है,

अपने का भी कुछ नहीं पता

आज चाँद भी कुछ है ख़फा-ख़फा...

अब तारे गिनना आसां है,

कुछ काम का अब तो नहीं पत

कोई तारा गर यूँ टूट ही ले,

कुछ मांग ही लूँ इसमें ही मज़ा

आज चाँद भी कुछ है खफा-खफा...

इस जाड़े की लम्बी रात में,

अब इन्तेजार सूरज का है

वो धूप संग लाये खुशबू,

यूँ बेकरार मैं कब से हूँ...

इस गुनगुनाती धूप में,

ये खिलखिलाता सा चेहरा

वो चाँद तो गया है छुप शायद,

एक चाँद है संग जो है मेरा

आज चाँद भी फिर से निकलेगा,

खुश होगा देख संग हमदम मेरा

आज चाँद भी...

Please...freeze those 3 seconds

Scene : Around 22:10 hrs at ISBT Anand Vihar, Delhi, It's Diwali time.

And here comes a bus from Dehradun...should I wait for AC bus...no the first priority is to reach home early...and I don't think it will go inside the terminal...enough crowd is here outside, I have to catch this. So finally I got a bus, it's literally to win a battle if you have got a seat in bus. I can see some buses are having even their roofs packed fully. This ISBT is not so big as compare to Kashmiri Gate, some renovation work is going there; that’s why the scene is totally different here; looks like some Aamir Khan movie has got released or it's a India Vs Pakistan World Cup match.

So finally around 23:30 hrs, Bus is running on more than 30 km/h speed. Driver switched on the music box inside the bus with full volume. OMG this speaker is over my head and the song running in the air is “lal-lal kurti me, gora sa badan”. Why he is playing music and why I choose this front seat. Finally conductor, the lifesaver comes for rescue...

Thanks to conductor his taste is better, now the ultimate Md Rafi song is playing over my head. There is some magnetic thing with the good music and this “chauhdhavi ka chaand”; I have to say really good taste. Now this music box is literally working as the time machine and I am here, this time inside Kashmiri Gate ISBT, 6 months back, Holi time...

There are enough seats in bus, no need to show any interest in that front seat. I don't know what she will think. I just took the second seat.

Are you getting down, yes…could you please get 1 water bottle for me…ok not a problem…Hey your bottle, not much chilled…it’s ok, I don’t prefer chilled, how much? I just give her a sign asking for 1 minute as I got a phone call...

I have to say there is something special in her eyes; her eyes are black only, no specs or kajal (kohl) but still special for me. Yes, that spark which we can see in the kids’ eyes, the same kind of spark is there.

Now its 23:00 hrs bus departure time and driver is ready and what’s this.

Who is this with some cartons, lala type character? Conductor is telling him to sit at the last seat with his cartons but he looks in the mood of argument. Put my cartons anywhere but I will sit here on the front seat only. You don’t know who I am, I am defence supplier and these cartons are having government stuffs.

Now Lala is sitting with the girl. Hello g... hi... are you going to Dehradun ? humm...from Delhi...hummm...ok good hai g...you are studying in DU ?... no I am working, ok bye good night...ok btw madam what’s your name... I am not a madam, I am Aditi... Ohhh nice name g, myself *** ok g good night...

Aditi puts her headphones and enjoying Agnee. Yes, I can see those lights coming out of her mp3 player. Aditi can you please (lala's water bottle is down under the Aditi's seat). Ohhh you are still awake. Aditi is enjoying the Agnee and lala is singing his own songs.

Lala is really irritating character, I think I should do some bollywood kind of heroic act, but why should I do; Aditi is not an abla naari, she knows better how to handle this Lala. No reaction to Lala's request.

Ohhh what’s this, her fingers are in front of my eyes. She is much into the music and literally her fingers are dancing. I am surprised here to see her nail-polish is now dented out. I am not sure, but I guess girls use polish remover to start with a new coat or to simply remove the dented coat. Delhi girl and no fashion, looks like she hardly finds time for her makeup things. Now lights are off, but still Agnee is coming out of her player and I am writing poem inside my head. Now I am waiting for the midway restaurant. I will definitely ask her for tea or coffee.

Finally we are here at the midway stoppage. Aditi is sleeping, Lala is still sitting quietly. Once I thought to wait for Aditi, but seems like I am getting tough competition inside the bus; it’s better to get something to eat or drink, otherwise I have to wait till morning tea. Finally Lala is also getting down from the bus. He is giving me smile,” yaar badi nakhrebaaz hai”.

And now who is this with Aditi? Who is this baba type charasi guy. Friend seems like school friend; sharing gentle hugs, travelling from Dehradun to Delhi. Still she finds 3 seconds for me to give that smile and the same reaction from my side for more than 3 seconds. No chance for tea or coffee, I already had mine.

Now we are again in bus, now the only thing in the bus is deep and deep sleep. Hardly after 20 minutes a sound of collision, our bus has a small accident just now; front mirror is all vanished into pieces. What’s this yaar. Conductor is on phone-call, Lala is tensed; again having a little argument with conductor. Now after 5 minutes bus is again running. After crossing merely 3 km driver stopped the bus and conductor said to get down, as another bus is there; at least 5-6 people can take the other bus. I reacted quickly; I was the first to get down from the bus with my 2 big-big bags. Just for a fraction of second I thought about Aditi, but then I realize, I have to reach as soon as possible otherwise I have to be here through whole night. So I managed to get 1 seat for me and what’s this, I can see someone is asking me in sign language if there is any seat? And the decent guy inside me is always ready to help anyone and girls are always on priority. One seat is here just besides me, the last right corner. One guy is also coming here, sorry buddy it's already full. Now we are sitting at the last right corner of the bus.

After sharing thanks, no problem, some general intro; she asked me for water and snacks. I always bring some biscuits, cake and snacks while travelling. Hey you are not taking...no it’s fine I had already, hey have this Kurkure...no-no I am done...hey why you took all these, you are not having anything; did you bring all this for me...

I guess every girl has that " jab v met - Geet " inside her. She is talking continuously whether it makes sense or not. So Aditi is a photojournalist, cool it sounds different, "photojournalist". I asked her about her work, studies and all. Really interesting profession, the best thing she is enjoying her work. So what about you...(my turn) me, I am a software engineer...ohh the technology guy, sailing the economy ship... it's not like that...why, there are some IT guys in my office, very intelligent; they know everything...hummm...but not more creative than you...Ohhh thanks...seriously I want to know one thing what IT people do exactly...I have some friends in IT...they used to have conference, presentation and lot of other things...so what do you want to know, lot of other things ? what your friends say...bahut kuch hota hai, teri samajh me nahin aayega (lot of things are there, you will not understand)...your friends are very correct, even I have to explore and understand a lot, leave it yaar. So what’s your schedule, how do you explore the world through your camera? I think you have to ramble around the city a lot or Do you sit in a office?...yes most of the time my seniors called me if anything is happening somewhere, it's very tough to be at the proper place at proper time; but I am lucky here my network is large enough to cover most of the parts of Delhi, and International magazines bother about international issues only... I forgot to mention here, Aditi works for an international media group.

What’s this yaar, I am talking continuously...tell me something about you, your hobbies, any creative hobbies...mmm creative, I write when I find time...ohhh writer...what do you write? poem...ohh so you are a poet...pyaar vyaar...nothing like that...so what kind of poems...there is no specific kind in my poems...so do you have a blog?...mmm no...why not ?...it's not a big deal to create a blog, just you have to choose one name for your blog and the usual about me...hummm you are right it's not a big deal, but that usual about me is the biggest deal for me...what I didn't get your point. What's the deal in that...actually I am bit confused here what to put in about me...ohhhh...pause for 3 seconds...you are interesting...why...mmm nothing...do one thing just start writing without about me...humm than today only I can create my blog, already having more than 30 poems in my diary... wow that’s great actually...thanks...by the time we have reached outside ISBT Dehradun.

Hey we have reached...yes we have reached...ohh GOD...why DUN is so close to Delhi...first time in my life I don't want to get down from bus...but I have to, now only me and Aditi are inside the bus and she really wants to get down.

So finally we are on the land of DUN...OK than I have to go towards @##$$...where do you have to go?

Ohh my god... where this story is going to end? We are going to share auto. Yea she is also going to the same area; what a girl, she is negotiating with the auto guy...$$$$$$$$$. Finally we took the best deal. Now auto is running towards destination. So you are celebrating Holi with your cousins...no we don't have Holi this year (generally if someone passes away in family, we don't celebrate the festivals for one year), I came here to attend pooja...ok so you are here for 2-3 days...no I am leaving tonight...ohh ...by the time I have reached to my stop...ok so where do you have to go?...there the next circle...@@@###***$$$...a little pause for 3 seconds...another 3 seconds...my bad luck phone is dead, being single doesn't mean being desperate and asking her for pen-paper or giving my number is childish thing; apart from this today we have get to gather in Mussoorie, friends are always on higher priority for me...

So you will go by walk from here ? yea that one...again pause for 3 seconds...and that was the last fraction of the 3 seconds pause, when for the last time I was looking her beautiful eyes...OK than I have to go.

The maximum pause allowed is 3 seconds, really I want to freeze the time but the hot gases coming out of auto are in denial mood... bye...will see you...bye...

And now I am left with smoke coming out of auto and the silence of the early morning. Ohhh man shit again one more story without happy ending...

"Chalo bhai khana peena ker lo", sound inside the bus. As the music goes off, I came back from the past into present.


This time no chance for any story. It’s OK may be on next Holi, I will complete the sequel...