Posted in Romance

Valentine’s Day

It was Valentine’s and every girl around her had got a red rose, the ultimate symbol of love. Yet, as she removed the purple Dahlia tucked into the side pocket of her bag, she couldn’t help but smile.

It was her favorite flower and in that instant, she knew the source of her happiness although she hadn’t seen him the entire day. He who stood in a distant corner looking at her. He, who was overjoyed due to her smile and found satisfaction in the success of his stealth.

As he saw her walk away, he sighed and looked down, the smile continuing all the way through. “Time for my diary to know the happenings of today” , he thought as he dug his hand into his bag only to come up with an unfamilar, unruled, blank notebook.

The cover page bore the image of an eagle embossed on it and the words “For your imagination to soar… Up and away… To give words to your thoughts… And to help others enter your otherworldly realm” inscribed on it. A day spent in anxiety had ended in ecstacy.

Their eyes never met.

Words were not exchanged.

Yet, despite the apparent lack of interaction, love was requited.

Posted in Romance

रंग इश्क़ का

जब Valentine’s Day पर महाविद्यालय के बाकी लड़कों ने
अपनी प्रेयसी को लाल गुलाब देकर अपना प्यार जताया ,
उस एक अकेली सुंदरी ने अपने बस्ते में
अपने पसंदीदा चंपा के सफ़ेद फूलों का गुच्छ पाया |

था ज्ञात उसे की फूल बस्ते में रखे थे उसीने ,
जिसे सुंदरी की निगाहें दिन भर खोजती रहीं |
“कभी आकर लफ़्ज़ों में बयान तो करे कम्बख़्त प्रेम अपना !”
ऐसा मन ही मन में वो सोचती रही |

था थोड़े ही दूरी पर वो प्रेमी छुपकर खड़ा
सुंदरी की ख़ुशी में ही समाधान पाते हुए |
चुप – चाप देखता रहा सूर्यास्त की पार्श्वभूमी पर
सुंदरी को महाविद्यालय से बाहर जाते हुए |

“मैं करूँ भी या नहीं अपने प्यार का इज़हार?”
सोचते हुए डाला प्रेमी ने अपने बस्ते में हाथ ,
तो पाया एक रिक्त पुस्तक जिसके पहले पन्ने पर
थी लिखी सुंदरी ने अपने हस्तलेख में अपने मन की बात |

“चूँकि हिचकते हो बेवजह बात करने में मुझसे ,
कर दो मेरे प्रति अपनी भावनाओं को इस पुस्तक में बयान |
ये पुस्तक हो होगी गवाह गाथा की हमारी
और होगी प्रमाण उस प्रेम का जो है हमारे दरम्यान | “

जो प्रेमी था दिन भर तनाव से लिपटा हुआ ,
अब अकस्मात उसमें उत्साह बेमिसाल था |
क्यूँकि “कब करूँ मैं इक़रार अपने प्यार का?”
अब बस इतना ही उसके मन में सवाल था |

रंग इश्क़ का था उनके, उन चंपा के फूलों सा सफ़ेद ,
रंग इश्क़ का था उनके, उस ढलते आफताब सा सुनेहरा |
गज़ब सा ही तो था इश्क़ उन दोनों का
जिसका रंग चढ़ा था दोनों पे गहरा |

ना मिल पायी दोनों की नज़रें उस दिन ,
ना कर पाए दोनों लफ़्ज़ों में मोहब्बत का इज़हार |
पर मौन रहने के बावजूद भी बयान कर गए वे
एक – दूजे के प्रति अपना असीम, निर्मल सा प्यार |

On Valentine’s Day, while the other boys of the college
Expressed their love to their beloved by giving them red roses
There was just one beautiful girl who found
A bouquet of white Plumeria flowers in her backpack

She knew that the flowers had been kept by the one
Whom her gaze has searched for the entire day
“When will he express his love for me directly?”
She kept thinking to herself

The lover stood at a short distance
Glad merely due to her happiness
He silently saw her leave the college campus
With the sunset serving as a background

“Should I express my love for her?”
Thought the lover while putting his hand in his bag
He found an empty book, on the first page of which
The girl had written out her feelings for him

“Since you hesitate without any reason while talking to me
Express your feelings for me in this book
This book shall be the witness of our story
And the proof of the love which we have for each other”

The lover who was engulfed with stress the entire day
Experienced a sudden surge of enthusiasm in him
Because the only question which lingered now in his mind was
“When should I express my love for her?”

Their love was resembled by the pure white colour of the Plumeria flowers
Their love was resembled by the golden colour of the setting sun
Strange was the love between the two of them
Which had engulfed the both of them deeply

Their gaze never met that day
Words expressing their love were not exchanged
And despite the apparent lack of interaction
They expressed their unbound, innocent love for each other

Posted in Romance

कुछ अनकही सी बातें

जाने कितनी दफ़ा हम साथ हैं चलें
जाने एक दूजे को देखते – देखते हमने बिताई हैं कितनी बरसातें |
शायद देखने – देखने में रह गई हैं बाकी
हमारे बीच कुछ अनकही सी बातें |

ढूँढ़ते हुए प्यार का इज़हार करने के तरीकें
व्यतीत कर दिए हमने कितने दिन और कितनी रातें |
न जाने ये कैसी हिचक थी मन की हमारे
जो न कह पाए हम आपसे वो अनकही सी बातें |

थी जब चंद लम्हों की ही पहचान हमारी
तब से एक सी थी विचारधारा हमारी |
है हम दोनों की अपनी – अपनी अलग सी ख़ासियत
हमारा अजब पागलपन, आपकी असीम मासूमियत |

कर गया कमाल भगवान, बनाकर दो अजनबियों को जिगरी यार
अब तो आपसे हुई हर मुलाक़ात लगे जैसे मानो हो कोई त्यौहार |
ज़िंदगीभर संजोना चाहें ऐसा खज़ाना पाने में हुए हैं हम सफल
वो यादों का समूह जिसमे बसा है आपके साथ बिताया हर पल |

जुटाएँगे क़तरा – क़तरा हिम्मत ताक़ि जता पाएँ हम
आपको हमारे दिल के क़रीब रखने के इरादे |
आओ मिटा दें सभी दूरीयाँ, बयान करके लफ़्ज़ों में
जो रह गयी थी हमारे दरम्यान वो अनकही सी बातें |

सामने आएँगी आप अगली बार तो करेंगे हम
आपसे ज़िंदगीभर साथ निभाने के वादें |
रह न जाए कहीं हमें मौत की कगार पे यह अफ़सोस
के आप सुन न पाए हमारी अनकही सी बातें |

There is no count of the number of times we have been together
No count of the number of times when we have spent rainy days looking at each other
Maybe it is due to the silence around us when we looked at each other
That some things remained unsaid!

In the search for means to express our love for each other
We spent countless days and nights
It is difficult to understand the hesitation in our minds
due to which some things remained unsaid!

Even when our acquaintance had lasted a few moments
Out thought process had begun to match
We both have our own specialities
I have a high level of craziness, you have an infinite amount of innocence

God has done wonders by turning two absolute strangers into the best of friends
Each and every meeting with you is a joyous festival!
I have succeeded in unearthing a treasure chest that I wish to cherish for the rest of my life
A chest that contains the memories of each and every moment that I have spent with you!

I shall gradually gather the courage to express to you
My wish to keep you close to my heart forever
Let’s eliminate all the distances between us by expressing in words
The things that had remained unsaid between us!

When we meet the next time, I will promise
To spend the rest of my life with you
So that I do not have this regret on my deathbed
That you could not listen to the things that remained unsaid!

Posted in Romance

भावना

सावरलं त्याने तिला पडण्यापासून
लहानपणी खेळताना पण…
आज footpath वरून चालताना पण…
काळजी तीच तरी भावना वेगळी.

तिने टपली मारल्यावर मान खाली घालून हसला तो
लहानपणी बोलताना पण…
आता तिला छळताना पण…
मस्करी तशीच तरी भावना वेगळी.

तिच्या विनोदावर तिला सोडून हसला मनसोक्त फक्त तोच.
लहानपणीही…
आताही…
स्नेह तेच तरी भावना वेगळी.

तिने आत्मविश्वास गमावला तेव्हा झापलं तिला त्यानेच.
लहानपणीही…
आताही…
हो! त्यातही, भावना वेगळी.

तिच्या हसण्यात तो हसला.
तिच्या दुःखात तो रडला.
तिच्या आवडींना आपलंसं केलं.
तिच्या जवळच्यांना जवळचं केलं.

तिच्या डोळ्यांमध्ये हरवलं त्याने स्वतःला
तरी सापडला स्वतःला तो त्याच डोळ्यांमध्ये.

किती विलक्षण ही बाब…
व्यक्ती त्याच, बंधन तेच, गोष्टी त्याच, प्रतिक्रिया त्याच
आणि तरीही भावना वेगळी.
जगाला न कळणारी…
त्यांच्यातच गुंफून राहणारी…
तरी त्यांच्यातच फुलणारी.

भावना ती प्रेमाची, भावना ती प्रेमाची.

He saved her from falling down
While they were playing together as children
As well as today when they were walking on the sidewalk
The concern was the same, and yet, the emotion was different

He looked down and smiled when she playfully smacked him on his head
Whether when they were playing as children
Or today as he sought to irritate her
The playfulness was the same, and yet, the emotion was different

He was the only one apart from her who laughed hard at her jokes
As a child too
And as an adult too
The affection was the same, and yet, the emotion was different

He scolded her whenever she lost her inherent confidence
As a child too
And today too
Yes, even here, the emotion was different

He laughed when she did
He cried with her
He accepted her likings
He developed bonds with her close ones

He lost himself in her eyes
And yet, he found his true self in those very eyes

It is strange, isn’t it?
The persons, the bond, the incidents and reactions are all the same and yet, the emotion is different
One which the world cannot understand
One which is confined to them
And yet, one which blossoms between them

It is the emotion of love, it is the emotion of love

Posted in Romance

नूर

आपने मुस्कुराके हम पर ये कैसा जादू कर दिया…
हमारे पैमान – ए – दिल से इज़्तिरार को ओझल कर गए |
आपके रूप तो अनेक थे पर नूर एक सा था…
जिसे दिखलाके आप हमें पागल कर गए |

Oh! The magical effect your smile has brought about!
No longer can I find any restlessness in the depths of my heart.
In each and every expression of yours, I see the same radiance on your face.
It is this very radiance that has left me love struck!

Posted in Romance

इत्तिफ़ाक़

एक रोज़ दो अजनबी इत्तिफ़ाक़ से क्या मिले
शुरू हुए वाक़ियाओं के कुछ ऐसे सिलसिले
दूरियाँ बनी नज़दीकियाँ ना रहे कोई फासले

बेपरवाह वख्त के चलती रहीं उनकी मुलाकातें
खत्म तो कभी होने से रहीं उनकी बातें
जिंदगी का सफर साथ निभाने के बुलंद हो चलें हौसले

That the two strangers met one day was a mere coincidence
Yet, it resulted in a series of such happenstances
Distances were bridged, their closeness was beyond belief

They never cared about the amount of time spent every time they met
Their conversations raged on, seemingly without end
Steadily gathering strength was their intent to undertake with each other a journey called life.

Posted in Romance

नातं

सुख – दुःख सांगितले तुलाच सगळे
कित्येक अनमोल क्षण व्यतीत केले तुझ्यासवे
ह्या निरागस, आपुलकीच्या नात्याला
का गं कोणतेही नाव हवे?

It is with you that I have shared all my joys and sorrows
It is with you that I have spent countless precious moments
Is it really necessary to have a name for our bond
Which is rooted in affection and innocence?

Posted in Romance

अपराजिता

आते ही सामने हमारे जो खिलखिला के हस देती हो तुम
हसीं लगे हर वक़्त हमें वह बेफिक्र हंसी तुम्हारी |

तारीफ़ करना भी चाहें तो भी न कर पाएँ …
विस्मृत करती है हमें वह दिलखुश हंसी तुम्हारी |

सुहासिनी | तुम |

निहारें जो हम तुम्हे चाहे कितने ही नज़दीक से
ध्यान जाता है उसी ज़ुल्फ़ पर जो तुम्हारे गालों को सेहराये |

मन करता है की सरकायें उसे उसके मूल आकार में ऐसे
के लगे हर ज़ुल्फ़ तुम्हारी समंदर की लेहेर हो जैसे |

सुकेशिनी | तुम |

न जाने कितने ख़याल आते हैं जब सुनते हैं नाम तुम्हारा|
न जाने क्यूँ ओझल होते हैं सारे जब मिलें हमारे नैनों से नैन तुम्हारे |

लगता है ताला जुबां पर और चेहरे पर चमके मुस्कान सुनेहरी
जब आईना समझके आपके नैनों को पाते हैं उनमें प्रतिमा हमारी |

सुनैना | तुम |

चाहे बेतुकी हो बातें हमारी वक़्त ठहराने की आरज़ू जगाती हैं
आपको और करीब से जानने का एक मनचाहा अवसर देती हैं |

अचानक हमारी तारीफ़ करके मन बावरा कर देती हो
सोचो कितने मीठे होंगे वह अलफ़ाज़ जो तुम हमसे कहती हो |

सुभाषिनी | तुम |

इतने सद्गुण अपने भीतर कैसे समा लेती हो तुम?
अपने आस पास के लोगों पर क्या कमाल करती हो तुम ?

खींचे चले आएं सब वहाँ हो उस समय जहां तुम
ऐ इंसानों का दिल जीतने वाली, इंसान हो कहाँ तुम ?

अप्सरा | तुम |

उतर आयी इंद्रलोक से तुम शायद हमें मिलने के मक़्सद से …
बलवान बनाया इस बेजान को बेमिसाल ही तो है ताक़त तुम्हारी |

दिल हमारा ख़ुशियों से भरके मजबूर किया हमें के हम पूछें
जो छुपाई हमने इतनी देर आपसे क्या स्वीकरोगी आप वह मोहब्बत हमारी ?

अपराजिता तुम ही |
अपराजिता बस तुम |

When you laugh with utter joy as soon as you see me
Each time, I fall for this carefree laugh of yours

I am unable to compliment your joyfulness despite wanting dearly to
Distracted as I remain, by the wholehearted laugh of yours

The one with the beautiful smile. It’s you!

Even when I look at you in complete proximity
My attention rests on the strand of hair caressing your cheeks

I wish to place it in its original position
So that each hair of yours looks like a wave in the ocean

The one with the gorgeous hair. It’s you!

Innumerable thoughts enter my mind has when I hear your name
Who knows why the thoughts evaporate when your eyes meet mine

I am left utterly speechless and there’s simply an innocent smile on my face
When I look deep into your eyes and find nothing but my own reflection

The one with the pristine eyes. It’s you!

Our conversations may be meaningless but they make me hope that time stops
Because I get the opportunity to do what I desire – to know you closely

I am left awestruck each time you express your admiration for any quality of mine
Can you even imagine how charming are the words that you say to me?

The one with the sweet tongue. It’s you!

How do you manage to have all outstanding virtues within you?
What magic spell do you cast over everyone around you?

Everyone seems to be pulled to the place where you stand
You may have won the hearts of human beings, but are you a human yourself?

The beautiful divine maiden. It’s you!

You descended from the divine abode solely to meet me
You have infused strength into this weakling, unbound and unlimited is the power you yield

By filling my heart with nothing but happiness, you have forced me to ask a simple question:
If I reveal my long-hidden feelings for you, will you accept my boundless love and reciprocate it?

The one who cannot be conquered. It’s you!
The one who cannot be conquered. It’s only you!

Posted in Romance

The Best Gift

Year 1

He stood before her with all the possible gifts, unsure about what she wanted.

Greeting card ✅
Chocolates ✅
Showpieces ✅

“Nice.” was her response. “Damn! Should have gone for the soft toy.” He thought.

Year 2

A PPT on her life that she could watch at one go on the click of a button was presumably his idea of a good birthday gift. She agreed. So did her parents. The catch? It was good. Not grand.

Year 3

He poured his emotions to construct a metaphorical story that encapsulated their journey till date. The story was but a mere figment of his imagination while at the same time being an expanse in which his dreams were bound. She was impressed, sure. She praised the use of language, definitely. Just not in the way he hoped for.

Year 4

He stood empty handed before her and exclaimed, “It’s me! I am your gift! Happy birthday!”

It began to drizzle. She moved towards him and mock punched him on his arm. “You are the worst.” He was bewildered.

She took his hand in hers and said softly “You outdo yourself every single year. But that is not a possibility next year. No one, not even you, can ever get me a better gift than this.”

As they walked away into the drizzle, arms firmly entwined and her head on his shoulder, the sense of accomplishment he felt at the time was insurmountable.