Neend

The Girl at the middle of the night:
===========================================


yeh dil bichhernay ka gham bhulaaye to neend aaye
zehan say tera khayaal jaye to neend aaye
meri seenay mein yaadon ki roshni hai
humaray andar bhi raat chaaye to neend aaye
najanay kyun ho rehi hai tanhaiyon say dehshat
jo aaj sab chaand doob jaaye to neend aaye
thakan say din ki meri badan toot ta hai
woh raat ko aa ker sulaaye to neend aaye
main aakhrii saans ko sambhalay huay khari hun
koi usay aaj sab bhulaaye to neend aaye
humein humaray udaas baaloon mein
woh phair ker ungliyaan sulaaye to neend aaye

=============================================
The Boy, somewhere far from her:
=============================================

kaash aysa ho, ke mujhe tu yaad kare
aur meri yaad tujhe sone naa de,
ek dusre ki bahon me bitayein hue wo haseen lamhe
tujhe yaad aye, aur sone naa de.

kaash aysa ho, ke main tujhe yaad ayun
har ahat pe tujhe lage ke main hun yehin kahin
har dhadkan se tujhe mere hone ka ahsaas ho
aur wo ehsaas tujhe saari raat, sone na de.

tere ankhon me base hue hain, jo mere khwab
tu unko palkon taq aane kyon nahi deti,
tere dil me mujhse milne ki hai jo junoon
tu use haqikat me badalne kyon nahi deti?

kyon nahi kehti ke tujhe bhi mujhse pyar hai?
kyon nahi kehti ke ye duriyaan tujhe bhi tadpati hain,
bilakti, sulaghti hogi tu bhi mere judaai me
apne aap ko mujhme samane kyon nahi deti?

kaash aysa ho, ke tu yaad kare wo haseen pal
jo humne saath guzare the, ankhon ankhon me
wo din jo jhilmilaye the kabhi apne saath
wo raatein jo humne bitaye the, baaton baaton me.

kaash aysa ho, ke mujhe tu yaad kare
aur meri yaad se teri ankhen bhar ayein
bhari ankhein ho jaaye bojhal humari sapno se
aur tu soye. jaagna na pade tujhko aur raaton me...
=============================================

Well, the above two poems are written by two different people. The first half is written by one of my colleagues - Shruthi. And the response from the boy was done by me. The thoughts put in while composing the two pieces were very different from each other and the poets never knew each other's thoughts. I am happy that the poems could be linked together. And I'm sure, you have had a good time reading them...

Sleepless Scribble (Contd.)

4:45 AM

=~=
Alone again, I crept in. It is dark tonight. It was darker when I entered the lounge. I knew there would be no one here. So, I was not very careful while breaking the silence. I opened the door which made a painful screeching sound, and walked in. The door closed behind, leaving the lounge in dark – the way it used to be – the way I like it – the way, we liked it! The lounge is the place I dwell in and the best place I hangout with my friends and her. Tonight, there is no one here. Neither my friends and nor her. Still I walked in. The air was free, silent, dark and homogeneous. I breathed in – felt fresh! My footsteps created a few puffs of dust as I walked towards the corner – my favorite corner in the lounge, where we used to sit together and talk – talk all night! The floor was dusty – I was sad to see that. The abandonment and vivid desertion of the place accumulated lot of dust. I wish she would be here – now.

I breathed in – felt fresh! It was her fragrance – again! “Am I dreaming?” I asked myself. How on earth would I feel her here – tonight, when she is far away from the lounge? I could feel her as if she held my hands and looked deep inside me – Dilse! I could feel her hair flying in the absent breeze. I could feel her missing touch all over me. It was a pleasure, yet shivering! I looked around again. I could see nothing in the dark, apart from the rays of light coming out from the distant lamppost, coming through the ventilators and cracks on the windows, and falling on the various parts of the lounge. I could smell her as though she was here with me – holding me, like older times. I extended my hand and tried to call, against all odds, “Sho…” A cold hand came from behind me and covered my lips. I quivered! I moved around in a flash – there was no one again! I looked around – the darkness laughed at me. I rested my palm on the table, near my corner – our corner. Gusts of dust blew and the door made another scorching sound and opened a little. I could see the first rays of sunlight coming in – it was almost dawn and I could hear the birds chirping outside, yet far-flung. It was time for me to leave. I could not sit today – I could not sing today – I could not meet her, for whom I come to the lounge. She was away – among those chirping avis. May be that’s where she belonged and that’s why she’s away tonight. I walked out, as slowly as I always did. I did not disturb the darkness much and neither the silence in the lounge. The dust I puffed up in the air would settle down soon, I know. And she will always be here with me, when I come back – to hold my tongue and stop me from nuisance.

The morning rays cleansed my face, as I walked back home – alone again!

---

My Sleepless Scribbles: One, Two

Another Sleepless Scribble (Night 2)

Continued from Another Sleepless Scribble

4:03 AM

It was another night. Just another one for everyone else; for nobody thought about it before they closed their eyelids for the day – before they surrendered to the dark, still, insensible night. However, the night was not the same for Shona. Shona, never sleeps. She lives in her own world and forgets about all that happens around her. She was sleepless again – again tonight!

Having nothing else to do, having nowhere else to go, having no one to speak to, she came out of her house and strolled in to the lounge – The Writers Lounge. She came in and saw the door closed. Was there anyone there? Well, she did not know. She hardly knows anyone in the lounge, apart from her love – her friend – her mate – her companion. She thought he might be there, somewhere in the lounge, still! This was the best time for him to be in the lounge, and hence, she strolled in – not to disturb him or anyone else in the lounge, but to get a mere glimpse of him. A word or two exchanged would be bonus for her. She crept in.

It was chilling in the lounge. Not a single leaf moved – not one breeze blew. The lounge seemed to be frozen. The lounge seemed to be lonely too – very much similar to Shona. She opened the door with utmost care. It opened slowly and a few rays of light and a few handful of air came in along with Shona. She closed the door behind her. It was pitch-dark. She stood there for some time and checked around her – nobody around – absolute silence. She walked towards the dashboard to check the various posts in the lounge, which were posted today. Her hands were trembling as she browsed through the posts. Her lips moved while reading a few. Her fingers got stuck to a few words and her eyes to a few pictures, but she moved on with the newer posts.

Suddenly she saw a post with her lover’s name on it. Did he post it? Her heart skipped a bit! Yes, it was him who posted this today. Oh! What a feeling! She felt him around while reading his post. It was a story – a simple story of a small village girl. She read the first words of the story, “I Love You Shona…” What? Shona? Was this ‘Shona’ the same as herself? Her heart skipped another beat! He has told her time and again not to talk about themselves in public. He has told her time and again not to relate his stories or poems with herself; but her heart – would it listen? It searches for her in every Cinquain he writes; it hunts for her name in every Acrostic he writes; it looks for her presence in every Haiku he posts. She never found a single post of his which was not related to her. However, he never wrote anything like this before. He never wrote about her anywhere. She was always incognito until this post! She could not believe her eyes. For a moment she wanted to hear his voice and talk to him. Oh! If only she could see him once – for once!

There was a message in the Shoutbox that made the noise to break her concentration. “Hi mates, how are you all doing? None here? Let me talk to myself then J” It was him! Oh! Was he here all the time? She would never know; but, he is here now – right in front. A simple message in the Shoutbox would link her to him. He will come to know that Shona is here too. What a coincidence! Her wish to meet him and to talk to him was fulfilled in couple of minutes time. Oh God, had known this before, would not she have ask him instead?

Shona stood there – unmoved. She did not utter a word. She did not go to the next page. She did not do anything that would tell him of her presence. She would not – for she was not supposed to. She was not supposed to bring him in public. She was not supposed to get close in public. He will not like that and may turn crueler towards her. She would not want that too. She remained invisible. She remained unearthed. She remained silent.

“Good Night Mates… Have a good time reading and a wonderful day. Have fun and keep rocking together.” Another message in the Shoutbox. It was him again. He was leaving. She wanted to call him. She wanted to pull him towards her and kiss him on his lips. She wanted to tell him that she loves him. She wanted to share herself – and everything she had; but she remained silent and he was gone.

She stood there for some time to ensure that he is gone. Once she was sure about his absence, she stood there for some more time. She would never let him know that she was here – feeling his presence and admiring the story he wrote with her name in that. The lounge was chilling, but her heart was beating faster and faster. She did not feel the cold. Her blood was boiling all the time. After a few more minutes, when he was gone, she looked around her again. Nothing has changed. He came and he went away, leaving Shona unnoticed and nothing changed around her. Weird it was, but that was normal, as he told her to be.

She did not break the promise – she could not. She was happy now. She was refreshed. She opened the door again with similar care and came out of the lounge and the door closed behind her.

Another Sleepless Scribble

3:33 AM

In Response to Kajal's A Sleepless Scribble

Tan was always awake, when you tip-toed into the lounge. The gentle wind on your face through the window chilled his spine. He was sitting alone in another corner of the lounge, scribbling on his notepad – making absolutely no sound. It was lonely. It was cold. It was dark. Still, it was fun to be here. Suddenly, the door opened – a thin ray of light became wider as you came in. Tan could see you looking around, fearing if you have wakened anyone else. The notepad in your hand and the desire to write something was visible. You came in and sat near the window, at the corner. The waft ruffled a few strings of hair on your face. Probably you felt shy and you smiled. Diffidently, you sat down and started scribbling. Tan saw it all!

Tan wanted to shout aloud and say ‘Hi’ to you. He was so pleased to see someone alongside at this hour. He was overjoyed and was going to call you. But then, the wind blew again and those strands of hair alongside your chin flew. They brushed your face and you smiled – again! What a wonderful sight! That was something one could die for. Tan felt no different. He could not move. He could not utter anything else. He sat there – in tranquil – staring at the most beautiful sight he has ever seen.

Then you started scribbling. Your hands on the notepad were moving fast and faster. The thin rays of moonlight through the window pane made your face visible. The million dollar smile on your face was noticeable. He noticed it all the time you were there. Tan smiled within himself. Looking at you in harmony gave him eternal peace. All silent! Then suddenly you stood up. The silence broke with the sound of tearing and folding paper. Probably, your scribbling was over and so was the heavenly time. You left the torn paper from your notepad on the table near the window and left the lounge. The door opened and closed – making no further noise.

“Ka…” a soft cry came out of Tan’s mouth, after the long silence; but it was so weak that it could not reach your ears. You did not hear anything and you left. The door closed into silence again. A dark, cold and lonely silence! It was sad and dull. Tan sat down and reluctantly he took his notepad and wrote what you just read. He did not want to, but he wrote, just for the sake of letting you know that he was there – always – all the time! It was silent again, as he finishes writing the note – to you!