When I stood
When the time had stopped
I looked at you
But you turned your eyes away.
Day by day everything changes
Stories are what already has passed,
Nothing hurts anymore
Only time can come in our way.
You say that you love me
Nothing will come between us,
You got the best of me
But you had to throw it away.
Like what the setting sun reminds,
Turn one more page, there’s something new.
*************
Without a reason I strolled down that pathway one day,
She came from the front to collide with me
Whether love reflected in her eyes or not, I know not, but she stooped with shame.
As I looked at her face I found,
Everything might have changed, but the feeling never did
The way she wears her hair has changed, but the essence of shade they carry will not.
In loneliness I discussed with the moon about her,
The moon didn’t change, neither did her presence in our conversation.
Just a few crossroads were filled with the remembrance of her,
The burial that she had in my chest, someone today cleaned the dust from them and revived her back.
We met after decades,
Holding her hands we sat together,
Wanted to say some, wanted to hear some more, and to know everything I wanted!
Some sweet words, some not so sweet nights,
Some musical moments and promises that never were to break,
The monsoon’s pit pat, the spring’s grandeur,
Whatever I had wanted happened today, for I got to meet her one more time.
The flowery beauty of hers changed,
But the petals couldn’t forget their glitters!
The sparkle of her face had changed,
No longer the moon, it was the radiant sun that glowed!
In the little togetherness I felt I have lived my entire life of an eternity!
A lot of words I said, but never did I this one thought vent,
I knew we would again meet one day,
Every day with that hope, I had walked that path aimless.
*************
The original of this piece was written by a talented friend of mine in Hindi. I give that below.
इक दिन यूँ ही उसी राह से गुज़र रहा था,
वो सामने से आकर टकरा गई
ना जाने प्यार था या नहीं निगाहों में पर शर्म से वो झुक ज़रूर गई।
मैंने देखा उस चेहरे को और ये पाया,
बदल गया हो सब कुछ पर वो अहसास नहीं बदला,
बदल गयी ज़ुल्फ़ों की फ़िज़ा पर उसकी ज़ुल्फ़ों की छाँव का वो पैग़ाम नहीं बदला।
अक्सर तन्हाई में चाँद के संग उसकी बातें करता था,
ना चाँद बदला ना बातें बदली।
बस कुछ चौराहों की जगह मन के खयालातों ने भर दी,
दफ़न थी सीने में कही यादें, उन क़ब्रों की आज मिट्टी किसी ने साफ़ कर दी।
मिली थी वो इक अरसे बाद,
पकड़ उसका हाथ मैंने उसे अपने पास बिठा लिया,
कहना था कुछ, सुनना था बहुत कुछ और जानना था सब कुछ!
कुछ मीठी बातें, कुछ कड़वी रातें,
वो सुरीली यादें, जो कभी टूटे नहीं वो वादें!
वो सावन की झमझम, वो बसंत की बहार।
चाहा था जो वो आज हो ही गया, मिला माई उससे फिर एक बार।
बदल गई थी हुस्न कि डालियाँ,
पर खिलखिलाना नहीं भूली थी कलियाँ!
बदल गया था नूर सूरत की,
चाँद नहीं, थी वो आफ़ताब!
उन साथ के कुछ पलों में मैंने अपना पूरा जीवन जैसे उसके साथ जी लिया!
ना जाने क्या-क्या बतलाया मैंने पर ये कभी ना कहा,
यक़ीन था तू फिर मिलेगी एक दिन, तुझे पता नहीं मैं उसी उम्मीद को दिल में लिए हर रोज़ इसी राह से गुज़रा!
After we returned, we were all alone.
We lost all touch, we had to just live ahead.
Our assumed identities remained
In the places where we had lived.
The brightly lit streets and a radio somewhere,
They were the only ones to know us.
The images stuck like a vision,
Our eyes bled fire, and the empty punches of frustration.
After failing to find the time that fled,
There was nothing left behind.
Except broken mirrors, dried up stains, and misery.
They were all that reminded of the smiles gone forever.
A single photo frame stood through all that happened.
I simply walked today as well.
Will there be a day when we meet again?
I know a day might come when we find
Each other at a busy corner of the street.
A day when we can smile again,
A day when I face myself fully.
However right now is not the time.
Today as well, a damp wind blows
The rain patters on the roofs and trails.
Then, just like a warning my phone rang.
Only a silence was there to respond.
The name I thought I had left behind,
Stared at me, taking me back to a forgotten life.
*************
Who you are? Who you are?
Will I find it out this time?
I look for the obvious to happen
But we walk past, we never met,
How can we be so lost here, You and I.
The endless rain or not seeing you
I do not know which one hurts more,
Which one makes me feel more lonely!
I know you stand there and look,
Why don’t you try to speak?
I wait for just one time.
If things were not so far,
If time was on our side,
We would have somewhere met, You and I.
The regrets of given away chances,
The puzzle pieces that did not fit,
It’s all meaningless, only to grief.
When you were in my place
Do you have those memories?
All breath gone,we sit apart, You and I.
Where can I find you?
In the moonlight your shadow is lost.
*************
Beyond where words reach,
There is a twist of narratives.
The look in her eyes
The sudden disbelief
When I uttered those lies
Words did not leave her mouth.
Things do not have to change,
Only the change remains unsaid.
What I want from you
I never say
And what you want from me
I haven’t realised it yet.
From the security of happiness
Into the depths of uneasiness it led.
*************
When I sit alone,
The lights dim out
Memories float by
The mist still makes me cry.
It has been so long
Your flight left
A new world called
I kept waiting.
Have you ever thought
I am still,
There, somewhere,
In the pain of separation.
Last wish to see
Baby, forever goodbye
You chose the right thing
At the cost of one last kiss.
*************
All has stopped with time
Only time moves along
With a mute storm.
Burried in the sands
Forgotten banks of our crawling river
Shall not come
In the lap of my heart.
Prayers shall be etched
In my heart for you
Only to memories you turn.
My hands trace back what is lost
In the flow of your long hair
The North Star is my only escape
I look into your eyes.
The playing wind will be the only one
To walk in the dreams that were, with me.
Light the lamp to find a way back,
Remember me when I was so close.
*************
