Bhavya

 

अब कहना है अलविदा प्रिये 3

मुश्किल है अपना मेल प्रिये, ये प्यार नहीं है खेल प्रिये 

तुम Peddar Road की गाडी हो, मैं कांदिवली का जाम

तुम Colaba की night हो, मैं चेम्बूर की शाम

तुम्हे आदत Candies की, मैं Udipi का lunch खाता हूँ

तुम shopping करती Palladium से, मैं Fashion Street जाता हूँ

तेरे हर weekend plan होते हैं, मेरे colleagues मुझे भागते हैं 

मुझसे cover charge लिया जिन pubs ने, तुझे invite दे के बुलाते हैं 

तुम NCPA की भाँती popular, मैं मराठा मंदिर जैसा हूँ 

तुम year-end का bonus हो, मैं overtime का पैसा हूँ 

तुम NGO को CSR, मैं चौराहे का fine हूँ 

तुम queue हो metro station की, मैं दादर की line हूँ 

मैं boss का गुस्सा हूँ, तुम top खोज हो recruiter की 

मैं interns का सपना हूँ, तुम gift stat auditors की 

तुम offsite, onsite की ticket, मैं deadline की रात हूँ 

तुम CEO का हो vision, मैं assistant manager की बात हूँ 

मैं टपरी पे चाय-सुट्टा, तुम dark chocolate Theobroma की,

मैं office gossip से बेदखल, तुम नयी सी opening McKinsey की 

तुझे देख log खुश हो जाते,

मुझे देख "WHAT THE HELL" प्रिये

अब…

मुश्किल है अपना मेल प्रिये, ये प्यार नहीं है खेल प्रिये

Band

Long after, the last guest had departed

and the last joke had seen its last laugh

The last glass of brandy had been served

and the solemn chambers now stood still

The frenzy that had once endured

The chaos that had once ensued

Had taken its rightful place

Deep in the heart of the ocean

No one knew how or where it began

it all happened so suddenly

Hindsight is great, when the dust has settled

but foresight always seizes the day

It started as a bump in the road

Causing fear amongst the paranoid

Reality crept in like a maiden’s sleep

slowly… and then all at once

The first sacrifice would be made

by those who had nothing to lose

By the time we realized what was worth saving

it was too late for anything to be saved

The survivors knew what to do

till all hope was lost

The privileged few would of course get through

for their destinies were not written by God’s hand

The eerie calm that follows

would be the only evidence of the madness that once was

Every light and every laugh and every song and every story

was now shrouded with memories that haunted

A little mistake along the road

a little carelessness we couldn’t control

A little desperateness of the human soul

a little opportunity we sought to hold

When we knew not of what the future would bring

and lived each day to fight another

We knew not when pain and suffering would peak

and long held on to denial’s heel

When humanity was tested to show its colors

what it would do when the chips go down

Because madness you see, is like gravity

all it takes is a little push

In midst of the madness, four gentlemen came to pass

they brought out their orchestra, and continued the dance

A silent echo that reverberates through time

when the ship was sinking, the band kept its chime

The band played on through the wreckage

and continued till the last night came to pass

When there would be no more music and no more dance

but memories would stay, with the lucky ones who passed

And poems would be written, of times when they should’ve been heard

but they did not care, for they’d done their work

So in the final moments, they continued the message

not that it mattered anymore, but was their journey

Peril is bequeathed, when artists are ignored

and artists shoulder the task, of spreading the thoughts

Through canvas and paper and screens and sound

for an artist’s expression is varied and abound

But this message is spread and the work here is done

so we move to a different time in a different world

The last word, I must stand up and cry

Gentlemen, it has been a privilege, to play by your side

Vishal Gupta

21 Mar 2020

The Seven Seasons of Love

Season one, the chase

when the curls of her hair and twitch of her smile

bewitches you into her sermon day and night

Passion, that takes your sleep away and haunts your dreams

when she is all you can think of

in lonely moments and bereft nights

waiting for the chance for her to note

how the world would be brighter with you by her side

Season two being lust

When arms are seldom able to be off one other

and the taste of her lips enchants fills in your soul

The moments of flesh on flesh and ecstasy

takes your breath away

When love fills in her eyes, heart, body and being

the roller-coaster ride with all its thrills

The third is understanding

where you notice the little things left ignored before

making new discoveries each passing day

coping with habits you know she isn’t going to change

learning her, like you did a new subject at school

knowing enough, that you don’t mind speaking for her

and she knows you’ll make the right decisions for both

Lying next to each other

a hug is enough to communicate what words never can

The fourth season takes the leap

When you decide to spend the rest of your life together

it happens like a peaceful sleep

slowly at first, and then all at once

The moment of commitment, to stick together

through this little moment in time called life

And you know yours will never be the same again

but it’s okay, for even if it is a mistake

you’re in it with the right girl

The fifth season is family

Strangely, you lose control of your lives

and suddenly, too many others barge into it

With miniature versions of yourself driving your needs

and ancient versions of you, lighting your path

The world suddenly expands into unforeseen challenges

you wonder if any of it is worth it

till a tiny creature holds your finger and blabbers a single word

that takes away all the exhaustion and you’re ready to play again

The sixth season is the longest and takes a toll

For years and decades pass by and there’s nothing new for you

The fire of passionate love has long been spent

and no new discoveries are lurking anywhere anymore

There’s a pillar you lean on, sometimes more than it can take

there’s a life you know that is, and one you know will never be

Content is your enemy here, and your source of strength

And just when you think you finally have a hang of it

the last season shows its head

The final one belongs to the reaper

when you’ve been left alone with all but her

The party goes on, but you don’t recognize the faces anymore

Memories galore, of ghosts that are gone

For it’s always easier to be the one to leave

than to be the one left behind

And as you await the inevitable

you try to remember the days gone by

Each season that has etched a memory

wondering, if it could have been more

through the days and the decades

And with the satisfaction of having spent your time right

You shut the music. The song is over

And you bid the seasons goodbye

Vishal Gupta

16^th February, 2020

The Hermit and the Princess

He sits atop a mountain in atonement,

His form inspiring awe from all who behold

Thick locks that arrest the fall of mighty rivers

A terrible eye, if awoken may destroy all

A serpent keeps watch wrapped around his neck

His lionskin cloth speaks of the unspeakable

Ghosts surround him, worshiping him as God

The destroyer, the hermit, the warrior, the fearful

His consort radiates exorbitance

Laden in jewels and wrapped in red silk

She rides a tiger, no less befitting

yet her image is of the mother, all forgiving

She rules the forests, the hills, the grass, the green

She enjoys luxuries and deserves more still

Alone in a city of demons, she finds her peace

The strength, the smile, the love, the energy

He opens his eyes, after having seen all eternity

and finds her sitting by his side

He looks at her in admiration,

for the universe holds no prettier sight

She looks at him inspired

for he is all that’s dear to her life

In his glances she finds her smile

And no words were needed between their eyes

He knows she doesn’t need him

yet in her presence he finds peace

She gives him a silent slight of the eye

And he knows she understand everything in his mind

She is no different from him but a part of his soul

He is not what completes her, but who makes her more

They dance and the world bows

They embrace, and the world finds hope

Vishal Gupta

30 Mar 2020