I’m anxious …

When in school,
Felt that everyone treated me like a kid
And wanted to explore the world
So I was anxious to go to college

When in college,
Never felt independent
And wanted to earn my own money
And I was anxious to go for work

When at work,
Competition among peers crept in
More knowledge and more money was all I needed
So was anxious to go to a B-school

Now at B-school,
Lectures throughout the week
And the week doesn’t seem to end
To be with friends and family
Is just a dream

Now I understand
Life is a book of unsolved mysteries
I’m anxious to unravel them
But it seems to be very difficult.

Being Special

You always cared for me

But I always ignored you

You remembered my birthday every year

But I always forgot yours.

You sent me lovely and precious gifts

But I never appreciated them

You cried seeing me cry

But I always made fun of you

You helped me out through every difficulty

But I never thanked you

I wanted to tell you today

How SPECIAL you made me feel

Whenever you were with me!

But maybe now it’s too late

For now you’ve found someone else

Who makes you feel SPECIAL!

The Reason

I’ve felt the joy in sharing
I’ve felt the happiness in caring
I’ve felt the warmth of a smile
I’ve felt the innocence in a child

I’ve understood the meaning of sacrifice
I’ve understood the essence of forgiveness
I’ve understood the importance of being loved
I’ve understood the meaning of being kind

I’ve known how to be good
I’ve known how to be just
I’ve known how to spread happiness
I’ve known how to wipe away tears

I’ve learnt to help people in need
I’ve learnt to do everyday one good deed
I’ve learnt to win for no gain
I’ve learnt to laugh when in pain

And there’s only one reason for whatever I do
The Reason is YOU!

I wrote this poem after listening to the song “The Reason“by Hoobastank. I quote the following lines from this song; to all my friends

“And I just wanted you to know
Found out reason for me
To change the way I used to be
A reason to start over new
And the reason is YOU!”

Jab we met

Last month I had gone to my best friend, Shilpa’s wedding in Pune. All of whom I knew at the wedding were Shilpa and her family. But they were quite busy in performing the puja. I was seated among the guests and was enjoying the music. But after an hour had passed, I was bored and was eagerly waiting for the wedding function to end.

Suddenly a guy came to me and sat next to me.
He said: “Hi. I’m Rahul. Naam toh suna hoga?
I thought: Oh! The same Bollywood dialogue. Is he talking to me or someone else?
Who is he? Why is he talking to me?
I wanted to shoo him off and gave him a rude reply.
I: “Yes. I’ve heard your name. My milkman’s name is Rahul. But you don’t look like him.”
He: “Hey! You’ve got a good sense of humour. You are Shilpa’s friend, Right? I am her cousin. “
I thought: So what? I am not interested in you.
He: “I was just making sure that all guests are being entertained but then you didn’t seem to be. Weddings are boring. Would you mind to come with me to the café for a cup of coffee?”
I said abruptly: “No thanks! I’d prefer to be alone than to spend time with a stranger. I don’t know you. And I don’t want to talk to strangers or be friendly with them.”
He said smilingly: “Strangers become friends only when you trust them. “

Saying this he walked away.
By then, the rituals were done. I had lunch and then gave the gift to Shilpa and her husband and wished them happy married life.

It was time to leave but it was raining very heavily. I had to be at Mumbai because the next day I had to attend a very important meet. But there was news that the trains from Pune to Mumbai have been cancelled. I was getting very panicky and wanted to reach Mumbai as soon as possible. Shilpa knew about this and was very worried. She then, walked towards me with a guy, and told him to drop me to Mumbai in his car. And guess who it was? Yes, it was Rahul….not my milkman…but that same stranger.
I wondered, ‘O my goodness, I won’t travel with him‘, but had no choice.

Throughout the journey from Pune to Mumbai, he was very nice to me and we became very friendly as if we knew each other for ages. He dropped me at my home and then we both departed with a smile saying, ‘Keep in touch’. From that day onwards, we became good friends.

I kept pondering over what he spoke to me at the wedding and then realized what he said was true. Truly, strangers become friends only when you have faith and trust in them.

Walking with you in the rain

I enjoyed every moment
That I spent with you
Every talk with you
Every walk beside you

In the hot summer days
When we shared the ice-cream
In the cold winter days
When we had a hot cup of coffee

And those days when we walked
In the rain hand in hand
Jumped in dirty puddles
And splashed water over each other….
How I cherish those moments
Walking in the rain with you....

But now, to me all seasons seem to be the same
Be it summer, winter or rain
How sad I feel to know
What you played with me was just a game

Whom do I trust now?
Whom do I tell now?
Whom do I ask now?
Questions that were felt unanswered

I feel like crying out loud
Find it difficult to hide my tears
When those sweet memories come to my mind

I want to walk in the rain now
And ease all the pain
But I cannot hold my tears
As they trickle down from the cheeks

And I know now
I’ll never feel the same joy again
Walking in the rain!!

See you soon

Five Years Ago..

Was the time
When I thought about him, dreamt about him, cared for him
I liked him and I loved him

Little did he know about this
Thought I was just another friend

Never did I express my feelings to him
Never had I spoken to him about my emotions

I repent for not bidding him farewell
For now he’s gone forever, far, far away from me

I’m left with nothing but only memories
The moments I spent with him-Giggling and Laughing

Even now I spend hours thinking about him
Trying hard to forget him, his smile, his laughter and his pranks!!
Waiting to meet him anxiously
Hoping that he’ll come someday, just to meet me!!

Just a small issue

Just a small issue
That begun as a mere disagreement
But further turned into an argument

And you argued and you fought
You uttered words to me without a thought

I wanted you to be my friend
To walk with me, right till the end

But the end came soon before it could actually be
And you walked right away
Not once did you look back at me

How could you be so ignorant?
Being a friend, never replied to those messages that I sent

I tried to be in touch with you
But you never cared for me the way, I cared for you

Don’t know how will I react when I see you?
Will I meet you or will I ignore you?

Love at first sight

After waiting for a long time in the queue, the bus arrived and Alisha boarded it. The bus was very crowded. So she moved to the front end of the bus and quickly occupied a vacant seat. Another college girl also came by and sat next to her. Then Alisha noticed a handsome teenager who had also boarded from the same bus stop, also came to the front end of the bus and occupied a seat that was a little ahead of the seat where Alisha had been seated.

He was fair, tall, and handsome but apparently seemed younger than Alisha. He had worn a white T-shirt and blue pair of jeans and seemed quite decent.

That boy was constantly looking behind where Alisha had been seated. She was now getting very conscious and avoided looking at this boy.

When the bus halted at the next stop, an aged woman boarded the bus. This boy offered her a seat. In a couple of minutes, the boy also got a seat but constantly turned to have a look at Alisha.

She was impressed of that boy’s courteousness of offering a seat to that old lady. As the bus journey continued, she began liking him. Thoughts rushed into her mind,”Does he know me by any chance? Should I talk to him? Are we going to meet everyday in the same bus? Do I like him? Is it love or just infatuation?”
.
.
.
The bus halted at the stop prior to the final destination and the girl seated next to Alisha got off from the bus. As the bus started to move slowly, Alisha noticed that the girl smiled at this boy and the boy also smiled back.

It was then she realized that the boy must have known that girl and that he was interested in that girl and not in Alisha.

The final destination came and the bus halted. Alisha thought that the guy might look back at her but he didn’t. Nothing happened the way Alisha had thought. He alighted from the bus and disappeared in the crowd and Alisha’s eyes kept looking out for him.

Best Days of my Life

Sky filled with clouds
Thunder shouted out loud
Weather’s turned out to be cool
It was time to go to school!

Long had been the summer vacations
Free from studies and exam tension
Back to school once again
And also to enjoy the rain!

Twas fun to see
the rain drops falling
And also fun to watch
the earthworms wriggling!

Got holidays from school
Many a times
A lame excuse to forget
The poems and the rhymes!

Returned home from school
Dressed in raincoats
And enjoyed the holiday
Sailing paper boats!

Hated to write an essay on “The rainy day”
Describing what we underwent during that holiday
‘Flooded roads, water logged railway tracks
Uprooted trees and damp school bags’!

Those were the years with
Four months of summer and Four months of rain
Now are the years
With endless months of summer and no signs of rain

You know the reason
And so do I
Still we continue to be the same
Not knowing why

Yet I’ll never forget those wonderful rainy days
And will ever cherish them as the “Best days of my life”.

In search of..

In search of you
I participated in college events though I didn’t want to

In search of you
I attended dance parties though it didn’t make me happy

In search of you
I went for movies and plays though it couldn’t turn my tears into laughter

In search of you
I visited many places where no one dares to go

In search of you
I met people whom no one wants to meet

In search of you
I walked a thousand miles
But couldn’t find you anywhere

It is always been said,
To have a friend, one has to be a friend.
And I regret saying that I couldn’t be one.

SWELTERING SUMMER HEAT

College exams got over in mid-April and after two weeks of vacation; it was time to join a company for two months as a summer trainee.

It was the second day of the month of May (1^st May being a holiday-Maharashtra day), I had to report to the company at 9.00 AM.

The day before, I had decided that I’ll be on time at the office … planned the entire schedule .. referred to the railway timetable, decided on a particular train..got the details of the bus no. and the bus route too. I slept early at 10.30 PM and set alarm for the next day at 6.00 AM

The next day dawned, the alarm was not ringing….I thought there’s still time to wake up ..its not yet 6.00 AM. But then I glanced at the watch….oops .its 7.00. I was startled …I had to rush to freshen up, have my breakfast, pack my tiffin….and also to iron my clothes..but oops again…Load shedding….drops of sweat trickled down my forehead!!

I digged my cupboard for some decent clothes but couldn’t find anything better…I was badly perspiring.. .Finally found a shirt and a pair of trousers and put them on.

I was waiting for a cab to reach the railway station…it was 8.00 AM..still 1 hour to reach the office. Already I was perspiring profusely. There were no signs of a cab on the road and after 5 minutes , I somehow got a cab. I told the driver to drive fast but hush…the cab stopped. I yelled at the driver,” What’s the matter? Why did u stop the cab? I am getting late”. He said “ There’s not enough petrol madam”.

I got off from the cab and started walking fast towards the station .But I realized walking fast won’t help me from not being late. so I started to run. The scorching heat made me feel as though I’m made out of wax and was melting.

I was walking on the bridge towards the platform, when I saw the ticket checker and it dawned on me that I had not bought the ticket. I ran back to the counter and waiting in the long queue, I wondered” Why on earth all such wrong things happen on the same day?”

I got the ticket and rushed to the platform where fast trains arrive. I somehow got into the train but to my dismay, the train changed its route and was now halting at all stations. It was 8.45 AM. How could I reach the office in 15 minutes? The train was so crowded and congested that I could hardly breathe. The humidity was at the peak.The stink of the sweat was aggravating and I was feeling sick. I was gasping for breath and looked above at the ceiling of the train and shucks…the fan wasn’t working. The station arrived and I was pushed out of the train.

The humidity was 95% and my clothes were soaked with sweat. I went to the bus stop and thought that if I get a bus immediately, I might still reach office before time and then bus arrived but it was crowded and before I could enter into it , the bus conductor signaled the driver to move the bus and off the bus left. There were still 6 minutes left to 9.00.

I couldn’t beat the heat…and was thirsty.. waiting eagerly to reach office and quench my thirst. My I somehow managed to get a cab easily and it left me at my destined stop.

I alighted from the cab and reached the company gates hastily ( it was 8.58 on my watch). Though I was dying of thirst and soaked in sweat, I was so happy that I reached on time and how my boss would be pleased to see me on time.

But…..I found the company gates were closed. I enquired with guard and he said,

..

…

….

…..

“ Arey Madam ,Yeh dekho ..”

and I saw the board:

OFFICE TIMINGS:

MONDAY-FRIDAY 9.00 AM TO 5.00 P.M

SATURDAYS CLOSED.....