Drenched in the memory
Of you...
I mimic you to feel close to you.
In this drama,
in the theatre of my dreams
I act badly...
I lost you- my audience, sadly
Sitting next to this window.
The rain cries with me.
I think it was in love with you madly.
Sipping my cup of tea.
Reliving that moment,
The one when you set my soul free.
I know you hate my name.
Do I somehow bring you shame?
Apologies for my heritance,
A legacy of pretense and pain
For being less than what you've  became.

Mocking that chandelier up in the sky.
He was also hanging lonely like me—
Knowing that,
We gave each other high five!

Disgusting the concept of love and longings.
We both were losers, half trained players
Who now live in disguise.

Perched on a tree like birds do—
I was sitting near that pond.
Being the best critics for every dove couple.
In that cafe, they were sharing their feelings all along.

Looking at those fishes,
Before starting my rantings that I learnt by heart.
A fish yelled at me, hey! You idiot, What's wrong?
Surprised and confused—
I lost my expressions
I lost my fuse
Whether I felt disgust or in awe?
What was that outlaw?

Then she asked, "Are love poems meant to be hidden?
Then why are they supposed to be written?.
A sudden thought popped up in her mind.
Why do you hide your thoughts from me?
There is a fault in your design

Maybe it is just you, not them
Who lives in his own false notion.
You are a victim of your own dreams.
You're totally out of proportion.

Love is a game of divinity,
Just out of brevity.
Let me define— it is a game of giving it all.
Not to receive.
It is not a post to resign.
It is not a post to resign."

They wrote your love poems
On the walls of Taj.
A monument,  once reigned by love raj.
A reverie of my own dream.
Did you notice that natural spotlight on our dancing queen?
The grooves, the moves.
Those twisted gestures.
For a bit longer, for this dream—
Longer I snooze.

This time the picture was not vague.
My eyes seized your face.
Impressed and perplexed—
My overwhelmed emotions stirred my reflex.
Unknowingly I moved my hand towards you
Interrupting the rhythm, the flow.
Just to touch you.

Like bees attract to flowers
You mesmerized my soul—
Do we dance like lovers do?
Would it be true?—
Was it not a dream?—
Was it just me and you?

I wrote 199 poems just about you.
A discounted price tag—
People watched our movie,
With a ticket saying 1 by 2.
A motion picture of happiness tinged with rue.
Struggle, tears, excitement, and adventures new.
I wrote 199 poems just about you.

I wrote my dreams about you,
Adding mountains, valleys,
Who witness with me—my fleetings true.
All my poems just say about...
You, you, and you.

Yippee!
I wrote 199 poems just about you.

What does the longings say?

I am a memory.
A Lingering dream,
A gift from satan—
for being with a fairy.
You stay in me a bit longer than a moments few.
I am a reason for your happiness
In a shade of rue.
I live in your poems, verses and art.
Are you still writing one?.
I am ready to start.

Princess consuela banana hammock
The winner of X factor.
Beware she is a walking nuclear reactor.
Hitting that door,
"knock Knock".
She storms in, blissful havoc
With a handful of colourful rocks

You will hear her whispers,
Like a giggle of the ghost casper.
She is passionate and always in action
Unpredictable are her reactions

She sings with jasmine's sweetness
A bee's profound weakness.
She walks like ocean's waves
In front of her, intelligence of the world
Looks stupid and naive.

She mentors the universe—
With her art and verses.
A believer of Friends jingle.
After watching her these stars start to twinkle.

A pond keeper - an artisan of rocks.
Princess consuela banana hammock.

What does the trust say?

My rules are simple and threefold.
Take a deep breath, I will say the truth—
I won't be sneaky, I have nothing to hide.
There is nothing to hold.
Just ask me to go on to the mountain's peak and jump down.

Without a second thought, I'd leap.
Without scratching my crown.

You'd feel my adrenaline surge, that unyielding urge.
Even if I fail, I won't hold a grudge.

I will do it without any fear,
Without any utterance or a tear.

I have in you my tenacious faith.
I know, to us, defeat won't show his face.

With that belief in me, and belief in you,
My leap would be triumphant—
Just like the way, an ant killed an elephant—

It is not a reckless behaviour.
I know, you would be there to catch my fall, my saviour.

I was able to do it; not because of me
But because of you,
For I felt your soul's felicity — loud and clear.

Stick with your truth—
People will change eventually.
Don't ask for acceptance—
Stick to your facts firmly.

They will accept you as you.
But never by way of revolt and wrath.
Let your will stay humble and flourishing—
Stay with your ever-pulsing heart.
Stay with your experiences and desires.
For there would be some reason in you,
That God ignited that fire,
To let your wings fly higher.

Be it love, or in any other path.
Live your journey from the start.
Even if you fail to take a place in someone's heart.
Don't let the world inside of you fall apart.

Don't feel the burn.
Don't be afraid to bear those venomous flashes
Remember: Falcon always rises from its ashes.

She gives the best vibes
After all, she is queen of the beehive.
The fierce leader of the clan.
Her idealism on unity—
I am a big fan.

Imaginative and creative,
Engineers and architects learn from her narrative.
Though small it looks, the hive is home to many.
Built out of wax—
It didn’t cost them a penny.

Just some smiling flowers—
Some pollen, some grains.
A house protected by pointed stingers.
Don’t think them tiny or frail.

Buzzing and fussing—
No grudge, no fudging.
I adore bees and their hives.
Their Honeywell life—
Symbol of harmony,
Idol of strength.

Away from this world apart,
With sweetness in their heart.

Near those hills and valleys,
I saw you walking like a memory.
Yes! again I am writing a story of you
My delectable fairy.
Don't worry, it won't be scary.

Walking alone lost in your own thoughts
You didn't notice me.
Though I sat beside you,
In that boat, and on that ferry.

My troubled thoughts clamoured in a bubble.
I smiled when I saw you snuggle.
When I saw your face in a reflection, like one sees in  a mirror,
In the currents of that holy river.
Your longings consumed me like a love-fever.

Aggrieved grief I felt,
for you couldn't see the same.
Will you hold my arm again?
Let this passion burn.
Let it melt.

I heard those mountains echoing your name.
An anonymous fame.

What should I write further?
I have no thoughts in hand.
I am still angry with myself.
For my own pious thoughts I couldn't withstand.

Your heart was red and bright.
I didn't know, you stored something in it,
So black and white.
Now, hues feel my pain.
My uncontrollable disdain.

A bird was gazing at me,
Perched on a tree
And asked me, Hey! Unusual species!
Why do you sit here?
Did you lose your purpose?
Jump back up and capture the sky.
Capture your sunrise,
Race like a star—this is your sign.
Capture your sunset
Stay prepared, stay on the mark.
You'll reach that cloudy arc—
I fly with wings.
But believe me, I know the sky.
Even without your wings,
Your dreams can fly.

I may have stepped on my own rake.
I was trying to sow a seed of love in your land.
I giggle, I wonder.
By this act—so sly—
which raises a question: a why?
A why! Which seems to be an answer.
An answer for the feeling caused on that day,
when you said, "Hi."

An unconditional clause; always leading my breath to take a pause.
Without an audience and without an act,
am I a mad artist?
What are these applauses?
What is this pact?
Like a patient in an asylum, I react.
You pledged, "When you find your love, your 'ishq,' you won't leave it."
I have already found you.
When will you find me?
A relinquishment, a wish.

No words to write...
How should I express?
What feelings would suffice?
Tears and pain; now couldn't be healed.
When we suddenly found pieces of bullets and blood.
Served on a plate meant for Dal and rice.

In their ovens and woks.
They are now boiling hatred and false provoke.
The life-giving herbs are not real—
They are but camouflage of life ******* shrubs.

And what for?
for the call of Freedom which already prevailed.
Now, after this treacherous act,
Killing all innocents— now who would you hail?
You took away the city's soul —the prideful flair.
That day—when you washed off that sindoor.
And laid that coward's rattling snare—
a proclamation illegal and unfair.

Don't call yourself a human.
A human's job is to observe and care.
Don't call yourself a human
Don't you dare.

The pain,
the unravelled truth.
Avenged vermillion stayed awake
amid the peace-calling warcry.

Lost lives, lost souls.
Ashes burnt the happiness.
In coffins, they buried the dreams.
Smoke smells grave —
shelters piercing borders.
Stones pelting people,
an action naive.

We all have witnessed this immersive rain.
Do they always tell a story of disdain?
The fierceness and sadness intertwined —
an outcry of our testing time.

A soul for a soul.
The theme of warrior's vengeance.
A cyclic psychology.
A provoked retribution.

Perhaps something is above humanity.
Something is above divinity.
In brevity —
we forget the art of living.

“We stand as one.”
A phrase engraved on the holy ceiling.
But the truth is —
to us, it has no meaning.

Standing on a musing stage,
I heard a song of you—
It charmed me like a whimsical siege.
Here I stand with a guitar,
Much like that poster star.

The breeze, the aura—brightened flora.
Wands of notes.
Spells of lyrics.
Love is real, not a gimmick.
It is a wizard's trick,
From this real world to wonderland,
Hovering like a magical hero on a broomstick.

Magic is music—
Music is love—
Love is the act;
Witness nature's timid tact.
Hands swinging together,
That dance on the ring,
Swaying beats—
That groove, that heat.
Rhythmic percussion of love,
Melody of magic.
It is their play, their tapestry.
They are siblings of poetry.

What does the dream say?

I come to you to fulfill you.
How would you fulfill me?
That's the question.
What to do?

Think of me as your companion,
Pushing you out of the pavilion —
The rebellion —
Who keeps your nights awake.
Who shakes you and makes you race —

It could be a stage.
It could be a phase.
It could be an emotion that longs with your age.
I reside in you — your soul's purpose,
A dreamer's quest,
A worthy challenger to test.
Till you achieve it, take no rest.

Own each and every fight.
May you achieve all new heights.

What does the tree say?

I am whistling and rustling,
Harried by the wind’s hustling.
Even without moving I know this world’s folklore.
I am a weapon, I am a page.
I am the binder of this soil.
I am the protector of this stage.
Still humble, I am a home to many.
I served my duty by being a shade to a divine sage.

You still don’t understand my worth—
What to do?
Then there would be no earth.
I feel sorry for you.
Your creations, your stories,
Your verses, your dreams.
I will tell your glory still.
If you let me live…
If you let me live, that would be another story.

What you perceive — I perceive it too.
What you receive — I receive it too.
What you feel — I feel it too.
What you hear — I hear that too.
I have everything. But I don't have you.

Does it feel like we are a thousand miles away?
It's been days since I last saw you.
I do know what you have been through.
But still, blurred visions turn my heart grey.
Am I worthy? Will you stay?

Shallowness has deepened its roots in me.
I don't know what shall I do.
In this crowded world — without you.
There is nothing new.

I don't even remember, How longing feels like.
I don't even remember how alone I was, that night.
You freed me up in the air like a loose kite.
You must not bother this rhyme.
Just pouring my heart—
I am already out of sight.

Relishing noises but silently.
Fighting with my own thoughts violently.
Questioning my belief about myself fervently.
Nudging and judging—
Quest of my own journey.
This hailstorm is pouring over my soul ardently.

Tired from my own test.
My brain begged for some rest.
I closed my eyes.
And found your face.
Like in the movies of the west.
The reflection written on a holy sect.
The one which feels pleasingly nice
When a wound touches ice.

Healer heals the weak.
I heard there is no medicine for my heart's tweak.
No cure, no remedy!
I have become a real life comedy.
I am now a clown of the town
with a throne-less crown.
I am just a clown of the town.

It's astonishing but also the truth—
Tear drops are like memory cards.
Every drop tells a story.
A story of an untold worry.
Longings flown out from our eyes
I guess they were in a hurry.

I have a story too — the one unpublished.
Yes! the same melancholy —
The one outspoken, out in public
In worldly whispers you will hear our name.
Every street and every corner knows our fame.
I will be your storyteller.
But I won't paint a vivid picture
'Cause I am intrinsically timid—
slyness is my feature.

The imagery, the context
Conjoined on a similar vertex.
Similar to your eyelashes — a horizon
Where sadness meets happiness,
Heart meets longings, and
Dreams meet reality.

You can't stop the burning imagination
Let your spirits explore the moves and the sensations.
Find your true soul by grooving on this sacrament
Build the bridge towards this angelic temperament.
You will find a way to reach your golden dream.

Hope these harmonic beats find you.
May this storm find stillness
Away from this mayhem
Up and above this abyss
Beyond the limit and all the bias.
May the peace find you.

I won even by losing the battle.
Wrestling with my own spirit.
Still I wish it to be.
That in some other world —
In some other multiverse —
I will say, I finally find you.

Even if this world breaks me in a million pieces,
I will stand as one for you.
Any impending doom near us—
Let it be—
I will stand strong for you.
I will be the one for you—

In my dreams,
In my memories,
In my life,
I still witness this splendid scene.
I see a face, indescribable and undefined.
Your face — the mirror image of the moon's reverie.
The curation of world's beauty —
A scenic design;
The one I prayed for, each and every time!
You are a proclaimed soul —
Famed for kindness among all heavenly shrines.

The one who has now become the strength of my spirit,
Strength of my life—

In every poet's poetry,
They define you with a sense of ambiguity,
Losing their senses, their serendipity.
You are that question — unsolved;
The mystery,
Undeciphered by our literature or history.

Even though you are not the one for me,
I will be the one for you —
Who will always stand by your side,
Till the end of infinity,
Till the end of time.

Let us stand a little and see.
Let's do it the way you want it to be,
like you embrace this serenity —

the peaceful fragrances of the flowers,
fumes of sand dunes,
the tunes of love and integrity.
They stand in a singular landscape.

How can I forget?
How can I escape?
I don't do tricks,
I didn't start to play.
It's just what the world wants to relay.

In your silent songs, you say it's over.
It still feels like the beginning.

If your heart turned back, even once,
I will surrender my soul to you —
in a way similar to
dusk and dawn yielding to light.
They form our days,
they form our nights.

Let us take together one more chance.
Let's live the best of our lives.

I know these lines feel a bit gibberish —
your love makes me feverish.
No senses, no logic —
now, I can't stop my feelings.

Scribbling down some unraveled lines,
in hope of that moment,
the moment when I will call you mine.

Traveling in this haunting noon.
Drenched in my own sweat.
I still step forward—
Just to see your face, a glimpse of you.
The distance between us.
Will come closer by each breath.

In my every travel, towards or a drift away for home.
I wait on you.
My chase, my fleeting race
My lifelong craze—
Whether up or down a phase
I long for you.
Now, my soul is for you
Every beat of my heart is for you.

Songs in the cab
Ads featured on my tab .
My every headline is you.

In the waiting hall of this airport
I watched readers, some whistling music listeners.
I heard some gossips — the untold whispers.
Still in every face I see you, I imagine you

For me, the girl listening to music on her pod is you
The guy reading the Alchemist is you.
The ******* the phone is you,
Picture ******* the water bottle is you,
The ******* my heart is you.

I bought a book called Dreamland.
To stay away for a bit from this notion—
From your wonderland.
I gulped a lemon tea like a potion.
But I couldn't stay away,
For in every word I read,
Is a word about you,
The ******* my heart is you.
The ******* my heart is you.

I know I shouldn't do this rhyme
Howsoever, I won't stop my pen this time.
Do you know a girl who knows about both
Fun and duty?

She is the one who mentors beauty.
The one who gives creation - A new aviation.
The one who finds her strength in Innovation.
Is she the one with fierce red hair?
Yes! the one with an antique flair.
The one who is blunt in words but cares with action-
A new definition to the word attraction.

Just a FYI

The day she will read these lines
This world will record my pity, my fate.
A flimsy reaction of which—
IMDb's rating would be above eight.
I know if I dare these lines-
An Angelic face
And a soul divine

The girl I am talking about
Will blast me with a landmine

Still I will do—

Because I witnessed the best.
Oh! I rhymed it long.
My trembled fingers now should rest

The word is in the air
This world now adores
The fierce woman with red hair.

Wavy heatwaves—
Hot yet dry wind touches your face
Chirping birds sitting in their cloudy nest.
Giggles and laughter of the kids.

Under the Beaming Sunglade—
Playing a game, clothes full of dirt
And shouting — peaking loud.
If you imagine this picture
Sitting in your office shade
That's the vision of summer vacation
A memory that never tends to fade.

Wearing chappals bigger than your feet
You felt gigantic,
Like you did a herculean deed.

A time when Imagination was a toy,
We all played with.
Rocketing a pencil with mom's hair band.
Fixed between our tiny fingers.

Having 2 Rupees in our pocket
Oh! That's a fair tip.

And our dad's tummy used to act like an airstrip
Where, us—the idiotic tiny tots— land their paper planes
We cracked jokes with him
Yes! I remember they all were very lame.

How strange it is!!
Today's introverts and extroverts
Back then we were all the same.
Shy, quiet, naughty
And with a little bit of might.

Working under this comforting conditioned air.
Disregarded—
Tell me—
Does it seem fair,
Why I still feel like that summer vacations were cool?
Tiny hands together in that breezy air.

It feels like it's raining.
Since it is now a ritual
That I cried for you.
Perhaps ! you did it for someone else.

I find watershed in my eyes.
Similar to - these leaves of erika,
The way they embrace the rain dew.

Mist on the window's glass.
A symbol of Ardas
That we prayed together.
Blooming petals for this proclaimed beauty—

A flower born in our garden
Futility turned fertile.
A Land— barren
Found its greenish sign.

To gain a smile.
There is always pain—
Unuttered and forbidden—

The pain which has become a perennial suffering.
This seasonal rain can't wash away my thoughts
I wear them in my cufflinks

Imagery imagined from cloudy sun
I see a face vaguely but
Pious and pure like the smell of this brewing tea.

I can write this poem—all day long
About my pain and this engulfing rain.

But I will save it for upcoming season.
I am storing some tears for upcoming rain.

Tuning the forks.
Taping up the notes.
Strumming the rhythm,
Playing the tune of an unknown melody—
All night long,
A simple song.

Raising the pitch in harmony— a humming voice.
Using chords to stay away from my own mental noise.
Ravishing words, heart-wrenching lyrics,
Soothing rhyme.
Not just about the worldly vine, but it is something divine.

A looping symphony that
Binds strangers’ hearts,
Maybe by verses in the middle or the prelude—the start.

It unifies both the weary and the strong,
Something like patriotism—
Everyone feels the same for a song.

Love, quotes, and fables,
Passing through all ears.
Language, art, or magic—
Call it what you will.

Whenever I play my six strings,
I sway, lost in time,
I sway, forever.
passing  through all ears.
Language, art or magic you call it what so ever.
Whenever I play my six strings-
I sway, lost in time
I sway, forever.

If you are afraid to fall for me.
for the reasons and logic
Tragic, it would be.
Because science never explained it more than a hormone release-
But it's beyond that reality.

If you are afraid to fall for me.
Cause there could be disagreement and fights
Didn't they become lovely memories.
After a moonlight dinner—A lover reverie.

PS. Holding hands is forever

If you are afraid to fall for me.
You should have stopped me falling for you.
Why did you show your love to me?
Is that thing utmost practical?


Give me some reliance, I too have a part to play.
We fall together—
Promise, but we won't fall down.
I want to give you my love crown.
Don't be afraid, in this sea of affection.
It is better to swim—
But it is better to drown.


You say love is sham, a scheme.
Maybe! You are true— you are right.
For I bet myself on the table and lost.
Nevertheless, I lost rightfully -
In the love that I have and for the love you have for me

With regards and this poor heart-
I sign off this verse.
Just want you to know
Lover boy still trusts you as his universe.

Some roads are not chosen by us;
they are chosen by fate.
And the one leading to you
is destined for both — my heart and my fate.
After all, you, me, and my fate
are all one.

If you would allow me
I want to make this a reality.
Even though it is beyond practicality.

Perhaps, not new but some symbol of togetherness,
If it could be done in earnest.

To write our names in oneness over that fading sand-
On the beach, we once took our stand.
After all, you, me and our fate— are all one

Every night
It feels like a day
Cause I cannot sleep—
I dream of you with my open eyes.

Every night
That book on my bedside
Reads your name, reads your fame to me.
A timeless story
A classic of all time.

Every night
Earphones that connect my phone to my heart.
Play songs which celebrate you.

Every night
Empty roads in front of my house await you.

Every night
My sleep lingers to come,
Until it’s sure it will dream of you.

Every night...

When I am with you, even hell feels like heaven,
For I have seen God walking beside you.

But how long can fragrances last?
When the scent of you emits all around.
A 'Sampangi' sensation that outlasts.

When the moon touches your cheeks with moonlight,
It whispers about you.
It groovingly descends the light,
Echoing you thrice, like in the love fable - 'White Night.'

Then, like always, it happens in a way
That even poems can't define it by any means.
Anyway—

My face talks more than my tongue.
The pumping muscle has started throbbing outside my lungs.
I am now away from sanity—
Now, delved into the world of chattiest utterance.

One side of me says it's a lovely gesture.
Another says it's not.
Which one to believe ?
My mind is diminishing and it's beginning to rot.
About that gesture of silence.
Don't **** me with stillness
If you still, do want to **** me
you must **** by violence.
Hurricane inside me
About this notion-
Now, I ponder
They are getting strong.
Lasting little longer,
Like an ocean wave, They are getting stronger
I am unable to hold it any longer.
I am a peasant fighting a war.
Aggrieved victim who couldn't score.

It feels like I loop same verse on a repeat-
Is it graceful?
Why do I feel this heat.
It's like an unknown revolt
Why am I resistant?
Just to write about you.
This pen-
I just can't hold.

Whenever I try to craft something new.
My Imagery becomes dull.
And I remember words a few.

And whenever I try to write you.
There, 'you will see
A poet is born -proclaimed'.
A poet of hope
A poet of rue.
Oh! There again!
My mind is askew
Lost its *****.

Walking down a lonely street,
I saw a light-like human—
Felt like a treasured dream,
A shape like a heart.

Chasing me down the lane,
I turned around and asked, shiveringly,
"Who are you?"
Then that creature began to whistle a tune—
In an unusual rhythm,
An unusual rhyme.

He sang—
"I am divine, refined, and the beauty of this time.
You rhyme me with agony and aghast.
You say I’m a reverie, like magic,
A poet’s favorite word from which they start.
I am in flora, I am in fauna.
The Lord’s favorite servant.
I served angels and demons—
Even dinosaurs, to some extent."

Mesmerized by his answer,
I inquired, "But… what is your name?"
He said,
"I am Love.
And now, you are my contender.*
Let’s play this cupid game

You are my reverie,
The unwithered voice of your heart
That calls me—your blooming love.
I am a longed spirit with apologies
For a reticent start.

You are the only one in the billion.
Don’t feel alone—
You are a north star,
A devotion of the affectionate moon.
I hope that I did tell you my words a little soon.

Even if this world perceives me as a clown,
Still, in your love, I am ready to drown.

Standing still with your shadow by my side,
I promise to keep my word.
Even if, by this world’s unruly stride,
I may come back and forth,
Like the tides returning to the seashore—
A conventional but uncontrollable sight.

I won’t fade away.
I, too, don’t want to be a memory.
I yearn to be with you
Till the seizure of my lifeline,
And till the end of time.


Till the seizure of my lifeline
And till the end of time

"Darkness of night had borne new life upon its *****."
A rise anew—
Sitting on a waiting bench.
In front of that gateway, I found the providence of you.

Imagining your image, I still do.
Even if it makes a monkey out of me.
I tried a lowkey job of forgetting you,
Still, I remember you—
I still do.

How to embrace my grievances—
I have no idea about—
Writing good words about you, I still do.

You said books, moon, freedom, and stars
Would bring you back those happy hours.
Yes! They will. They are!
But I still remember you.
I am endlessly drawn-out,
Yet I still remember you.
Looking at my healed scar,
I still remember... you.

I meet beings with twirled tails.
One with fox-like eyes,
Another wiggling his child-like tail.

Without a language—
They conversed with me heart to heart.
I met beings who were really smart.
Strangely, I understand everything,
While they only used the word 'bark'.

Happy and spiritual,
They are closer to God
Without performing any pompous rituals.

They hide themselves under the canopy of a greenish light.
They look different but don't judge—
Not measuring and fixing each other's right.

Unlike humans—the man of science,
Who spend years to create languages,
Still can't express their love or their pain.
How do they do it?
Gasping your temperament,
They read between the lines!

These four-legged, chirping beings,
Waggling their googly eyes.
Wearing an identity collar—
A free breed, indeed.
Joyous always,
Non-believers of caste and creed.

They live life carefree—with or without shelter.
I know it now,
Why people name their dog—Dr. Watson or Walter.

Raindrops in black and white.
A release of radiant bliss,
Captured through silent lenses
Stooped on a stand,
Far in hide.

Watching this scene on my digital screen,
And writing about this notion- unknown.
Sitting still, holding a bedside.
Scratching my head, I peeked out of the window.
The captured visuals felt too real - my comfort outgrown.
Then, I saw you.
Or did I Imagine?

A scene in a cinematograph.
An image of you appeared as a holograph.

Up among the dark clouds
I heard your name thrice.

Scent of the wet soil-
They blew my mind.
Beneath my feet
I felt it warm- A subtle heat
Then, all of a sudden
Strong winds twirled taking their lead
Awakening me, opening my eyes

I smiled, for I know about that notion unknown-
I re-manifested you sitting by my side.

A tale, not very astonishing.
It happens with every forced wanderer.
Just a story — amorphous and absorbing.

To make my living a decent one.
To build a career better —
Yes! The recent one.

I moved from city of hearts to the city known for its royalty,
The city which treated an insolent me like a nawab —
A Loyalty.
From metros — crowded with stories bold and unruly,
I came to the city having boulders depicting nature's beauty.

A blend of love and fury.

A guy who came from administrative forts,
Shocked but humbled by palaces and temples
Infusing in my veins a spiritual-divine force.

This is what happened when a guy from Delhi met Hyderabad.

From stomping streets, busy enough, still meet and greet strangers,
To streets where Bougainvilleas on the roadside make you fall in love with yourself —
Loneliness is now a fallen ranger.

I took my cravings, the longings of chole bhature,
Found one-sided love in Biryani of Paradise.

My heart got smeared
After hearing the mix from Punjabi to Hyderabadi.
My Hindi has now found its real love —
As we called "a real Ishq."

Love is in the air,
Telugu and Urdu whispering poetry
Embracing nature's soul.
Teaching love its new meaning and life — its role.

Believe me,
I have seen two cities fall in love,
Different in every aspect.
One is about passion and aggression,
Another subtle and pure,
Full of warmth and compassion.

Their love made me feel my own self-worth.
From now on, I am a Hyderabadi from heart
And a Delhiite by birth.

I saw angel-like places on this very earth.

I longed within lines of poetry,
Like leaves and twigs long—
For the weather to be.
Singing songs of their beloved tree,
I found a festival, where kids were dancing on the roadside.
Syncing steps with the typical rhythm,
On a mundane day—bullseye.
I won't rhyme it longer.
For now, words aren't able to bear my feelings,
The ones which are growing stronger.
Captivating my mind a bit longer—
Music, dance, and throwing those colours up so high.
Giving happy hues back to the sky.
This affection taught me—
How poetry makes words—
Which never die.

If Shorter messages have deeper meanings
Then silence would be the ocean of reasoning
And ignorance would be a bliss.
I found me in you and you in me.
Avoidance - avoided.
Blessings are becoming mischief.

After a long working sphere,
I went on a walk with my colleague—
Just to breathe some atmosphere.

After walking a few stones—climbing a hill-like road,
We came across a fair, full of stalls:
Stalls selling books of fiction,
Memories-loaded diaries,
And something cute and funny—
Rumoured to be an addiction.

Oh! There was also a stall of sweet gummies,
Clothes and accessories for the ones
Who are necessary—

At one gleaming stall,
Which displayed unnatural jewels
And some items with timeless halt,
I found bangles—an unusual purchase—
For I am a bachelor, after all.

It was like an abrupt, mysterious case.
I don't know why I did that chase.

We looked foolishly over a shop selling light-up bunnies.
Restless, aimless—
We searched and explored every stall.
We went back to have more gummies.

Trying to find something—
Which could be our overpriced treasure,
So we could be appeased by others
In our next breaktime chit-chat.
We took every measure.

Our efforts went in vain
And without any gain.
With a gift without a receiver,
We went to our work—dull and plain.
Yet bangles still clinked in my brain.

I have a news to share —
I know it's not about us.
But it is the one for which we both still prayed.
Languages different —
But similar meaning it depicts.

It happened — unexpected,
Just like a musing gimmick.
I saw a portrait of you holding a first-cry —
You held it softly,
In a way — gracious and mature.
I am at cloud nine — I won't lie.

Togetherness — are both craving for it?
Are we both on the same page?

I will long for you —
No matter the age.

Like me, would you also like to free your heart —
Not keep it in a cage —
Or will you still hold that rage?

I'm still trying to gauge feelings of you,
Unable to determine the stage —
Is there any change of your heart?
It's breaking me, tearing me apart.

Alone, here I stand —
Waiting for your answer.
Waiting for the day we meet.

I found someone to open my joint  account.
Yes! The one in the world famous bank.
To deposit my love and my dreams
To share and withdraw them till eternity
No matter the rank.

I submitted all proofs with my applications
Reviewed and duly signed by co-applicant.
Asked the world to be our grantor.

Promising we will bond together-
With all my interest invested in this life
The one destined to be eminent.

We scrambled back the application of seventy pages.
Now, we will stay together for ages
We signed to build our assets with love
In any weather.

Upgraded to my love joint account-
I found love: profound.

I had a single-sided love account
In a world - famous bank.
where I deposited my loneliness and dreams-

Upgrade! upgrade! Upgrade! to joint account
Depositing love, just one, with someone profound.

The notification messages,  even on call and emails
They used to scream invoking my hope.

One day, just by the fluke, I made an enquiry
Diarizing the requirement in my worn old diary

After watching that long list -
Handed to me by a shrewd representative
My heart shouted, "What's this initative?
,a phony scheme!".

Except for questioning my love and identity

They want proofs of everything I own in brevity.
The culture
The compatible age.
Proofs of income and assets - immaterial
The also asked whether I am on same page
About my plan at the time of retirement age.

List has 70 pages front and back scrambled upon me.
My mind bounced like a ball - up and down.
I abruptly closed my enquiry.
And screamed, "I am ok with my loneliness, What the heck!".
And said "On this downgrade -upgrade, I will circle you back."

After walking down a long lane
I sat on a bench with an umbrella in one hand.
Sitting still,
I don't remember, why my thoughts were numb.
With a straight face, gazing towards that wet grass.
Through my wet  translucent glasses

It was a tired pouring day.
An unusual day - with no reason for a smile to stay.

The winds blew rough-
And froze my hand.
They were hitting my face like a rubber band.

My focus was lost and gone-
All logic and reasoning were worn and torn.

Folklores of the insects felt quieter than silence.
Things that were troubling me
I can't reimagine that violence.

I missed to hear that-
Birds were chirping my song of unfound love.
I just kept rubbing my hands under the glove.

But why still, what was the doubt?
They left me alone so what?
I always walked like that-
The lone one in the crowd.

Maybe this could be the only reason
For what just had happened
I was just a victim of a disease called overthinking
I don't know why I stayed on that bench.
Without blinking.

Tears had flowed over my cheeks, I don't remember
Or they got mixed with the rain drops
I don't remember.
What I remember, it was something about
That I lost someone or I was on a verge to lose someone - who was out and about

I can only remember that I woke up by
A strange talking goose muddling riddles like a muse

What I have expressed
are the words spiralling on this paper
Depicting thoughts of my heart.
I plead guilty for the pain which I caused
While you stayed off-guard.

What I have whispered.
Are rhymes of my clean intentions
A statement that I have respect for you.
Perhaps you perceive me wrong
for the place I belong-
You judge me as a fanatic norm.

Yet to claim otherwise
I proved myself enough-
If you still don't feel that I am a good guy.
And if you feel that I didn't stand true to your high five.

I feel sorry for myself
I shoot an unaimed shot- a futile try.
And yes, it's true.
I longed for your soul.
I have no materialistic goal.

I wrote a few hymns
Maybe a heavenly crime.
Whatever you say
Whatsoever you convey.
I will just say, "it's okay, it's fine."

What is Chaos?

Having a baffling thought
Which leads mind to rot.
An argument with self
To get your best book out of the shelf.

A searing term-
Impatience, indecision, anxiousness are in their  prime.
Even in the situation-sublime
Oh! I feel that pain.
That chemical change in my brain

To come out of this dark den-
You need a strong willed wrench.
To forge nerves for strength.
Strength to endure.
Strength to fight.
Strength to reignite your light.

Is this madness?
If you like the shelf where she once stood.

Is this madness?
If you still adore the tea —
the herbal one you never had.

Is this madness?
If you are tempted to brag
about the qualities that were never yours.

Is this madness?
If you feel a sense of safety
in the mask you never wore.

Is this madness?
When you admire everything of her
but nothing of you.

Is this madness?
That you always dream of her —
whether she yearns for you?
An answer, still unknown.