Giving Wings To Dreams

Verma family was still engulfed in the sweet caress of slumber in the wee hours of morning when a sudden movement on the staircase outside their house shook it up.Mr. Verma belonged to the upper middle class and was a bank employee. His job being transferable made it impossible for him to settle down permanently. After every three years he would pack up his belongings and would march to the new city and settled in a new rented accommodation. A year back his job had brought him to Una ,a small hill station in Himachal pradesh. It wasn't something very convenient for him to get a suitable rented house in Una. Somehow ,he got the ground floor of a three storey building. Often he would feel annoyed if people on the top floor made movement at the odd hours. He would often complain about migraine. He thanked the Almighty as the immediate middle floor over his head was so far unoccupied. That day things were going to change as when he stepped out to trace the reason of the commotion outsi...

क्यों आज  खेत खलिहान अपने छोड़ सड़कों पर उतरे हैं किसान भारत के? क्यों छोड़कर अपनी छत सर्दी में, साथ लेकर राशन पानी सड़कों पर उतरें हैं किसान भारत के? क्या सोचा हमने क्यों आज परेशान हैं किसान भारत के? क्या शौक से भटक रहे हैं बेदर किसान भारत के? क्या समझा हमने क्यों कोल्हू के बैल की तरह सदियों से पीसते हैं किसान भारत के? सदियों से जो बनकर अन्नपूर्णा भरते हैं फसलों से गोदाम भारत के। क्यों जमाखोरी और कालाबाजारी के शिकार हुए किसान भारत के? गर्मी,सर्दी या हो बरसात रात-दिन ,सुबह -शाम निस्वार्थ काम करते हैं किसान भारत के। आँधी, तूफ़ान,बाढ़ और सूखे की मार को साल दर साल झेलते किसान भारत के। क्यों आज किरकिरी की तरह चुभ रहे किसान भारत के? जय जवान जय किसान का नारा क्या भूल गए इंसान भारत के? क्या कभी हम रूके कुछ पल और देखा क्यों हर किसान को लगता है उसे मिला है हरपल धोखा? क्या कभी हमने सोचा कर्ज़ के बोझ से दबे ना जाने कितने किसान हैं फंदो पर लटके? ज़रा ठहरें, रूके और करे विचार भारत के किसान अपनी मिट्टी से जो है बेजोड़ जुड़े जो सपनों में भी कभी ना चाहें रूख बेदिल शहरों का क्यों आज देश के दिल दिल्ली की और ह...

Bhumika when woke up felt her eyes to be very heavy due to the sleepless long night. The happenings of the previous day had never ever been imagined by her. Her simple straight life was going to take unexpected twists and turns.She had never ever anticipated the course her life was about to take.she was a simple, homely girl. Till 21 her routine had been normal like any other girl of Indian middle class .She had done her graduation and post graduation both from the degree college in her hometown Bilaspur ,a small hill station, a place which was though a part of the princely state Himachal yet was not having the cool environment which is a distinct feature of of the Gods' state. Mostly the weather was dry and warm in Bilaspur. The winter season was not at all a very cold one there.Bhumika had done her post graduation in English from the city college and was teaching in a local private school since last one year.  But her shopkeeper father who realised the importance of professional ...

Sixteen  years back It was the same auspicious time of approaching  Deepawali everyone's  favorite  festival  of lights When one ignores all reasons to crib and fight. Sixteen  years back On November  eight  To make our lives special and great A delicate light shimmered in our home To brighten up our lives for years to come. A fresh flower bloomed in garden of our home To spread the loveliest fragrance and fumes. Sixteen years back It was  the second time when l became mom. A sweet little fairy ended up in my lap Who was going to mirror my infancy, my teenage  and my younger self back. Sixteen  years back  I feel ashamed to  recall How feebly l had acted ! And how to the best news of my life l had reacted ! Stung by the scorpion of unknown fear and apprehension  Bottling up my mind with constant reports about crime against women. How could l loose my senses and forget  that l was born a girl, Brought up as a girl...

My daughter  l want you to know For us you are no less than your bro. Son or daughter, Daughter or son for us you are two sides of the same coin. Both of you are our sunshine  And in rainbow of our family both of you are two vibrant hues. My Sweetheart Remember, ofcourse you are prim rose of our garden But your brother is also not a thorn, As many people in the name of feminism will try to portray. In times to come When you will be young Don't forget Your grandma Your mom and  all your aunts Were someone's daughters. And your future Mom-in-law and sister-in-law are  someone's daughters too. My love Time tested age old sublime bond between siblings has been spiced with greed and thus tarnished in name of progress and equality. But let me teach you reality which l have heard from my mom. If you wish to inherit Inherit our values, Inherit our love, Inherit our traditions, Inherit our sacrifices, Inherit our life's lessons, And above all inherit respect for your bro, Bec...

गली मुहावरों वाली सबको राह दिखाती लंबा पर सही रास्ता ही है जो बस है ठीक। गली मुहावरों वाली सबको यह सिखाती अक्लमंद को इशारा काफ़ी। गली मुहावरों वाली सबसे करे सवाल क्या कभी ना सुना है  मखमल के गलीचों पर टाट के पैबंद नहीं लगते? या नाच ना जाने आँगन टेढ़ा ? क्या कभी ना सुना है अधजल गगरी छलकत जाए ? या कागज़ की नाव नहीं चलती ? क्या देखा है कभी जलेबी सा सीधा व्यक्तित्व ? या हथेली पर सरसों उगते? क्या कभी किस्से कहानियों से बाहर देखा है अलादीन का चिराग ? या बड़ी-बड़ी बातों से पेट भरते ? क्या हाँ की जगह ना और ना की जगह हाँ हो सकती है ? या रात की जगह दिन और दिन की जगह रात ले सकती है ? यह है गली मुहावरों वाली जो अज्ञान की निद्रा से हमें जगाती और हमें है यह बताती  लंबा टीका मधुर बानी दगाबाज़ की यही निशानी  और देख ,समझ और पहचान ले उसको जिसके हाथ में माला पर दिल में है भाला। झूठे दोस्त से खुला दुश्मन भला और तिलक लगाने से ना हर कोई संत बना। गली मुहावरों वाली सबको यह चेताती दो गज की बना लो उनसे दूरी जिन्हें आता हैं तिल का ताड़ बनाना । जिनके मुँह में राम पर है बगल में छूरी। जिन्हें आता है पराई आग ...

एक वो दिन थे  बचपन में श्राद्ध भी कहाँ अपने दिवाली और होली से भिन्न थे। खीर पूरी की खुशबू से पूरा घर जैसे महक सा जाता था। माँ के हाथ के बने श्राद्ध के खाने से दिल बहक सा जाता था। एक दिन पापाजी हमारे दादा और एक दिन झाई जी हमारी दादी का होता था श्राद्ध। दस ग्यारह पंडितों का घर में आना श्रद्धा और भक्ति से हवन कुंड का दहक जाना। और सबसे पहले पापा का कुकुर ,गाय  और कौवे को भोग लगाना। और अपने पितरों के नमन में सर झुकाना। एक वो दिन थे रिश्तेदारों का हमारे घर में लगता था मेला। पर पापा को कुछ बुझा -बुझा सा पाना अकेला हम कुछ समझ ना पाते थे बस माँ के हाथ के खाने का लुत्फ़ उठाते थे। एक वो दिन थे। फिर दिन बदले  मायका छोड़कर ससुराल की राह और गली हो ली। ज़िंदगी मानो एक अनबुझ पहेली हो गई। अधिकार धूमिल और बोझिल से हो गए जिम्मेवारी और कर्तव्य सर्वोपरि हो गए। ससुराल का पहला श्राद्ध  हाथों से अपने पहली बार खीर और पूरी बनाई मन बहुत अधीर और अशांत था पितर अब मायके नहीं ससुराल के थे अपनाने। अमावस का यह श्राद्ध अब दिल को जलाता है। पितरों को नमन अब स्वाद नहीं दर्द का अहसास दिलाता है। कुछ टूटता है...

'Oh! Great lord Hanuman save me, please protect me', Mudit was gasping for breath , while trying to get out of the marshy area ; holding tightly the stooping branch of an old banyan tree in the middle of the dark night at around two. 'Don't you turn !' 'Who is this ?Where are you?Save me Lord '. Mudit screamed helplessly when he realised that the slender long moustache of the banyan tree growing near the marsh which had been his savior since last half an hour or so was slipping out of his palms , leaving his hands bruised up. 'No, Mudit no. You can't end up like this. Your  expectant wife is waiting for you. Your part is growing inside her. You have to pull yourself out'  , Mudit ,desperate to get himself free from the handcuffs of eerie marsh began to talk to himself aloud. The more he tried to pull himself out of mire  he felt he was being forcefully dragged inside. " Leave my feet ." Mudit felt two hands tightly grasping his feet . H...

An attempt to address the helplessness of parents who have and will have different parenting struggles since time immemorial to save their children from slipping into labyrinth of illogical fashion ,demands and at present the ocean of gadgets.... Times change, centuries roll But parents have only their children's well being as their only goal. "Why are you standing here? Oh! Stop staring there, Don't twitter like this. Don't roam like that ." "Ah! "My heart shouted thither, " Will you please stop this father?" A momentary silence prevailed But soon my dad yelled again, " Mend your ways. Trim your nails. Wear a decent attire. Concentrate on your studies or get ready to fail." I perspired and wailed," Stop this father."  "Have you gone mad?" Shouted my teenager son. Son who has a novel definition of fun. Who is a prisoner of a tech cell The living hell whose inmate is not one but everyone's teenaged young ones. W...

Tip- tip rain At times you arrive like a superfast train Alas! But you don't pick any passengers, Rather , sometimes l feel you resurrect as an avenger Are you asking how and why you are being blamed? Because at times you jolt everyone's brain, As to settle the mess of which you are harbinger humans have to deploy jcbs and cranes. Tip-tip rain I guess talking to you is mostly vain, Because, when it's you It's difficult to tame. You transform into fire if you fall in torrents. You are no less than a volcano when you adorn ,when you dress yourself with deadly darkness,thunder and lightning. Tip-tip rain Allow me question you Why for small children you become frightening? Specially when carrying backpacks With pinky faces towards school on their tiny feet they march, With your sudden arrival you make their way tough and harsh. Their rosy cheeks burn with ire  As passing vehicles soil their tidy clothes and shoes and you make little angels frown. Tip- tip rain  Have you eve...

Keep the lamp of hope lit As power of silent prayer is Unfathomable and impossible to beat. Initially you'll feel you are forlorn And your path, your terrain is uneaven, rough and tough. Remember, hundreds of hands are folded in prayer and will brighten up your way. So, keep the lamp of hope lit. Autumn may be around But it can't forever stay As spring will for sure bloom and come your way. Don't forget to keep the lamp of hope lit. Howsoever, strong may be hurricanes or storms, Good wishes of not one but many will be your shield. Therefore, infront of dense darkness of dismay you don't have to yield. That's why keep the lamp of hope lit. Remember, even tightly closed doors are helpless and have no power Remember, that not even hundreds of hinges on them can bar the light. As the chaste ray of hope will trace and make its way from crevices and it will reach out to you ..... Just make sure to keep the lamp of hope lit .....

अंश हो तुम मेरा। An attempt to step into the shoes of a dear one from whom God has snatched away a young son,who wasn't even 25 yet..... अंश हो तुम मेरा। मेरे हृदय का टुकड़ा नहीं तुम तो मेरा हृदय हो। क्या कभी दुस्वप्न में भी मैंने सोचा अंत होगा तुम्हारा ? निर्जिव ढ़ेर मिट्टी का मेरा प्यारा लाल होगा? और जीवन में मेरे अब हरपल अकाल होगा? बड़े-बड़े तुफ़ानों से मैं लड़ गई  बस हर बार डूबने से खुद को इसलिए बचाया क्योंकि अंश हो तुम मेरा। आधार हो तुम मेरा। मेरे जीवन का लक्ष्य भी तुम और पतवार भी तुम। जो आया है वो जाएगा  मानती हूँ ऐसा पहली बार हुआ नहीं सुना भी ,और देखा भी माँओ ने अक्सर अपना लाल खोया। क्या दुस्वप्न में भी मैंने कभी सोचा मेरा भी यह हाल होगा। खून से अपने सींच कर  सपनों में अपने सहेज कर मैंने हर पल तुम्हें बढ़ते और सम्भलते देखा फिर कैसे आज तुम्हे जाते देखूँ? कैसे आज तुम्हे अंतिम बार देखूँ? कभी पीछे से तुम्हे आवाज़ ना दी सुना है यह शुभ नहीं काश! मैं बस कल एक बार पुकार लेती  नज़र तुम्हारी घर की दहलीज़ पर उतार लेती तो आज अशुभ शुभ होता। आज जब तुम जा रहे हो सब छोड़कर मुँह मुझसे मो...

Trains' engines' booming whistling blow, Aeroplanes deafening whopping flow Or Buses ,cars wheels of each and every vehicle were halted. Ah! Who could have dreamt Who could have foretold That our lovely world is going to lose its glow.  Since Covid-19 is here to each and everyone scare Shops were shut Malls were closed Almost in all sectors shutters of offices were pulled down for uncertainty. Temples,Gurdwaras ,churches and mosques all were locked. But one temple refused But one temple denied to call it off. And ventured to mould to keep its gates open and bold. Believe me ,only it has power to transform pebbles into gold. I hope you have guessed Because since childhood we all have been told That Temple of Education is the best. Kudoos to warriors Salute to warriors Doctors, health workers, police force and sanitation team. But,but wait aren't we forgetting The creators,the builders, the moulders,the sculptors the true cheer leaders of these selfless warriors. Work from ho...

A small attempt to thank all my dear friends ,those who were in secondary and higher secondary level, my college friends, my a few neighbours, my hostel friends and my lifetime friends at work place, my siblings and my life partner. Those who can read my mind, guess my mood, bear my tantrums, forgive my blunders, tolerate my short temper, ignore my flaws, mentor me round the clock and above all love me unconditionally.  You are my best friends On whom l know l can depend My heart says who will not hesitate to defend If l slip and towards wrong l bend. Who have power to heal  And on my wounds have their  soft words as seal. My sorrows only they can kill Who are my sweet pills. Who are different from the crowd Whose presence makes me feel proud With whom one day l would like to fly I don't know why at present l want to cry. Whose absence makes a void Whose memory l can't avoid In their intense eyes All my worries dive. May they achieve all their goals And climb success pole...

'I can't I won't They can't They won't Snatch me away Pull me astray. I tremble to see alfra red temperature checking device. I stumble to view those PPE kit clad human forms. My heart skips a beat or two to hear those deafening sirens of ambulances constantly wailing. My whole strength is as if pumped out to behold police patrol cars now always roaming'. My pretty daughter was in tears She was unable to fight her fears. 'Mom,' she yelled ,' l can't live without papa and you' 'Mom,' she pleaded,' this home would be a living hell without papa and you'. 'Mom' , she whispered,'What if l would fall ill? If l would have Covid -19? If they drag me away ? That hospital's four walls l assure would be no less than inferno. That hospital's four walls would become my graveyard. Your little bird would then never ever chirp or fly.' 'My darling daughter,' l assured ,' l will always be at your side. In my...

"Alas ! Am l doomed to never relish my share of appreciation. " Darpan kept on hitting his left thigh with his clenched fist.  "Garv , l am proud of you my son . You and Garvit l am sure will take my business to newer heights.My business associates were singing verses of your calibre as future business tycoons.Garv teach Darpan also to take responsibility ,he is your younger brother . And Darpan try to learn something from your younger brother Garvit." Darpan, who always felt sandwiched between his two brothers wasn't meant for business. He had no aptitude for business. He wanted to study and become an lAS officer. He had no wish to ride his father's Impala or any other luxurious car. He wished to ride a govt. Vehicle. Everyone in his extended family laughed at his this notion as all had flourishing businesses. "Darpan, finish your supper . Where are you going?" Suniti ,Darpan's mom took hold of his hand. She was the only one who supported him ...

Poorvi's exhilaration and exuberance was bottomless when she spotted her name on the list of selected students for the post graduation course in English displayed outside her college's notice board.  Poorvi as well as her best friend Swapna  was born under a lucky star to secure a seat out of the only twenty seats allocated for the post graduation in English to their degree college by The Himachal Pradesh University. Both of them knew well that for them it was no less than epoch-making to get admission as there were minimum chances of them being sent out of the city for higher education due to their own respective grounds.Poorvi's father had a transferable job and Swapna's family was dyed-in-the-wool, unwilling to budge even for an inch from their centuries old orthodox track . Another reason for their desperation to get admission in their city's college was the bond that they shared. Since class ninth they had been together. "Swapna ,so we have two more years ...

यह कौन सी रुत है? यह कौन सा मंज़र है? यहाँ खंज़र की धातु बदल गई । ना ताँबा ,ना लोहा मिट्टी की मानुष काया भयावह तलवार हो गई। यहाँ बस अब खौफ़ बेखौफ़ है। आज आदमी आदमी को देखकर डरता है। भाई को भाई से परहेज़ है। अब ना कोई भाईचारा हर आदमी बेरौब है। इस पल ना बचा कोई अड़ोस-पड़ोस। ना जाने कहाँ खो गए उजले सवेरे? अब तो दिन में भी हैं छाए कातिल अँधेरे। उम्मीद की दूर-दूर कोई किरण नज़र ना आए। हर साँस घुटती जाए। मायूसी ,उदासी पुरजोर है। ना अब तेरा ना मेरा है  अब सारे विश्व का चक्काजाम है। क्योंकि यहाँ बस खौफ़ बेखौफ़ है। हर साँस ,हर आस पर एक अनजान पहरा है। विश्वपटल पर अब ना कोई खुशी की चहल पहल है। बस अदृश्य शत्रु का हड़कंप है। स्कूल, कॉलेज, बाज़ार, दफ़्तर, खेत खलिहान, मैदान, मॉल और सिनेमा हॉल सब बेज़ान और बेहाल हैं। लाशों के अब अंबार हैं कब्रिस्तान भी आज चीन,स्पेन,इटली और अमरिका में बेईमान हैं। ना अब आसानी से चार कंधे नसीब हों। कंधे तो कंधे ना जाने अब कितनों के हिस्से में दो बीद्या ज़मीन हो। क्योंकि यहाँ बस खौफ़ बेखौफ़ है। बाहर आने जाने का यह वक्त बेवक्त है। वो सब जो बिगड़ा है संवर जाएगा। वो सब जो उजड़ा वीरान है आबा...

Let's view, Let's review, Let's probe, Let's ponder, Let's in the lane of memory wander...... Seven continents,  Seven wonders, Seven seas, More than 8.7 million species. Six types of forests Tropical, Mediterranean, Deciduous , Coniferous and Evergreen rain forests. Four types of landforms Mountains ,hills, plateaus and plains. Four types of deserts Subtropical , Coastal ,Cold winter and polar deserts. Five different types of weathers  Sunny, cloudy ,snowy ,windy and rainy.... Beautiful flora and fauna... Endowments of The Prime Mover Almighty are multifarious and much more than many ... Many was many  As long as there wasn't any concept of money. Money which in this day and age is considered to be sweeter than the nector or the honey ... All species took Only as much which was their due. But there is one species which has disfigured the Earth's countenance , Which has discolored the Earth's beautiful hue.... Who has the brain To think, to scheme,to jus...

The world ,where generations of human beings are born and perish would have been a more beautiful, colourful, liveable,less complicated and painful if unborn children could choose their parentage. But, the ways of God are comprehensible to Him alone . The theory of Karma here mercilessly tags the masses in two groups- one the pure sublime souls who ride on the swing of general prosperity , and the other who struggle ,who suffer because it's believed that they must have done something punishable and offendable in their previous lives...... Supriya's worries multiplied with her daughter Priya's promotion in grade ninth. Priya had been a fairly good student till her seventh grade, as long as rote memorization was possible. Her cramming power yielded results even in a subject like mathematics. But, the trouble started in eigth standard. Her performance was going down steeply. Solving mathematics became Achilles hill for her. She became morose and her percentage came down. Anyho...