Misplaced

Bonded labours of the world break free!

Bonded by ties and suits
And glass-panelled offices.

Bonded by misplaced virtues
And empanelled hoaxes.

Bonded by the urge to take home more cash
Erring again and again to make that dash.

Getting to the top, pushing others aside
What a place to choose for suicide.

Singularly lonely and cold
Look around and not a soul in your fold.

Yet the urge to bond is strong
No strength however in keeping it at a furlong.

Born to die yet cribbing to stay
Saying aye when it deserves a nay.

Bonded labours of the world break free!
Bonded labours of the world break free!

Serenity

The picture of the Nigeen Lake, Srinagar was taken while sipping tea in a houseboat. I was told there was once a time when the entire lake had about half dozen tourists. There was a time when it was impossible to cross the bridge over the Jhelum to go from one part of the city to the other. There was a time when people used to return to their homes before dusk - as if they were in prison.

But today things have vastly changed. As the day gives way to the night, the number of lights that go on in the houseboats indicate the growing number of visitors. That bridge is now chocablock with cars. And Srinagar's night life is back to normal. I had a fantastic traditional 'Wazwaan' meal at dinner time and not at dusk before heading back to my hotel.

Time for full bloom! (Pic above - at Mughal Prince Dara Shikho's Pari Mahal)

Life is a bed of Tulips

Dekha ek khwab...

A pilgrimage

People go to temples and mosques and churches and gurudwaras. People go to glaciers and to the mountains. All for a pilgrimage. I went to Srinagar last week and crossed the longest shrine in India - the 2.5 km Jawahar Tunnel. The tunnel cuts through the peaks of the Pir Panjal range - 3,000 ft of mountain stands above over a narrow, dark tunnel that is the lifeline of Kashmir. This picture was taken immediately after crossing the shrine. The only common thing with this shrine and the others is that no photography of the shrine is allowed.

Oh sleep!

I came back and saw you were gone.
I lost you to the world of dreams and bliss.
Of sleep - that gentle thing that slid into your soul.
You resisted it, I hope, but I know that you couldn't.
None can win, when sleep takes over.
Daylight is far, your world is farther.
Only you are near.
I will wait for you to awaken and rise.
Till then, sweet dreams my love. Good Night!

Being singular...

The coloniser has consumed you and I am shattered
Oh how I had thought that your absence would be celebrated
I would drink to it and make merry
Live life on my own terms

But alas! It was not to be
This poor heart is a fool, the mind a bigger one
It can see, but it doesn't act
It can feel, but it doesn't react
It waits...

It breathes in bits and pieces
It eats but doesn't taste
It stays but doesn't live

Oh how I had thought I would revel in being alone
Of being singular once again
Of being that entity that I so loved

But alas! It's all gone
Singular has ceased to exist.