Another glass, another bottle

Another glass, another bottle,
Down my throat, yet I'm brittle,
I know so little, about me,
And the devil inside, won't let me be,
A million questions have been thrown,
Is there an answer in the unknown?
Another glass, another bottle,
Boils my body, like it were a kettle,
I tell myself, this can't be true,
This twisted tale, is Oh! So cruel,
And I shrink and shiver,
Run for cover,
Everywhere, yet nowhere,
And there I find another gulp, another swallow,
It fills no inch of a soul so hollow,
Yet, I need more wine,
for no path is clear,
I need more wine,
To live this fear,
Hand me a glass, another bottle,
I won't get drunk O my dear!

No one but Him.....

It was the unearthly hour of 3 AM and most of you were in deep slumber. Hours to go before the sun would peep through your windows and wish you ‘good morning’. For most of the world it was an ordinary day. But there was a big crowd that gathered there – men, women and children - they were not cramming for an entrance examination. It was not a railway station neither a bus-stand nor was this crowd going to board an aircraft. Their time had come and their long wait was almost over. Moments like these were very few in their lives - they could count them on their finger tips – it was moments like these one lived for. The dying minutes as the clock ticked away went unnoticed submerged in the clamor and frenzy of the crowd. They were allowed to get in one after the other. Countless men in the Khaki uniform stood alert in eager anticipation. The lathis that adorned these men were announcing a silent threat. Someone – tall, dark & broad shouldered was controlling the crowd’s entry. The anxiety around was palpable. The door was just minutes away but for those who were far away from the door it felt like a life time. The desire to reach the door ASAP was arguing with the thoughts of control that their mind was dictating to them. They knew that the argument was lopsided from the very beginning. Desire had to win and it did. Pushing each other forward they entered the dark room. The empty room was heavy with the air of expectancy. Their heart beat was already at an alarming high. They waited with bated breath, as though, their life depended on it. They were trying to calm their nerves by engaging in small talk, but it was amply clear that words that left their lips never reached the others’ ears. Their body was there but the soul was elsewhere. People back at home wouldn’t understand them; they had already termed them insane. Not that it mattered. They could already sense the jealous eyes that would pierce them once they would be out of this place. Someone shouted from atop and silence took over suddenly and moments later it gave way to an earsplitting sound. The room was filled with raucous shrills and cries that were loud enough to break through the walls. Their eyes twitched coz there was a brilliant light that hit them and the surrounding darkness caved in. The tension gave way to exhilaration. Their desire was about to be satiated. And then their jaws dropped and they stared with awe………..

.....as the screen read ‘Super Star Rajni’. The sun was still sleeping but inside it was broad daylight. There was unspeakable joy all around. ‘Endhiran’ had just begun.

(The author considers himself highly unfortunate for not having made it to this crowd. But he was lucky enough to get hold of a first-row ticket for the evening show)

Yet another start

Is that really you?

I must be imagining things,

Next to me, Is that your angelic face?

Ah! I wonder!

At the overwhelming joy it brings,

Cold air,

Rushing through my hair,

Blowing over my wrinkled face,

Cuts through my mind,

Memories surge at a heart wrenching pace,

Am I not different? Have I not aged?

Am I someone else? Have I changed?

But why do I carry the same old name?

Why do I still feel, it's all the same?

I'm humbled, I accept, I feel no shame,

It's a fresh lease of breath,

As if I have been exhumed from death.

A lesson learnt....

I went back to my terrace to find,
That of all the lamps that I lit,
Only one stayed alive,
And when a gush of wind blew,
I stood there merciless,
Hoping to watch it die,
And she bent, she swayed, she flickered,
And yet refused to subside,
I threw a wicked smirk at her plight,
And stood there,
To watch her give up against the wind's might,
As darkness engulfed her,
I still wonder how?
She danced and showed me one of the dazzling lights,
Stunned and ashamed,
When I felt small,
She put her arms around me,
And spoke with care and calm,
'You can wither and wilt',
'Or you can fight',
'You can succumb to the pressure', 'Or find moments to treasure',
'Its about you, not them',
'Its never about what you are made of',
'Its about what you choose to become'....