The Stars of New Year’s Eve

I wanted to say Happy Diwali
But it was hard
I wanted to say Merry Christmas 
But it was hard 
With all that has happened 
And what they have endured
My friends and family 
now it’s New Years eve
And I look up in the dark wintry skies 
The stars,
They always inspire
For they shine bright giving some beauty 
to the great dark unknown
They refuse to burn out 
Even with all that life throws 
And then I look at you
Those that have lost 
part of yourselves 
The holes in your core 
For the dearly departed 
But you carry forth their memories 
Their Goodness
Even while being broken-hearted
You carry forth 
Their values their strengths their laughter 
and more 
And I also look at you 
Those that have undergone 
Major overhauls
Trials endured 
Life isn’t the same anymore 
But in all this uncertainty 
Your inner light
The only constant 
Even when the darkness beckons
You keep that flame burning 
And then I think 
I do not need to look up anymore 
For the Stars are right here 
Amidst my friends and family 
Sparkling Courage 
on a New Year’s eve 

Aap hi bataaye humein

Kya kami reh gayi thi
Hamaari mulaakaaton mein
Hamaari baaton mein
Hamaari mohabbaton mein 
Kyu itne duur chale gaye aap
Koi khulaasa bina
Koi dilaasa bina
Itne to beraham humein nahi lagte the aap
Ab aage jaake kaise dil pe vishwas kare 
Aap hi bataaye humein
Kya seekhe is adhuri kahaani se
Kaise aage badhe 
Is tutte dil se
Is udaas kalam se
Aapko to aasaani se aata hai chhod jaana 
To phir humein bataaye 
Kaise hum duuri paaye 
Een bheege panno se 
Een sunsaan shabdo se 

Ek din ki hasi

Ek din ki hasi 

Phir sanaata cha gaya 

Ee zindagi tu kyu sapne dikhaati hai

Jab woh sapne kabhi hakikat nahi ban sakte 

Yeh instant zamaana hai

Yeh to instant zamaana hai.
Instantpot aur instant khaana ka zamaana hai.
Instagram aur instant message ka zamaana hai.
To pyaar bhi instant ho jaata hai.
Aur dil bhi instant tutt jaata hai.
Lekin isko judne mein kyu itna waqt guzar jaata hai

kyu instant nahi judh paata hai

Jo ishq mein tabha na hue ho
Unhe jeena na aaya ho

The elusive Neel Kurinje

Kerala, December 2006. Statement on a single post-it note stuck above my desk amidst several chits of medical mnemonics that needed to get acquainted with my hippocampus. 

It was the elusive Neel Kurinje. The once in 12-year bloom that was meant to gloriously fill up the valleys of Munnar with its blue and purple hues. The flower of clandestine love. I heard this rare bloom would happen in December 2006, hence the post-it note. It was a call of the heart, but it was forgotten amidst the perils of the hippocampus working its way through medical exams. 

Perhaps the Universe never forgets these calls of our hearts. Somehow, events naturally transpired, and sure enough there we were, on a family trip, to Kerala, in December 2006. Kerala, God’s own country- where one can traverse the land, the waters and the heavens. In our itinerary were the fascinating shores of Kochi, the serene backwaters of Kumarakom, the spicy hills of Thekkady, and, yes, heavenly Munnar was included too. 

It was also at that time that Sadam Hussain had been captured and was to be assassinated by the US government, which led to several rallies in the communist-party led Kerala. Sure enough, as our Tata Sumo was just in the middle of its uphill drive to Munnar, along with several other tourist buses and cars packed with families escaping their daily lives to get some respite in the hills, we encountered a road block in lieu of the rallies. 

This obstacle stranded us in the middle of nowhere, on that uphill drive to the popular destination of dreams. There were no detours to take and there was no turning back. We were stuck, along with the paltans of other escapees. 

Everyone waited patiently for an hour, thinking we would be on our way soon. We were wrong. A few more hours, we heard. Naturally, things turned edgy. 

Naturally, things also turned bladder-full. In this throng of tourists how could one even relieve themselves on the road-side? Some shameless men did, but of course it was impossible for women. 

There happened to be a small village a few meters away, spotting just a handful of houses. There, in the middle of nowhere. We were directed to a bathroom that was an addendum to a petite pakka house with concrete walls that were the color of the sky and a tin roof that was doing its best to fend off the harsh rays of the afternoon sun. In this modest abode lived a family of six. On the narrow mustard veranda leading to the toilet were stationed large grey barrels filled with the family’s monthly water supply.  Frequent water shortages drove the villagers to purchase this precious commodity from external sources. Yet, the family welcomed us with such warmth and allowed us touristy strangers to use their toilets… and their precious water supply. 

My siblings and I began interacting with the four kids. We didn’t know Malyaalam but we were well-versed in the art of hand gestures (as we’d been blessed with a multi-cultural upbringing). The oldest teenager, a sprite 13-year old, clad in her school uniform - off-white shirt and coffee brown skirt- with her hair neatly tied in the classic two-sided chhotis, also spoke some English that she had learned in school and was doing a great job as an interpreter between us and the rest of her chirpy, zippy siblings, two 8-10 year-old girls and the youngest 6-year old boy. In those few moments of rapid bonding, they eagerly asked us if we wanted to see their farm and their river. Which were tucked away in the nowheres behind the house. Needless to say, this was feeling a lot more adventurous than being stuck in the Tata Sumo amidst complaining tourists, so we happily obliged and followed our new found dosts.

With so much pride they introduced us to their one pig who was loitering in his Lilliputian pen. They delightfully flaunted their vegetables that they were growing in the communal village garden. Then lot of wilderness. Through which we pranced downhill while battling the tallest blades of grass and bushes to a tiny stream. 

This was their small world, in which the biggest hearts lived. 

We spent some time gabbing with the kids, their stream, pig and vegetables. Then they excitedly took us back to their home, introduced us to their parents, who welcomed us with the warmth of a 100-year old friendship. They invited our folks too, who were, missing their afternoon chai a lot. This family, in their humble abode, where they pay for water, made our family some amazing chai even while neither of us understood each other completely. 

They filled our hearts with their smiles and warmth. 

In India there’s a saying, Atithi Devo bhava... guest is welcomed like God. We had a first hand experience of this, strangers made to feel at home, welcomed like family. 

A couple of hours later, we bid goodbyes to our new friends, it was nightfall by then but the road block lifted. Buses, tourists and escapees, and our tata sumo resumed their uphill journeys to Munnar. 

In that stark darkness of night we could not see anything on either side of the road, which was only eerily lit by the Sumo’s headlights. We really had to reign in all the bladdery urges for those few hours as there was no way we would stop amidst the torrid darkness of the unknown. Somehow we made it to our hotel, late at night and plopped on our beds exhausted. 

In the morning, we stepped into our balcony, and gasped. So astounding were the views of the lush tea plantations carpeting the dunes of Munnar. 

No, the Neel Kurinje weren’t there. They had apparently bloomed earlier in the month and disappeared by the time we got there. 

But yet, somehow, this trip, this journey to that destination of dreams, had already touched our Souls, that even if Munnar’s already resplendent valleys were not replete with the Neel Kurinje, our hearts were replete with gratitude and love, in all hues of purple and blue.

As Douglas Adams wisely said, “I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be.” 

For that family and their humble home and one pig and some vegetables that were their farm, and one stream that was their river, had welcomed strangers into their home and hearts with astounding generosity that came so naturally to them, and made those otherwise-five hours of boredom into a lifetime memory and a renewed faith in the goodness of people. 

Even when faced with obstacles and road blocks, life may surprise you with such treasures. And as The Rolling Stones sang, “You can’t get all that you wanted, but just sometimes, you may get what you need.”

Voh kya hai een panktiyon ke beech

Voh kya hai jo baaton ke beech hota hai par rehejaata hai ansuna 

Voh kya hai jo nazaro ke ishaaro mein hota hai par rehejaata hai andekha

Voh kya hai jo khaamoshi mein hota hai par rehjaata hai ankaha

Voh kya hai jo hum dono mehsoos karte hai par rehjaata hai anchhua

Voh kya hai jo hum dono jaante hai par rehjaata hai anjaana 

Kya kabhi maalum kar paayenge hum

Kya itni himmat judh paayenge hum 

Kya nateeje ke boj jhel paayenge hum 

Kya humme milegi khushiya ya phir gham

Voh kya hai een panktiyon ke beech

Voh kya hai een dhadkano ke beech 

Shardi ka mausam

Yeh shardi ka mausam, yeh nange ped, yeh sukhi hui dharti, yeh barfili nadi
sab dheere se tumhe kehe rahe hai ki

Thoda ruk jao teher jao
Ab thoda so jao 
Aaram kar lo
Har waqt patiyaan ke bhoj uthaane ki zaroorat to nahi
Har waqt hariyaali ka sang ho yeh bhi zaroori to nahi 
Har waqt lehero ka hona zaroori to nahi 
Har waqt aage badh na zaroori to nahi
Har waqt kuch kar dikhaane ki zaroorat to nahi

Yeh shardi ke mausam mein sab kuch dheema padh jaata hai
To phir tum kyu dheeme nahi padh te?
Kya paane ke khoj me rehte ho har waqt?
Jaanwar bhi is mausam mein so jaate hai
Apne utar-jeevan ki khoj bandh karte hai
Dharti ke andar chup jaate hai
To phir tum kyu chalte jaa rahe ho
Kyu ruk nahi jaate thoda
So nahi jaate thoda

Apne andar ki gehariyon ko parak nahi lete zara 
Apne andhere ko waqt leke samaj te nahi zara 
Apne andar roshni ko dhundte nahi zara 

Baahar ki duniya se viraam lelo zara 
Apne sab bhikre hue hisse ko jud lo zara

Shaayad phir tum agle mausam mein 
Khil paoge 
Khubsurati se duniya ka saamna kar paoge 

Rukh jao zara
Teher jao zara
Aaraam kar lo zara 

Shardi ke mausam mein 
Apne aap ko dhundlo zara 

Yeh jeevan chakr

Jagta hua suraj
Jagte hue hum

Khilte hue gulab
Khilte hue hum 

Chamakte hue chand sitaare 
Chamakte hue hum

Udhte hue baadal 
Udhte hue hum

Jhoomti hui hava
Jhoomte hue hum

Beheti hui nadiya 
Behete hue hum 

Barasti hui baarish
Baraste hue hum 

Gir te hue patiyaan
Gir te hue hum

Bikharti hui mitti 
Bikharte hue hum 

Sunsaan banti hui raat

Sunsaan bante hue hum

Doob ta hua suraj 
Doob te hue hum 

Sab gair lagta hai

Sab kuch gair lagta hai

Aap jo ek the humme apne lagte the

Lekin aap humme apna na paaye

Aap ne humme aasaani se gair bana diya 

Ab hum bhi aur gairon se mulaakaat karte rahe 

Akelaapan aur badhta gaya

Khayaal mein umeed hoti hai

Khayaal mein umeed hoti hai
Asliyat mein na-umeedi

Khayaal mein roshni 
Asliyat mein andhera 

Khayaal mein aap aur hum ek hote hai
Asliyat mein hum akele aur aap gaayab

Asliyat mein kyu hum jeeye to
Khayaal se hi guzaara kar lenge
Aapke khayaal se hi guzaara kar lenge 

Ek khwaab dekha karte the hum

Ek khwaab dekha karte the hum
Ek khwaab mehsoos karte the hum
Khwaab dekthe dekthe 
Jeena hi bhul gaye
Na khwaab such hua
Na zindagi 

Sab nazaryein ki baat hai

Ek baadal ne dusre baadal se pucha

Yeh kya hai hamaari Zindagaani

Badal te rehte hai humaare roop rang 

Puri tarah se kuch ban nahi paatey 

Jaise ke woh nadi yah pahaad ko puri aakruti milti hai 

Humaari kyu nahi hai sthir zindagaani, koi ek astitva nahi 

Nadi ki ek disha hoti hai, aur uski saagar se milne ki manzil bhi

Hum to hava ke saath bhatakte rehte hai idhar udhar, koi ek disha nahi, koi ek manzil nahi

Humaara koyi ek thikaana nahi

Jaise suraj aur chand ke sthal hote hai

Humaara koyi ek ghar kyu nahi?

Surya bhi puri tarah se hum nahi samet sakte 

Aur usko humne chupa diya to log naaraz ho jaate hai

Paani bhi puri tarah se hum nahi sambhaal sakte 

Aur baarish hum barsaaye to log shikaayat karte hai

Surya ke to har roop logon ko pasand hai

Hum thode kya saavale ho jaaye to log udaas ho jaate hai

Chand ke saath hum luka chipi khele to bhi logon ko pasand nahi, unko to sirf us mah ki chamakti roshni se raaton ko sajaana hai 

Taare chup jaaye humaare peeche yah hum pahaadon ko gher de to bhi log niraash ho jaate hai

Yeh kya hai zindagi humaari 

Na idhar ki na udhar ki

Aisi adhuri hai yeh zindagi humaari

Phir dusre baadal ne pehle baadal se kaha

E humraahi

Yeh sab to nazaryein ki baat hai 

Humaare badal te roop rang ne kalaakaaro ko prerit kiya hai 

Chhote bacho ko behelaaya hai -unki kalpana mein hum kabhi ghoda kabhi mehel ban jaate hai

Koi ek pehchaan ke bagair hum aazaad reh sakte hai

Paahadon to ek jaga par hi ruke hue hai, nadi to ek disha mein hi jaa sakti hai

Hum to kahaan kahaan ghoom sakte hai har disha ka mahotva ley sakte hai 

Hava ke saath jhoom sakte hai

Koi ek ata pata nahi is liye hum swatantra se duniya fir sakte hai

Chaahe log naaraz ho lekin hum unhe Surya ki kachi dhoop se bachaate hai

Thandi raat mein hum unhe kambal pehnaate hai 

Badalte mausam ki chaitavni dete hai 

Jo log registaan mein rehte hai unhe to humaare “saavale” roop bhi megha ki aasha dilaate hai 

Haan hum paani ko pura samet nahi paate 

Par humaari baarish logo ki fasal ko badha ti hai 

Dharti ko sugandhit banaati hai

Mor ko nachaati hai, unke shaandaar pankh ka vistaar karvaati hai

Bache to is baarish mein khel kudte hai

Yeh mausam mein to parivaar ek saath chai aur bhajiye ke sang baatchit ke mazey karte hai

Aur premiyon to baarish mein aur kareeb aa jaate hai

Aur baarish ke baad hum Suraj ki kirnon ko aise phelaate hai ki

Swayam Indra ji unki dhanush ka pradarshan karte hai

Jo logon ko choka deti hai, rangeen sapne dikhaati hai

Jab hum chand ke saath luka chipi khel te hai to woh ek swaroop bhi aur rahasayapoorn dikhta hai,

Raat ko aur gahan banaate hai hum

Haan hum surya ko bhi pura samet nahi paate,

par har waqt me usey aur nikhaarte hai, 

suryast aur udaaya mein hum aur adheek rang ke parte laate hai, 

ek ek pal unke hum sawaar te hai

Hum to jadoogaar hai 

Paani ko bhi aur roop dete hai 

Jaise baarish yah baraf 

Har mausam ke bhaav hum prakat karte hai

Sab tatvon ke saath humaara parichit hai - vaayu, agni, paani, dharti, yah aakash 

Hum to us Aakash ko sajaate hai jiska koyi roop nahi

Saagar se bhi hum miltein hain

Unki boondein mein chipi gehariyon hum prithvi ke garbh tak pahunchaate hain 

Phir bhi

Hum hai bhi to sahi hai

Hum nahi to bhi sahi hai 

Aur humaare uppar havai jahaaj mein udhte hue logo ko puchon,

Pahaadon ki chotiyaan mein khadey hue logo ko puchon,

To voh to yahi kahenge,

Ki hum sab baadolon ke anokhein roop swaroop ek saath dekh te hue 

Unhe to aisa lagta hai ki woh jagat mein aagaye

Khwaabon ki duniya mein aagaye

Aur suno e humraahi 

Hum logo ko is duniya ki asthirta ki yaad dilaate hai

Unhe hum yeh kehete hai

Ki har waqt mein zindagi jeelo apni puri 

Varna to sab kuch aata jaata rehta hai 

Jeevan ke bhoj halke rakh kar unchaaiyon mein terna sikho 

Badalte fasl mein badalna sikho

Koyi ek pehchaan ko apna ghamand mat banaao 

Balki apnepan se dusro ki pehchaan ko aur hardik banaao

Ek ek lamha ko apna lo, zindagi jee lo har is pal mein

Waise bhi yeh pal, yeh lamha, yeh mausam, yeh aaj, yeh kal

Sab humaari thara guzarjaayenge 

E humraahi

Zindagi bhi to sirf apne apne nazaaryein ki pehchaan hai 

Thoda sa magic

Toofan thum gaya

Baarish ki jharmar ne dillon ko sureela banaaya

Chulbuli hava thodi jhoomti hui

Pedo ki patiyaan se khel ti hui

Bheegi zameen ki mehek ko phelaake

Un dillon ko aur madhur banaaya

Baadalon ne bhi itne chanchal roop apnaaye

Un dillon ko kaalpanik kiya

Aur suraj ke sang woh gagan ke jahaaj ne aisa jaadoo rachaaya

Ke Indra bhi khil gaya

Unki dhanush ki chamakte rangon ki nikhaar mein

Woh dard-e-dil , jo apni dhun mein khoye hue, roj ke andhere aur mobile se bahaar na dekh paate 

  aaj Aasmaan ki taraf mudna pada unhe

 Umeed ki taraf dekhna pada unhe

Naye khwaab ki taraf udna na pada unhe

Roshni ki taraf muskaana pada unhe 

The storm dispersed 

The heavy rains now but a drizzle

The breeze dances 

with the trees and the passersby 

bringing them the quenched soil’s exuberant fragrance

The clouds too play in the skies above

with an artist’s flair

And a magician’s wand

Their multitudinous forms 

Engulfing the sun’s rays 

A moving canvas 

And then a double rainbow that charms and sways

Now they are detracted from 

     their daily humdrum, 

      their cellphones, 

          their darkness 

they gaze up Into the heavens 

  into the colorful bows of Hope 

of Happiness 

Perhaps now

 to dream newly

  to smile truly 

📸: Jaydev Upponi

📸: Abhijeet Dangi