Yet another 20th of the month, and here I celebrate this scribbling as part of my D-Day. This one is dedicated to all my wonderful friends, an extended parivar of mine, that is a month old RRR (Ride, Run & Re-live) initiative at Ridge Residency, Noida. These gals and guys started pampering me since 5am today by covering 108km of running for and along with me, followed by cake celebrations, and an amazing cycle ride of 20km in the rain, and continue to pamper me. Thanks and gratitude are lesser words for your selfless love and affection. This writing is also dedicated to my darling daughter at Muenster Germany, just 161km from the Hamelin town where the tales of the Pied Piper originated about 900 years ago. Cheers

I was a bit fatigued and hazy
in the wee hours of the day
It was the calling of the Koel
That woke and energized me
sweeping lethargy at bay

Don’t we all need a tune in life
as magical as of a Pied Piper’s pipe
To synchronize our molecules
choose the direction, that’s rife!
and to hypnotize our emotions,
To emerge from the chaotic ride
Facing the ups n downs
At times having driven down the edge of a knife!

Was it the magic of tune
that had quickened the children’s pace
Or the charm inherent in the being
That had conquered every heart n race!

Is he the Pied Piper of Hamelin
Or our own Krishna Kanhaiya!
We are bound to be carried
away by illusion… the “Maya”!

Is he selling dream or a facade
That despite burning on edge,
he will let you believe in mirage
that something lovely in offing
Let you overcome a heartbreak
and steer you clear through
Your darkest hours at stakes
He is there to reassure that
It’s normal to feel stressed,
Angry and even depressed!
To understand your ‘Ankahi’
and help secrete Adrenaline
fight out odds & never to stall

We may try ape him or aspire
to abate thirsts that are on fire!
Merely by following his tunes
But even the huge ocean, the
Pied Piper’s final destination
is too shallow for our desires!

More often than not, I wonder
that after thousands of years
We are still living in a cave!
Is it the place where we feel
relatively secure and safe!
And choose to live within it’s
cold silence, rather than encounter
outside storm with grace!

Don’t you give up on dreams
In your fanciful ideologies
As they continue to gleam!
Keep enjoying magical tunes of
the Pied Piper of your streets!
Learn, imbibe, think out of
the box to break the mundane!
Try step out of the limits
By the prosaic life of a humane!

(yet another 20th and despite yesterday being not only hectic but also fatigued, my pen as usual couldn’t stop scribbling. This piece is dedicated to those who do not treat you well. Look at it, if you wanna remain joyous in life under any type of clouds)

Even if someone doesn’t wait,
Accept the bare and brazen fact
Maybe you did the same long back
And someone still has its impact!

Even if someone yells at you
Neither respond nor get upset
It could be you who accelerated
the situation to make him react!

Even if someone doesn’t listen
Your words will sow a seed
and would not go in vain
He might have been occupied to
get your attention to his brain!

Even if someone judges & opines
Is it really of any value or concern?
If so, give him the benefit of doubt
to help you not resorting to burn!

Even if someone doesn’t understand
You try place your hand in her hands
to help overcome the prejudice & bias,
Ask you what’s up man, as she lands!

Even if someone departs…. whether with or without reason
Atleast windows need not be shut
Let conscience prick her to relate
And accept your goodness as gut!

Even if someone cheats….
Never feel hurt, shocked or blown!
The air loaded with genuine hopes
will always seek a low pressure area
to fill the cavity, as the fear elopes!

Even if they expect undue apology
and push you to the wall or the shelf
to be twisted by their raw analogy
Be always unapologetically yourself!

Even if everything seems wrong
Try listen to it as a freak sad song
to be able to steal your entire life
even from just two moments of life!

दो पल के जीवन से इक उम्र चुरानी है। जिन्दगी और कुछ भी नहीं, तेरी मेरी कहानी है।

[My Dear friends! Yet another 20th! This one dedicated as “shardhanjali” to all my known faces, friends and family, including caring Prassini maasi, loving Nirmal Di, great ex-colleague Dr. Milind Wakdikar, and buddy blasting cheerleader Himani Badoni… these beautiful souls with whom I had a deep connect … Despite my strong inner self, I had been a bit low on the exodus of these wonderful and charismatic lives…. However, this is not about my emotional state but a message for their surviving family members to accept it as inevitable and despite this critical difficult juncture of life, do attempt finding out a ‘reason’ (motivation) to live as joyous as ever – atleast to make these souls happy. Lots of love and affection to you! I am always there for and with you in this crisis and ever to cheer you up as well as provide whatever support I am worthy of….]

It was almost nearing midnight
Full Moon was as usual bright
but it was not the usual White
It seemed Red at the first sight!
as if marking the blood stains
of our loved ones and friends
That can not be removed by
any peroxide or happy trends!

I kept staring out of my tiny balcony,
surrounded by an air of melancholy!
Despite a number of streetlights,
felt lost and somewhat uptight!
As if late in recognising the value of
heart and its well opened gate
That remained a bit disconnected
from everything profound, oflate!

An eerie uncomfortable silence existed
Crawly chills and uneasiness persisted!
The tingling within – not Stenosis born
but for miscommunication between
the nervous system & feelings thereon!

Many known faces simply fading out
as if Death is brutally laughing loud!
Prasinni-maasi, Nirmal-Di, Milind-sir
or cheerleader-Himani as images stout!
Our loved ones breathing their last
While we despite our best intent
unable to reach out, contrary to past!
Whereas the traders of life devices
reached us to make their buck fast!
Leaving us in a chaotic mix of human
compassion in desperation fraught!

As I returned from the Moon-Red,
I had to ask Rajeeev at the Test-bed
This second wave of Covid,
causing the harassment solid
Has it made us vulnerable
and disturbingly morbid?

Should I define it as event Tsunami
Or treat it as yet another Benami,
that would also eventually pass away
Despite the looming threat of
if not the classic Tsunami’s wave-train,
but for sure the third wave
that seems not far away!

Hey! Have we really failed?
Or failure has got derailed!
Is virus-infection the root cause?
Or is it a message from above
to put a stop to plunder and rot
Or be destroyed and wiped out
One final day – one and all

High time to pause and think
to catch the fleeting life
before it’s too late as it sinks!
Reunite with your own roots
Cut out bitterness and anger infused
Quarantine sourness from relations,
Before they are found gasping on the
ventilator, too late to be rescued!

The message was clear on the wall
Mortality might have been irreversible
But happiness being a state of mind,
is highly viral, infectious & reversible!
As damn irresistible as your Rajeev 🙂
So be joyous, even if U are left alone
Then only you can spread happiness
among the lonely & needy in Ur zone
And they would fall in love with you
Rather might seek to be your clone! 🙂

Yet another 20th of the month and here are my new set of scribblings on ‘SEX’, a subject that is generally considered a taboo in this modern era, surprisingly an absolute contrast to the sacred ways it was embraced during contemporary India. The scribblings are inspired by the Sadhguru’s recent call for freeing our ancient temples

When I first heard this phrase,
“Free and save Indian temples”
I found it a bit strange and lumber!
Were the temples in for a tumble?
because of our neglect & slumber
Or was it a collapse of our values
that dogmas and hypocrisy have
become a way of life that’s not only
shallow but continues to devalue!

Once upon a time these temples
were not just centres of spirituality!
But the symbol of free will and worth
that emerged in the depicted sexuality!
Men & Women shown in explicit yet
creative acts of passionate sensuality!
That after almost five thousand years
of barbaric attacks, weathering, & rust
they continue draw response as varied
as wow to embarrassment & disgust!

The ‘sex’ on temple walls and doors
has to be an anomaly for modernity!
A word that was considered sacred
and a must for the human existence
is now questioned with abnormality!
I wonder as to which other civilisation
ever related with the power of sex
as utmost regard for indigenisation!

So ladies and gentlemen!
Once upon an ancient time…
in her own mind and body
She was always free to attract
and get attracted in this race,
She was free to celebrate sex
in complete freedom and face!

That was women’s empowerment
Isn’t it a feeling of bewilderment?
If sex underlines human existence
Who the hell is society to teach her
the sexual morality with persistence!
If you call this ‘life’ as a sacred thing
As to how can you act as dumb-ass
in accepting ‘sex’ as a sacred being!

Whether its Female Genocide or AIDS
or the horrifying acts of the brutal rapes

Three manifestations of moral society
Are we supposed to oppose or brace!

Not only women, are not the men
also victims of this human history!
As they are raised by caged women
and consider oppression as a victory!

From the contemporary liberal times
of that great Indian ancient culture…
Should we really feel proud about
the paradigm shift, as modern times?
Or take a pragmatic approach to
redress the malfunctioning of society
for the sake of futuristic nation times!

We are born and nurtured by society
and since childhood, are taught to
suppress our desires for conformity!
We are restricted to admit pleasure
and even discard the live-in definition
till we marry and explore the treasure!
As if marriage is a licence to have sex
in order to protect us from the censure!

Isn’t each day seems to be first April,
the Fool’s day in our estranged life!
We may pretend liberation in thinking
but to me, it seems deceived paradise!

This is really amusing that Society
for the sake of avoiding a disorder
Made a protocol, that is propriety!
the one that seems to be broader
yet naive enough to protect our
‘Self-Esteem’ and ‘Instinct-Primaire’!

Being Honest to Yourself
(Spring will definitely arrive)

Even if he looses all his leaves
Is he bothered about his loss?
Rather he stands high-spirited,
and is conceived as a boss!

During the fag end of winter….
When his branches are on fire
Doesn’t deny his naked states!
Neither for the lucrative Spring
nor for any other worldly stakes!
One can hardly ignore ‘Palash’,
the red flower bearing rich tree,
as he recreates and radiates!
One who can sustain wetness,
as its own matter evaporates!

Always inspiring the narratives,
that are poetic yet sacrosanct!
A fatal attraction that questions:
Is he confident or an arrogant?

On a closer look, appears none
Nobody, yet related to everyone
Seems connected to everything
yet hardly attached to anything!
Someone, who is true to himself
Undeterred by fear and inability
And maintains ultimate integrity
despite challenges of stability!

As Har Borland says, I quote:
“No winter lasts for forever, No
spring skips its turn”, unquote!

Then why the doubt n averseness
Why not be honest like ‘Palash’
to accept flaws and weaknesses!
For no one can be God-perfect
And facing the truth in the eye,
our happiness will never ever shy!

As honest as spring seasons!
Honest to my own opinions!
Honest with own expressions!
And, honest with own emotions!

As much honest in emotions,
as akin to a tiny raindrop, that
accidentally falls on lips-top
Though eager to be consumed
by the tongue, and to elope!
Yet it resists to remain free
Despite it being a matter of secs
that it would be a mortal stop!

We can’t expect it to fulfill
our ever growing infinite thirst
Yet it makes us further thirsty
as much as if it was to burst!

So let life be the nectar kind,
as this drop inspires us to
Have it as the life’s essence
To be shrugged off and
enjoyed in all its suspense!

Let us think, speak and act
without any fear, in unison
Where no one points out
our own frailties and create
self-defensive complication!

(Yet another 20th, and here comes my new set of scribblings. These are motivated by the arrival of spring season in India today. I have attempted creating a mosaic out of the ‘Honesty to oneself’, ‘Spring Season’ and the gorgeous tree ‘Palash’ that blooms in this season. It’s left to you to decide, as to how much successful I have been in my attempt. Would love to have your genuine critique and love as comments)

It was an amazing afternoon,
with a mix of affection & fear!
As she suddenly stepped into
the entrance of bachelor Den
and stumped me off my guard,
while I sat sipping at my beer!

The green lawn got shadowed
by her flowing blood red attire
And mesmerizing round Bindi
Evoked in me enough fire!
The White block no longer dull,
Now reflected the sun shine
Of the golden girl who glittered,
unaware of the passion of mine!

Those were the ancient days
of creating love on the page
When the dark ink had its magic
to keep us captivated in craze!
Those words making a world
of difference to our souls,
And making us always crave!
for more n more heat it gave!

Neither were there any mobiles
nor were there OTT profiles
Love was seen as ‘making love’
and not an act of ‘love making’
The vibes were of deepest kind,
And mighty pen kept us bind!

As we rushed into the D-Room
it felt soaked in a magical ray
Being in each other’s arm
We fell in love once again,
after a long-long distant affair,
on this very first valentine day!

We made love with patience
yet in extreme pure passion!
Creating a sacred scripture
on a well conceived blank page!
of unrealised fancy & fantasies,
as if nature was at its best rage!

We were neither high,
nor even slightly shy
Just like a sinking ship!
in those turbulent waters,
Having no option but surrender
and drown in the huge deep!

Making love was somewhat like
the creation of warm clouds
They may drift away with winds
Yet return back n forth again!
Making us not just wet n wild,
But accompanied by cold rain!

As I look back, there is clarity
That each day needs to be
the damn happening one,
Sort of a Valentine’s Day, that:
Despite the trials & tribulations
of life, many a times at hay
Despite my unapologetic ways
and immmatured sucking says !
Nothing should let the ink fade
Life needs to chime N rhyme
as I aspire to evolve and pray!

(Yet another 20th….and here comes something scribbled out of my recent redezvous with Nurpur region of Himachal on 01 Jan 21…. An experience that remained so much engraved in memory to prompt a piece on the most relevant issue of the past, current and future era – that is, ”Ego”. Dedicated to Ornab for beautiful idea and thanks to Karmic for its validation)

“AMOUR-PROPRE”
(Self Love – The Ego)

As I stood tall on that rock,
Sky in the background was
filled with clouds and smog!
As if it was veiling the spirits
of ever green fort of Nurpur,
a small town in the foothills
of Himachal, I was on a tour!
Despite intransparency around,
I was tempted to click pics
to capture the nature profound!
This urge also led to a ‘Manthan’
Whether it was for the creativity
or for gaining social visibility!

Is this state of mental daze?
or stupor to my intellect that
I project these pics on stage!
Or is it my Amour-Propre,
That seeks to be recognised
in the remote eyes of others!

Is it the need of my ego state?
that wishes to mediate between
the conscious or subconscious,
for a reality check on my fate?
Or the need of personal identity
that puts self worth at stake!

Even in these writings of mine,
whether on FB or WhatsApp,
that I attempt to make or fake,
I really wonder if I do so to,
seek approval n appreciation,
of others in order to validate!

Is it unfair to seek nuptial love,
civility, and moral heroism
to strengthen the attachments
or try act as a perfect human,
to aspire for detachments!
Is it fair to call this sentiment
as the natural animal instinct,
As to why my self-worth is a
prisoner of co-fellow’s acclaim
Or approval of their damn dint!

Is this inflamed sense of pride,
a cause for this kind of fog?
Or its inescapable to free from
this bit negative yet brutally
useful instrument to stay afloat!

Fog of mind was at its ‘Peak’,
as if in competition with the
Pea-souper in forest of Teak!
But it soon got blown away by
those pleasant but bold winds,
leading to a crystal reflection of
the blue sky in that artificial lake,
As clear as those brain strings!

Our self-worth perhaps is
nothing but a reflection of
Nurpur’s Jabbar khad waters
That’s prominent in the daylight,
when time & ambience is right
But then it fades away at night,
when everything is out of sight!

This introspection was worth
a resolution on the first eve
of the new year 2021 to atleast
accept own self n it’s dearth!

“My ego need not necessarily,
always protect the jubilation
And happiness need not be
always a slave, either of the
Probity, rationality or salvation!
Let my ego live with tranquillity
While my happiness attempts
the challenge of life – stability!”

Void or Emptiness?

(Yet another 20th, and here is my new set of scribblings written yesterday evening, for which sole idea came from dear friend Adiornab yesterday….and the pen started running fast… Waiting for your reading, response, appreciation, critique, and even criticism :))

Once the ‘Mind’ asked the ‘Soil’
As the inevitable D-Day comes,
you would consume entire body
What would happen to the ‘Toil’,
that was urged by the life Karma
but necessitated by own ‘Soul’!
The ‘Soil’ was spontaneous
in her well thought response
It would be nothing, but ‘Void’!

Realising my bewilderment, the
Soil continued her trail & troll
And She explained……..
Despite me being perceived as
a volume of the solid particles,
the Air & Water – my two worthy
partners constitute the Void!
Likewise, you with memories
as solid particles of experience
have the intangibles & tangibles
as parts of emotional chord!

Under sudden immense stress,
it’s like compaction of the Soil
That releases Air & Water from
its pores to counter the life’s Coil!
Similar to when Mind does,
while losing all intangible emotions!
under a steady load of burdens
and shrinks its desire for the
inescapable limitless erosions!

Is it so simple or complicated?
That like Soil, Mind also needs
to settle as fully consolidated!
To be able to hide in a place
or empty itself for a free space!

So Mind had another question!
Is it the ‘Void’ or ‘Emptiness’?
Is it the presence of absence,
or the presence of potence?
Is the absence being seen as
threatening, painful & unsafe?
or is it seen as an open space
with fullness and indisputably safe?
Is it a demon to consume the life!
or an abundance of energy & vibe!

Rajeev’s perception senses
that there is a thin line
between the two mortals
It can be absolutely elusive
if not captured in its essence!
Experiences identify absence,
as a need to hide into the Void!
So much so that even if there
is a deep sense of emptiness,
it gets mis-conceived to be de-Void!

Isn’t there need to overcome
this terrible dilemma of life!
That we stop throwing stuff
from physical world of strife!
into ‘Void’, hoping to fill it up
or cling to seemingly solids,
like the Soil that sucks it up!
Rather look at it as a creative
potential of raw ‘Emptiness’,
that’s not threatened by space
And extracts life from the
wilderness of ‘Nothingness’!

(Well yet another 20th and here comes my new set of scribblings. This time on a TOOL much relevant to the current pandemic times, that is ‘Webinar’…..
but unusual and challenging in drawing its comparison with real Life. Hope I have been able to do some justice…. Would love to have your critique on these lines 🙏)

The other day, came a video call
from a gorgeous, not only just hot
But also in the intellectual jargon
She was really pleasantly tall!
The incoming voice was in a state
of hangover or perhaps in a stall!
As if she wanted to convey that
saying nothing was sign of wise
but I didn’t have to bear
for any longer this plight
As the husky voice echoed
aloud and crackled alive!
She enquired about a specific mail
But I couldn’t figure out any trail!

She further prompted an invite
for me to be guest speaker for the
Webinar that seemed quite bright!
But not impressionable enough
for me to say that it was alright!
Yet her charms were a real delight!
As usual charms won over resistance
and Rajeev willingly surrendered
confirming that he was game n tight!

This acceptance led to a ‘VICHAR’
that isn’t Life itself like a Webinar
giving limited control over its spar
Allowing a specific slot to speaker
while others remaining muted and
sometimes invisible, forgotten & afar!

‘Life’ brings us many such players
At times boring, whereas at times
as interesting as those speakers!
Over years a few of them may
remain muted connections
Many others may develop as
great meaningful associations!

Even a friend’s request on Facebook
after many years of exile n silence
may arouse and stir some emotions
bringing life to even still connections!
But more often than not, even if
they are subconsciously alive
during the recent or distant past
The spark of revived connect
doesn’t generally much last!
The story is similar perhaps
in WhatsApp groups n ‘Parivars’!

As Webinar always looks forward
to a set of challenging orators
Life too attracts those theatrics
To the one who dares to connect
even with absolute strangers
Leading him to fascinating
yet life-long vibrant affairs!
These connects are so magical
Its hard to believe them as real!
They continue to grow with grace
at a Webinar type of steady pace!
With mutual awe not just contagious
But also generally courageous
over a period of time & space!

So what should be an ideal life?
Does it means the webinar style?
Seeking knowledge or info type!
Or living for the day, like a joy ride!
Well, my connect with life tells……
All relations need not be connected
and connections may not be related!
As it does happen in a Webinar…
When your words are misinterpreted,
whereas silence may get respected!
Physicality may create the Chemistry
Yet Chemistry may not seed Physicality!

So Life is but a set of restrictions
somewhat similar to a Webinar that
has interrelated constrictions!
As fragile as a heartbeat
that may endanger lives,
on losing a connect in an
network that often jibes!
It may become a sort of burden
for want of seamless connectivity
Or if made to listen to a speaker
with dull and poor receptivity!

Thus both the ‘Life’ and ‘Webinar’
needs to choose life itself freely
Then alone would we feel emotions
Not only with our ‘live’ ones but also with our ‘muted’ connections!

Yet another 20th today, and I thought of scribbling a few lines on some real time experience just two days ago on a cycle ride from Noida to Garh Mukteshwar and back organised by Dare Gear – D2G, on an average a long 200km distance, considering that most of the group participants came on cycles from home to the flag off dot at Noida Stadium. As usual, it’s part of my personal blog PranNcrab too for whose link is given at the end. Hope you find this piece palatable enough

It was the New Moon dark night And at 0450h, I was up and tightCollected all my ride weapons, beheadgear, water, gloves & lights!Being Sunday it was a routine out So nothing really sounded newYet, I halted to capture the view! ‘Ridge Residency’ was fast asleepExcept for the guard who salutedsmartly, as if to alarm with a bee

On my journey to the flag off dot, I was checked by the stray dogsBeing alone on 135 sector roadsthe trees acted as ghost robes!With a mixed feelings of resolveand anxiety of first long ride on anunfamiliar set of borrowed wheelsI reached Noida Stadium with bit of trepidation, yet an feel  exhilarating enough for the much desired zeal!

The cycles of all colours n creedin the line up were seeking grace,glancing at each other with a deep sense of admiration, but greed!Lost out on the line up due to anot so difficult technical glitchAnd cycle-train left for expressway for its destination Garh Mukteshwarleaving me with the feeling of ditch!But feeling was reversed by ‘Tarun’, with ‘ Dr. Kamal’ as company, as if to rescue Rajeev in a last bid!

No sooner did we hit the road, I caught up with others on boardPaired up with the buddy ‘Ruhi’But lost sight of Kamal, my first allyAs I crossed many others behind making an attempt to literally fly!the Sun rose n picked up its grindThe skyscrapers kept on decliningAnd green fields kept on reclining!

Yet again saw Kamal at a distanceSoon found myself helping himin recovery of an injured motorist Till such time a cop took his reigns!In a world of the tough competitionwhere speed thrills, even if it kills!Here was Kamal leaving the gameto help a helpless, even if it grills!

Despite late start and further delaysthe cycle got me meet ‘Ma Ganges’within a span of four hours relays! We a group of 22 again got reunited in yet another few minutes of prays! The charms of Marshal ‘Shobhit’ and affectionate D2G host ‘Preeti’waiting for us at the Dhaba with Food, Fun and filled Fotography!With many of us new in the group,it was an unimaginable solidarity!

On my way back home, despite the hot Sun causing me to burnI stopped to capture some of thelast glimpses of my joyous return!In the bargain, realised of having lost contacts and left with none!I felt bit heavy to carry on alone amidst the heat, traffic and dust with tired limbs not ready to bust!

This phase didn’t carry on longerwith caring Rajat, resilient Poonam & loving Astitva joining the lone soldier for a seamless and cherishing run!It was perhaps best part of the drill that I met such great going guns!We four took much longer on returnbut with incredible memories thatWe are looking forward to a co-run!

On our last leg, Poonam teased me with query that sounded a bit brownOn self introspection, found it profound!As to why so many flyovers are thereenroute with a series of ups and downs?Generally a little dumb, yet I instantlysparked with a cue from the life boot!Shortest distance is a straight lineBut it need not be the fastest route!So if the road gives you bends n curves,It may be accelerating you towardsyour destination or your life guirks!