The Walls

Walls, they take a long time to build.
My walls are colourful.
They’re coloured by words,
ugly, sometimes angry words.
Some beautiful words – lies.
It is coloured by indifference.
Actions. Reactions. Broken promises.
Each brick carefully placed
For walls, they take a long time to build.

Walls, they build like plants grow
You can’t tell the day or time they sprouted.

Walls are sometimes weird,
you might not even know they’re there.

Sometimes, you need someone to care,
for you to know you don’t want it.
sometimes, you need to be told , ‘i love you’
for you to know you’re scared of it.
Sometimes, you need someone to get close,
for you to know your walls are keeping them out.
Sometimes, you need a great knocking
for you to know your walls keep you safe.

Don’t ask me to tear these walls down,
I’ve built them so meticulously.
For walls, they took a long time to build.
Just know that there’s a reason
my walls don’t have doors.

Sad Modern Lover

It’s sad to be a lover today.
Our letters are mails,
Our calls, texts.

I wish I loved you back when
letters were the real deal.
I’d keep all of them safe, and
wouldn’t fear them getting ‘deleted’.

I would’ve smelt them,
for your beautiful hands would’ve touched them.
I would’ve traced each word with my fingers,
for your heart must have whispered each phrase.
I would’ve kissed them, thinking I’ve kissed you,
for you must have spoken the words out loud.

And I would’ve held them close,
thinking I’ve embraced a part of you.

It’s sad to be a lover today.

I Don’t Miss You

If you’d ask me whether I miss you,

I’d say I don’t.

But just sometimes, when I’m looking at the setting sun,

My eyes well up —

And my heart aches for your presence beside me.

But, no, I don’t miss you all the time.

I’m being honest.

Just sometimes when I’m ready to run away from everything

I think of your arms, that I’d want to call home.

But I really don’t miss you,

For life’s busy and life’s fast.

Just sometimes, when time is flying by —

            I close my eyes and hope to see you smile.

हटा दो

तो फिर हटा दो वो झूठे लाज का घूंघट
वो तौर तरीकों के जाले
वो नज़ाखत वो अदाएं …
फिर ही तो मिल पाओगे मुझसे तुम
बेबाक , बेशरम, बिना झूठ बिना सच
बिना खुद के , बिना मेरे ।

फिर हटा देना वो सोच के दायरे
मैं क्या देखूंगा
क्या सोचूंगा
क्या कहूँगा
जब आना मुझसे मिलने
तो बस अपनी रूह लाना…
नंगी, अनछुई,
ना साफ़ ना मैली।