THE UNSEASONAL RAIN

The summer was in its pick and so were the temperature and the heat,

The sun was spewing fire and drying up everything on the earth.

It was difficult to venture out in the day time, a bit solace in the night,

Hence all and sundry waits impatiently for the dusk to step in early.

My life too was passing through a long stretch of dry and sour time,

The flavor of love and pleasure were wiped away from my memory,

And dare not to appear even in dreams, as they dissolved in the history of far past,

Paving and leaving room only for thirst, sting, squirm, sigh and cry.

Meanwhile a powerful and merciful cloud appeared one morning,

With attractive and lucrative gift of cold wind, hailstone and a lot of rain in it.

The sun preferred to stay secured in its night hideout, behind the horizon,

Surrendering to the whim of the cloud, it admitted that it was not his day.

I awoke one morning and saw the strange face of you on my door,

With a flamboyant smile, bountiful youth and dreamful eyes you appeared.

Your sweet temptation, whispering and adoring words jolted my heart,

I sunk in your alluring dream, engrossed and replete the ecstasy of your love.

The rain was unseasonal, rootless hence a drifter and a momentary boon,

It fainted until the evening, succumbed and vanished in the sky gradually. 

However, Pradipta should not undermine or ignore its significance, contribution and effect,

Towards granting relief from hot and humid summer for the day and the following few. 

Though you too are cordial, adorable and delightful but I know you are ephemeral,

And will vanish from the sky of my life abruptly but certainly at the daybreak like that rain.

I will once again be among the same old wound, suffering, pain and strain,

So I want before I become loveless once more, whilst you are with me let my life, my days end. 

IGNORE NEGATIVE CRITICISM

Ignore him who is critical of you, just for the sake of criticism,
Having a malicious, crooked intention of showing you low,
And you know that there is nothing true in his expression, notion. 

If you want to confront him with your explanations and arguments,
And wish him at the table for a fair discussion in a cordial meet,
In order to clear his judgment of you and change his statement,
I am sorry to say, you can not change it, as it is deliberately crafted,
With a false propaganda plan and image tarnishing mission,
And he would cling on to his lies, heinous and hideous intentions.

You must know one thing for sure that no one wins an argument,
And none lets it won, rather it hands over a new issue each time it is done.
Better keep silence with a wise smile hang on your lips,
That would kill him from inside and dry up his devilish soul. 
People bear so short memory that the fake-bad-odor,
About you would faint and vanish from the air in almost no time.

Moreover many of them do not carry a great heart in their rib cage,
To appreciate and glorify something good and great about you.
They would certainly be desiring, expecting and searching 
A pocket under your sleeves, a dirt in heaven, a Satan in a Godly person,
Then why to be sad, worried and bothered about them and their gesture? 

WRONG FOOTED

You hanker many false and superficial things,
Syrupy words of appreciations and fictitious smiles.
You sway away by fabricated-cupboard-love,
Of shrewd word-artists and dirty women-pursuers.
Do you like people who carefully ornament their tongue,
But never bother to decorate their spirit?
Who shelter under sugary and appeasing words?
They who have some expectations from you or want to use you.
Will you like to be a puppet to such malicious so-called friends?
Not a person as my Pooja's stature should be unwise about it.

A person shouting "I love you" hundred times daily,
Not necessarily adores you, because it can also be done silently.
A food that tastes well does not suit health well,
On the other hand, that which suits health, not essentially tastes well.

You are simple, ingenue and broad-minded about all and sundry,
And I fear you see them all with the same glass that you wear.
The world around you are not as beautiful as you are,
They will not hesitate to hurt you, when you clog their selfish intentions.
Beware of them, they are like a pot of poison,
A tasty and attractive layer of nectar on the surface.

Falsehood delivers hypocrisy and circumvention,
And would land you in discomfort and tension.
It is the job of your true friend Pradipta to show you the mirror,
In which the truth reflects and the falsehood vanishes.
 Lastly I should say, she can be awaken who is in deep sleep,
But not her who is not sleeping  but does not wish to open her eyes.
Either you open your eyes and see the truth yourself,
Or stay in the alluring companion, the preference is yours.
   

HARSH BUT TRUE

Pooja saw thorns in my frank and courteous words,
But failed to spot the beautiful rose of an honest intention behind them.
My words caused you discomfort, stung your soul,
While they were intended to keep your eyes focused on your goal.
In love the choice of words really does not matter,
What matter most are principles, intentions and approaches.
Not necessarily love bears sweet words,
Essentially it rides truthful and honest steps.
Appreciations may not come from a loving tongue,
Generosity proclaims the sweetness of a loving heart.
Pradipta adores you, your eminence but does not think it just to hide,
Behind fabricated lip-deep sweet-speeches to have an access into your heart.
I can not present sugarcoated poison in friendship and love,
Rather I would gift bitter-tasting amity-health-friendly pills.
The world in which we live today, love means to get something,
But in my dictionary love means giving away everything.
I came to the earth with a naked and blank soul,
I will live like that frank and blank throughout my life.
I am not among them who do not hesitate to move around with a nude body,
But stay busy covering their inner self, intentions and motives.
I lived  truthful and will die with it one day,
I am straightforward and this is my unchangeable way.
I would never prefer a hypocritical and meandering way,
No matter whether you hold my hand or throw it away.
Call it arrogance of a macho-male; be with me or be not,
The choice is yours, the ball is in your court.

ANGER

You became angry and went away,
Nothing absurd or unnatural in it,
I am not irritated or worried about it,
After all we are all human beings,
How can we rule ourselves out
Of this strong feelings of grievance and concern ? 

I know I can't hurt Pooja deliberately or knowingly,
But maybe I am erroneous somewhere,
Or maybe something is lacking in my love.
You might be expecting your best man in me,
And maybe you visualized some shortcomings in Pradipta.
You might have felt compelled by the internal force,
Of your heart and obsession to move on a particular direction,
And your conscience and wisdom might have revolted against it !
Maybe my straightforward words pinched your heart to bleed ?
Whatsoever is the cause, I know you can not be wrong.

We scold our children because we expect the best out of them,
Does that mean we do not love them ?
Or does that mean they should flee from their home ?
Can you flee from me any day ? I can't.

I know my heart is your home and it will welcome you,
Whenever you will wish to come in.
Our love for each other is a self imposed life-imprisonment,
In the castles of our hearts, 
That we have gladly embraced with mutual consent.
I trusted you and your tremendous love for me,
Hence I know you will be with me sooner or latter.

I know the day the cloud of misconception of my words,
Or misunderstanding in your mind would be absquatulated,
The day you realize the depth of my love for you,
Yours for me, you will be back in my lap,
With more love, better perception about friendship,
To go further and grow further, together, forever. 

THE FIGHT

    You regard it a fight but I think it to be my responsibility,
    To provide the proper feedback, show you the staircase,
Upon which you should proceed each day slowly but definitely,
        Towards your goal, a glorious future, the one that,
               You most deserve and I most desired.

                  When Pooja knocks a wrong door,
               Misguided by enticements and simpers,
                  Of false, fake and egoistic friends,
Pradipta serves the truth to warn her against their siren calls.
      "Do not go with the words, neither their nor mine,
      Watch out the deeds, mine ones and theirs too."

You are here to serve your interest, ensure your future,
  Fight your own battle out single handedly, gallantly,
  I am here only to show you the things you overlook,
Or fail to notice the truth and hidden agenda behind them,
   Because I am, you know, your selfless well-wisher,
And I wish nothing more than your smile, your success.

       A difference in outlooks, opinions and thoughts,
Should never be regarded as a gap between the hearts,
              And if you still consider it as a fight,
        Then Oh! ruler of my heart, the teen queen,
     I will continue to fight and would never give up,
  For I can afford to lose you, but can't afford your loss,
          As I know, if you win it will be my victory,
               And if you lose I will be the loser.

A GIFT

I adore you beyond the limitation of craziness,
But my possessions for you is far ahead of your imagination,
Devoid of a return of anything sumptuous, sensuous or emotional.

Your passionate aficionado just desires you to discern,
That he falls for you  intently and fanatically.
He needs no attention or importance to his feelings,
Does not want you to spare your precious life or leisure for him.
You can have a deaf ear and a blind eye for him,
Even then he will have no complaints, distress or discomfort.

Being crazy Pradipta has just one demand from you,
Your presence and essence in his life,
 Is so momentous and stupendous that,
He can not afford to miss you in the place, on the day,
He bid good bye to the earth, hence he wants,
Your gracious, affable and august presence there.

Oh! No Pooja, you need not visit the place of my funeral,
I know you will not be able to over power,
The fluid streaming down from your eyes,
And the vicious world would begin to draw conclusions.
Moreover they might question your integrity, tarnish your image,
I fear numerous rumors would be winged.

Given the fact that I love you so much,
How can my soul breathe that air dissolved with bad odor of you?
How can I bear the burnt of you being harassed, humiliated,
And assaulted by filthy thoughts and dirty remarks?

Hey, I crafted a novel way to get rid of these bad dreams,
At the same time fulfill my lone desire !

You gift me a piece of sandalwood the day you meet me,
I will save it in my locker for that day utterly carefully,
And will pass on instructions to the expectant visitors,
To put that on the fire that would  burn my lifeless corpse !!

Be assured my soul would be alive outside,
To taste in satisfaction the fragrance of your touch,
In that most precious gift of yours, the sandalwood.

Pardon me for desiring something in worship,
That I had earlier promised you to be selfless,
Without expectation, pure and pious.
   

PEN NAME

                             I bestowed you a pen name and you accepted it gladly,
                               Without questioning the necessity or justification of it.
                             I know the query crept in to your mind and perplexed you,
                             As that was for the first time you faced such a strange offer,
                                  I too had never given a precious gift as this to anyone,
                              And assured you that I will never grace this kind of anything,
                                     To anyone else in rest of my existence of earth.

                               The day we met and came close due to a common interest,
                                  We shared our griefs, concerns, hurdles and philosophies,
                          I heard a voice of my inner being, that you should be the chosen one,
                                    With whom I can be extremely open, honest, intimate,
                              And trust you  fully in sharing and caring my emotions and truths.

                                     I, you should know, have no intentions to seduce you,
                                Or wished you to fall for me, give over yourself for my pleasure.
                                    They do seduction who desires, reckons on many things,
                                            Material and or sensuous from an opposite sex,
                                             And I had no hole-and-corner scheme for that,
                                             On the other hand I wholeheartedly loved you,
                              Your eminent-personality, sweet-innocence and unawed-candor.

                                             Being mortal, one day you will leave this world,
                                               After playing your part in the drama of life,
                                                   After writing and reciting all your poems, 
                                 For which you are here with all your qualities and capabilities. 

                                             On your death bed, before taking rest forever,
                                         All your organs outer and inner will slowly shut down,
                                      One after another, but the brain will be the last one to stop.

                                       On the screen of of your brain would roll all the memories,
                                        The people you came across, interacted, hated or loved,
                                             Events, facts of happy moments, grieving things,
                                   All the wins and defeats of your life as far as it could recall.

                                        When the face of your crazy but cool lover Pradipta, 
                                      Who loved you so very much altruistically and candidly,
                               Never anticipated or demanded anything except your merriment,
                                        Would be flashed for a blink second on the screen,
                                         I know a smile would sparkle on the edges of your lips,
                                                   And tear drops would gush out of your eyes,
                                  Remembering how only he called you pooja and you liked that,
                                      How he worshiped you, your coquettes throughout his life.

                                   This is a unique, special and you may call a strange concept,
                               The secrecy and mystery of your pen name  pooja, the worship,
                               Given to you by your matchless love-boy and aficionado Pradipta. 

Words are better than roses

                                            The vital difference between,
                                   Human beings and the other creatures,

                       Is the language, the words that convey our emotions.
                        
                            Our choice depends upon our own prudence, nature,
                   And proclaims our knowledge, intelligence, wisdom and personality,
                   As they can be sweeter than honey, brighter than the glitter of diamond,
                            Depending upon the way we handle and maneuver them.

                     Everybody is congenitally hungry of the sweetness of words,
           Our pet, a mendicant, a stranger we meet for the first time expects it from us,
                          Even a baby who does not understand a language,
                    Accepts the soft words combined with a smile in gratification.

                                  When your neighbor approaches your door,
                         With some complaints, looks serious and  furious about it,
                              Give him a sweet smile and some welcome words,
                   Offer him a chair, a glass of water, praise him of his smart look,
                                 Ask about his family, kids and his concerns,
                                 That would be suffice to marginalize his rage,
                                       Lower his voice and sooth his soul,
                             A discussion would replace a probable hot squabble.

                    "Buddham saranam gachchami, Sangham  saranam gachhami",
                "Take asylum with the Buddha, come and take shelter in the association,"
              Were so enchanting and soft but powerful words, the history is its evidence,
                           The powerful, cruel, bloodthirsty, imperialist Ashoka,
                          Surrendered to the glory and charm of those few words,
                           All his ambitions, proud, power, cruelty and king-hood,
                                      Vanished in minutes and he came forward,
                                To propagate the Buddhism in the neighborhood.

                         A great heart, a humble personality spontaneously casts,
                           Flowery of kind words even for them who cause harm,
                             "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do."
                  Of Jesus even when the soldiers divided His cloths among them,
            Are simple yet so precious and generous that always echos in Pradipta's mind,
                      Even diamonds are mere metals if compared to these words.

                                 Being  a good listener to your fellow human being,
                                   Instead of gifting someone a bouquet of roses,
                       When you honestly present some humble words with a smile,
                       That would heal a heart, sooth a soul and strengthen a friendship,
                                  For the former shows the richness of your purse,
                   Whereas the latter depicts the abundance of your heart and personality. 

रशभरी

                             नहीं नहीं उनको हमारे फिक्र ही नहीं,
                  वे आए, हमको रोते हुए देखे और चुपचाप निकल गए।
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                       वक्त तो है बहुत उनके पास मगर मेरे लिए नहीं,
                       अपने आंसुओं में वे और इजाफा नहीं चाहते।
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                          बार बार पूछते हें आप कि  हम कहाँ है,
                     अपने दिल के अंदर झांक कर देखो हम वहां है।
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                 ऐसा भी न हो  की वे बेखबर है मेरे हाल-ए-दिल से,
                                        बस अपने रुख से पर्दा हटाने से डरते हें,
                डरते हें ज़माने में बेपर्दा होनेसे वे बेबस,
                           कहीं ये  उनकी  नजरों से हमारा चेहरा न देख ले।
                देख लेने दो ज़माने को  हमारा चेहरा,
                                                 नहीं देखता है तो तुम दिखा दो ,
                 न डर कर कहीं इश्क होता,
                                       और न बुज़दिल कभी मुहब्बत  करते।
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                    चाँद कहूं आप को तो, आप का नाराज होना लाजमी  है
                     क्यों कि  चाँद में दाग है और आप जन्नत की हुर है।
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                उनके भेजे हुए फूलों की रंग भी फीका है उनके  चेहरे की तरह,
         कोशिस यह है कि एक हल्की  सी मुस्कान बिखेर सकूँ मैं किसी  तरह।
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इन्द्रधनुष

                                           झिझककर मुहब्बत  नसीब  नहीं होती  ,
                                               जी कर जन्नत नसीब  नहीं होती ।
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                                     तुमने भी तो देखी  होगी इश्क़, वफ़ा और इंतजार ,
                                   नहीं देखी  हो तो अब देखो तुम्हारे दीवाने का प्यार।
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                              तस्वीर  से दिल मानता नहीं तशरीफ़   ले आईये सरकार,
                               दीवाने को और न तरसाइए कर दीजिये इश्क का इजहार।
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                                   जहाँ से भी मिले खुसीओं को समेट लो अपने आंचल  में,
                                         न जाने कब ग़मों का पहाड़ टूट पड़े जीवन में ।
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                                  सारी दुनिआ से दूर गया, आप के पास आने के  खातिर,
                                    आप खुदा है मेरे, मुझे इससे ज्यादा और क्या चाहिए।
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                                 कई टुकड़े नहीं है मेरे दिल के, कि बाँटते फिरुं  बाजार में,
                               एक ही ठुकराया हुआ था , मुफ्त में आप के नाम कर दिया ।
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                               हर एक रंग के फूल से आबाद रहे ये गुलिस्ताँ  हमारा,

                  हिन्दू ,मुस्लिम, शिख,ईसाई सब के आशियाँ है ये हिन्दोस्ताँ हमारा।
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                                 प्यासी है धरती, हे बदरा जरा खुल के बरस ,
                    मायूस इस नन्ही जान को है सिर्फ तेरी मेहरबानिओं की आश। 
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पूजा

                                        हमें ग़मज़दा देख कर वे मुस्कुराने लगे,
                              मगर उनके मुस्कुराते ही हमारे गम हवा हो गए ।
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                             एक वादा जो किया था  आप ने हमें याद करने का ,

                            हमारे जीतेजी का था या हमारे गुजर जाने के बाद का।
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                           वह पल जिस पल भर के लिए हम उन्हें याद आते हें ,

                             बस उतनी ही देर के लिए यक़ीनन हम जी जाते हें। 
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                  आपकी निगाह-ए-करम ने इस नाचीज़ को क्या चीज़ बना दिया,
            सारे जहाँ में हमें आपके करीब, आप को हमारा बेहद अज़ीज़ बना दिया।
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                      यादें जब गूंज उठती है रूह की गहराई में ग़मों की तासीर बन कर,

                      ये शायरी भी उभर आती है दिल की धड़कनों की आवाज बनकर। 
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                        कुछ यादें, कोई शख्स, थोडा गम रह जाता है रूह के जानिब ,

                        जिस्म के खाक में मिलने के बाद हवा से मिलने के वास्ते।
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                 तमन्ना यह है की तुम्हारी  होठों की रंगत  में, हम उम्र भर खो जाएँ ,

                                 तुम  मेरी हो न हो हम तुम्हारे हो जाएँ ।
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रंगोली

                               उनको किसी के  आंसुओं की क्या फिक्र
                                वे तो कागज की टुकड़े बटोरने चले हे। .xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
                                अपने ग़मों का मुझे सांझेदार बना लो,
                            खुशिओं की  सौगात आप अपने पास रखलो।
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                         मुहब्बत  कहाँ कागज के टुकड़ों से बिकती  है,
                लोग जिस्म  का सौदा करके मुहब्बत  को बदनाम करते हें।
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                    यूँ तो लगता है की आप खुदा पर रजा रखते ही नहीं,
                       वर्ना   बन्दों से आपको  शिकायत  कैसी।
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                         वक्त नहीं लगता जान को निकल जाने में,
                 सारे उछल कूद के बाबजूद एक हवा का झोंका ही तो है।
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                         शाम से ले कर सुबह, सुबह से ले कर शाम ,
                 हम दिल-ओ-जान से करते हें सुमिरन तेरे नाम ओ श्याम।
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           जिस्म को जल जाने दो जुदाई की आग में, रूह को मिलते रहने दो,
             मुहब्बत  का ये  है ये अनोखा  बंधन दुनिया  को कुछ भी कहने दो।
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               आप के होठों की  मुस्कान हमारे लिए ख़ुशी  का पैगाम होगा,
               बून्द भर आंसू जो छलके आप के आँखों से हमें बहुत रुला देगा।

सतरंगी

          झूठों के बाजार में हम चंद सच बेचने निकले  थे ,
            मेरा सच पड़ा रहगया, लोग मुझे झूठा बना गए।   
                                         तुझे चाँद कहूँ या परी कहूँ, तू है तो मेरी पूजा,
                                        सारी ज़माने में तुझसे अनमोल है न कोई दूजा।
           अपने आँगन  से ग़मों को दूर फेंक कर तो देखो,
           अपने आंचल को खुसीओं के लिए खाली रख कर तो देखो।
                                    गम में न इतना दम है की आपके  पास भटक पायेगी,
                               खुसीओं से सराबोर हो कर आपकी  जिंदगी सवर जाएगी।
            मोहताज  नहीं है इश्क मेरी, तेरी निगाहे करम की,
            मैं  तेरी  मुतअल्लिक़  हूँ,तू मुझे मतानन  ले या न ले।
                           बहुत गयी थोड़ा बाकि, फिर कैसी  झगड़ा ? क्या झमेला है ?
                          चलो मुस्कुराके जी लें ये जिंदगी चार दिन का ही तो मेला है।
तेरी दी हुई ख़ुशी और गम को हम एक ही प्याले में पी  जाते हें,
      गम हजम कर ख़ुशी हम  आपके  पाले  मे छोड़  जाते  हैं। 
                      हम गलत हो सकते हें, मगर आप के लिए गैर तो कतई  नहीं,
                     हाँ, आप का शौक पालते हें मगर दिलों का सौदागर तो कतई  नहीं।