Let's be there for each other !

I wonder sometimes,
more often these days,
how did we turn 72 ?
Such diversity which we were told to celebrate,
"Unity in diversity"
was the slogan,
which I was so proud of,
I have now realized,
was only a sham !!
We were only being hypocrites.
Celebrating the diversity on certain days,
and then sinking back into our real selves,
which I have only started to recognize nowadays,
thanks to social media,
everyone's voice is heard, or being read
thank God, everyone's exercising their freedom of speech,
but how?
by spewing hatred against one another
which had been lying deep down all this while,
suddenly,
the slogan seems a failed effort
to instill some sense of unity
into a crowd so diverse,
Did we really grow together ?
How well groomed actors are we?
How could we live together pretending that we stand by each other
and yet disgorging venom against each other at each instance in the name of religion?

Are we ready yet or do we still want to be immature and believe in this division ?
Can we come together as one?
Can we all look at each other as humans first ?
Can we?

Let's be there for each other!
Can we?

Let's be there for each other !

We live in a state of constant denial. Denying the fact that we cannot remain untouched by any adverse situation in our lifetime. Such was a state of mind, I used to live in until two and a half years go. 

This post is coming out quite late. Two and a half years is too long a period. I had sat then too, I remember, , but could not really gather my thoughts around it so a few lines that I had started to write are still in my Draft.

So, today evening, one of my mother's cousin sister and her husband had come over. They got talking about everything related to family, discussing everything and everyone. Then, came up the topic of my brother's health. To tell you all, he is fine. They were basically keen on knowing how was he doing two and a half years later of an almost fatal accident. This got my mother talking about the whole incident again and then she reached a point where tears had overpowered her speech and she paused for a while. She repeated the words of the man who came as an angel for us at that moment of need. This is what I had wanted to share then. 

So let me begin by telling you how scary it can be when you get a call from your mother who is crying and telling you that your brother has had a grave accident. I can still remember that Saturday evening where around 5 my phone rang. It wasn't an unusual hour to get a call from my mom but it was still out of routine. We only knew that there was an accident. What, when, how, where was still unknown to us. This was 12th August 2017 which made me realize we are all vulnerable to any kind of situation that life might throw at us. 

Until then, I was almost smug that my family does not wish bad for anyone, we are generally nice people, so usually I had programmed myself that all what I would read in the newspapers about mishaps, wouldn't touch us at all. This complacency rather superiority crumbled on this day. 

We had almost lost my brother had this Saviour not reached on the spot in time. My brother's car met with an accident in the middle of nowhere. While my brother was bleeding profusely from head, my 6 years old nephew had flown out of the car. Miraculously my sister in law was almost untouched. With her boldness and courage, she brought out my brother who was stuck on the driver's seat, getting unconscious and the car locked from inside. There was no one who stopped to take them to any nearby hospital. And then this man appeared in a SUV. He stopped. Got them all in his car. His car sped at 140 kmph to take them to Saifai which amidst the deserted area, fortunately has a Trauma centre. It was all in time. This was nothing short of a miracle. 

All this made me want to appeal then which I didn't do but it's never too late, I am doing it now : If you happen to come across someone who has met with an accident on the road, please take the person to the nearest hospital. Please don't turn a blind eye or think that there maybe someone else who would help the person. You may save her/his life. 

PS : The appeal may come across as obnoxious to some of you but it stems from an experience where I saw people's indifference in a road accident.

चंचल मन

 कभी अचानक हंस उठता है मन,
और कभी शून्य सा अनुभव कराता है।
कितना चंचल है यह मन
जो नित नए अनुभव कराता है।

कभी हँसी के ठहाके लगते हैं,
कि हर बात में कुछ अनोखा दिख जाता है।
कुछ ऐसा ही है यह चंचल मन,
जो खुशियों के परचम लहराता है।

कभी छोटी सी भी बात पे,
गहरा खोखलापन झलकाता है।
ऐसा ही तो है यह चंचल मन
जो शून्यता के खाइयों में गिराता है।

चंचल मन न रहता कभी स्थिर,
चलता है यह अंतर्द्वंद प्रतिदिन।
आराम मिले शायद जब,
वश में कर लूँ मन को एक दिन।

She

Simple is her
nature and rhythm,
while ours is a speed,
one cannot fathom.
All in the name of development.

Cruel, we all have been,
using, abusing her
to the hilt,
without any hint of guilt.
All in the name of development.

She has been kind
with her resources,
while we want more than we need,
a result of our endless greed.
All in the name of development.

Short lived is our memory
which keeps forgetting her strength,
time is nearing when
she spreads her wings
to get back at us.
All in the name of development ! 

कैसे करें ये नैया पार ?

कैसे करें ये नैया पार ?
किसी का क्यों करना इंतज़ार ?
कैसा  है यह दौर जीने का ?
कहीं किसी ने दी थी आवाज़ ,
क्या हुआ एक नया आग़ाज़ ?
कल भी बीत गया कुछ ऐसे, 
आज भी ऐसे ही जाएगा ,
करते करते यूँही एक दिन
 वक़्त ही  ठहर जाएगा।
क्या मतलब है तब जीवन का ?
क्या समझा है किस ने इसका सार ?
कैसे करें ये नैया पार ?

Reminiscence

Sparkles the fisherman's boat
In thick of the night.
Tried to capture some stars
While sitting on the swing,
The moonset on the horizon
Reflecting still some light on the window.
Is anyone there inside ? 

New Year and old us!!

Here's wishing you all a very Happy and healthy New Year 2018. On the very first day of the year as all of you would have,  I sent my genuine ritualistic wishes. Health found a deliberate mention in the wishes I gave.  Having gone through what can possibly be the biggest jolt in my entire life with my family last year,   I wish everyone good health. Somethings are just beyond our control.  I had never imagined an almost fatal accident could occur with my family members or me. But then,  Life is the absolute truth which can take you on a rollercoaster ride any day and then put you on a bed of roses.  My brother met with a possibly fatal accident last year but magically all help fell in place and he is on the path of recovery. I still dread sometimes an out of routine call from my parents as what news it may bring.  Well,  this is what is Life. 

Coming to why I started writing at the very first place.  I feel this year will bring change in my life.  Well,  it is I who will bring the change.  Isn't it?  Two days ago,  a thought came to my mind.  It is not at all anything unheard of.  But as it dawned upon me,  I found it so fascinating a thought.
  Somehow,  I have always been trying to find out what I would want to do in life.  And the answer to me is still not conclusive.  I earlier used to think it's only I but later on realized that many of you belong to my category.  It doesn't give me a sense of comfort though to know of fellow beings uncertain about their goals or objectives and that I am not alone because I strongly believe we are on our own individual journey. 

So,  even if my way appears a little hazy at the moment,  I became certain of one thing with that thought.  I am a creator!  I want to make things.  Be it creating or recreating stories,  poems,  singing beautiful songs, translating, cooking food, knitting. It has to do with some creation.

And then the thought went a little ahead and then I realized I am Brahma, the Creator of my universe.  Everyone is. Each one of us is the Creator. 

This year I shall create!!!