From the heart...

कुछ शामें बचाके रखीं थी, यारों के साथ पीने के लिए...

काफी पैसे कमाके रखें थे, बाद में आराम से जीने के लिए... 

जाने कब मेरी ज़िन्दगी से निकल गयीं, वो बचाई हुई हर एक शाम।

यार दोस्त भी ग़ुम हुए, पीछे रह गए सिर्फ पैसे और जाम।

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कॉलेज-टाइम की वो रातें याद है यारों...

जब होता था कमरा खचाकच भरा और बोतलें खाली।

आज भी हर रात को महफ़िल जमती है मेरे घर में... 

बोतलें तो भरी हुई है, पर आज कमरा  है खाली।

Why my father reprimanded me on Father’s Day?

It was unusual for my father to call me on a Sunday evening, more so because I had already made the customary weekend phone call to him and my mother earlier today. A tad bit worried, I muted the TV before answering his call.

Father: Couldn't you do even this bit?

Me: What?

Father: If you didn't have a photograph of us together, you should have asked me for it. I'd easily have clicked one from my old album and sent it through WhatsApp to you.

Me: Dad, you’re not at all making any sense to me!

Father: Since morning today, all my friends have been proudly flaunting the lovely Facebook wishes their children have posted for them. The posts displaying a picture of them together with their son or daughter, and my friends tagged in those.

Me: Oh... that?

Father: Yes, that! And I thought you are a good writer.

Me: Wait! Now what does it have to do with writing?

Father: All their children have written such emotional lines about their father in these posts. Hear this one… Verma’s son writes, “The greatest gift I ever had came from God; I call him Dad.” How touching is that!

Me:  Such quotes can be found aplenty in e-card websites. But, that’s not the point… when on earth did you start caring about such things?

Father: Ever since you have urged me to open a Facebook account and gifted me a smart phone. Now I feel that I was better off without them.

Me: But dad…

Father: Please do not ‘but dad’ me! I felt so out of place when everyone was discussing those posts and I had nothing to flaunt in my Facebook wall.

Me: You know how much I hate PDA, dad!

Father: Now, what’s that?

Me: PDA… err… Public Display of Affection. Also, Father’s Day is just a western concept promoted by the likes of Hallmark and Archies to increase their sales.

Father: You had said the same about Valentine’s Day, but so often I had seen you sneaking out of the house with those red and pink cards during your college days.

Me: Err… that's a different thing altogether!

Father: Only when it comes to doing things for your parents, your enthusiasm fizzles out!

Me: Sorry dad. I did not comprehend that a Facebook post would mean so much to you. Can I make up for it by writing a nice Father's Day wish and sending it via WhatsApp to you now?

Father: Don’t bother… now it’s too late! Just remember to post something nice and touching on your mom’s Facebook wall on Mother’s Day. I can bear this insensitive attitude of yours, but she gets hurt easily. I will email you a photograph of her with a 10-years-old you in her arms.

Me: But mom doesn’t even have a Facebook account! 

Father: So, create one for her. What can be a better Mother’s Day present than that? By the way, there’s one thing I have been contemplating to ask you since a while now…

Me: Please go ahead…

Father: Is everything fine between you and your wife? I've never seen you both wishing and thanking each other on Facebook for the ‘lovely companionship and years spent together’ during your wedding anniversary and other special days. All your friends and cousins do so!

Me: Goodbye, dad!

पैमाने ढूंढ़ता हु...

वजह नहीं मिलती यार से मिलने की,
तो बहाने ढूंढ़ता हु।
साथ बैठके जो खनकाए थे,
वो पैमाने ढूंढ़ता हु।

ज़िन्दगी को उँगलियों पे नचाते थे,
दूरियों को पल में मिटाते थे।
उन फुरसत भरे लम्हों के,
आज ख़ज़ाने ढूंढ़ता हु।
… साथ बैठके जो खनकाए थे,
वो पैमाने ढूंढ़ता हु।

Nirula's का बड़ा bill, टूटा हुआ दिल,
Exams में 40% लाने की मुश्किल।
इन problems को जहा fix करते थे,
वो कारखाने ढूंढ़ता हु।
… साथ बैठके जो खनकाए थे,
वो पैमाने ढूंढ़ता हु।

Birthday bumps के दर्द से बचने के लिए,
Extra jeans पेहेनके college जाना।
आज Whatsapp और Facebook के wishes में,
लम्हें वो बचकाने ढूंढ़ता हु।
… साथ बैठके जो खनकाए थे,
वो पैमाने ढूंढ़ता हु।

मौका नहीं मिलता यार से मिलने का,
तो पुराने अफ़साने ढूंढ़ता हु।
साथ बैठके जो खनकाए थे,
वो पैमाने ढूंढ़ता हु।