अपना भी एक मजनू हो

बैठे-बैठे कल्पना की 

कि अपना भी एक मजनू हो

दिल हथेली पे लिए चले जो 

मेरे पीछे-पीछे फिरे वो 

साडी के आँचल से बांध ले जो

बाकि सब को बहन  कहे वो

ऐसा अपना एक मजनू हो |

जिंदिगी में हरयाली ले आये जो

दिल के तार हिला जाए वो

आज़ाद पंछी सी आज़ादी दे जो

मेरे दोस्तों से दोस्ती करे जो

मेरी ख़ामोशी भी जान ले वो

ऐसा अपना एक मजनू हो |

कल कि परवाह न करे जो

आज कि ही बात करे वो

टाइम का पक्का, प्यार हो अपना

यही है मेरा प्यारा सपना

मेरा भी एक मजनू हो |

प्रेम कहानी

एक लड़की थी नयारी
कर बैठी काकरोच  से यारी |
माँ ने उसे समझाया बहुत
" काकरोच का पीछा छोड़,
चिड़ियों को बना अपना दोस्त! "
पर उसे कहाँ ये रास आया
उसको तो था प्यारा याराना |
फूल खिले, बहार आयी
बचपन कि मस्ती उसपे छायी |
सुद-भुद  खो, सब काम छोड़
काकरोच के पीछे वो भागी |
बोली, " मेरे प्यारे काकरोच
चलो भाग जायें कहीं हम दोनों |
जहाँ ना हो ये ज़ालिम ज़माना
न यूँ रोज़-रोज़  का कतराना |
हवाईजहाज से हम जायें रोम
वहाँ बनाये हम अपना होम... "
और यूँ ही वो सपने बुन्ने लगी
अचानक एक गलती हो गयी |
पैर उसका परा चटक,
काकरोच गया वहीँ पिचक |
वो सक्की-बक्की रह गयी
और खामोशी से घर को चली | 

Eclairs- A Sweet Temptation!

The bounty of caramel wrapped in choco

I bite into the core...

My juices flowing, my emotions showing

Cravings of the soul.

My stars 'n my life

Across the dark blue sky

I observed the stunning stars one night

and amazing wasn’t it, what I discovered

that I could actually relate it all

with me, myself

There are millions of stars in the sky

invisible, unseekable, which no one knows- exist;

as there are millions of people on this planet

I’ve yet come across

O’ there were then, many a stars

shining dimly in the blue unknown…

yes, there are many I know

who wouldn’t matter much although

And there were but, those stunning gems

which glittered across my life, my sky;

those many who are soo much a part of my life,

those who mean soo much to me,

without whom I couldn’t imagine me!

What I discovered next was sad indeed…

there was a bright moon in the sky,

Where was mine? I wondered…

It appeared to be the closest

and yet soo far away, with miles in between.

Well, it did make me feel very lonely

on this overcrowded planet

It was giving light to me, my earth.

And there was a sense of understanding,

a promise untold,

that it would continue to shine

throughout my life.

And though it was the brightest amongst all,

it appeared to be very calm ‘n soothing,

something, that could hold me

through many a dreams… and times

That would be with me like a shadow,

revolving round ‘n round about me.

That would make me feel…

like never before!!

14/01/1999

Back into my childhood days

Back into my childhood days

I usually visit them again and again

Weren't they just full of love 'n life?

When few were the troubles

And less were worries.

When happiness ruled my heart!

When my world was small

And big in its own way.

When there was plenty of time,

For friends and laughter

And for being a creative ass.

When one counted stars at night

And gazed at the clouds in the day.

When one was happy to be left alone

For many a childish deeds.

When one was appreciated

For what one did

And was told all those fairy tales,

which made me disappear

In my dreamland.

Oh how time just flew away,

Leaving me behind,

Just to stand there.

Isn't it really awful?

To see my books,

Filled from top to bottom...

In the shelf,

Which was once

My very own doll house.

Oh! How really cunning it is

To have left me crying

For my childhood days. 

21/07/97