Thursday, March 31, 2022

 Only if I were a shadow


If only I were a shadow, a ghost without a face and name

If only I could keep moving, through lands and seas all the same


I could walk along a blindman and help him along the treacherous fare

I could wipe the tears of an orphan child and tell her it's gonna change

I could lift the weight of a broken dog and tend with kindness and care

I could bring some peace to this selfish world, and teach it to care and share



If only I were the pouring rain, my waters won't need no country no cavalry

If only I was the desert sand, my heat won’t need no friend no family


I could quench the thirst of a hundred souls, burdened with life and vane

I could heat the hearths of a thousand homes, keep them warm from pain

I could feed the roots of a million trees, and mend the homes of so many more

I could bring some peace to this heartless world, a greedy world gone insane



If only I were a faceless being, no colour no race to call my own

If only I were a nameless being, no religion no language to claim on me


I could transcend borders beyond fences and walls, no passports no identity

I could call everyone my kind and kin, no prejudice no contracts no bounds

I could see the world as its truest self, be a part of its very many sights and sounds

I could be rustle of the winds, the smell of the seas, be one with the floating clouds



If only I was no man, no woman, nobody’s child and parent to none

If only I did not belong to a God, no country, no culture, nothing, no one

If only I was beyond right and wrong, nothing to cheer, nobody to frown 

If only I was a vagabond, a wanderer, no money no love and no crown 



If only I could, not see the dark, the lies, the ruse and the game

If only I could, not hear the cries, the bombs, the fear and the blame

If only I could, not feel the hunger, the cold, the death and the pain

If only I could, forget the bad, the bullets, the blood and the shame



May be then

May be this world, would start making more sense…..

 Pamukkale - A land of white


Stark against the clearest sky, poised as a glorious giant. Imposing yet inviting, static yet moving, surreal, sweeping and divine.... the mountain calls out to me!

I have always loved these natural castles of stone, carved out as beautiful pieces of art - when continents collide, tectonic plates subside. However this one is extra special - Pamukkale, "cotton castle" in Turkish, honestly its a very apt description.

These hills are listed as UNESCO world heritage site for unique geological formations called Travertines, pools of mineral bearing water creating these wondorous terraces across the slopes. The water is rich with calcium carbonate, which makes the hills stand white.

Set in the mountains near the Aegean sea, these hills were home to Hierapolis- an ancient roman city which was the most important oriental center of power for the Empire in the early 1st-3rd centuries.

The astounding Greek Theatre which is one of best preserved sites from the Hellinistic era documents the prosperity of the city from its glory days. The outskirts of this ruined city boasts to be the largest necropolis (ancient cemetry) in the ancient world, almost 2 km of lined gravestones and tombs might send a shrill down your spine. One can see the ruins of massive Byzantine church (christian era) and the sprawling Temple of Apollo (hellinistic period), it is not hard to imagine hundreds of citizens walking on these paved streets to practice their religion across differnt centuries.

For me the most refreshing part were the thermal pools. These pools are known to be the beauty secret of many a queens including Hera and Cleopatra. I cannot think of a better way to relax your tiring muscles after hours of uphill climb under the hot aegean sun. The pools work like elixir, known as a scientific fact to have numerous health benefits.

I concluded my visit walking down the travertines while watching the sun go down. The beautiful changes in the light reflected in these pools are surely a sight to behold.

An immersive experience strong enough to put it in writing...
never to be forgotten...in memories to behold
revisited and recounted...aching to be retold... Pamukkale.. a land of white 

 Rihayee!!!


Naa Samajon se... naa riwajon se....
Naa sawalon se... naa jawabon se...
Kaha hai rihayee, Kaha hai rihayee!
In sab zarrori gunah gaaron se


Ek ankh bhar assoo hai... ke chalakte hi nahi
Ek saans bhar ke aah hai... ke nikalte hi nahi
Kaha dhoodhu zindagi, main tujhse fursat...
Ke apne bare me bhi, soch loon kabhi....

Naa sujhawon se...na rujhawon se...
Naa muholle se...nahi kunbe(means family)/ malaalo se...
Kaha hai rihayee, Kaha hai rihayee!
In kareebi jaan-nisaaro se


Ke jee mein aaya ek din tum sab ko chod dungi main
Kuch hausla kiya, dum bhar ke shiddat..  buniyaade tod dungi main
Kyu chupu surat ke peeche... ye daayeren hai aur ke
Kyu sunu duniya ki main... ye kaayaden hai aur ke

Par Naa zehen se...naa wehem se...
Naa badi se...naa sharam se...
Kaha hai rihayee, Kaha hai rihayee!
In mufat ke mehmaano se



Lakh Samjhaya dil ko...jo kho gaya wo gair tha
Baat ko afsaana mat Kar....jo Mila hai uski khair kar
Par Mehfilo mein tanhaa karde.. kuch aisi khamoshi cha aayi
Baharon ko begaane Karde...kuch aisi mayoosi bhar aayi

Naa aap se...naa ajnabi se..
Naa dard se...na tishnagi se
Kaha hai rihayee, Kaha hai rihayee!
Inn ujde hue gulzaaro se



Naa rutbe se.. na justaju se...
Naa hosh se...naa deewangi se...
Naa soch se...naa awaargi se...
Kaha hai rihayee, Kaha hai rihayee!

In zaroori gunah garon se...

 Agwara/Facade


Zindagi ko dhalte mausamo sa sambhalti main
Kuch Sawalon ke jawaabon mein ulajhti main
Gar dhuaa hai aashiyaan mein, ghar jala hi hoga
Apni hi seerat chupati.... kya khamosh rehti main??

Toot te rishton ke dhaage, kya inhe seel payengey
Choot te lamhon ki yaadein, kya bhula payengey
Gar safar hai kismaton mein, manzile juda hi hongi
Aur kya hijaab dhaati...kya fitrat badalti main?

Nafarmaani meri teri berukhi si ban gayi
Shikayatein meri teri bekasii si ban gayi
Gar kasak hai aasuyon mein dil dooba hi hoga
Apni hi soorat badalti...kya jhoot jeeti main?

Tere daaman se judi jo.. meri parchayi si hai
Meri ulfat mein bhi to.. soorat teri dhundhli padi hai
Gar sifar(zero) hai iska haasil..kuch to choota hoga
Aur kya manzar dikhati...kya sach chupati main?


Apne sach ki talaash mein!

 Talaash!

Meri nazar se chupa kaha tu
Hai mujhme shaamil tu hu-ba-hu
Tamaam raahein badal ke dekho
Wohi hai haazir tu roo-ba-roo


Unhi ki yaadein nazm hai meri
Wohi tassavuur, ghubaar wo
Wohi muqaddar ka rehnuma hai
Wohi masihaan/marassim, mazaar wo

Meri kashish se juda kaha tu
Har aas mein teri just-a-joo


Hai muqtasarr sa safar hamara
Phir hai umar bhar ka intezaar
Ke baat bhar ko nazar mile the
Kaha babasta phir wo khumaar

Hazaar karwat badal ke chaha
Nahi bujhi dil ki aarzoo


Ya barf ki silwaton ka mausam
Ya ret par sulagti si main
Teri hi baarish ki aas mein hoon
Teri tapish ke hi aas mein

Tamaam soorat badal ke dekhi
Hoon teri jaanib, tu char-suu


Dil aashna hai junoon mein teri
Rawa madhoshi mein bifikar
Nahi pashemaan, ke raqs mein tu
Kabhi ho haasil, main mumtazar

Hazaar sajde tadap rahe hai
Tera talabgaar ye sukoon!

Koi Fark Nahi


Un Nigahon mein, hua jo zaahir, wo ulfat to nahi

Wo hai maghroor, main bezaar,bezubaan si kahi

Un Nigahon mein, hua jo zaahir, wo ulfat to nahi

Unka aaghaaz ho jaha, ke main hoon khatm wohi

Mujhko apni si bana le, ya ke mujhsa tu banjaa

Kya muhobbat kya tabahee; koi fark nahi



Mujhse pehli si muhobbat, mere mehboob naa maang

Hai ye dil khali, nazar khali, zubaan bhi gumnaam -(2)

Maine jis tarha tujhko chaha, mere bas mein nahi

Hai ye illzaam ya shikwaa; koi bhi fark nahi



Is zamane mein, jo ho mukammal, aisi cheez kaha?

Meri ruswaayi…. meri rooh se, jaa pooch rahi -(2)

Jiski koi, dawa namumkeen, aisa marz hau ye

Jee rahi hoon ya hoon bejaan; hai koi fark nahi



Ye hazaaron ke faasle, jo reh gaye darmiyaan

Unko ashko se mita dena, kya jayez hoga?

Jhoot itne ke apne sach bhi karzdaar se hai

Hum rahe saath ya alag; koi bhi fark hai



Humsafar tha wo, humkhayal, aur mera humnasheen

Just-a-joo aaj bhi aahoon mein, baaki to nahi

Wo jo kehta tha chaand taaro se, bhi main hoon haseen

Ya wo sach tha, ya mehez khaab; koi fark nahi