A Puncher Boy...

He barely reached up to my hips but managed to take out the front wheel of my bike in less than 2 minutes.

I wonder if could do the same, considering I’m some sort of an engineer. He is 10 yrs old & has been working for 2 yrs from 3pm till 8.In the morning he attends school. His pay, a meager 900 Rs for the whole month.

I earn about 11 times as much as he does, working almost the same number of hours.

I ask him if he has got interest in studies, & with a 70mm smile, he replies in affirmative. His mother died 2yrs back, his face expressions absolutely impassive when he says the same. His father is a Rickshaw-puller who tells him to study and learn some trade side-by-side.

In our part of the country, child labour was supposedly banned (excuse me for using the wrong verb), child labour is banned. But I encounter these things in routine. My degree, my skills & other traits which, at times, are praised by the Big-Wigs of our city, look a mere illusion in front of the 10yr old. He faces everything boldly & is not reluctant to admit what he goes through in his daily life. A year back he used to earn 300 Rs a month. One of my friend gets 4 times as much as pocket-money in a month plus some extra bucks which he manages to get from his mother after making her ‘Senti’ with his usual talks.

Said a great author once, In ‘capitalism’ man exploits man, in ‘socialism’ the reverse is true. This talk of helping the poor, removing poverty, opposing child-labour & taking steps to make the lives of street-urchins humane, all sounds like a big-fucking-monotonous lie.

How many of us have donated money in charity in the last 1 yr??(& how many times),but most of us did visit the temple & offered sweets to the local priests after getting placed in big MNC’s,more out of obligation than willingness.

“ho gaya, 1 puncher tha. chalo fit kar dun isse”,he says. Both of us are sweating. It's 42 degrees. I go inside my house & drink water from a chilled bottle. I realize that the little boy would also be craving for cold water. I pour it in a glass & offer him. He gulps it, bottoms up.

Most of us forget to do the same, although we do offer water to any guest visiting our place, difference in social strata, I suppose.It’s a hypocritical society that we live in & I’m its not-so-proud, as-of-now- helpless part. But I will continue to do my little contributions. When I drop him back to his shop, I think of offering some extra money. But then I decide, I won’t hurt his self-respect by offering a small amount.

Ohh..., I almost got myself killed, a girl in a yellow-Lancer with gogs on. She passes a smile while gesturing with her hand to say sorry. These smiles, I tell you, they can melt many a heart.

I suddenly realize, it’s my sister’s birthday, I have booked a cake. Its cost, well, a little more than one-third of that boys monthly salary.

Love of the loveless

In the darkness of night,

Amidst the intriguing twilight,

the profound silence,

is secretly showing the light.

Million miles away,

there is something that sways.

Is it the full moon on its throne,

or a little boy left on his own.

The moon is on my mind,

but the thoughts derail.

I try to write a sonnet,

but to no avail.

Myriad cute things she did,

tease me seeing my plight.

Its been so long,

but I still miss her at night.

I still remember the texture of hair,

and the curve of her ear.

The blushing she did,

when I looked at her face.

Her fingers touch,

upon my lips.

My hands move,

towards her hips.

She kisses me on that midnight-street,

and sweeps me off my feet.

I close my eyes & hug her tight,

the moon still a silent spectator to our lovely plight.

Is this the figment of my imagination,

or acrimonious was the way we parted.

I still dream of loving you,

as the whole life passes.

As the sordid tale comes to an end,

I start to see a faint light,

All the stars shining bright,

to give it the name,

Love...

Love of the loveless.

Rebel by 20...

To the people who claim to be saints,

And to the people who claim to be priests.

To the people who wear saffron,

And to the people serving as messengers of GOD.

To the people who change color like chameleon,

And to the people who in real are hypocrites.

I claim to be a Rebel

A Rebel by 20.

What religion do you talk of, I ask

when your thoughts are evil and satanic.

Which peace are you trying to spread,

having a clasp-knife beside your torso.

What tolerance are you trying to teach,

when bigotry is all you preach

To you, I claim to be a Rebel

A Rebel by 20.

To their distress and misery,

they seek the ‘so called’ God.

In the pangs of separation and desolation,

they piety the ‘so called’ God.

How pretentious & superficial their way of living,

rebuking the penniless beggar after snubbing & kicking.

To you, I claim to be a Rebel

A Rebel by 20.

To my mates who claim to be friends,

And to my friends who claim to be brothers.

To the one busy with his girl-friend,

while I face alone the tornado.

To the one enjoying the status of celebrity,

while I sulk alone the ignominy.

To you, once a friend, I claim to be a Rebel

A Rebel by 20.

To the heart that once loved me,

I see the disavowed arrogance.

To the heart that talked of happiness,

I see the subtle shift towards wealth.

To the heart that promised unconditional love,

I see the impassive callousness.

To you, once a sweetheart, I claim to be a Rebel

A Rebel by 20.

The game is not about becoming somebody,

it is about becoming nobody.

The game is not about defeating them,

it is about winning with my defined rules.

As I pass them, I hear whispers,

they call me a ‘Rebel’.

But I am not a Rebel

Without a cause.

The girl that wasn't...

Many hidden talents you have,

And many traits that make you unique,

Your name,it is heard in high places,

And you are the blue-eyed candy of every man

Yes you are!!!

But who will be with you forever,

You just cannot tell...

You talk with an air of confidence,

You smile like a blossoming flower,

You walk with an army gait,

With a pedigree still unparalleled,

Yes you do!!!

But who will be with you, my lovely

When you are out of all this dudette traits...

Your whimsical dressing sense attracts,

When you saunter across the lake side,

And when you finally pass me a smile

I see the sadistic pleasure that you get

In taunting the already crazy boy

Yes I do!!!

But who will be with you, my lovely

When you are out of all this dudette traits...

The Egyptian Hieroglyph that you wear is splendid,

The ear-rings that you wear are amazing,

The bracelet in your hand is capricious,

And your loveliness goes on & on

Yes it does!!!

And all these things when combined

Shimmer like the half moon in the unblemished sky.

They say when you will get married,

It will be to a millionaire

But whether he will treat you like a Princess

Is a question that you have to ask yourself

Because, frankly these people don’t give a damn

No they don’t!!!

So you can go on & forget me forever

As I bid you a final good-bye

But please be careful, my lovely

As the bonhomie in the world is all fake

Yes it is!!!

So who will be with you forever

You just cannot tell...

Life - A conundrum

He sat quietly in a thoughtful mood,
Talking to himself,
He started to brood.

A question:
Was life unfair to me?
Is life unfair to me?
Will life be unfair to me?

The thoughts enter his mind
And ruffle him,
Continually one after the other,
Trouble him.

At once he wants somebody to expound,
Myriad questions,
That continue to rebound.

With nobody around him,
He starts to despair,
All alone in the room,
He finally declares:

In silence there is introspection
And in silence there is peace of mind
In silence there is tranquility
And in silence there is serenity

Life is a game,
And we are always probing
Unaware of the rules,
We are always cribbing

Life to thou is not unfair
Life to thou will not be unfair

Don’t justify it,
Don’t condemn it.
Don’t eulogise it,
Don’t damn it.

Just embrace it without fear,
As in its perplexity
Will lie its vital experience.

The complexity is deep,
And the problem unmoved
As he still sits quietly
In a thoughtful mood.

A Walk to Remember...

Walking besides the meadows lush green,
I see a girl wearing a suit that is green,
With a hassling face, she suddenly exclaims:
“I lost my way & my bus
Is waiting somewhere down the street”


At once with her, I start to tread the path,
Having a feeling of an unusual qualm.


Inspite of stilettos, she strolls along,
Oh, What a pretty lass !!
I exclaim !! and walk along.
Her anklet produces an uncanny sound,
The stories behind which are deep and profound.


When she finally moves her mouth to speak,
I feel the blood-rush to my feet.
The words of ‘English’ spontaneously come out,
‘Convent educated’ for sure !!
And I continue to mock her some more!!


“Ahem !! Ahem !!”, she says
“Mayhem !! Mayhem !!”, I say….


The pampered girl slows her pace,
Flaunting the sapphire at my face,
Her candour begins to gild my den !!
An innocent ‘boy’ begins to
Love a girl there and then !!


Judiciously realizing the right street,
Coming as a harbinger of joy in the scorching heat.
With a coquettish smile,
She finally alluded,
The only thing that I so dreaded.


I get down on my knees,
And I hold her left-hand with my right.
I implore, I beg & I go to every extreme,
Please, don’t go; please don’t go,
I silently scream…….


I promise, to keep you happy & smiling
Now and Forever……..


Both her hands reach my shoulder,
As she brings me up to my feet.
She hurls her hand within my hair,
Smiles slyly
And walks away……..


Her name was Zoe,
And Zoe means ‘life’
And yes indeed !! she gave me life,
So what, if for some moments


At times, I wish
If I will ever meet her again.
If she will embrace me in her arms,
And cajole me like a kid.


Simultaneously my hand,
Reaches the eyelids,
And I wipe the tear,
That would have trickled down the cheek.


I try to smile,
While I tread back the same path.
Hearing the rhapsodic music,
I see the coming wistful dawn.


Now, when I look back, I realize
That yes indeed, it was
A Walk…
A Walk to Remember…