किताबें

A friend, a foe, a teacher, a traveller

What role does it not play?
With each word
On each page
Moulding a bond with you
And welding it strong as the covers are closed.

Such is a relation with the books
Books that we meet everyday
Books that talk. That emote.
Mysterious yet Inquisitive
Distressed yet Happy
The emotions weaving an epic

These Faces. Narrating a true story.
And as another year passes by
I continue my quest to read. Books. Faces.

The Travel Through Time

Nida Fazli once said

बहुत मुश्किल है बंजारा मिज़ाजी, सलीका चाहिए आवारगी में!

I decided to go on a journey on that path. 

Tending to randomness. Tending to insanity. Tending to the within. 

From catching a rare event of lights at Shaniwada fort to taking a lift to cross a lake, on an unusual vehicle. 

From meeting a fortune teller / face reader to some kind hearted truck drivers. 

From having breakfast at a road side taphri at 6 in the morning to being invited to the native's place for evening tea.

A journey with no plans. 

Just Ideas. Old Friends. New People.

A journey to within.

A travel through time.

तलाश

उड़ तो मैं चला हूँ

ना जाने किस मंजिल की उर

ना जाने किस रह पे हूँ मैं

कई चेहरे मिले

और कई और नामों से मुलाक़ात हुई

पर तलाश है अभी भी

निकल तो पड़ा हूँ मैं

छोड़ कर अपना घर

छोड़ कर यारों की महफ़िल

कई अपने मिले

और कई और पराये भी

पर तलाश है अभी भी

तलाशता हूँ एक ख्वाब

तलाशता हूँ वह मंज़र

तलाशता हु वह साहिल

उस इन्द्रधनुष को पा लू तो सही

और मिल जाये तो कह सकूँ

यार! तलाश है अभी भी

Anyone knows the story of the Dog which never ceased to chase the rainbow? He travelled fathomless oceans and the sailed into the uncharted skies. With just one thing on his mind: The rainbow. It was like a crazy itch that he had to scratch. Just was not able to reach it. He travelled all across the universe to find a way to fulfil this dream. A cure for the Itch. Consulted many Saints and Sinner in the process.

Impressed by his audacity, the universe granted him a magical wish which would enable him to touch the rainbow.

This disheartened him. And shunning everything he set sail to chase another dream.

In my journeys, I have come across few such individuals who carry this itch.

But they are not looking for the cure.

और मिल जाये तो कह सकूँ

यार! तलाश है अभी भी

Like the dog who never ceased to chase the rainbow

यार! तलाश है मुझे अभी भी...

आईने में वह चेहरा

सदियों तक इस आईने में मैं

किसी ना किसी को तलाशता रहा,

कभी कोई कलाकार या कोई प्रेमी,

कभी कोई विद्वान या कोई पागल.

हमेशा कोई चेहरा पाया सामने

कोई और चेहरा...

अनजान सा, उदास था,

बेचैन था, बेताब सा

एक खोखला सा ढांचा है ये चेहरा

दिन गया, चेहरा नया

नए पोशाक में, जग को हंसाया...

लोग मिलते गए, ये बदलता गया

पर आज, मैंने आइना खाली पाया

शायद आज मैंने खुद को देखा है

For ages, I have looked in the mirror,

Searching for Someone or the other,

Sometimes I met an Artist or some Lover,

Sometimes someone Wise Or someone Crazy.

I have always found a face within,

Some other face,

Unknown, was Sad,

Was Restless, Impatient.

This face is a hollow mould,

Changed as the day passes,

Changed costumes, spread happiness around,

Met people, changed colours along the way.

But today, I found the Mirror to be blank.

May be, I saw myself.

Yesterday when I looked into the mirror, I saw nothing. I was perplexed yet was relieved. Relieved to know that I finally have stopped looking for someone else within me. Relieved that I have started becoming myself again. What I am. Who I am. Relieved that the Mirror is not showing any more Mirages.

The Face in the Mirror.

Refugees of the Road.

आते जाते खूबसूरत आवारा सडकों पे
कभी कभी इत्तेफाक से
कितने अनजान लोग मिल जाते हैं
उन में से कुछ लोग भूल जाते हैं
कुछ याद रह जाते हैं |

While travelling through these beautiful yet nomadic roads,
Sometimes coincidentally we meet some strangers...
Some, we tend to forget, but there are some who leave an indelible mark in our lives....

These words by Anand Bakshi, beautifully sung by Kishore da talk of a profound truth of life. Of life's endless journeys. And how we meet interesting people along the way. No, they are not friends, neither are they acquaintances. But they become an important part of you life.

I have been travelling on the life-line of Mumbai everyday for about a month now. Everyday has been a new experience for me. Everyday I see new faces. Everyday a maddening rush. A peerless fury. A screeching cacophony.

In all this randomness, I have been lucky to discover a pattern. A face. A Person. Who boards the train nearly same time everyday. In the same compartment. And stands right infront of me. An occasional glance, a shared smile. This is all that is exchanged. But still the face remains what it is. A face. Probably in his late 50s. I don't know the name of the person. Neither do I know his destination.  Everyday upon reaching the platform, I look for this familiar face in the crowd. And am relieved upon finding him. And this has become a routine for every day of the week. But its nothing less than a miracle. In times when it takes years or even lives to become familiar to someone, an unique friendship germinating without words, which is something that words would never be able to explain. Infact, words would take away the sanctity of the moment.

But today, as I rushed to the station to catch the Andheri 0851 Slow, I didnot find this face. Looked out for some time. Probably I was late. Probably he was. Probably he took a leave from work. Many possibilities ran through my mind till the train arrived. And my day went on. With a blip. With a glitch. But not without hopes of tomorrow. Hopes of a familiar tomorrow.