Kya Baat Hai !

किताबों के पन्नो को पलट कर सोचता हूँ,
यूँ पलट जाए ज़िन्दगी तो क्या बात है.

ख़्वाबों में रोज़ मिलती है जो,
हकीक़त में आ जाए तो क्या बात है.

कुछ मतलब के लिए ढूंढते है लोग मुझे,
बिना मतलब कोई आए तो क्या बात है.

जो शरीफों कि शराफत में बात न हो,
वो एक शराबी कह जाए तो क्या बात है.

कत्ल कर के तो सब ले जायेंगे दिल मेरा,
कोई बातों से ले जाए तो क्या बात है.

अपने रहने तक तो ख़ुशी दूंगा सबको,
जो किसी को मेरी मौत से ख़ुशी मिल जाए तो क्या बात है...

I Pretend

I pretend that you’re not here,
Listening to what I say.
But really you’re the only one,
That can make everything okay.

I pretend that I don’t care,
When you don’t talk to me.
But really I’m dying inside,
I just wish you could see.

I pretend that I’m fine,
With us being "just friends".
But really I want to tell you,
I don’t want this to be how it ends.

I pretend that I don’t,
Dream of you at night.
But really you’re the only one,
That can make my wrongs right.

I pretend that I don’t care,
But really I do.
I guess what I’m trying to say is,
That I’m in love with you.

Kargil - a war that wasn't....

Ten years ago, on this day, India supposedly 'won' a battle. A battle which wasn't technically a battle 'coz it was fought inside India's own territory. Yet, Kargil war was something thats still fresh in the memories of thousands of Indians. Although many of the youngsters of my age do not exactly know what happened in 1999, but I do. When top-notch politicians (read :: Union Minister Shreeprakash Jaiswal) doesn't remember, these youngsters can't be blamed.

Ten years ago, or even some seven years ago, if someone asked me my opinion about Kargil, I would've proudly said, "Yes, India won it. We won it. We defeated the intruders." But ten years down the line, if someone asks me the same question, my answer will definitely be different. That's coz there hasn't been the impact of Kargil war. We haven't gained much out of it. I agree that we were successful in shooing away the infiltrators, but the overall result is just NIL.

Yes, we haven't been able to achieve what we wanted. We wanted a terror-free India and a terror-free neighbourhood, which we haven't been able to get. In fact, we've lost more than we've gained. We have lost 533 brave soldiers. We've lost a hell lot of money.

And what we see today is just some self-proclaimed leaders politicising the martyrs' death for their own personal gain. Look at Congress MP Rashid Alvi. In an interview to Headlines Today, Alvi said he saw no reason to celebrate Kargil victory. "Kargil isn't a thing to be celebrated. The war was fought within our territory. We didn't even come to know when the Pakistani army crossed over and built bunkers inside our territory. It's only the NDA which may celebrate." I think a war is a war. Lets not bias it on the basis of political parties. Any war is fought for a country and not for a political party.

And as I already mentioned earlier, another Congressman and union minister Shreeprakash Jaiswal doesn't remember that 'Kargil Vijay Diwas' falls on 26th July.

Our very own Prime Minister Manmohan Singh can go to France to attend 220th anniversary of Bastille Day, but not a union minister can pay a visit to Kargil on the 10th anniversary of the war. This shows the dull attitude of the government towards those who laid their lives for the country. Can't these bloody politicians just stop playing their dirty political games and pay homage to the martyrs? Will this incident not demoralise the forces? Why would a soldier think of dying for a country just to face such a humiliation?

Although the army will be celebrating the 'Kargil Vijay Diwas' on its own right there in Kargil, the Defense minister A K Antony won't be attending it, neither any top minister or official will be there. Antony would be laying wreaths at Amar Jawan Jyoti at the India Gate in Delhi.

I feel the government has forgotten this war. But they shouldn't forget the war heroes.

My sincere homage to all the martyrs who laid their lives so that I and other fellow Indians can be safe. Thanks a lot....

JAI HIND.... JAI JAWAN....

Sorry

Today, I'm gonna write about one of my favourite and the most beautiful words in English language. Its something I use very often. But don't think that I use it 'coz I keep making mistakes every now and then, but its 'coz I try to take first step to avoid circumstances which people might regret in the future. I really don't understand why people feel so bad in apologising. Apologising is not about getting humiliated, its just about accepting your faults and the consequences that arise out of it.

Actually, I don't always apologise, so don't be in an illusion that I'll always apologise even if its not my fault. In fact, I follow three theories regarding this.


FIRST THEORY :
When I'm wrong, I do not hesitate in accepting my fault and apologising. This is a very simple concept. I believe that not admitting your own mistake is a crime. That's why I prefer to apologise first.


SECOND THEORY :
This theory is a mix-up (or rather a goof-up) between the other two theories. This comes into existence when I apologise without being wrong. There are some instances when I say sorry even if its not my fault. I do this just 'coz I do not want to spoil the relationship I share with the person I'm confronting. Its just that I value the relationship more than the mistake. Keeping ego aside, I apologise, 'coz its the ego which is the root cause of most of the misunderstandings.


THIRD THEORY :
This theory is exactly opposite to the first one. When I'm not wrong, and it doesn't matter who's trying to prove me wrong, I'd never back off. I'd stand by my views and fight till the end, come what may. I stand for the truth. I won't apologise in this case, not 'coz of ego, but for the sake of truth.


So guys, these were the three theories that I follow. Now, you must be thinking that what made me write this post. Actually, recently there was an incident in which I suffered without my fault. But as the third theory says, don't let the guilty free, I'm not gonna let that person walk away easily. I won't apologise, rather I'll make him realise his fault.


PS : Thanks for bearing this one too :P

How do I say...

How do I say what you mean to me,
You mean to me as a pearl means to the sea,
As the earth means to the sky,
As a flower is to a butterfly.

As life means to a man
who is just about to die.
What a desert feels when it rains,
What a soothing support, when it pains.

Tell me how do I say what you mean to me,
You're my mind, my soul, my heart.
A dream so beautiful,
An experience so wonderful.

A passion that ignites,
A warmth that invites.
Sometimes a smile so best,
Sometimes a tear so honest.

I wish I could gift you the entire world,
But can only give you my heart instead.
Tell me how do I say what you mean to me
when words are too less.

Abhi Baaki Hai....

कद्रदान मुझे बहुत मिले,
जिंदगी के हर मोड़ पर.
जिस का मुझे इंतज़ार है,
उसका आना अभी बाकी है.

चेहरे तो कई मुस्कुराए,
जवानी की दहलीज़ पर.
जिसे देखना चाहता हूँ,
उसका दीदार अभी बाकी है.

यूँ तो रातों में कई ख्वाब
देखे हैं मैंने.
जो सच हो जाए,
वो ख्वाब अभी बाकी है.

नशा तो रहता है
हर खूबसूरत शाम में.
जिस नशे की ज़रूरत है,
वो जाम अभी बाकी है.

बहारें तो देती हैं
राहत हर दिल को.
जिस के लिए दिल बेकरार है मेरा,
वो बहार अभी बाकी है.

रहते हैं सभी बेचैन
इस जहाँ में.
जिसे देख के दिल को सुकून मिले,
उस हमसफ़र की तलाश अभी बाकी है.

My Last Wish

My last wish - most of the readers would be expecting it to be another poetry. But apologies, its a rather dark issue, an issue which most of us would find it difficult to digest. Yes guys, I'm talking about my last wish, a wish which I want to be fulfilled when I breathe my last.

Death - the word itself has the power to make even a cheerful person numb. It is the most dreadful nightmare one can ever have. Death, whether painful or silent to the one who faces it, is definitely painful to their close ones.

People do mourn for the dead. And thats the most painful thing to watch. I, myself, have been a witness to this painful sight on a few occasions. I know its very hard to believe that he/she will never be with us again. But its a universal fact that everyone has to die some day or the other.

You're gonna die, I'm gonna die. Nobody is invincible. I particularly don't wanna see my family, my friends and my other near ones to mourn for me. I don't want them to cry at my death.

I have always wanted to see others happy and I've always tried my best to ensure that. And I don't want someone to cry because of me. I can never be happy if someone does so, even at my death. 'Coz had I been alive, I would've definitely done something to make that person happy.
My soul can't rest in peace with the sight of my near and dear ones crying.

I know this is a sensitive issue which many of us would not like to discuss. But I just wanted to make a clear point that I don't want anybody to cry for me.... at least for my sake. Thats my last wish and I hope all my near and dear ones will try their best to fulfil it.

Do not consider this as a transition from humor-filled, love-lorn and 'comment-on-every-issue' posts to a rather dark issue as my transition into a serious person. I'm the same. I'll always be the same. It was just a thought that I wanted to share with y'all, so did it.

Thanks for 'bearing' this post. :p

Confessions of a Silent Lover

It isn't easy to tell someone you love,
It isn't easy to tell her that you care.

Its a feeling that's very special,
but you have nobody to share.

Its when you feel on top of the world,
and you feel good when you see her smile.

You feel like smiling with her,
and be with her all the while.

You love talking to her,
and the time flies by.

You start loving the nature,
the flowers, the petals, the birds in the sky.

You have that lovely feeling in ur heart,
but from others you try to hide.

And you search for your dearest friends,
to whom your feelings you can confide.

But they all tell you the same,
"Go tell her, before its too late..."

But due to fear of losing her you don't,
and you leave it on the fate.

You tried a lot to tell her,
but could never confess.

And then there are friends who are
eager to tell her and make it a mess.

But you prevent them from doing so,
You say "Not you, but I love her...

And I'm gonna tell her sooner or later...
I promise, I won't remain a silent lover forever..."

PS : This is my first effort at writing a poetry in English. And this one's dedicated to that special one for whom I'm still waiting plus to those who suggested me to write in English, namely Trishala, Shruti Solanki (aka The Lonely Wanderer) and Manali Baldota, in that particular order.

PPS : This was my 100th post. Thanks for the support guys.

PPPS : This time I'm more eagerly waiting for your comments.

Turning Back The Clock

Moving on from those 'love-lorn' poetry posts, here's a post that's something very different. Its something related to my past. I wish I could turn back the clock. Yes, I wanna re-live my past, although not every moment of it, but definitely the brighter and the carefree ones. And preferably my school days.

School days are the ones that have a special place in everyone's life. The days were filled with unlimited masti and loads and loads of fun (u might guess the amount of fun we had, provided i've used the phrase 'loads' twice...).

Although we were the smallest batch in the whole school (13 people... that's it.... I can hear people asking 13??? only??? yes.... we were just 13...), we were the most united, most sincere (our teachers said so....) and most favourite of all. I get nostalgic when I remember those good old days. The bond of friendship that we shared, the fun we had, standing with others in their good and bad times, sharing joy and sorrow. These days can never come back. I wish they could....

Some five years ago, we were together, together we had fun, we did some real silly things, we had our own pranks, our own thoughts, overall we're proud of being each others friends. And five years down the line, today, we are scattered in different directions (almost...) and we still are proud of being called friends. Ever since we left school five years ago, all of us have never been together.

Of late, we've planned a reunion of sorts somewhere around the last week of December in our hometown Falna or nearby. And I, being the local boy, have been given all the responsibility - from deciding the venue to making necessary arrangement and stuffs like that (ab kya bachhe ki jaan loge???) But actually as its still at planning stage, and not most of us have yet confirmed, I thought I should first draft a 'convincing-yet-funny-and-not-so-boring' invitation. I took it as a challenge. And here's a sneak-peak of what I've written :

Guys, we, the class of '04 of K S Lodha Public School, are planning to have a REUNION of JUST our batch, somewhere in the last week of Dec '09* (Tentative Date : Sunday 27th Dec 2009) in or around Falna.* We want you to come (ye invitation NO sunne ke liye nahi bheja hai...) For more details contact :

» Anshu Jain

» Shruti Dev
(ladies first.... lolz)

» Prateek Monga

» Ankit B Rathod (i'd prefer to be last on the list, so as to be blamed the least.... - it tends to rhyme too.... :p)



RULES :

a) ONLY our batchmates are allowed.

b) PLUS three WILDCARD entries (Manish Jain, Rishank Singh and Arpit Mehta) are also invited.

c) Since this is our first time, we are yet to know what the word "NO" means. (hum ko "NAA" nahi sunna hai... ok? aage tum samajhdar ho... apni jaan kisko pyaari nahi hoti...)

d) SPOUSE (not more than one) and KIDS are allowed. Girlfriends/Boyfriends are also allowed (only if you are not getting your spouse along... lol)

e) Suggestions are more than welcome.

f) Please confirm your presence till 30th September 2009 so necessary arrangements can be made.

g) Please send a latest and best photograph (NOT passport size, at least 4x6) to Ankit B Rathod either via E-mail or any other medium before 31st Sep 2009. We need it for a personalised gift, which you'll get when you come.

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

* The above time and date and venue are tentative. We are yet to finalise things.

Well, this was something which conveyed my message that everyone must be there with a tinge of satire. Mazaak mazaak mein bahut kuchh keh diya na.... I know man.... I know I'm the bestEST.... lolz :D

Anyways, I found it good.... Its now your turn to comment on this piece of invitation. And PLAGIARISTS... beware from copying my creation !!!

I just want to end this post by saying : "Those were the best days of my life...."

Shaayad Yehi To Pyaar Hai

किसी के इन्तज़ार में ही दिल का करार है,
किसी की बस एक झलक में ही सारा संसार है,
किसी की एक मुस्कराहट से खुशियाँ हज़ार है,
शायद यही तो प्यार है...

किसी की खामोशी में बातें हज़ार है,
किसी की झुकी पलकों में हया बेशुमार है.
किसी का ज़िक्र दिल सुनना चाहे बार बार है,
शायद यही तो प्यार है...

किसी की बस एक खुशी पे जान निसार है,
किसी की एक छुअन से सिहरन बेशुमार है,
किसी के दर्द में रोए दिल जार जार है,
शायद यही तो प्यार है...

किसी की महक से दिल गुलज़ार है,
किसी की हर बात पे ऐतबार है,
किसी के करीब आने का मुझे इन्तज़ार है,
शायद यही तो प्यार है...

Kaafi Hai....

फ़साना मेरे दिल का कागज़ पर लिखा है,
एक ग़ज़ल समझ कर पढ़ लो तो काफ़ी है...

की थी मेहनत तुम्हे पाने की कितनी,
तुम कद्र कर लो तो काफ़ी है...

लिए थे कितने ज़ख्म दिल पर तुम्हारी खातिर,
दिल में अपने हमें बसा लो तो काफ़ी है...

ठोकरें खायी हैं इतनी कि मरहम ज़माने में नहीं,
तुम ऐतबार हम पर कर लो तो काफ़ी है...

निगाहें तरस जाती थी चेहरा तुम्हारा देखने को,
नज़रों में अपनी हमें बसा लो तो काफ़ी है...

याद करते हैं तुम्हे हर पल, कि याददाश्त मेरी तुम बन गए,
भूलो न तुम हमें कभी तो काफ़ी है...

करते हैं हम तुम्हे मोहब्बत ज़माने में सब से ज्यादा,
तुम थोडी सी मोहब्बत हम से कर लो तो काफ़ी है...

New York - Movie Review

Till today, if someone said New York, it reminded me of a maximum city. A city that never sleeps. A city that is a dream of millions and millions. A city where the worst terror attack (9/11) happened. But now if someone says New York, there's an addition to what it reminds me of - A movie directed by Kabir Khan starring John Abraham (as Sameer aka Sam), Katrina Kaif (as Maya), Neil Nitin Mukesh (as Omar) and of course Irrfan Khan (as FBI Agent Roshan).

Its all about what South Asians in the US went through after 9/11. It showed how they were detained, tortured for months just in the name of 'War against Terrorism'. Hundreds of innocents had to face such a shameful behaviour by the FBI all in the name of this 'Patriot Act'.

It portrays how an innocent man was detained, tortured for almost 9 months and then let free stating 'lack of evidence'. He had lost his everything - his happy-go-lucky nature, his confidence, his persona, and above all his self-respect - in this period of detention. And to regain his self-respect and to take revenge from the FBI, he then turns into a terrorist. He hides this side of him from his family till the very end. Its about how the FBI uses a terror suspect's best friend (who hasn't met him since 7 years) as an undercover agent.

Although not at par with 'Khuda Kay Liye', a Pakistani film based on the same issue, it is a nice film based on a sensitive issue, directed well by Kabir Khan. His direction has always been fantastic. I liked his earlier film 'Kabul Express' too.

All in all, its a great movie with some great acting, superb direction and really good music. I'd recommend it to be watched in a cinema theatre. Good going Kabir !!! Hats off to you....