#SnippetsOnLife2 - Life and Darkness

Have you ever thought about the bright side of darkness in your life? Recently I had the opportunity to ponder upon the reality and even the myths related to Darkness.

Dark times are always the torchbearer of reality
Yes, that's true. You might ask, "What is the reality?" Well, the reality is anything that makes you realise where you stand in your life, in other's lives, in your relationships, and sometimes within you. Darkness gives you some serene moments to see things clearly. It helps you comprehend things beyond your prejudices, judgments, and premonitions. Darkness helps you see beneath the superfluousness of life. Once darkness seeps into your life you get to know the real importance of light.

Darkness makes you a better judge of fake promises and genuine feelings
I have seen and heard people making promises; small, medium, and big promises. Yes, promises come in all shapes and sizes. But only your dark days helps you to know the worth of those promises made in your hays days. People and promises come with terms and conditions with that asterisk mark that you might have missed out like the way you miss out some crucial clause while you sign your insurance papers. Moreover, you do not even realize that before darkness has already fallen upon you. Once darkness engulfs you, you get to know the vitality of genuine promises.

Darkness reflects upon the Brighter side of people you might have easily overlooked before
The darker it gets the brighter a person might emerge. Good and genuine people are always best recognized in the darkest of times. Some people believe in deeds rather than in words and that's why they remain silent and nonchalant in bright daylight and like to act in the dark phase of your life. Once darkness falls upon you, you realize words are nothing but a farce.

Dark roads are the best way to find even the faintest of light even at the farthest corner
When all roads end. When you realize there is no way back. When you are stranded between darkness and nothingness, that's the time your senses are most agile. Your senses are able to find paths that remain hidden in the broad daylight. Darkness helps you bring the best of you in the most bizarre way. Only when darkness blinds you, you are able to see properly.

#snippetsonlife1 - Life and Its Sense of Humor

Life never fails to amaze me with its quirky sense of humor. It has its own way of maneuvering things that seldom suits our wishlist. No matter how many rules we follow in life, Life never follows any of our rules. Forget about rules, it does not even consider our wish, hope, faith, belief, nothing at all. Life follows its own set of rules and plays with them as per its will. 

"Life has its own will and on top of that, it has a dry, sarcastic, sense of humor."

Sometimes, Life might bestow you with a small boat of hope when you are in the midst of nothing, which will be enough for you to find the shore of courage. however, it might also snatch way the only source of light on a dark night when even the star denies to shine and compel you to wander around that same nothingness. 

Hindi Poetry - Mujhe Naye Dharm Ki Zaroorat Nahi

मुझे नए धर्म की ज़रुरत नहीं

गलत ही सही, इंसान बजाऊं

मुझ मेरा ईश्वर मिल जायेगा

मुझे जीने का सलीखा आजाएगा

मुझे नए धर्म की ज़रुरत नहीं

जब खुद ही खुद से मिल पाऊँगी

मुझे ईश्वर तक का रास्ता मिल जायेगा

मुझे इस जीवन का अर्थ मिल जायेगा

मुझे नए धर्म की ज़रुरत नहीं

पहले मैं मौजूदा धर्मो को तोह समझलूँ

मुझे मेरी पहचान खुद ही मिल जाएगी

मेरे अस्तित्व बोध हो जायेगा

धर्म आख़िर होता क्या है?

सिर्फ ईश्वर की खोज?

उस परमशक्ति तक पोहोचने की सीढ़ी?

ईश्वर तो मन में है, उसे जग में और कहाँ पाऊँगी?

अगर धर्म ईश्वर तक का रास्ता है

ईश्वर तोह एकता में बस्ता है

तो सबसे अलग नया धर्म कहाँ पाऊँ मैं ?

इस अंतर को भेद कैसे पाऊँ मैं ?

मुझे नए धर्म की ज़रुरत नहीं

पहले "मैं" और "खुद" से उठ जाऊँ

मुझे आगे बढ़ने का अयन मिल जायेगा

मेरी आस्था का आधार मिल जायेगा

muhjhe naye dharm ki zaroorat nahi

pehle "main" aur "khud" se uth jaun

mujhe age badhne ka ayan mil jayega

meri astha ha aadhar mil jayega

mujhe naye dharm ki zaroorat nahi

galat hi sahi, pehle insaan bajaun

muhje mera ishwar mil jayega

mujhe jeene ka salikha ajayega.

mujhe naye dharm ki zaroorat nahi

Jab khud hi khud se mil paungi

mujhe ishwar tak ka rasta mil jayega

mujhe meri zindagi ka arth mil jayega.

mujhe naye dharm ki zaroorat nahi

pehle main moujooda dharmo ko toh samajh loon

mujhe meri pehchaan khud hi mil jayegi

mere asthitva ka bodh ho jayega.

akhir dharm hota kya hai?

sirf ishwar ki khoj?

us paramsakti tak pahuchne ki sidhi?

ishwar to mann mein hai, 

use jag mein aur kahan paungi?

agar dharm ishwar tak ka rasta hai

to ishwar ti ekta mein basta hai

sabse alag naya dharm kahan paun main?

is antar ko bhed kaise paun main?

mujhe naye dharm ki zaroorat nahi

pehle main khud se to upar uthoon

mujhe age badne ka ayan mil jayega

meri astha sarthak ho jayegi.

Hindi Poetry - Filhaal

सूबह आँख खुली तो देखा 

दिन की पेहली किरण बाहें खोले 

मेरे उठने का इंतेज़ार कर रही थी 

कुछ नई उम्मीदें थी 

कुछ पुरानी परछाईयाँ। 

दरिचे से बाहर झाकं तो देखा 

नीले आस्मां के तले हरा भरा 

बरगद का पेड़ रहे तक रहा था 

कुछ वक़्त की कहानियाँ थी 

कुछ धुप छाओं की ठिठोलिया। 

पर कमरे की और एक नज़र दोराई तो पाया 

चार दीवारों के सन्नाटे के दरमियाँ 

किसी की आवाज़ मुझे पुकार रही थी 

कुछ तस्वीरों में छुपी किलकारी थी 

कुछ पन्नो में दबी सिस्कियाँ। 

अब वक़्त से कोई शिक़ायत नहीं 

मझधार में एक कागज़ की नाओ की तरह 

फिलहाल मुझे डूबने का इंतज़ार है 

एक झलक सी है साहिल की, और 

कुछ बहते पानी की अंगड़ाइयाँ 

Subha ankh khuli to dekha

Din ki pehli kiran bahen khole 

Mere uthne ka intezaar kar rahi thi

Kuch nayi ummeedein thi 

Kuch purani siyahi/parchhaiya

Dariche se bahar jhaka to dekha

Nile asmaan ke tale hara bhara

Bargad ka pedh rahe tak raha tha

Kuch waqt ki kahaniya thi

Kuch dhoop chhaon ki thitholiya

Par kamre ki or ek nazar dorayi to paya

Char deewaron ke sannate ke darmiyan

Kisi ki awaaz mujhe pukar rahi thi

Kuch tasveeron mein chupi kilkari thi

Kuch panno mein dabi siskiyan

Ab waqt se koi shikayat nahi

Majdhaar ek kagaz ki nao ki tarah

Filhaal mujhe doobne ka intezaar hai

Ek jhalak si hai sahil ki, aur
Kuch behte pani ki angraiya

Hindi Poetry - Zindagi Yunhi Guzar ti Rahi

   

कभी हस कर कभी उदास 

ज़िन्दगी यूँही गुज़रती रही । 

कभी लम्हो में कभी सदियों में 

सिमट कर बेह गयी । 

कभी मुठ्ठी से कभी ज़ंजीरों से 

फ़िसलती चली गयी 

ज़िन्दगी यूँही गुज़रती रही । 

कभी याद बन कर कभी दर्द बन कर

दिल में घर कर गयी । 

कभी एहसास की तरह कभी तेज़ाब की तरह 

सुलगती रह गयी । 

कभी अपनों की तरह कभी बेगानो की तरह 

आज़माती चली गयी 

ज़िन्दगी यूँही गुज़रती रही । 

Kabhi hans kar kabhi udaas

Zindagi yun hi guzar ti rahi..

Kabhi lamhon mein kabhi sadiyon mein

Simat kar beh gayi..

Kabhi mutthi se kabhi zanjeeron se

Phisalti chali gayi.

Zindagi yun hi guzar ti rahi..

Kabhi yaad ban kar kabhi dard ban kar

Dil mein ghar kar gayi.

Kabhi ehsaas ki tarah kabhi tezaab ki tarah

Sulagti reh gayi.

Kabhi apno ki tarah kabhi begano ki tarah

Azmati chali gayi

Zindagi yun hi guzar ti rahi..

Hindi Poetry - Zindagi, Tu Nayab Hai

ज़िंदगी, तू कितनी नायब है,

हर सवाल का तेरे पास जवाब है। 

कभी तू शीतल नदी है,

कभी तू नाराज़ चट्टान है,

कभी तू अंतहीन सदी,

कभी तू पल में मुरझाती मुस्कान है। 

कभी तू रिश्तों की माला है,

कभी तू माला की  गांठ,

कभी तू रोज़  खेला,

कभी तू अजूबा आँठ। 

ज़िंदगी, तू कितनी नायब है,

समस्थ अनुभावों की क़िताब है। 

Zindagi, tu kitni nayab hai,

Har sawal ka tere paas jawab hai.

Kabhi tu sheetal nadi hai,

Kabhi tu nazar chattan hai,

Kabhi tu antaheen sadi,

Kabhi tu pal mein murjhati muskaan hai.

Kabhi tu rishton ki mala hai,

Kabhi mala ki ganth hai,

Kabhi tu roz ka khela,

Kabhi tu ajooba anth.

Zindagi, tu kitni nayab hai,

Samasth anubhavon ki kitaab hai.

Hindi Poetry- Tera Hi Naam Hai

हर पन्ने में लिखा तेरा ही नाम है 

हर ख्याल में बस तेरा ही ज़िक्र 

हर ख़ामोशी में गूंजे बस तेरा ही नाम है 

हर बेचैनी में तेरी ही फिक्र 

Har panne mein likha tera hi naam hai

Har khayal mein bas tera hi zikr

Har khamoshi mein mein gunje tera hi naam hai

Har bechaini mein teri hi fikr

THE LONGEST DAY OF MY LIFE

Five Sentence Story

Waiting area was full of people; anxiety, fright, helplessness; were some of the common expressions I could read on the faces of families who's one of the family members were fellow surgery patient to my mother.

We have been waiting for this day for the past six months, since the visits to the doctor and multiple tests have started its course; almost two decades had witnessed sleepless and painful nights for my mother.

It was supposed to be an hour and a half affair but it turned out to take a lot more time than that; my mother endured sleepless nights for almost two decades but past three hours have been the most elongated time span I have experienced.

My mother's name was announced; we were supposed to report at the entrance to the operation theatre; fidgeting along the corridor we reached.

The doctor was waiting for us with a broad grin, "surgery was successful. patient is absolutely"; finally the door opened after almost three hours later and I could see mother peacefully drooling over the stretcher.

Two Nights at Neempani

I drove all night and did not stop till I reached Neempani. I know the name is strange but the place was too familiar to me. First time I came here was with Sonal. The night was surreal. It was our first date and I drove 55 kms from Betul, just to give us a chance to know each other without any interference. Call it bizarre or just unusual; the date was arranged by our parents. Not completely though. They decided the date and time and I was supposed to take her some place nearby but eventually we ended here at Neempani.

I had heard that she liked long drives. So we took the highway towards Bhopal with her permission of course. The ice between us broke after we crossed Sonaghati. We talked without any agenda. A moonlit night, endless roads and large and ancient trees arching the roads and a beautiful companion to share your thoughts; the night was truly surreal. As we reached Neempani I realised we were too far from home. I suggested we should go back. It was her idea to dine at Neempani. She said she had heard of this place and food here was good. I must say she was right. 

We got married within 5 months from that night. we shifted to Bhopal to commence our nuptial journey. Everything was so perfect: too good to be true. With the passing time, the equation of our relationship changed, so did we. Our initial compromise to make each other happy gradually turned into complains and dissatisfaction. As the charm of our marriage withered out, none of us could restrain the urge to pour our bitterness out. There no particular reason we fought; rather it was simple differences that aggravated. One strange day we decided to be civil to each other and came to the conclusion that it would be better if we part our ways mutually. Yesterday we got divorced. 

Tonight as I waited for my order to be served I wondered the enigmatic nature of life. Two nights and the meaning and connotation of my life changed. Both the nights are so different yet so similar. Both the nights changed the course of my life. That night witnessed the budding bonding between us and tonight avouches the end of the bitter and spiteful marriage we were in for past 7 years. 

I recommenced my journey. While driving through Ghati I could not clear out the thoughts of my married life. As the meandering roads lead me towards the end of this story I thought about the key chapters that twisted this tale forever.

Ek Nazm Likhna Chahti Hoon

Ek nazm likhna chaahti hoon

Par alfaz kam padh jate hai,

Khayalon ke is jangal mein 

Sab jazbaat goom se ho jate hai.

Waqt Ki hateli itni tang kyun hai?

Koi pal theherte nahi kyun hai?

Kisi chalachitr ke jaise

Lamho ko guzarta dekh rahi hoon main,

Na Jane kab lamha guzar gaya woh

Abhi muththi mein jakad rakha tha joh.

Ab na jane kab woh shaam hogi

Jab hoton par muskaan aur ankhein nam hongi,

Jazbaat ki lehre hoton ke kinare payegi

Kab woh log milenge jinke hone se

Kisi aur chiz ki zarorat na padhegi...

TO TURN ON THE LIGHTS

“Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.” ― Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

This is my most favorite quote from The Harry Potter Series said by none other than Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore (obviously written by J.K.Rowling).

Though the Harry Potter series is considered as a child fiction, I think that it should be kept under the 'all-time classic' section in any bookstore.

Every page, every character, every word in this book is worth contemplating.

Coming back to the above-mentioned quote- it helped me find my direction when I lost my compass on the voyage called Life. There was a time (not in the distant past) when I lost the appetite to live. It's not that I wanted to end my life but I lost the zeal to live. Every hope was buried under the ashes of despair and dark.

That's when someone reminded me of my own favorite quote (yes she knew it was my favorite). It took a long time for me to react. It was as if I was transported to another world (a magical world) where I could solve any puzzle that disturbed me. When I came back of that trance, I was not that same sulking, discouraged and pathetic soul. I was different. I truly could see light, though at the farthest possible end of the tunnel. I understood that it was the darkest part of the night but I realized that the dawn must be near.

Since then I never forget 'to turn on the lights.'

This blog is a part of IndiBlogger #IndiSpire Edition 83

LIFE AFTER DEATH

Damini was about to call Kabir when the door bell rang. She was sitting alone in her drawing-room anxiously waiting for her husband. It was pretty late now though back in her mind she knew why he was getting late she only wanted to know what was happening there.

"How's Nishi?" asked Damini as she sat on the couch beside her husband.

"She is fine," said Kabir letting a sigh.

Damini did not say anything for a long time, She knew it very well that Kabir has a little troubled by the course of the events. first his sister Muskaan's untimely death then his mother's ill state of health and now his best friend Ashok's daughter's accident. everything within a time span of six months. now, this was too much he could take.

After a long silence she said "I think you need some rest. get up and freshen up first." she got up but didn't move as she noticed that Kabir didn't make any sign of moving. "Anything wrong?" inquired Damini as she looked tense.

"Nothing," replied Kabir. Then turned to look at Damini and asked her "Kids off to bed?"

"Yes."

"Something strange happened," said Kabir now looking at the glass he was holding.
"What," asked Damini arching both her brows.

"Ashok kind of thanked me."

Damini kept silent still bearing the look of inquisitiveness.

So that Kabir continued "For something which I never did."

"What do you mean by that?"

"He thanked me because Muskaan was my sister." he paused.

Then he was kind of searching for words as he could not understand how to put it in words what seemed to hurt, confuse, make him proud- all at once.

"He thanked me because as he said he could not thank her himself."

Finally, Damini could not resist her curiosity and asked: "Why he wanted to thank Muskaan."

Kabir did not reply for another few moments then said "because he thinks it was Muskaan's eyes that his daughter got.

He let out a sigh and then continued. "Actually he is not sure whether those corneas belonged to Muskaan or not but he was thanking Muskaan for her gesture. God, I never thought I would get my answer this way. He choked "remember how I castigated her when she said she has donated her eyes."

Kabir gave a jitter of unease. Damini put her hand over his shoulder to console him.

"I was being such a moron. I belittled her noble gesture. I don't know what got into my mind then."
Again turning to look at Damini he said: "Remember how she used to say that she wanted to do something for which people would always remember her."

As he said that a smile went across his lips as he slid into a reminiscence about Muskaan.

"That simple idea took so long to penetrate through my thick skin. It never made sense to me that why people are going to remember anyone for whatever they did? But obviously, she was talking about something exceptional; something that is going to touch someone's life."

He had tears in his eyes as he said "Ashok's words made me realize what she meant when she used to say that she wanted to live even after her death. Now I know. After all, this is Life After Death."