Little Beggar

As I stood by the road
munching on the snacks
I felt a tug on my arm
by a little child in rags

I determined to ignore it
and decided to look away
but avoid could not the pleading
as its constant gaze upon me lay

In me arose a surge of pity
as I turned to my friend
to elicit a kind word or such
in light of this dreadful trend

He didn’t seem too bothered
or just couldn’t care less
I wondered at his aloofness
with the society in this frightful mess

I rebuked him for his indifference
and he looked at me horrified
taken aback by the expression he cast
I inquired what his reaction implied

“My dear friend, I am sorry to say
that you don’t seem to have an idea
this social mess that you declare
is indeed part of a begging mafia”

“Professional beggars, babies on rent,
locations, commissions and promotion
drugs, exploitation and amputation
just to stir a rich man’s emotion”

“If I were you, I wouldn’t care
even if the child continues to stare
‘coz I would not in hell even
my money with a mafia share”

It was my turn to be horrified
but I could not help but wonder
by driving away one person in real need
would we not be making a blunder?

I turned to the begging child
its beseeching eyes moist and cold
my thoughts seeking to discover
horrid secrets that they might hold

My dialogue with God

This one day I came to a decision
to take up with God His logic and reason
I told myself enough was enough
it was time that He too had it rough


I took it upon me to take up His case
stand up and show Him that His rightful place
was not at the pedestal where He sat with glee
but amongst the dirty chairs where sat we


I rose up and asked Him why
He'd never ever even try
to show us the right from the wrong
and not let us walk towards the devil all along


"why would You let us be stupid and sad?
why would You let us go sinful and bad?
why would You not, like a father, guide?
why would You let us shamelessly submit to our pride?"


"if this is not what You're supposed to do
then I don't see why we should bow our heads to You.
Why should we in deference hold You high
when with Your own rules You do not comply"


He smiled a beautiful smile
and waited for a little while
then He lifted His eyes towards me
who had stood up and challenged His authority


"My child, you are right when you say
that you feel that I did betray.
But you see it is not entirely my doing
your own sins that you are now ruing"


"I did my duty and showed you the light
I did tell you the wrong from the right
but the path that you took you chose on your own
you chose ignorance when to you everything was known"


"You were lured by the devil to follow his signs
I tried to remind you of his evil designs
but you chose to pay me no heed
mesmerized by the golden charm of greed"


"And now you point fingers at me
when the devil has left you to misery.
but you overlook this in your anger and despair
that in the end you find yourself in my care"


I looked around and instantly did realize
I was at His abode under the care of His eyes
I cried out aloud in my naivete as I stood
He took me in His arms and hugged me as only a father would!

मिलन घड़ी

भोर भयी फैला प्रकाश
मैं जगा लिए नयी एक आस
उठ गया आँख मलते मलते
यही सोचता था चलते चलते

आई होगी वो आज तो
दिखला दूंगा ये समाज को
हँसता था मुझपे जो कल तक
देखेगा उसकी एक झलक

कोई करता है मेरा ख़याल
करता है मेरी देख-भाल
शिकवा करता न गिला कोई
ऐसा मुझको भी मिला कोई

क्या आज वो मिलन घड़ी होगी
क्या वो उस पार खड़ी होगी
यूँ सोच विचार करते करते
सहमे सहमे डरते डरते

मैंने ईश्वर का नाम लिया
साँसों को और दिल थाम लिया
और फिर जो दरवाजा खुला…

उम्मीद

माना टूटा मेरा दिल है
सूनी दिल कि महफ़िल है
नामुमकिन नहीं ज़िन्दगी लेकिन
भले थोड़ी मुश्किल है


माना नहीं घर-बार है
ठोकरें भी लगातार हैं
नामुमकिन नहीं ठिकाना जब
आशियाना ये संसार है


माना नहीं कोई संग है
न ही जीवन में उमंग है
नामुमकिन नहीं खुशियाँ जब
गुलों में इतने रंग हैं


फिर जब पथरीली राह हो
ग़म में डूबी हर आह हो
मैं चलता रहूँ, बढ़ता रहूँ
क्यों दर्द की मुझे परवाह हो