Times Have Changed

Pinjare mein bandd sapne
bejaar ho gaye. 
Khwaabon per lagaam aisi kasi
ki haqeekat ka dum 
ghutne laga.


Aankh khuli
toh din mein bhi andhera thaa.
Sooraj bhi sharma ke
chaand sa hone laga.


Meelon ki raftaar se 
badhta toofaan bhi
tann ko halka sa chhoo gaya.
Laal aankhon wala 
woh kutta bhi aaj
mujhe dekhkar
dumm hilaane laga.
---------------------------
-Prateek
29/11/2011
https://twitter.com/#!/Scotchaholic

Sab Bazaar Hai

Ye kahaani hai
uss kisaan ki
jiske paas tha
ek anaar ka ped
vishal.
Pattjhad ki har shaam
woh apne khet ki chaukhat per
rakh deta thaa
dus anaar.
Aur chhod jaata tha
ek sandesa
"Ek anaar, Meri taraf se,
aapke liye, muft"

Aate jaate log
anaar dekhte
sandesa padhte
aur muskuraate hue
chale jaate.
Aur kisaan har raat
apni chaukhat per aata
dekhne ke liye
kisi ne ek bhi anaar
nahin uthaaya.

Agli shaam
uss chaukhat per
nahin rakhe kisaan ne
woh dus anaar.
Lekin chhod gaya thaa
ek naya sandesa.
"Yahaan milte hain
duniye ke sabse raseele anaar
jinki keemat jaan-ne ko
hain Raja sa'ab bhi beqaraar"

Aur usi din se
chaukhat per lagi hai bheed
haath mein sone ke sikke liye
anaar khareedne waalon ki.
------------------------------
*Based on a short story by Kahlil Gibran

-Prateek
27/11/2011
https://twitter.com/#!/Scotchaholic

Faasle Badhte Gaye

Itne saalon baad
kuchh ajeeb sa lag raha hai.
Raat ko sone se pehle
tumhaara jo khayal aata thaa
uss ki jagah
ab meeting schedule ne
le lee hai.
Tumhein dekh kar
jo dhadkanein
pal bhar ke liye
ruk jaati theen
woh cheez ab kahin
kho see gayi hai.

Woh jaanti thee.
Mere baalon ko
apni ungliyon se sehlaake
bolti hai,
Kuchh faisle
lene honge.
Thoda faasla
badhaana hoga.
Dena hoga
khud ko samay.
Karaana hoga
ek doosre ko
thoda sa
intezaar.

Har faisle ke saath
faasle badhte gaye.
Aur main
wahin khada raha
tere intezaar mein.
Aaj bhi intezaar
jaari hai.
----------------------
-Prateek
26/11/2011
https://twitter.com/#!/Scotchaholic

Chaanta Pada Hai

"Arey!
News dekhi?"
"Kya dekhna yaar.
Wohi roz ki kahaani hogi.
Kashmir mein itne mar gaye.
Ek aur Arab desh ka
takhta palat gaya.
Kisi bilakhti vidhva se
reporter poochh raha hoga
kaisa mehsoos kar rahi hain aap!
Iss se achha hai
chatt per jaakar
taare ginn-ne baith jaaun."

"Arey nahin!
Badi khabar hai.
Ek aam aadmi ne kal
kisi bade neta ko
bhari bheed mein
chaanta maara!
Dude!
Main toh fan ho gaya uska.
Kya sahi kaam kiya usney."

"Fan ho gaye?
Kal jab
court mein le jaate waqt
raste mein hee
goliyon se bhoon diya jaayega woh,
tab kya karoge tum?

Kal jab
beech baazar mein
sabji khareedte waqt
uski behen ka
rape kar diya jaayega,
tab kya karoge tum?

Kal jab
paas ke hee gali mein
school se aate waqt
uske bete ko
agwaah kar liya jaayega,
tab kya karoge tum?

Kal jab
aane waale elections mein
vote karte waqt
tumhein yaad aayega
uss neta ke diye hue vaade
aur saath hee sharaab ki ek botal
jo uske party waalon ne
tumhein dee thee,
tab kya karoge tum?"

Aur gehre sannatte ke beech
uss aam aadmi ka woh fan
kehta hai
"Arey!
News dekhi?
Sachin phir se chook gaya
apne shatak se."
------------------------------
-Prateek
25/11/2011


https://twitter.com/#!/Scotchaholic

If There Were No Yesterday

Agar kal na hota....
Toh har woh sar
jo maare zillatt ke
jhuka hua hai,
aaj, aasmaan ki ore
utha hota.
Jo aankhein
maare sharam ke
jhuki hui si
kuchh nam si hain,
aaj, sooraj ko
taak rahin hoti.

Agar kal na hota....
subah uth-te hee
na kisi ki yaad sataati
na kisi ka khauf
dil mein hota.
Na pichhlee raat ke nashe se
sar mein dard hota,
aur na hee hota dard, dil mein
pichhli shaam ki
uss bekaar ki behes ko lekar.

Agar kal na hota....
na saath hoti teri yaari,
na saath hoti bewafaai
uss jhoothe yaar ki.
Na hota kisi ko khone ka darr,
na nibhaani padti kasmein
uss jhoothe pyaar ki.

Agar kal na hota
har din, ek naya din hota.
Aur har din hota
ek naya
main.
--------------------------
-Prateek
24/11/2011


https://twitter.com/#!/Scotchaholic

The Sun and The Moon

Har roz
jahaan samandar aur dharti
aapas mein meilte hain.
Jab na din khatm hota hai
na raat shuru hoti hai
uss waqt
insaanon ki nazron se bachte hue
milte hain
sooraj aur chaand
rozaana
aur karte hain kuchh guft-goo
jo aaj bhi
aam aadmi ki samajh se
koson duur parey hai.

"You know what Moon?
Chadhte sooraj ko sab pranaam karte hain.
Dhalte sooraj ko sab nihaarte hain.
Rockstar kehte hain ye mujhe.
Hazaaron khoobsoorat suryamukhi aur kaliyaan
mud mud ke mujhe taakti hain.
Achha lagta hai.
Lekin jab bhi main
apne fans se milne ki koshish ki,
jhulsa deta hoon sab ko.
Jal jaati hain
mujhe nihaarne waali woh aankhein.
Dekh rahe ho tum
kaise bheed mein bhi
akela sa hoon main?"

"Kya baat keh di sir aapne."
Chaand bola
"Aur ek taraf main hoon.
Jalta hoon aapki fan following se.
Uss din toh do insaanon ko
ghar per bhi bulaaya thaa.
Jaane kyun
waapis aaye hee nahin!

Har raat koshish karta hoon
andhiyaare ka sooraj ban-ne ki.
Lekin jitna zyada main chamakta hoon
utni hee inn logon ki parchhaai
kaali pad jaati hai.
Dekha aapne,
Koi kadr hee nahin hai."

"Ah, samay ho gaya.
Jaao chaand.
Ban jao raat ka sooraj.
Chhat per baitha koi aashique
tumhaari raah dekhta hoga.
Tumhaare aaine mein
apni priya ka aks
dhoondne ke liye."
--------------------------------
-Prateek
19/11/2011


https://twitter.com/#!/Scotchaholic

It's A Girl!

Special thanks to Vitasta (@Baavri), for narrating this poem in her super sexy voice.
http://soundcloud.com/baavri/its-a-girl-scotchaholic# 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bambai mahaanagri mein
chaupati ke paas
ek badaa sa bungla hai.
"Yahaan maha-naayak rehte hain."
"The superstars live here."
"Ee hamaar Allahabad wale bhaiyya ka ghar hai."
Samajh nahin aaya
kiska ghar hai.

Khair chhodo.
Iss waqt
uss ghar ke saamne
ek mela sa laga hua hai.
Kam umar ki khoobsurat ladkiyaan
idhar udhar daud rahi hain
haath mein mike liye.
Aur peechhe peeche unke
daud rahe hain kuchh langoor
kandhe per bada sa camera liye.

"Breaking News!"
"It's a girl!"
"Ladki hui hai!"
Itni khushi?
Lagta hai ye sab
uss ladki ke rishtedaar hain.
Bada parivaar lagta hai.

Arey haan
Baaton baaton mein
poochhna hee bhool gaya.
Toh iss maheene Haryana mein
kul kitne bhroon-hatya ke case aaye?
Do sau baarah?
Ladkiyaan thee sab?
Achha.
------------------------------
-Prateek
17/11/2011

Inquiry Hogi

Baaju waale flat mein
rehta hai ek chhota sa parivaar
kisi Raajput police waale ka.
Jis ghar mein hamesha
rehti thee chahal pahal
aaj kuchh zyada hee khaamosh hai.

Hua yunh
ki thaane jaate waqt
uss policewaale ki bike se
koi takraa jaata hai.
Bechaare per
laaparwaahi ka ilzaam
lag jaata hai.

Commisioner
akad kar uss-se kehta hai
"Kya isiliye sarkaar tumhein bike deti hai?
Poore police department ki naak katwa di."
Aur chheen liye uss se
uske saare medal.
"Inquiry hogi.
Committee bithai jaaegi.
Tab tak ke liye
tumhein chhutti dee jaati hai."
    -----------------

Gali ke aakhri end per
rehta hai ek badaa sa parivaar
ek dalit neta ka.
Jis ghar mein hamesha
rehti thee netaaon ki chahal pahal
aaj media ke bhediyon se ghira hai.

Hua yunh
ki ward ki sadak banaane ke liye
jo dus laakh neta ko diye
usmein se aath laakh
hazam kar jaata hai
desh ka woh chor.
Saale per
chori ka ilzaam
lag jaata hai.

Neta
akad kar commissioner se kehta hai
"Kya isisliye sarkaar ne tumhein wardi dee hai?
Mujhe baahar nikaalo iss jhanjhat se."
Aur thamadiye uske haath mein
noton ki ek gaddi.
"Inquiry karaao.
Committee bithaao.
Lekin mujhe iss jhamele se bachaao.
Warna agle din se hee
tumhaari chhutti."
-------------------------------------
-Prateek
16/11/2011 

Khud Ko Bhula Baithe

Teri andheri zulfon ki chamak mein
hum khud ka sooraj 
bhula baithe. 
Ab in neeli aankhon ki gehraaiyon mein
zara doob jaane do.


Tere hothon ka rass peekar
hum apna jaam
bhula baithe.
Ab in neeli aankhon ke nashe mein
zara behek jaane do. 
----------------------------
-Prateek
15/11/2011

Bachpanaa (बचपना)

Uss din hua kuchh yun

office se ghar ko jaate hue

koi riksha na mila.

"Sahab.

Aage school chhoota hai.

Koi function thaa aaj.

Road per jaam hai."

"Kambakhath bachche!"

Aur budbudaate hue

pakad lee maine

sadak per raftaar.

Saamne dekhta hoon

sadak per

bachchon ka ek mela sa laga hai.

Koi Ram, koi Aishwarya

toh koi neta bana hai.

"Fancy dress competition."

Arey inke maa baap kahaan hai?

Sambhaal nahin sakte

inn oot baagad-billon ko!?

Aur itne mein hee

ek nanhi si bachchi 

mujhse takraai.

"Arey! Paagal ho kya!"

"Shorry unkle."

Woh masoom si aawaaz

kaafi kuchh keh gayi.

Uski woh badi badi aankhein

kaafi kuchh dikhaa gayin.

Dil maano jaise mome sa ho gaya.

Yakeen nahin hota.

Aaj bhi koi kaise 

itna maasoom ho sakta hai?

Na mann mein koi chhal

na kisi ke liye koi dvesh.

Kab tak aise reh paayenge?

Shayad isiliye 

isko bachpana kehte hain.

Aaj ki duniya mein

phir se masoomiyatt ki baat karenge

toh bachpana hee toh keh laayega.

-------------------------------------

-Prateek

14/11/2011

Kharonchein (खरोंचें)

Sayaane naqaabon ki 

iss bheed mein

khud ka chehra bhi

anjaana sa lagta hai.

Noch noch ke 

naqaab nikaalne ki chaah mein

chehre per aa gayin

kai kharonchein.

Aur chhod gaya waqt 

chehre pe apne nishaan.

Ye muskuraahat meri na sahi

udhaar kee hai.

Per in kharonchon mein chhupi kahaani

meri hee hai.

-----------------------------------------

-Prateek

13/11/2011

Aaj Chaand Dekha?

Bachpan mein kai baar suna hoga, naani ya daadi ke munh se, unki kahaaniyon mein, ki duur se chaand dekho, toh ek khargosh dikhega. Ya ek budhiya dikehgi jo charka chalaa rahi hai. Aaj ki poem ne naani daadi ke unhi kisse kahaaniyon se kuchh elements udhaar liye hain.
-------------------------------------------------

Aaj chaand dekha?
Haan.
Kya dikha?
Budhiya charkha kaat rahi hai.
Aur?
Aur koshish kar rahi hai
rishton ke toote dhaagon ko jodne ki.
Shayad unmein se ek dhaaga
uske uss ladke ka hai
jo pardes chala gaya
na kabhi waapis aane ke liye.
Aur yahaan yeh budhiya
har gaanth ke saath
uske waapis aane kee aas
kho deti hai.


Aaj chaand dekha?
Haan.
Kya dikha?
Khargosh.
Aur?
Aur uski muskuraahat.
Kuchh ajeeb see hai lekin aaj.
Woh masoomiyatt gayab see lagti hai.
Shayad ooper se insaanon ki harkatein
kuchh zyada hee der tak
dekh lee hai isney.
Aur har harkat ke saath
kho deta hai woh
apni pyaari muskaan.

Aaj chaand dekha?
Haan.
Kya dikha?
Utna safed nahin hai.
Aur?
Kuchh peela sa pada hai chaand.
Beemaar lagta hai.
Raat ka sooraj bann-ne ki chaah mein
lagta hai
thakk gaya hai bechaara.
Competition bahut hai duniya mein.
Aur har imtihaan ke saath
kho deta hai woh
safed chandni ka saath.

Aaj chaand dekha?
---------------------------------------
-Prateek
12/11/2011

Clay and the Sun

Geeli chikni mitti
lekar apne saath
kai mausam kee barsaat
kuchh mayoos si hai.
"Kab de paoongi main
bachchon ke in khilaunon ko
babuji ki chai ke kulhadd ko
Neema bitiya ki kamar se
lage hue matkey ko aakar?
Kab?"

Mayoos mitti ki udaasi
shayad sooraj dekh raha thaa.
Thoda muskura ke
apna prachand roop dhaaran karke
sokh leta hai
saari narmi
uss geeli mitti se.
"Ab yeh bhi aaram se sahegi
iss duniya ke saare zulm."

Bachche ke haath mein khilauna bankar
aa gayi hai mitti ko ab akad.
Kho dee hai saari narmi
kho dee hai woh maasoomiyatt.
"Maine aisa toh nahin banaana chaaha tha isey..."
sooraj ne socha.

Tabhi hawaa hanske boli
"Dekh sooraj
kaisi utaarti hoom main iski akad"
Aur aisi tez aandhi aayi
chhoot gayi bachche ki
khilaune pe pakad.

Sooraj aur hawaa
dono hee hans rahe hain
zameen per pade unn tukdon per
jo kabhi lekar chalti thee apne saath
kai mausam ki barsaat.
----------------------------------------
-Prateek
11/11/2011

Bhookh (भूख)

"Mom!
I'm hungry!"
"I don't have anything in the car
but this apple.
Here, have it."
"Apple!?"
Munh banaate hue bachche ne kaha.
"I want a burger mommy!"
"Eat this first.
Momma will get you a burger,
later."
Aur bachche ne iss beech
phenk diya "apple"
chalti car ki khidki se.
"Who the hell wants to eat apples?"

"Ma.
Bhookh lagi hai."
"Aaj jhopdi mein kuchh bhi nahin hai
siwaay kal ki iss baajre ki roti ke.
Yeh le, kha le."
"Baajre ki roti?!"
Mayoos si soorat banaate hue bachche ne kaha.
"Mujhe seb khaana hai ma."
"Pehle ye kha beta.
Ye khaayega, toh bada hoyega.
Bada hoyega, toh khoob saare seb khareedega.
Aur mujhe bhi khilaayega.
Khilaayega na mera laadla?"
Aur bachche ne
baasi roti ka ek tukda khaate hue
apna sir hilaaya.
"Apni kismet mein seb kab aayenge?"
-----------------------------------------------
-Prateek
8/11/2011

The Scientist

Har subah
naye sooraj ki pehli kiran
kisi na kisi tarah
khoj hee nikaalti thee
uskey ghar ka raasta.
Phir chaahe neend
raasta hee kyun na bhatak jaaye
ya ho jaaye ojhal
uski bojhil
lekin khoobsurat aankhon se.

"Dhoond hee liya na raasta,
mujhe phir se kamzor karne ke liye?"

Lekin
aaj kuchh alag sa lagta hai.
Aaj iss nayi roshni mein lagta hai
shayad, mil hee jayega
ek naya ilaaj
unn logon ke dil ka
jo sirf jeete hain
dhokha khaane ke liye.
---------------------------------
-Prateek
7/11/2011


Loosely based on lyrics by Brandon Wronski, for Dead Letter Diaries

Safar (सफ़र)

Unhe lagta hai 
banjaara dil hai mera. 
Ramta jogi besahaara.
Kahin rukta nahin. 
Kisi ka ho sakta nahin. 


Kabhi haath pakadkar
kheencha hai apni taraf?
Kee hai rokne ki koshish?
Kabhi poochha
akelapann tumhein kaat-ta toh nahin?


Woh kya jaanein
ek "matt jao" sunn-ne ko 
beqaraar hai dil.
Tab tak
safar jaari hai.
-------------------------------------
-Prateek
5/11/2010

Bojh (बोझ)

*tring tring*
*tring tring*
"Hello."
"Heya! Hi Priya!"
"Hmmm. Bolo."

Dono ko pata thaa
koi faayda nahin.
Paanch saal ho chuke hain iss rishtey ko.
Pichhle do saalon se
rishta jiya kam
dhoya (ढोया) jyada hai.

Aisa nahin thaa
ki koi ladaai hui thee.
Bus pyaar kahaan kho gaya
dono hee iss se anjaan hain.
Ek doosre ko ghanton nihaarne waale
aaj ek doosre se pareshaan hain.

"Koi faayda nahin.
Iss bojh se toh achha hai
khatm hee kyun na kardein?"
Roz dono sochte hain.
"Aaj toh decision lena hee hoga."

"Par usko kaaran kya bataaunga?"
"Par usko kaaran kya bataaungi?"
Aur ek din aur
tayyar hote hain dono
iss adhmare rishtey ka bojh dhone.
----------------------------------
-Prateek
4/11/2010

The Angels Are Falling

Uss raat
har raat ki tarah
chhatt pe tehelte hue
dekh raha hoon
anginatt taaron ki khoobsurat mehfil ko.

Achha lagta hai
taaron ka woh sangeet sunn-na
jise duniya ne kahin bhula sa diya hai.
Har toot-ta taara
jaise koi alag hee taan le raha hai.

Aur unn toot-te taaron ke beech
kahin se koi pari aa giri.
Uske safed kapde, safed nahin.
Uske pankho mein koi aisi jagah nahin
jahaan koi chhed nahin.
Behaal si, machhli ki tarah tadapti si
woh ektak mujhe ghoorti hai.
Aur aankh bandd karke kehti hai
"Yeh duniya kam thee kya,
jo wahaan par bhi tumne apne lutere bhej diye?"
-------------------------------
-Prateek
3/11/2011

Izzhaar

Uss din
kuchh jyada hee garmi lag rahi thee.
Samandar ki reth bhi
zoron se bhabhak rahi thee.
Sardi ke mausam mein bhi
maathe pe paseena thaa.
Shayad kyunki tumse aaj
dil ki jo baat kehni thee.

Saamne tum khadi thee.
Kaanon mein mujhe
mere dil ki aawaaz
sunaai de rahi thee.
Samandar ki kal kal bhi
iss sannate ko cheer nahin paayi.
Badi mushkil se aaj
izzhaar karne ki himmatt jutaai.

"Aaj mausam achha hai na?"
Ghar pe sab theek?
Coffee peene chalogi?"

Shayad, aaj sahi din nahin hai.
------------------------------------
-Prateek
2/11/2011

A Lot Happens Over Coffee

Milee thee woh
akeli
coffee ke badey se cup ke saath.
Jagah dhoond rahi thee
baithne ke liye
ek bekaar coffee ki mehengi dukaan mein.

Uljhe hue
anginatt naqaabon ke beech
suljha hua uska chehra
kuchh asli sa dikhaai deta thaa.

Main bhi waheen thaa
akela
coffee ke badey se cup ke saath
Saathi dhoond raha thaa
apne paas bithaane ke liye
uss bekaar coffee ki mehengi dukaan mein.

Jaan padta hai
sirf main akela nahin thaa.
Aur bhi akele hain iss bheed mein
Dhoond rahe hain koi saathi
apna akelapann bantne ke liye.

"Excuse me.
Kya aapke saath koi baitha hai?"
Aur wahin se shuru hoti hai
ek nayi kahaani
uss bekaar coffee ki mehengi dukaan mein.

---------------------------------------------
-Prateek
1/11/2011