Mere Bachelor-pan Ka Half-Plate

मैं (Menu Card की तरफ देखते हुए): भैया, paneer butter masala half-plate मिलेगा? Full-plate में खाना बहुत बच जाता हैं।

वेटर (अपने notepad से नज़रे न हटाते हुए): नहीं।

मैं: दाल खिचड़ी का half-plate?

वेटर (अपने notepad से नज़रे न हटाते हुए): नहीं।

मैं: Jeera Rice तो half-plate देते ही होगे? Daal Fry भले full-plate ला दो।

वेटर (अपने notepad से नज़रे न हटाते हुए): ऐसे नहीं देते।

मैंने थोड़े-से सहानुभूति जगाने वाले स्वर में कहा: "आप bachelors के लिए half-plate का system क्यों नहीं रखते।"

वेटर (notepad से पहली बार अपनी नज़रे हटा के मेरी तरफ देखते हुए): आप bachelor हो?

103

This is my 103rd post. When I started blogging in January 2008, I did not know I would come this far. I have always felt that this blog is a very private space and I am still very selective about people who I give my blog's address to. I have still not been able to give its link away on any of the social networking sites -- somehow I just want this place only to be known to people who I want it to be known to.

I am happy I was able to write this much. As I said earlier, when I started, I did not know I would. I must admit though that there are a lot of things that I've always wanted to write -- about songs, poetry, random stupid jokes in my everyday life, small things that make me sad in the clockwork of this world -- but have never been able to due to the paucity of time and the unavailability of the internet. But I'm hoping things would improve and I would devote more time to this place. Some day. :-)

A Sick Man

This is not the first time he's doing such a thing. I know this man is sick and I keep ignoring his remarks whenever I accidentally come across them, but this one just agitated me beyond control. I have erased his name, but I'm sure my friends would know who this sick guy is.

Ek Chutki Aasmaa

I heard the phrase 'Ek Chutki Aasmaa' for the first time on the radio when I was probably switching between two radio channels in a bus or a train. The sound of the phrase caught my attention and somehow it just got tucked somewhere in my memory. I kept wondering who must've come up with that because I quite liked it.

Yesterday I saw the same words written on the silent flat screen we have at the office cafeteria -- my only access to a television in Mumbai -- and by the time I could see the ad, it was over. I only saw a picture: a small girl with two chotees and a train in the background. Probably this is not the exact picture that some of you must've seen too, I saw it only for a flash of a second.

The silent picture and the phrase triggered a chain of words in my head. I thought why not write a title song for this TV serial. A small mukhada and one-antara would be just okay.

So, well, here it is. I imagined most bits of the story and the situation (and since I didn't have Rahman's personal phone number, yours truly composed the tune too). It's plain mediocre and rubbish I know, but I'm sure it's going to be an interesting learning for me to see the actual title track when I do have access to a TV. :)

एक चुटकी आसमाँ

हाथ बढ़ाओ ज़रा,
बादल हटाओ ज़रा,
रुकना ना होगा अभी,
समझो हवाओं ज़रा,

घर से जो निकले तो हैं देखा ये जहाँ,
निखरे हैं हम दे के बहुत से इम्तिहाँ,
अब हौसला हैं पर फैलाने का हमें,
हाथों में ले के एक चुटकी आसमाँ,
हाथों में ले के एक चुटकी आसमाँ...

हाथ बढ़ाओ ज़रा...

*

सारे खिलौने छोड़ आए हैं कही,
फिर भी ऐ मंज़िल हमको कोई ग़म नहीं,
मीलों के पत्थर गिन के थकते हैं नहीं,
मालूम हैं दिल को हैं राहे ये सही,

ख्वाब सजाओ ज़रा,
ठोकर भी खाओ ज़रा,
कदमो से छूकर ज़मी,
रस्ते बनाओ ज़रा,

घर से जो निकले तो हैं देखा ये जहां...

हाथ बढाओ ज़रा...


Ek Chutki Aasmaa

Haath badhaao zara,
Baadal hataao zara,
Rukna naa hoga abhi,
Samjho hawaao zara,

Ghar se jo nikale to hain dekha ye jahaan,
Nikhare hain ham de ke bahut se imtihaan,
Ab hauslaa hain par failaane ka hame,
Haathon me le ke ek chutki aasmaan,
Haathon me le ke ek chutki aasmaan...

Haath badhao zara...

*

Saare khilaune chhod aaye hain kahi,
Phir bhi ae manzil humko koi gham nahi,
Meelo ke patthar gin ke thakte hain nahi,
Maaloom hain dil ko hain raahe ye sahi,

Khwaab sajaao zara,
Thokar bhi khaao zara,
Kadmo se chhookar zamee,
Raste banaao zara,

Ghar se jo nikale to hain dekha ye jahaan...

Haath badhao zara...

Nazm: Independence Day

नज़्म : Independence Day

मैं आज सुबह सवा ग्यारह बजे उठा।

रेडियो पर कई दिनों से बज रहा था,
टीवी न्यूज़ चंनेलो में दिख भी रहा था,
Function हुआ था office में कल --
Best Traditional Dress के award दिए गए थे --
इसलिए याद तो था आज दिन कौनसा हैं।

फ़ोन लगाया घर पे, कहा:
“आज छुट्टी हैं, आराम कर रहा हूँ।”
और फिर घर-बार की बातें छिड़ गयी।
दोस्तों को फ़ोन लगाया, कहा:
“This country is going to the dogs”
और फिर रात की movie और dinner ke plan बन गए।

बांसुरी पे National Anthem बजा लिया,
"ज़िन्दगी मौत न बन जाए" भी एक बार गा लिया।

Computer खोला तो ख़याल आया
Facebook पे अपने latest snap की जगह
थोडा photoshop करके तिरंगा लहरा दू
और status message लिख दू:
“Vande Mataram!
Vande Mataram!"


Nazm: Independence Day

Main aaj subah sava gyaarah baje utha।

Radio par kayi dino se baj raha tha,
TV news channelo mein dikh bhi raha tha,
Function hua tha office mein kal --
best traditional dress ke award diye gaye the --
Isliye yaad to tha aaj din kaunsa hain.

Phone lagaaya ghar pe, kaha:
“Aaj chhutti hain, aaraam kar raha hoon.”
Aur phir ghar-baar ki baatein chhid gayi.
Doston ko phone lagaya, kaha:
“This country is going to the dogs”
Aur phir raat ki movie aur dinner ke plan ban gaye.

Baansuri pe National Anthem baja liya,
"Zindagi maut na ban jaaye" bhi ek baar gaa liya.

Computer khola to khayaal aaya
Facebook pe apne latest snap ki jagah
Thoda photoshop karke tiranga lehra du
Aur status likh du:
“Vande Mataram!
Vande Mataram!"