YOUR DOUBTS I SEE

I write a world
That you cannot read,
I walk on a road
That you say was never meant to be.
I stay at a time
That you say does not exist indeed,
I live a life
That lies hidden from your realities.
Then can you tell me
A better way to be
You said dreams is all I had
Are there better dreams?
My blind sight fails to see.

HONNEY- My encounters with an Aspiring Prostitute

Dark swollen skin. Pigmented cheeks. A slight hunch. Dirty hair. She looks like she’s straight walked out of the slums. I abhorred her when she came knocking at my car’s window that day. A dark red sari wrapped around her minimalistic frame…just like a red rose petal scarcely covering a stinging thorn. Yes that’s Honney for you.
From the time I remember, she had this weird way of reciting her name. Honney! She had come to the Financial Capital from the City of Joy at 20, was an illiterate with a gifted classical mujrawali voice which wasn’t really what anyone would pay for anymore. A few scraps of bread to live in a costly metropolitan weren’t really enough. Honney had tried her luck as a maid, as a sweeper, an ayah, almost every depressing job; but had miserably failed. And then she needed shelter now. Even if it was in the dark and shady streets of the Red Lights in Mumbai.
I saw her each day then. Knocking at every window pane that halted by the red lights of the traffic signal in search of a possible customer. It was one of these searches when she had knocked into my window and asked if I knew of anyone interested in a body on sale for a few hours. And yes, no bargaining. Her language shocked me a little more than her appearance. But then something about her speech appealed, inspite of the crudeness in it. Probably the fact that she wasn’t realizing how low she had fallen.I asked her in one of our many chance 15 second meetings that why wasn’t she departing to Mahalaxmi, the hub of her trade. Her answer- Surat A1 hota, five star hota… to jaati…Itna compatison ka jamaana…Kaun Marne ko jayega?
I knew she wouldn’t give up. She was selling away her bare few belongings to live up to the next day. Find one good customer. She was sure she would. She had after all, ventured into the world’s most ancient profession, where class, creed, even sex didn’t really matter. All you had to do was wear off any shame you restored. And she had done that long back.
Last week I happened to meet her again. She came running to me while I was crossing the street. With sweets. I thought she had finally got a new place to work. Well she almost did. Her first customer had paid her really well. And she had six new deals done for day two. Very enterprising I figured out.
I looked at her once again. Happy Honney. Ugly Honney. Shameless Honney. Weird Honney…and definitely now Independent Honney.
And for once, Honney the aspiring prostitute isn’t aspiring anymore.
Mockery of human values or a Successful venture begun...I wonder in quiet!

UNSPOKEN

I saw a God this morning
Seated in a beggar’s needy bowl
With few worn pennies for company.
And I asked him- Did you pay your carrier his price?
God didn’t answer my question.
As the day progressed,
And the sun was about to set;
Its last rays lit the beggar’s bowl
And my eyes met some new pennies that accompanied that God
And then I knew- Who was the carrier?
Strange answer…But then Gods are like that.

TRICKY TONGUE

Girls say- She is a bitch

It means- I am insecure

Boys say- Huh…that gal’s just got a hot bod

It means- She’ll make me pay a bill, I cannot afford.

Girls say- You don’t care

It means- Show me some concern

Boys say- I do care.

It means- Bas kar yaar

Girls say- My shoes are old

It means- Its time you buy me one

Boys say- Today’s not the day honey

It means- Cash for your stilettos- Sorry I got none.

Girls say- Rings are beautiful

It means- When will we get engaged?

Boys say- Ya, lets see if I can get you one

It means- Get a reality check darling…you sound a little too dazed!

A battle of Mars and Venus

Or the different hues of pink and blue

But then gals will be gals and guys will be guys

Tell me if its just not true.

THE MORNING OF FOREVER

His truth has a bit of my lies,

My smile has a bit of his cry.

Yes he cried to me one night,

When the sky was dark, lights out of sight.

That night I was acquainted to his fears,

And what I call, His hidden secret tears.

What I now recall is an unsaid night long story,

That lit all our mornings with a bit of me in him,

And… a bit of him in me.

THE STORY BEGINS

It was just like any other day. The venue was crowded as usual. The mood was youthful, the atmosphere alive with all the hustle bustle, loud laughter and mindless confusion too. The day did seem tiring in most ways. In between so much however there was a slight dullness in the air.But then the mood was just about to change…
She crossed the lane and entered the venue with her ever graceful walk. She wasn’t particularly the best face on earth, but she carried a charm the opposite sex would fall for. Her appeal guaranteed a second look. And more than anything else, she had a heart of gold. She was called Love.
His moods were different though. He carried an infectious smile. Bright outfits, harmlessly flirtatious humor, rib tickling jokes…he was the true blue carrier of happiness. They called him Joy.
Both were advancing towards each other unknowingly. Though they could perceive it. Love looked around and smiled. Joy halted for a second to pray and thank the gods for the lovely life he was bestowed with.
His prayers played a tune Cupid couldn’t ignore. He saw the perfect time, the perfect stage. He came running with his famous bow and arrow towards the two and arched the most tickling arrow intoxicated with love, lust, hope and trust towards the point where he could hit both in one go.
As Love and Joy walked to that exact place where the arrow would meet its aim, suddenly a little naughty bee stung Cupid. Ouch!!! Cupid whined. He lost control and the arrow very narrowly missed the two. Cupid regained his lost senses once again, agitated but looked back to see what his arrow had done.
Well, Love and Joy had met finally. The arrow caused a sudden thirst and Love asked for a glass of water. Which Joy offered her. But proud Love refused such a small offering from an unknown stranger and walked away. Seeing this Joy felt insulted and swore revenge. Although in a sarcastic way. He too was in a way charmed by Love's magic.
Poor Cupid sighed and walked away disgusted by the unfortunate happening, sad that his arrow couldn’t meet the desired aim.
However he didn’t know one little secret. That the right time for Love and Joy hadnt really arrived. They would meet again very soon to come together in perfect harmony. But today was not the time because both had a lot to see and places to go.
College had just started.(to be continued next week)

SOMETHING MORE

Someday endeavors will become Actions
Dreams will merge into Realities
Hope will realize into Achievements
Finite will become Forever.
And still I shall explore for Something More
What is this Something More?
Probably a search that never started
A destination I still haven’t planned to reach
A state I still don’t know exists
But I shall still look for this something more
Knowing well that it’s not yet in my timeline
But then, aren’t we all travelers of time?