'How beautiful were those moments when i used to run around with my sibling, through trees...running after butterflies....trying to catch them...ahhh'...visions run across my mind like a wild fire...which no matter how much you try , just doesnt stop...'i used to scold her for her little mistakes..she used to scold me for being not a nice student in a 'student teacher game'...' memories , sometime they are more of a blessing than a curse...' me and my young sister...growing up in a small town....we moving to a metropolitan and me constantly bugging her on our way that ...'oh you know, we will be so great there...we will just get whatever we want'... we both grew up like ordinary kids.The only extra-ordinary thing were the circumstances surrounding us. Slowly everything was finding different ways. We got into different schools , different colleges... and yes different professions. The fabric of life is just brilliant. It expands in all directions yet doesnt break. Then those moments struck me which i enjoyed with my folks...such times just dont leave your head.Their annoyance at my absurdly stubborn attitude. Their love for my strong will power. Their pride on me being 'atleast' honest to them always.Us sitting in the sunshine and having long discussions about family , politics , sports - talk about anything but how it will not be around when anyone of us wont be. Me constantly reminding my mom , ' The day you dont scold me , i dont feel as if day has even started'. Thoughts after thoughts , like a train which passes you by no matter how much you try to ignore it. But which also makes you feel its presence. My constant pampering by my grand parents , uncles , aunts. When you are young , life looks so easy. World looks so simple. Everything looks honestly innocent. Till you realize later that it was the innocence in your existence more than anything else.
I kept falling , but with each passing moment i will remember one event or the other.
Remember my friends... for all the good and bad reason. How some will desert , some will uphold the flag of friendship. Vividly , i will know about the moments which took me to the depths of pessimism , distrust and painful acceptance of human selfishness. My consistent questionining , shall i follow the road ? But every time i will get hurt - i will realize one thing only. I shall be honest to myself atleast. And this one judgment will never let me change my course.' You can break me down , You can kill me - You cant fight my will'. This is what i will teach myself everyday. Lesson which life taught me.
As i was falling down , i will look at stars in the sky. Such majestic divinity existed around me and i never realized. Azure was illuminated unusally tonite. I would find them so well organized that i even managed to smile. But the fight between innerworld and outerworld is always a trivial one. With thougths going to how i found my closest people to be my greatest enemy as well. You save them from the moments , when even god mite not. But then they hit back at you the way , even devil mite not. You keep fighting and fighting for them beieving they will someday realize you. How often i have come to the understanding that its one thing people realizing they are making a mistake , its totally another for them to accept that they did make one.
I hit the road finally. My head banged first and then my back will kiss the ground , followed by my broken legs. Car , which had struck, managed to evade me and hit a pole on the road side. I could see people rushing towards me but for the first time i felt i had known what death is. I smiled at the them. Frenzy are humans , in a crowd even. They surrounded me talking about how to help me. I only managed a smile. In the last moments everything seems to slow down. You feel life as if it has come to a halt , but thats only true for you only. You want to believe that you lived a good enough life. As people were gathering to collect me , I made a last move when i heard someone saying ,
'poor guy must be going home to enjoy the start of a happy new year....'
and i replied,
'poor guy is going home...but to enjoy the start of a happy new life...'
I closed my eyes , never to know what happened next. who burried me where , with whom. On my grave , they placed a stone which had nothing written on it , probably there was no need either.
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
[A]part
As he laid his friend to rest , priests started praying. People started pouring dust on the grave. Slowly people leave , one by one. Talking , whispering – and wondering. As they all left, he will take steps slowly, hoping the journey beyond the gates of graveyard just never starts.
Looking at the faces of those around him he will think many things. Too many questions will illuminate his mind – with no answers insight. Why they conspired to end this poor soul’s life? Why they never tried to know what that little smile wanted? Why they couldn’t let go their own egos? Is it too much to ask from any human to put a smile anyone else? He kept walking with these thoughts in his head till he came across an old man. With curls in his hair , a stick in his hand , the white bearded poor man will just keep walking ignoring the crowd.
‘He mite have an answer’ – he wondered. Walking up to him , he will try to shrug off the idea of letting someone else enter his mind. But, loneliness in a crowd and the pain which it delivers , had the final say.
‘Sir!’, he asked , ‘ can you answer me some questions?’
‘Son , I don’t have any answers. I am finding ones for myself. What can an ignorant person like me enlighten you about?’
‘Tell me, what is love?’ – asked the young man.
‘ Son!’ , replied the old fellow , ‘ Love is when you know , that you don’t know anything. Love is when you wish for , what you will not wish for otherwise. Love is when you go extra mile without tiring at all. Love is when you take a deep dive into yourself while others around you only want to stop you. Love is when you give – and just give.’
Sighed the young man.
‘Tell me sir , I am hungry for love. My soul needs to be nurtured. My heart needs to be fixed. My brain needs to be repaired. Love has deluded me sir. Where shall I find it? Decades have passed now. It has become a holy grail now.’
The old man retorted.
‘ You look for love where? What do you think love is? You think love should heal you? – do you even know what love is?. Let me tell you son. We live in a world of madness. We live because we are asked to live , because we are not given a choice. Now you don’t find love out there , you find it in you. Once you find it in you , you look for a human to cross match. Humans come in all shapes and sizes. Its not an easy journey my friend. It will not be a smooth sailing. But when you find someone whom you think is worth your love. Dump all your love in their hearts. They will take it , but slowly. Love demands patience. Love demands perseverance. Love demands sacrifice. Love demands selflessness. This is what love is. This is what you should yearn for’.
‘You know who is there in that grave?” – pointed the young man to the grave.‘I dumped my love there. In this cemetery of hopes, I have dug another grave. Another grave, that will remind me that I need love. And these people you watched walking slowly , they are the ones who conspired against it.’
Old man holds his hand and takes him to the grave. Takes shovel and starts digging the grave.
‘Why are you doing this? Let it stay inside’ – he yelled.
Without paying attention to the young man , he kept digging. Till he came across a body , which seemed familiar to him.
‘This is your twin brother?’ – asked the old man astonishingly.
‘No’ , replied the young man , ‘ This is my other half. A half, which wanted to live a secluded life. I buried him , because this is what was right for him.’
‘Do you see this grave?’ – the old man showed him the grave right along side young man’s grave.
‘ this is my other half. We all live like this’ , wondered the old man, ‘ Killing our selves. Rejecting ourselves ideas which can lead us to different plateaus. We all suffer at the hands of our fears. Letting them be our guides. We suffer and suffer till we just become cynical of life , love and relationships. I have suffered the same way but I must tell you. Keep your other half alive. You just never know when you get what you keep looking for throughout your life. You just never know in what shape or form you get it. Stick to what you believe in son , take this better half out and keep it with you. Predators only are predators because they are persistent and they are patient. Be one , before you become a prey.’
While the old man sits beside his gave , the young man takes his buried half out and starts walking away.
Old man looks back and says ,
‘Remember my stranger, never quit on any idea. No matter how difficult or impossible it is. Be like a stream of water, which when flows knows no boundaries. Which when is blocked , finds other routes. This is what love is. Finding and making your own way. Good luck & Good bye.’
Looking at the faces of those around him he will think many things. Too many questions will illuminate his mind – with no answers insight. Why they conspired to end this poor soul’s life? Why they never tried to know what that little smile wanted? Why they couldn’t let go their own egos? Is it too much to ask from any human to put a smile anyone else? He kept walking with these thoughts in his head till he came across an old man. With curls in his hair , a stick in his hand , the white bearded poor man will just keep walking ignoring the crowd.
‘He mite have an answer’ – he wondered. Walking up to him , he will try to shrug off the idea of letting someone else enter his mind. But, loneliness in a crowd and the pain which it delivers , had the final say.
‘Sir!’, he asked , ‘ can you answer me some questions?’
‘Son , I don’t have any answers. I am finding ones for myself. What can an ignorant person like me enlighten you about?’
‘Tell me, what is love?’ – asked the young man.
‘ Son!’ , replied the old fellow , ‘ Love is when you know , that you don’t know anything. Love is when you wish for , what you will not wish for otherwise. Love is when you go extra mile without tiring at all. Love is when you take a deep dive into yourself while others around you only want to stop you. Love is when you give – and just give.’
Sighed the young man.
‘Tell me sir , I am hungry for love. My soul needs to be nurtured. My heart needs to be fixed. My brain needs to be repaired. Love has deluded me sir. Where shall I find it? Decades have passed now. It has become a holy grail now.’
The old man retorted.
‘ You look for love where? What do you think love is? You think love should heal you? – do you even know what love is?. Let me tell you son. We live in a world of madness. We live because we are asked to live , because we are not given a choice. Now you don’t find love out there , you find it in you. Once you find it in you , you look for a human to cross match. Humans come in all shapes and sizes. Its not an easy journey my friend. It will not be a smooth sailing. But when you find someone whom you think is worth your love. Dump all your love in their hearts. They will take it , but slowly. Love demands patience. Love demands perseverance. Love demands sacrifice. Love demands selflessness. This is what love is. This is what you should yearn for’.
‘You know who is there in that grave?” – pointed the young man to the grave.‘I dumped my love there. In this cemetery of hopes, I have dug another grave. Another grave, that will remind me that I need love. And these people you watched walking slowly , they are the ones who conspired against it.’
Old man holds his hand and takes him to the grave. Takes shovel and starts digging the grave.
‘Why are you doing this? Let it stay inside’ – he yelled.
Without paying attention to the young man , he kept digging. Till he came across a body , which seemed familiar to him.
‘This is your twin brother?’ – asked the old man astonishingly.
‘No’ , replied the young man , ‘ This is my other half. A half, which wanted to live a secluded life. I buried him , because this is what was right for him.’
‘Do you see this grave?’ – the old man showed him the grave right along side young man’s grave.
‘ this is my other half. We all live like this’ , wondered the old man, ‘ Killing our selves. Rejecting ourselves ideas which can lead us to different plateaus. We all suffer at the hands of our fears. Letting them be our guides. We suffer and suffer till we just become cynical of life , love and relationships. I have suffered the same way but I must tell you. Keep your other half alive. You just never know when you get what you keep looking for throughout your life. You just never know in what shape or form you get it. Stick to what you believe in son , take this better half out and keep it with you. Predators only are predators because they are persistent and they are patient. Be one , before you become a prey.’
While the old man sits beside his gave , the young man takes his buried half out and starts walking away.
Old man looks back and says ,
‘Remember my stranger, never quit on any idea. No matter how difficult or impossible it is. Be like a stream of water, which when flows knows no boundaries. Which when is blocked , finds other routes. This is what love is. Finding and making your own way. Good luck & Good bye.’
Musalman Kay Naam
na raha tujh main jazba-e-serfaroshi
na raha tujh main sharar-e-chungezi
na raha tujh main adal-e-nabwi
na raha tujh main zor-e-hayderi
na raha tujh main iraada-e-umar
na raha tujh main sabar-e-abubakar
nahi hay mayray humdum , nahi hay ab
wohi jis pe ho chuki ab yay ummat
na ummat-e-muhammadi, na ummat-e-ibrahimi
na rahi ab justuju-e-ilm-o-adab
na rahi ab talash-e-huk-o-mazhab
na rahi ab umeed-e-junoon-e-sach
na rahi ab himmat-e-takrar-e-zehan
na rahi ab uraan-e-khayal-ta-falak
nai hay mayray humdum , nahi hay ab
wohi jis pe ho chuki hay ab yay ummat
na ummat-e-muhammadi , na ummat-e-ibrahimi
na raha tujh main sharar-e-chungezi
na raha tujh main adal-e-nabwi
na raha tujh main zor-e-hayderi
na raha tujh main iraada-e-umar
na raha tujh main sabar-e-abubakar
nahi hay mayray humdum , nahi hay ab
wohi jis pe ho chuki ab yay ummat
na ummat-e-muhammadi, na ummat-e-ibrahimi
na rahi ab justuju-e-ilm-o-adab
na rahi ab talash-e-huk-o-mazhab
na rahi ab umeed-e-junoon-e-sach
na rahi ab himmat-e-takrar-e-zehan
na rahi ab uraan-e-khayal-ta-falak
nai hay mayray humdum , nahi hay ab
wohi jis pe ho chuki hay ab yay ummat
na ummat-e-muhammadi , na ummat-e-ibrahimi
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Trust Me - Trust Yourself
No more signs of tragedy
no more lines of treachery
through these meadows
this stream of love flows
chirping birds, singing doves
fighting our own cruel fears
we avoid chasing spears
dont let time open wounds
of by gone terrible moments
now you are here...
stay with me ,
walk in the sunshine,
talk in the moon light,
and when you feel insecure
ask me ,to remove the obscure
and when tear falls down
ask me ,to secure it in my palm
listen to me , my heart felt smiles
peak to me , my one last mile
trust me , trust yourself
no more lines of treachery
through these meadows
this stream of love flows
chirping birds, singing doves
fighting our own cruel fears
we avoid chasing spears
dont let time open wounds
of by gone terrible moments
now you are here...
stay with me ,
walk in the sunshine,
talk in the moon light,
and when you feel insecure
ask me ,to remove the obscure
and when tear falls down
ask me ,to secure it in my palm
listen to me , my heart felt smiles
peak to me , my one last mile
trust me , trust yourself
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Sawal-o-La'Jawab
zehreelee nagan
nachay mayray angan
tootay ga bundhan
phir say yay mun!
zindagee-e-baynaam
ko na do ilzaam
nai hay kisi ko dawaam
zalim ho ya ilzam
zulmat kada hay mayra
manzar-e-jashn-e-natamaam
tayri umeedon ka payaam
hay mayri tanhai ka mukaam
guzree mudaton ka sawal
na mayra tarz-e-bay'kamal
na tayra tarz-e-ba'kamal
raha main bun kay khud ik sawal
nachay mayray angan
tootay ga bundhan
phir say yay mun!
zindagee-e-baynaam
ko na do ilzaam
nai hay kisi ko dawaam
zalim ho ya ilzam
zulmat kada hay mayra
manzar-e-jashn-e-natamaam
tayri umeedon ka payaam
hay mayri tanhai ka mukaam
guzree mudaton ka sawal
na mayra tarz-e-bay'kamal
na tayra tarz-e-ba'kamal
raha main bun kay khud ik sawal
Mixed Platter & Food For Thought
not in a million year
i have seen such moments
of unheard serene melodies
singing beyond heartless soul
as the doors open slowly
to mystified realities, i wonder
who is letting it go easily?
who is allowing it so freely?
who is conspiring so calmly?
but finally thoughts are evoked
taking shapes of burried feelings
forming the lost forever words
bringing me all the answers
nothing is happening , verily!
i am offering you this on a platter
for no greater reason ,
for no greater wisdom,
for no greater truth,
but for this..
.i want to serve you,
in you , i find me!
this is my mixed platter
and all the food for thought!
take this , take me.
i have seen such moments
of unheard serene melodies
singing beyond heartless soul
as the doors open slowly
to mystified realities, i wonder
who is letting it go easily?
who is allowing it so freely?
who is conspiring so calmly?
but finally thoughts are evoked
taking shapes of burried feelings
forming the lost forever words
bringing me all the answers
nothing is happening , verily!
i am offering you this on a platter
for no greater reason ,
for no greater wisdom,
for no greater truth,
but for this..
.i want to serve you,
in you , i find me!
this is my mixed platter
and all the food for thought!
take this , take me.
Monday, November 19, 2007
Heroes & Our Desperate Wait.
So i see and look back at the recent chain of events. Like, Political stand offs, Imran Khan episode etc. As i said , somethings just dont change in the history of this nation. One such thing i have come across is our quest to look for a 'savior'. This theme has been recurring ever so after since independence that i am getting a fair idea of how it is only a destructive force.
As much as i am disappointed at some people of this nation , on theirlow-price-selling during Imran episode , let me be more clear and blunt. Our anticipation of him being a savior only depicts how psychologically helpless we as a nation are. When i use the word , psychologically , i want to emphasize its a mental state where we are in. We have not reached here in few weeks, its something we have been in for some years now. So much so is the situation of our static attitude that we are looking for ways to vent. Otherday people were angry at man handling of Imran Khan's sisters by police. Lets be honest to ourselves. How many women are man-handled by the very institution already? Female lawyers? human rights activists? women who are not given proper and fair justice for the crimes committed against them. I must tell my Non-Pakistani friends here , its not a new phenomenon in the world and Pakistan is no exception to this. When you evaluate current situation , you must understand the whole history involved and donot fall prey to tits-bits of information.Coming back to my point , our quest of hero has so much left us bewildered that whenever we think of a 'potential hero' and some disaster strikes him/her, our reaction is only based on emotions. I see the same happening again.Our hopes come to life with an individual , die with the very individual. Take Musharraf , Chief Jutstice and now Imran Khan. For Nth time i am convinced that we are a nation looking and hoping for some miracle. A nation which has not found any thing beyond its desperate association with its 'love' for an unknown 'hero'.
Remember my friends , its the masses that move the world. Its that average man we have to help educate and think beyond certain ideas to make him an active citizen. Once we will create such awareness , the person of highest order will only rise because then the process will be setup before his arrival. Quaid-e-Azam, Gandhi were only successful in this land because there were many many people before who had done the ground work. Without them , i am convinced , they wouldve just been ordinary citizens.
I must quote Iqbal here , when he said about our wait for Imam Mehdi,
'Dont wait for Mehdi , the source of power. Go! create him'.
So shall i tell you the same my country men. Dont wait for someone to elevate your pains. Do it for yourselves , no matter how insignificant. Its the collective impact which is that really matters.
As much as i am disappointed at some people of this nation , on theirlow-price-selling during Imran episode , let me be more clear and blunt. Our anticipation of him being a savior only depicts how psychologically helpless we as a nation are. When i use the word , psychologically , i want to emphasize its a mental state where we are in. We have not reached here in few weeks, its something we have been in for some years now. So much so is the situation of our static attitude that we are looking for ways to vent. Otherday people were angry at man handling of Imran Khan's sisters by police. Lets be honest to ourselves. How many women are man-handled by the very institution already? Female lawyers? human rights activists? women who are not given proper and fair justice for the crimes committed against them. I must tell my Non-Pakistani friends here , its not a new phenomenon in the world and Pakistan is no exception to this. When you evaluate current situation , you must understand the whole history involved and donot fall prey to tits-bits of information.Coming back to my point , our quest of hero has so much left us bewildered that whenever we think of a 'potential hero' and some disaster strikes him/her, our reaction is only based on emotions. I see the same happening again.Our hopes come to life with an individual , die with the very individual. Take Musharraf , Chief Jutstice and now Imran Khan. For Nth time i am convinced that we are a nation looking and hoping for some miracle. A nation which has not found any thing beyond its desperate association with its 'love' for an unknown 'hero'.
Remember my friends , its the masses that move the world. Its that average man we have to help educate and think beyond certain ideas to make him an active citizen. Once we will create such awareness , the person of highest order will only rise because then the process will be setup before his arrival. Quaid-e-Azam, Gandhi were only successful in this land because there were many many people before who had done the ground work. Without them , i am convinced , they wouldve just been ordinary citizens.
I must quote Iqbal here , when he said about our wait for Imam Mehdi,
'Dont wait for Mehdi , the source of power. Go! create him'.
So shall i tell you the same my country men. Dont wait for someone to elevate your pains. Do it for yourselves , no matter how insignificant. Its the collective impact which is that really matters.
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