The Red Snow

(Part-1)

Slowly, I stripped off the curtains aside

The drape that hindered the white moon light 


White was the colour of the lawn that spread

White was the colour of the Alps ahead.

Laid behind me were the folks from my land

Casual, indolent snoring like a band

Little did they care of the air outside

Neither did they notice that uncanny ride.

I followed a bunch of men, through my gaze

While still trying to wipe off the window haze

Wind that night was hideous and chill

Only when I could see beyond the window sill,

Four men rose to take on two

A girl and a boy with nothing they could do

The boy being bashed; the girl did plead

The cold goons ensured the two must bleed

I ran to the stairs as fast as I could

Watchmen dozed under his night hood

The clamour of the quiet that I then saw

Could have made even the bravest heart thaw

 . . . to be continued

When I woke up One Night

(Excerpts from a King’s Diary)

I ain’t any special one

My life was just a normal run

Verses below shall tale the plight

When, just like any other, I woke up one night.

A regular one, while not too bright

Through the subconscious, I pinched myself light

Casually i tried to lift aside

The scion left foot over the right

The left foot landed in no man’s land

My mouth felt like a pail of dry sand

A horror ran down through my spine

Right leg was missing till the knee line

I shoved upright my officious torso

One that boasted of its ego also

Frantically i searched for the missing part

Part that drove this human cart

Dejected i embraced my misery tight

When, just like any other, i woke up one night.

Excruciating pain i could feel it within

World will treat me as a pitiable sin

Can’t even fetch water to drink

How would i earn my imminent living?

Commiserating pals and kinsmen will surround

None to twig the misery, to which i am bound

A posture that poised, none dared to try

A head that always was held very high

Like a heap of flesh lied in fright

When, just like any other, I woke up one night.

From days to weeks to months on the cushion

Solitude helped me bring to fruition

A man may be born with a silver spoon

Retires to heavens but how many croon

Depends on how well you curbed the dearth

Fact is you pay back in the same birth

I may be a king but what am I now

A useless lump to which none shall bow

Doomed with this fate of an internal fight

When, just like any other, I woke up one night.

And one fine day, when I could take it no more

The day I realized how bliss will galore

 I clutched my right thigh with both my hands

On one leg I carried myself into the stands

The anxious crowd dead silent as I appeared

An ‘unworthy’ ‘coward’ ‘lame’ king ‘disfigured’

Addressing them with the learnings on the cushion

The crowd listened to me in an awe-struck fashion

From courts men, to cobbler; from merchant to knight

When, just like any other, I woke up one night.

Assurance that I gave my men from then on

The kingdom shall see yet another dawn

If a demolished man like I can rise

So can you, O’ my kinship wise

The day light awaits, clear your sight

Through perseverance, the passion you need to ignite

Set your horizons and strengthen your might

Just like your king when he woke up ‘that’ night

Journey with ‘Her’

It started with a nil

With intentions to climb a hill

A journey towards the helm

Through the hurdles of the realm

Long before I could envision

Long before I could set upon a mission

One soft hand held my arm

One prettiest face to my charm

A road that I promised ‘Her’ to tread

A road till I start earning my bread

She looked at me with divine faith

‘Her’ silent solemn, not a word she said

Hard it was to realize what she meant

Hard it’s still to realize what she underwent

The journey was rough, tough to abort

But I always had ‘Her’ silent support

Neither a second thought, nor a hasty blink

‘Her’ divine presence made the hurdles sink

She helped the fallen me stand on feet

She encouraged me to conquer any feat

When the road grew longer and horizon hazy

During the journey when at times I acted crazy

I could see ‘Her’ lap, mellow as a desert-rose

‘Her’ damp and concerned eyes, inviting me close.

If heavens were to open they start from here

If hell is something then it’s ‘Her’ frowning stare

Sacrificing ‘Her’ desires, she made me a good human being

Neither tears nor pain only smiles to keep me going

And now I look back when I can earn my bread

Through the hardships, the turmoil that one can dread

She has seen them all and been through all

In the modern world she has made me stand tall

I salute to ‘Her’ will, I bow to her strength

I bow to almighty for sending ‘Her’ as a friend

For every birth I pray send ‘Her’ for me

For every moment I pray keep ‘Her’ close to me

A bed of roses for ‘Her’ is all that I dream

A wonderful life for ‘Her’ – to almighty I scream

For this special place cannot be taken by any other

For me it’s only ‘Her’ – the world calls her ‘My Mother’

The greatest learning

Hooo Hooo Baaa.....Thump!!
I have finally landed on a moon-like surface after crawling on earth for some 25 years. Please do not take this statement as it sounds as I will now familiarize you with the different analogies displayed in it. Firstly, its a jump - a leap rather, from one phase of life to another. Secondly, a moon-like surface because this phase is definitely at a higher intensity and a higher mental altitude than the previous one and just like the spots in moon this phase will have some rough patches too although predominantly it will shine and glitter with charm (I am sure it will and I am not being too optimistic!). Thirdly, I was crawling on earth's surface as life used to be very normal, very passive and most of all it used to be the way I wanted it to be.
But,
the leap has taken place. The much awaited has happened. The gears of life have shifted yet again but this time to attain a pace greater than ever before along with some huge responsibilities on the shoulders.
Life is not going to be the same because there is another life associated to it now. My spouse, my better or rather my best half, my wife, my second soul.
She is not like me and I am not like her. She doesn't like cricket, I can't live without it. She loves shopping, shopping is a nightmare for me. She doesn't like dancing, dance is my passion. She doesn't speak much, I can't stop blurting for hours. She likes saas-bahusoaps, I fall asleep when they are on. She likes English songs, I like soft Hindi songs. She doesn't express her feelings, I don't leave any stone unturned when it comes to expressing my feelings. She has a sister with whom she shares everything, I have none. She is a true theist, I am an agnostic.
Obviously, such attributes were known to me earlier as well, but Despite so many contrasting attributes we have taken vows now because we developed a bond. We have made promises to each other. We are one.
So, from here onwards, it will never be 'I', it will be 'WE'... Always...
Yes, we are no more bachelors now. We are married. From a boy and a girl to a man and a woman. This feeling does give us goose flesh but this is something which will contribute to the largest part of our lives' learning. It's not just "My Life" now. It's our life.C'EST NOTRE VIE.
A different sort of education begins now. The Grihistha as it is called has begun.
Let us stand up to it.
Let us live it with smiles on our faces.
Let us contribute to it in our best possible way.
Let us give it what it needs to cement it.
Let us lay the foundation of the strongest home ever.
Let us keep ourselves and the people around us happy.
Let us hold our hands to fight against the unwanted.
Let us build up the courage to absorb the unexpected.
Let us build up the trust to help each other walk when one is blindfolded.
Let us make this relationship the most cherished possession of our lives.
Let us Rock!

The Charm of Distance

Those were the days when I was a student

Never realized how quickly life had bent,

Last exams of life and books were already away,

Those were the days, not so long back, when we would just sway.

Girls and women were things being fantasized

How to kill time was something I never emphasized

When one fine day, mom came up with a solution

Let’s find you a girl out of your imagination.

A girl who would swore with you for life

A girl who would soon be called your wife

I questioned her back as I skipped a beat

I could sense some coldness in the scorching heat

Why do you want to put me in wedlock?

Is there no other ship to drown in the dock?

She pacified me as she has always done,

Let’s start the search now before left are none

The first day uncle took us on the hunt

A girl opened the door, my reaction - 'blunt'.

Quite a meeting it was, which was not

Exchanged glances were never given a thought.

For several following days the hunt kept on

Some made me WOW!, some made me yawn

Few days later, uncle asked me to rethink

On something which, on the first day of hunt, had just passed by like a blink.

How can just one meeting decide your fate,

Was something which I was not able to digest

I gave it a long thought and came to a conclusion

'Let’s meet up again and then arrive at a decision'

We decided to meet up over lunch

And then began a story of a colorful flower bunch.

Honey chilly potatoes never tasted that good,

Few smiles over lunch like laughters of childhood.

The fragrance that was drowned away

In the kitchen of 'her' home the first day

Was everywhere around me today

I didn’t want to let 'her' go away

The very next day I was there with my stand

Ready to call 'her' and ask for ''her' magical hand

But then I heard something grave coated in honey

“I am not ready for this and let’s leave it to destiny”

I felt a little broke, but later pacified myself,

Why to worry for books which are not yet on the shelf?

I moved on and the hunt continued

But the thought of her denial kept me glued

Then one fine day, out of the blues

A mail came to me, to my amuse

A mail that regretted of decision made in haste,

A mail that wanted this alliance not go waste.

A mail that would turn our wheels of fate

A mail that marked the finding of my mate

For this alliance can be challenged by none

The alliance that merges 2 souls into one

The families congratulated, they were elated

But one thing in my mind now haunted

Just a couple of days and I’ll be off

Dear, oh dear, I’ll miss you a lot

Miles of distance between us will soon be there

The thought gave me shivers as I was not aware

Met her for the last time before my departure

A meeting I can never forget, your void will be a torture.

And then with a heavy heart, I arrived here

Numb was the feeling, wished ‘you’ were here

Monday of May and the job began its toll

Even the classy Deere couldn’t make me forget all

Then I found a solution to bring you close to me

Let the technology of Video Chat bind thee

The feeling of seeing u again was just so heavenly

Miles between us yet we sit so closely

The days will pass, the seconds will tick away

Let us wait together, for our big day

For the heavens will come down, the gods will shower their blessings

The winds will sing the song with aroma of jasmine dressings

Like we exchanged the rings, we’ll now exchange the garlands

The world will come to see us together, from the far lands

And then will unite the souls of you and I

Promises of next several births and this painful time will just fly.

- with Love

               Ankit

Reminiscence

Reminiscing the last 2 years,

At the end of a sojourn

Brings me to tears

That they end so soon

Loads of ups and loads of downs

I’ve seen them all, I’ve been through all

Yet I managed to keep my ground

And here I begin a tale easily found

1^st sem was a learning time

A pinch of sugar but a lot of lime

My maiden hostel-life and the “dis”-orientation to begin

PDPs that popularize to lectures not so keen.

Subjects far from logic

And no pretty faces around

That’s what marked my 1^st sem

that went without a sound.

2^nd sem came in with a big bang

When all of us had formed our own gang

Everyday life had new things to preach

But for the teachers there was nothing but to teach

then came the 3^rd when I got “exchanged”

it seemed that the world around me had changed

the places that were till now just a part of my dream

stood right in front of me like an icing of cream.

Summers went mostly at home

And Airtel was just a certificate dome

Stipend was nil and petrol price was great

but free food and phone calls did compensate

4^th was when the seniority prevailed

Cricket blossomed and academics failed

Cribbing sophomores were indeed fun

And the bhasad that shot in lobbies was awesome

5^th was when the priorities changed

From placements that haunted to STPs they ranged

15 companies came and went without me

16^th was the one that heard my plea

And now it’s 6^th, the final cram

And about my CGPA,

Huh! I don’t give a damn!

Alas! I sum it up for you

with my final adieus

that I will cherish these 2 years

absolutely without any blues.

I’ll miss the parties,

I’ll miss the nights

I’ll miss the DLP

And undoubtedly I’ll miss you guys!