Strangers & Friends

The guavas weren't ripe enough
his ambitions
were surely
the sun too craved
laziness
he never did
through mud filled paths
and fresh papayas
he walked barefoot
geometry boxes pens were not his only friends
but also the fruits
i saw him stand
signal apart
walked up to him on a sunny day
rains forgot monsoon showers
his vision never did stray
i swiped the floors
cleaned the doors
he stood strong as the wind
over years and months
we bonded over
tangy lemons & crafty oranges
life surprises us every moment
as friends become strangers
& strangers become friends

Soul's Real

As you crave the introspects
For the earned respect
Devoid of spoofs
In circles and loops
Sky coloured
That look in your eyes
Never left
In lows or highs
Smile curved
Goodness got mobbed
Lobby did you
For the reviews
Clouds wrote a new chapter
Drops agreed and splattered
You may hide
But it reflects
The Soul's Real
And
Body Fake

Again

I stood in front of the door with fingers gently pressed on the door bell.
A thousand thoughts ran their way inside my mind.
Little drops of perspiration settled on my forehead.
The door bell wasn't pressed yet. I heard her voice from the backyard calling Sambhu to come to the door and have a look.
She was informed that I will be reaching today . Though not by me.
Tangy smell of freshly cooked fish filled the air.
I gave a pause to the thoughts and finally pressed my fingers hard. I am not used to pressing the bell here as the door used to be open all the while earlier.
Yes, things change and so do people.

I could hear her voice more clearly this time in a louder tone.
Sambhu's approaching foot steps gave me the final reminder to check myself in the phone's screen.
I was dying to see her, perplexed to face.
The door opened with a strong screeching noise same as yesteryears.
Brown shades have gotten darker displaying the effect of age not just on my hair but also on it's body. Something that hasn't aged with us are the white paintings drawn.

Sambhu gives a big rotten teeth smile that lifts my mood up. He takes the luggage from my hand handing me over a copper tumbler to wash my feet. Some traditions aren't meant to be questioned.
Like an obedient kid I take my blue striped shoes off and pour water over my tanned feet.
Sprinkle water over my face too. Pour the rest near the coconut trees bending like a dancer. It stands as a witness to the joys and sorrows of the courtyard that begins as we step in and ends as we step out.

I take a step inside carefully placing my feet not to get bitten by those red ants busy carrying food for the rains.
As my eyes go around all the rooms surrounding the courtyard , I slowly walk across crossing the side wall that makes way for the kitchen.
There she is wrapped in white. Covered from head to toe. Blowing the chullah making the fire burn stronger.
As I tip toe trying to give her a surprise, she turns. Her eyes catch mine. Radiant smile spreads across our faces as I hug her tight.

It feels she's still there . " Granny" I mumble and wake up. I see her in my dreams again.
Check my phone . Still few more hours before I get ready for the airport.

It's been a decade I have lost her. Still I miss her every single day unlike her sons and daughters who love to fight over the landed property rights and forgot to love her too.

It's her 10th anniversary. So, the entire family is coming along . Not to pray but to prey on what her husband has left behind.




* To be continued


N.B : Finally after a gap of 2 years I am back at the A-Z Challenge 2019 :)
Hope you like the write up..stay tuned for more . Happy Blogging :)




                                   

Promise

Promise...asked me one day
Why do you promise ?
When you can't
Turning me into an unholy chant
I am like the sunshine and the dust
If you utter then you must
Keep my fame
Through pride or shame
Still if you miss me sometimes
I won't complain
Knowing your intentions were right
Yes, I am filled with myriad shades
So is Life...
And I am here to stay

Tommorow

Blood spills
Everyday
On frontiers
In corridors
Open fields
Inside chambers
Ripped apart flesh from bones
Raised hands banged heads
Scars that scream
Yet we sleep tonight
Praying for a new tommorow

Skin & Bones Or Emotions

What
Are you made of
Skin  &  Bones
Or
Emotions

Surrounded

Surrounded we are
Everywhere
End of the Road
We are
All alone.

Unspoken

Spoken unspoken

Numerous thoughts

Few got graved

Few burst

Burning

Building

Bridges across

Spoken unspoken

Numerous thoughts.

Ballerinas

That day was like any other day. 

She got ready for her show. 

Closed the door and opened the umbrella to avoid a mild drizzle that had just started. 

Few steps and her path stopped abruptly . Leaving her blank. 

She saw the operation theater for the first time. Couldn’t feel her limbs beneath. 

Though tears trickled down the corners, smile stuck her lips.

Today is again like any other day. 

The stage is set. 

So is she. 

With her favourite pair of ballerinas on wheels. 

Photo :  submitted by Courtney Wright. © Photo

# Friday Fictioneers

The Stage...

They came,
They entertained,
You laughed,
You clapped,
Raised and Praised,
The crew,
The cast,
But
Someone who missed your gaze,
Someone who held them all,
The Stage.

River And The Gravel

The river asked one day,
To gravels beneath,
How do you stay calm as I crush you everyday,
Over riding your land, making you go astray?
Gravel replied,
With the hint of a smile,
To go berserk was my wish,
Over seasons,
As you rushed,
Scared I was to bear humongous load,
When the rushing waters flowed,"
Today as you come,
Lumping down,
I know it's time,
To lower down my crown,
Troubled I am not like yesteryears,
Clouds might have burst tonight for me,
Summers too would knock for my majesty.

Resolve

Infiltration was a routine in the territory.
The alert wasn't unexpected.
They waited with bated breath.
For the right moment .
With fingers on the trigger and vision across the stream.

Movements from the other side could be felt.
In a blink of an eye bullets fired through the trees, piercing bodies testing resolve of the team.
Not enough to stop Major Verma to proceed in the dark leading the pack.
Shooting them down before getting shot.
Protecting the land he bows his head down to.

Write up and Pic :  Friday Fictioneers

Blue...

Blue...
The sea,
The sky,
Your eyes that stare,
Above the moon,
Where...
You and I belong .

Pic : Google Images

Missing Piece...

Shoulder to lean,
Ears that listen
Expressions gold
Hand to hold
Straightening that awkward crease
Are you someone's
Missing piece...

Where Do You Go....

You run from the world
To the mountain top
When it's not there
Where do you go
You walk through the clouds
Touch the sunshine
If the sun sets
Why do you whine
Everything that starts
Ends someday
All that matters
'Moments' for we pray
You escape from the rain
To hide in shade
Stones they throw
And you beg for a bread
You run from the world
To the mountain top
When it's not there
Where do you go.....

Smell of Rock Wood

Old,
Is the smell of rockwood,
Burnt,
Are the edges of pages,
Torn,
Feelings that could,
Lost,
Mind in the mist,
Tired,
Of turns and twists,
Hope,
Still was alive,
Smiles,
Did spread again,
Dimples,
Got deepened over,
Fun,
Filled the evening sombre,
Entwined,
Thoughts got along,
Bonds,
Only got strong,
Grew up we did,
Through the wounds and the bruises,
Yes,
Time.....
Always Wins,
But,
Love.....never loses.

Mirages...

Mirages...
Beautiful,
Serene,
Make you thirsty,
Quench it too,
Allured....
You are,
You will be,
Believing....
Them...
Won't...
Make them True....

Pic : Google Images

Grey...

Colours aren't always black and white,
Decisions aren't just right or wrong,
The tank isn't always full or empty,
Choice isn't being weak or strong,
There's something that always eyes can't see,
Something that connects smiles with maladies,
Paths....
Can't always be planned,
You will go....
Where you are meant to Be....

Pic : Google Images

Sky, Sand & Sea.....

Get lost ,

In me...

Forgetting,

The pain,

Forgetting, 

The spree...

The sand,

The skies

The gravel

The pebbles,

It’s yours not mine

The fights the squabbles

The everyday struggles,

Let them go,

As I am here

For you

For them

For tears

For pain

To wipe away those lines

On your forehead

Just show up at the door

That’s my shore

To start a new journey

Of self discovery

Are they your own ?

Then why be a pawn

In their dirty hands

When you can lie on my sand

To wash off

The fear

The anguish

The never ending despair

The smoke can not rescue

But surely

I can....

Embracing you

Caressing you to sleep

Making you feel,

Life is not just a mountain steep

Come just once

Bid goodbye to the trance

The blues await

Where the land and sky meet,

For wanderers like you,

For seekers like me,

Coz

There lie,

Your secrets

And,

Also mine.

 NB : This poetry is inspired by few pics sent by a friend of mine. So a heartfelt thanks to him :)

The World's A Stage...

Stop running dear,
It's not an escape,
Face your fears,
After all what's at stake ?
Repute,
Fortune,
Status,
It's all fake.
This world
A spinning ball in space
Isn't just science
But
My grace
It's the soul that traverses
Oceans and skies
Piercing
Though years,
Through centuries
Through realms of times
Why get entrapped,
What the eyes see,
What the ears hear,
What the buds taste,
What the mind feels,
It's only
And only
The soul,
That's stable
The soul,
That's still.
Indulge,
With the Divine,
Getting lost in the sea,
When I am in charge,
Why to worry.
Stop running dear,
It's not a game,
Of hide and seek,
Of prestige and fame,
Just play your part,
With an integrated heart,
Raise your hands,
Let the shame fall,
I will wrap you up,
In an never ending piece,
Fulfilling up your dreams,
Fulfilling your wish,
The world thinks,
Everything's visible,
In reality,
It's blind.
Open your eyes,
Feel your psyche,
Emotions,
That your are gifted with,
Love that binds,
The big,
The small,
The dwarf,
The tall,
The needy,
The giver,
The warmth,
The shiver,
Worry not for the end,
It's decided before the start,
You have one job,
That's to play your part,
Through good,
Through bad,
Remain unfazed,
Never forgetting,
You are a mere player,
And The World's A Stage.