the phone girl...

My new office has open work-space culture, we don't have dedicated cubes. I don't know much about this culture, but one of my colleagues said it's European culture open work-space. First few days were kind of cultural shock for me, while watching on my screen without any head movement I was able to see girls using lipsticks and other stuffs. I was shocked when I realized machines also do makeup things so frequently. ‘Machine’ yes most of the people behave like machine. We have been programmed to do our tasks; we don’t have a concept of status meeting in meeting room but some colorful charts where everyday some colors change. In office people know only few colors which they put on chart with their status.

Sometimes it’s literally a task to find a human among those machines. Luckily I found one who is very much human among those machines. I can see the phone-girl from my place only, really thanks to this open-space work culture.  

I was really surprised to see how she manages to use that extension phone quite frequently. I don’t know whether she speaks words on phone, as I find her smiling all the time whenever she is holding phone. I have never seen her with any emotion when she is not using phone. She don't mingle with her team-mates, during her daily status she give status at the last, no emotions at all. She takes her lunch alone and strange thing is she prefers much crowded food-court over our own small pantry area.

I am surprised, how she creates her own carefree world where she is smiling all the time. She reminds me of the movie ‘Matrix’, where Mr. Anderson used phone- booth to enter into new world. At the same time she reminds me of some crazy creatures who all are pretty much decent now but sometimes use phone to explore that craziness… 

I wish I could invent an invisible phone for phone-girl to see her smiling face all the time.

आँखें तेरी हो या मेरी हो...

I got the idea of this poem from 'Splitsvilla 5' theme song from 'Agnee'. Around 3 months back Agnee invited to complete the theme song as it was having only 1 stanza. I started writing 3 months back but, yesterday was able to give some dedicated time… 

कोई गम कहीं तेरा, है मेरा दिया
शायद अनजाने में कुछ, तूने भी किया
लगता है हर किसी में, हर कोई है छुपा
तोड़ के किसी का दिल, कौन है जिया
आँखें तेरी हो या मेरी हो
आँसू ना हो...आँसू ना हो...

कल तक था हर लम्हा, हमने भी संग जिया  
मौसम के हर एक रंग को, एक प्याले में पिया
था सूरज संग और साथ में था चंदा
अब लगता है वो सब, सपना खुली आँखों का

आँखें तेरी हो या मेरी हो
हो बस मुस्कुराहटें...
मुस्कुराहटें...

तेरी हर अदा पर होती थी अठखेलियाँ
दरिया की लहेरों संग हरकत बच्कानियाँ
बारिस की बूंदों संग कुछ शैतानियाँ
और हवा के झोकों संग तारों की गिनतियाँ

आँखें तेरी हो या मेरी हो
हो बस मुस्कुराहटें...

कुछ अनजाने सवालों की नादानियाँ
और कुछ अधूरे जवाबों की गलतियाँ
कुछ जो नक्शों में दिखती हैं बस दूरियां
सब बन गयी अब रातों की खामोशियाँ
आँखें तेरी हो या मेरी हो
आँसू ना हो...

कोई गम कहीं...
आँखें तेरी हो या मेरी हो...
शायद अनजाने में...
आँखें तेरी हो या मेरी हो...
आँसू ना हो...आँसू ना हो...

let smile comes through your eyes...

'Vyom this is not fair,' Romi said. 'What is that 'this', which is not fair,' Vyom with his usual reaction for this kind of situations. 'ohh...youuu...I have uploaded my outing pics and still no comment from you,' Romi with her usual sweet anger.'Ohh Romi...you look beautiful even in anger,' Vyom said. 'So you mean to say I should be angry all the time,' unexpected reaction from Romi. 

'Ohh calm down please...I saw the pics...I guess only 5 or 6 pics, no doubt you are looking good', Vyom said. 'I really wanted you to see the pics and you...'Romi said halfhearted. 'Ohh Romi...do likes or comments matter,' Vyom said. 'No...but you have seen the pics, at least you should tell me' Romi replied. 'Ohh...I was waiting for more pics to be uploaded,' Vyom with his unique logic. 'You are great and above all your logics...you have all answers ready,' Romi reacted as always. 

'Ok...I am looking your album...you just wait for my comments,' Vyom said.

After watching album...'Did you plan the trip...I mean the place and all,' Vyom asked. 'Yes...why you are asking,' Romi replied. 'Romi, the picnic manager...nice location and the best pic, you posing the victory pose with children,' Vyom commented out. 'Ohh thanks,' Romi said with smile. 'You know what's the best thing in that pic...you are enjoying like a kid...you look great in random clicks,' Vyom continued with his unique way. 'Yes...that pic is really good,' Romi said.

'Romi...you know...don't try to put smile on your face, it can fall...let it comes through your eyes...I can see the smile in your eyes in this pic,' Vyom said. 'Ok,' Romi said. 'What ok...you always say ok like a kid...I am waiting for your reply,' Vyom said. 'I am still feeling alienated with your words, but it was beautiful,' Romi replied back. 'Ohh...nice joke... you feeling alienated cause you are an alien and you know that...hmm,' Vyom said. 'Youuu...', Romi smiled with covering her eyes with one hand... 

Smile...

“When you are going for lunch?” asked my colleague. “mmm...I am stuck with this, will give 1 more try,” I said. “ohh, ok ok...you know we have a meeting today,” my colleague reminded me. “Ohh...then I have to go,” I said and picked up my tiffin.

I put my Tiffin stuff in bowls and was waiting for oven, as it was having tiffin of that chubby girl. “I always think of having something from food court, but end up with my tiffin ,” girl said to her lunchmate. I think 2 minutes are enough for tiffin, but here I can see it’s more than that. “It’s done, can you please,” I asked the chubby girl. “Ohh...thanks,” she replied back. And what was that unusual thing oven got off when I put my plate inside. Yes very unusual, it was serving throughout the day even when Northern power grid was down.

“Ohh...sorry,” said the girl. Her expression was like a kid, asking for sorry after messing up the whole lunch table. I looked at her like,’ Why are you feeling sorry kid, it’s just a fluctuation’. I really wanted to do that ‘googly woogly woosh’ act with her cheeks. “It’s ok...just a fluctuation I guess...now power grid is up,” I said. She smiled back just like an innocent kid, the real smile syncing up with her eyes...  

Really real things are so rare and powerful. With that real smile pantry area was smiling again and the oven got life back.

I wish every smile I see, could have that intensity...

पुर्जा-पुर्जा शोर करता है अब...

पुर्जा-पुर्जा शोर करता है अब,

इस पुराने 2 इन 1 का

अलग ही था वो जमाना,

कैसेट पे गाने सुनना, मैच की कमेन्ट्री

और हाँ वो आवाजें रिकॉर्ड करने और सुनने का सिलसिला...

आज यूँ ही फुर्सत से पुराना बक्सा खोला

आस पास की चीजें पुरानी होनी लगती हैं,

तो जाने कहाँ से ये फुर्सत आ जाती है

2 इन 1 सोया हुआ था एक कोने में,

जाने कबसे...

कुछ ज्यादा ही जगह खा गया है,

काफी बड़ा है

नींद से उठाया तो पुर्जों का शोर

सोचता हूँ कबाड़ी को दे दूँ

बक्से में कुछ जगह बन जाएगी

सी डी प्लेयर भी सठिया गया है,

पुर्जा-पुर्जा शोर करता है अब...

वो तारों की महफ़िल...

कुछ सालों बाद एक जानी पहचानी-सी राह से गुजरा

एक बड़ी ख़ास जगह नजर आई

यूँ तो जगह छोटी ही थी,

पर वो कुछ बड़ा-सा पत्थर ख़ास था कभी मेरे लिए

चाहता तो था कुछ देर बैठूं उस पर

पर एक प्यारा-सा जोड़ा बैठा था

जो शायद काफी था उस पत्थर के लिए, और हाँ मेरी यादों के लिए भी

वो दोनों तारों की महफ़िल ही निहार रहे थे

इस महफ़िल के तारों को तो मैं भी जानता हूँ

कुछ को तो नाम भी दिए थे मैंने, अब याद नहीं

बस इतना याद है, एक मीठा-सा झगडा हुआ था नाम को लेके किसी के संग,

और लगभग रोज ही ताकते थे इन तारों को हम

शायद इस आस में कि गर कोई टूटे तो कुछ मांग ही लें...

सचमुच कितने अजीब होते हैं ये तारे भी,

दूर बहुत हैं

रोशनी तो हमे दे नहीं पाते,

बस दे जाते है टूटने पर कुछ को उनकी ख्वाहिशें

मैंने तो बस तुम्हारी ख़ुशी ही मांगी थी,

शायद मिली भी होगी तुम्हे

अपने लिए कमबख्त कभी कुछ मांग ना सका...

इस महफ़िल के तारों का तो पता नहीं,

पर हाँ,

जरूर टूट गया था वो प्यारी सी मुलाकात का सिलसिला

और तुम भी कुछ नए तारों की महफ़िल तले चली गयी दूर कहीं...

तारों का टूटना तो अब भी देख लेता हूँ कभी-कभार

बस थोड़ा मुस्कुरा लेता हूँ और अब रखता नहीं मैं इनसे कुछ आस

क्यूंकि अब शायद कोई वजह नहीं रही कि तारों का टूटना लगे कुछ ख़ास...

P.S. : I am not a hard core lover...character में डूब के लिखा है :)

Sometimes it’s the moment which matters...

‘Hey Vyom just see this pic,’ Romi said to Vyom with excitement. 'You are looking beautiful as always and I have to say this one is better than that party pic,’ Vyom commented out. ‘Seriously,’ Romi was surprised with the other half of comment. 'I have already told you, without makeup you look better, I don’t know why,’ Vyom said with smile. 'What about those pics, your professional photo shoot?’ Vyom asked. ‘I will get by today evening 7:00 and I have to face your special comments, don’t know what your reactions will be,’ Romi answered. 'You always look beautiful, have I ever said anything wrong about your any pic?’ Vyom continued with his smile. ‘Yes... that party pic,’ Romi came to the point now. ‘No, I said OK,’ Vyom said. 

‘OK means not good,’ Romi said with low tone.

‘It’s not like that, you are with your friends that’s the best thing in that pic,’ Vyom clarified. ‘Why are you looking at your facial expression? Sometimes it’s the moment which matters a lot than facial expression,’ Vyom said with his philosophical way.
Vyom continued, ‘Have you ever seen the new born baby pics. I think all newborn babies look same...when a bride cries at the time of her farewell, do you think she cares for her facial expression?’ 

‘No…I mean yes you are right,’ Romi said. 'So I think now you are clear,’ Vyom said. 'Yes Mr Vyom Pratap Singh! sometimes it’s the moment which matters,’ Romi said with her beautiful smile. 

Romi continued with her special reaction for Vyom’s philosophy,’ You...hoshiyaar ho tum (you are so quick)’. And Vyom with his usual signature reaction for these kind of comments,’ laaz aari hai mujhe(I am feeling shy)’...