Tumharey Intezar Mein

Tumharey intezar mein khadi hun, jeevan-raah ki iss mod par-
Tumharey intezar mein jag sara machal utha, jhoomkar!

Tumharey intezar mein akash ye vistrit, laga sikudne-
Tumharey intezar mein zameen ye lagi paniyon mein ghulne!
Tumharey intezar mein chand-suraj milkar ho gay ek-
Tumharey intezar mein aag ne bhi khoye apna sara tez!

Tumharey intezar mein nadiyan ye ruki, sagar se milne ab vo daudti nahi-
Tumharey intezar mein panchiyan pukar rahi, door van mein kahin!

Tumharey intezar mein indradhanush ke sarey rang chamk uthey-
Tumharey intezar mein hawayein sari dishaon ki, lagi thamney!

Tumharey intezar mein badalon ko chirkar choom rahi hai mujhe ye suryakiran-
Tumharey intezar mein prakriti khud bani meri abahran!

Tumharey intezar mein main sun rahi hun madhur si ek sargam-
Mitr, tum na aye, toh ajivan yuhi rahengi meri aankhen nam!

Kash...

Kash ki tumne meri tanhayi ko yunhi rehne diya hota-
Kash ki tumne is registan mein baarish ki ummeed na dikhayi hoti!
Kash ki tumne is toote dil ko fir se joda na hota
Kash ki tumne in ghavon par marham lagaya na hota-


Kash ki tumne mujhe khushi ka raasta na dikhaya hota-
Kash ki tumne mere kam ko laghav na kiya hota!
Gam mere katey, dobara dukhane ke liye-
Khushiyan mujhe mili, dobara khoney ke liye!


Ghav mere bharey, is baar aur dardnak chot lagne ke liye-
Toota dil mere juda, is baar choor-choor hone ke liye!
Marubhumi mein badal umdey, sirf udd janey ke liye-
Tanhayi kati, mujhe aur akela chodna ke liye!


Khoi khushiyan wapas dhoondhne ki ab mujhme kshamta nahi-
Is peeda ko sehne ki ab mujhme takat nahi!
Kash ki uss ghani raat ke baad suraj dobara nikalta hi nahi-
Kash ki tum kabhi mere jeevan ka ang bantey hi nahi!!

A Lonely Star’s promise

Like that lonely star up there in the skiey ebony,
I lie here, tormented, burning the fire of my misery.
She shines up there with all her might,
Her bright rays piercing the blackness of the night,
Yet she glimmers alone, with none beside her,
Like a forsaken bride, bedecked, in her futile wait for her lover…


You too left me in the middle of this journey we were to traverse not singly,
You too let go of the hand you had once clasped so lovingly.
You left me at the crossroads of life, waiting forever-
Life, without you, will go on, but will not be the same, ever!


Like that glowing dot of light in the expansive canopy above
Is for you, my steady, unflinching love…
Like that bright spot in the nightly blackness, I too shine-
Like she does for her beloved, I too pine.
Like her never-ending fire is my patient wait-
Until eternity shall I love you, ‘cos you are my fate!!

My Mask

Do you see this face I'm wearing?
It's beautiful, it's calm, and it's caring.

But don't let it deceive you-

'Cos what you're seeing isn't true.

So if you'll be friendly and patient with me,

The real me will be there for you to see.

This face is just a disguise, a concealing mask-
Don't try taking it off, it's a difficult task!

Pretending to be what I'm not is child's play for me-
Creating false impressions is no big deal, despite all my inadequacy.

I come across to you as though Confidence is my middle name,

As though Complacence is in my blood, as though Coolness is my game.

But don't be misled, for beneath this surface lies no substance-
I'm now scared you'll think of me as a nuisance.

I fear that one day this mask will be blown off,

I 'm afraid that one day this nonchalant facade will come off.

That is why I've craeted so many more such shields,

That's the reason I've stocked up on so many more falsities.

Yet, when you patiently listen to me, when you genuinely know what I feel,

I experience something soothing, my wounds begin to heal.

But if I show the real me, I'm afraid you'll laugh and mock at me,

I'm not sure you'll be able to accept what you see.

I don't know if you'll still love me, or if you;ll take me for a foe,

And that's why I'm hesitant to let the real me show.

When to you my true self will be revealed,

When you can no more be deceived,

I'm gonna be all cold, vulnerable and bare-

'Cos I know not if even then you'll care

To be my friend, faithful and true to me,

To love me, despite all that you see.

Even if you will, I'll have to retain my masks for some time more,

I'll need them again for sure, I know.

'Cos not everybody's gonna understand,

So you've got to let me keep these backups in my hand.

Till then dear friend, thanks for loving me true,

I promise I'll throw away these masks when I learn to love mysef too...