From the Mind to the Soul

They say the soul is like a nomad,

taking shelters in a body after another

as it travels in the realm of death

the mind though overstays it's welcome in the past

while the present and the future await, 

in the journey at the realm of time

for the realms are parallel yet also entwined 

the soul flows ahead, lagging is the mind..

entrapped in the bog of memories,

addicted to the comfort of the time that fades,

rebuking the new as an intruder with fear and disdain,

naïve yet obstinate this mind, never learnt from the soul

the soul that's compassionate yearns the mind to see

that every phase and moment there is was and will be

is a body in itself to grow, nurture and die,

the essence of being alive is to leave when it dies

like a tree shedding leaves at the onset of the fall

or like a snake shedding skin when it is indeed time

leave behind the painful past, the embalming nostalgia,

set foot towards the new avenues that await within you..

let the mind experience the wits and whims to nourish 

as the soul seeks to satiate the curiosities of its own..

making way towards other people and phases as I reach out..

for moving on and ahead is what this life is....

from the present body to another body

from that past to this present to there the future

from the Mind to the Soul.....

If there is a tomorrow for us....

Amidst this period of chaos,

where every event causes a fuss,

one can't help but ponder, wonder and contemplate

if there is a tomorrow for us..

If indeed a crimson is set to arise

from the present plague's overbearing cloud,

then pray its rays do shine so aurous,

protecting us from this wrath, like the lord's shroud.

Let us come to that tomorrow,

where x's and y's of a chromosome,

Equally unite to take a shelter 

under humanity's concrete dome

Even if a another day exists

end is as possible as it was today

abandon this rat race to finally live,

keeping sorrow and fears at bay.

Uncertain is this world and its ways,

I have come to realize thus,

that no one but time does really know,

if indeed there is a tomorrow for us..

When with my loved one today,

I have constantly wondered

if there is a tomorrow for us

but by not keeping this thought at bay

an Idea to which I never surrendered

it always created a catastrophic fuss

Now that we are amidst this chaos

where world's fate seems at stake

this seemingly lasting thought of tomorrow 

in which my mind delves

keeps me in assumption, imagination and expectations' slumber

from which no one now seems to wake.

The Ephemeral Bonds' Plight...

Ambiguous are the fortunes of those,

who share an ephemeral bond,

carrying feelings in depths of oceans,

yet the span of a shallow pond...

this bond is but an escape from reality,

which judges such bonds to be an innocent fantasy

it is their yearning to flee from the clutches of this world,

only to devour their paradise's self providing ecstasy.

The conventions limited by their wits and comforts

ask them to give this "bond" an approve worthy name

not all bonds need names they wonder , as this is not of this world too

then why the need of labels to seek society's false fame...

Reality is but a cruel foe,

possessing the arsenals of time to intervene

reminding them of the predicament of today

of tomorrow's consequences and paths unseen...

the time part ways, eventually arrives,

how does it happen, I wonder,

for even if a fantasy, it's beautiful and tempting

too keen let in the present, making the present ponder..

the changes in them that we perceive 

after returning to reality's abode..

different paths from their desires they receive,

like a river towards an ocean their lives have now flowed..

Ambiguous are the fortunes of those,

who share an ephemeral bond,

carrying feelings in depths of oceans,

yet the span of a shallow pond...

The Portals within my Headphones

Plugging in my headphones, to go back in time

when Lucky Ali's mellifluous voice 

gave the ultimate feeling of wanderlust

when Shaan reminded how life is a path

where we all stroll in our solidarity

when KK with his colors of nostalgia

reminded us of matured friendships and naive romances

the vikings of Bombay were exquisite in pouring

old wines in new bottles, yet inebriating us

the feeling that came with the ballads of that band

coinciding with what they called themselves, Euphoria

when neighbors too were adept in pulling the "Strings"

that thrill of looking at the stars of today, in songs of past

making us realize the elusive illusion in the speed of time 

the meanings of those soulful verses and ghazals heard then

have rendered us wise in this turmoil we call modern times

ethereal is this world of nostalgia, it may be eternal too

as long as my ears and memories keep exchanging

these symphonies now coated with the golden adoration

not just the pathway to the vintage times they are

portals too, reminding me the evolving life which this is....

The Sabbatical of an Artist

The decline of a hobby, so passionate

to a duty, so monotonous is heralded

when the artist basks in to glory of mediocrity.

The unsatiated mind feels the fall steeper,

when thoughts embellished on paper 

transgress from enlightenment to mere illumination.

Like a deer running in the wilderness, his mind

as the predatory fear of oblivion chased it

not letting it graze on the pastures of its own creation.

Hence fame, hoarded like a treasure abundant

yet impoverished of sanity to stay in its embrace for long

as the ghosts of envy and illusioned pressure of peers leered on him.

The artist's art is known to flood the mind with dopamine

but when it precipitates into unwanted endorphins

is when the artist fled to the tranquil solidarity.

There the artist discovered the artist sans his art

for creation has pathways beyond comprehension

and this art was nothing but a lane among millions

To discover that his art was a mere speck of what he was

to rejuvenate the mind of all the prejudice and exhaustion

imperative was this sabbatical, to not abdicate,

his yearning to create, for he is and will be, an artist.

 

A Part of Me, A Part of her

Of all the regrets in this very life

the easiest one i assumed to posses

was the one where i could not profess

smile and greet, was all i could muster

for she was seldom alone

always to be found in a cluster.

waiting for her inside her class

to only cherish, her fleeting glance,

for there was indeed something about her

that sent me to an addictive trance

the hormones of maturity went up a dose

the rhymes thus take a backseat

and here comes the prose..

my lips in my impulsive adolescence

would seldom open in front of her

and now in my exuberant youth

they hardly pull their curtains to breath

but she sin't there with me to listen

to laugh to hold hands to take a stroll

"It was an infatuation, get over it"

my friends would say for me to move on

but like me they seemed unaware too

of the infamous and treacherous art of love..

for it lets other feelings come in it's guise

and when it decides to come, it borrows,

the garb of those very "other feelings"

fighting all the baseless inhibitions

that were fed to me from society's venomous breast

the rhyming innocence went up a notch

for meeting her felt like another fiery test.

but the moment i laid my eyes on her

i sensed a feeling that was morbid

for the rustling of pleasant winds

suddenly sounded like the cawing of crows

the innocent rhyming died again

making way for the observant prose..

she maintained a poise so formal

familiar to "the wall" cold as ice

her laugh now lacked that childlike cackle

the warmth of which melted my heart back then

her aura, which then seemed so welcoming

now seemed to detest the presence

of even my shadow on her periphery 

while parting ways, a tear escaped with strain

not to lament the failed prospect of love

but to mourn the death of her innocence

for it was indeed a part of her 

that drowned in the tides of life

and now in the tomb of innocent memories

i now pay my respects, as i lay down

the flowers of my remembrance

for this world is indeed a graveyard

where every death was once just a birth

if anything a known fact this truth is,

but in this bridge of birth and death

lies a truth hideous than imaginable

that life in its own right is a graveyard too

possessing the buried corpses 

of the ones whom we used to be

of which now we are just mere fragments

the buried tombs are now called memories

where at leisure i visit to seek

a part of me, a part of her.....

  

shayari 8

Na kiya qubool dosti ko kabhi

Yeh zamaaana ab mohabbat ki ijaazat deta hai..

Zamaane ke isi dogle dastoor se tang aakar yeh dil

Zamaane se hi baghaawat karta hai..

ना किया कबूल दोस्ती को कभी 

ये ज़माना अब मोहब्बत की इजाजत देता है 

ज़माने के इसी दोगले दस्तूर से तंग आकर ये दिल 

ज़माने से ही बगावत करता है 

Shayari 7

Mohabbat ko jo kaagaz mein bebuniyaadi kehte hain

Jinke vajah se mashooq aur aashiq khud par zamaane ke tohmat ko sehte hain..

Unhe kya pata ki sacche shayar toh woh  hote hain..

Jo kudrat-e-kaarigar ki sohbat mein rehte hain..

मोहब्बत को जो मेहफिल में बेबुनियादी केहते हैं 

जिनकी वजह से माशूक़ और आशिक खुद पर लगे तोहमत को सहते हैं 

उन्हे क्या पता कि सच्चे शायर तो वो होते हैं 

जो कुदरत-ए-कारीगर की सोहबत में रहते हैं 

The Chosen one's Choices

The cosmic prophecies, the legends that foretell

speak of a one who would complete an arduous task,

the ripples of which will be felt by the universe,

as that one swims in the ocean of elysium

judgmental indeed is the common wealth

imagining a hercules for a task herculean

but for an adversity like goliath

a david comes but from the crowd..

the one who is a commoner,

humbled, mocked may be even bullied,

yet that one takes it all in stride

for the heart is the one's strongest muscle..

the past makes the one oppose

the voices of the cosmic conspiracies,

making it vulnerable to the dark side

which seduces it to merge in the tempting abyss

the adverse is nothing but a malicious reflection

of its own naive being the one concurs

for the present then becomes its anchor

guiding and holding it amidst these tides..

this choice of the chosen one,

is the one made by oneself indeed

but its love friendship and grit that are 

blessed to the one by the cosmos  

for now the tide has rested 

and the future is at the shore

the mediocre revel and are grateful

as that one still humble swims in elysium 

Who's the Master, Who's the slave

He cuffs her above her head

and has her blindfolded too

to let her anticipate the pain that will come

to make her implore for the pain she yearns

for then can she unwrap the pain

to relish the pleasure coated inside

while he too savours her moans and screams

getting high in this feel of power

the power of domination that actually

is given to him by her submission

without which his fire will never be doused

which she brings it out for her to arouse

so who is the master and who is the slave..

She has a collar tied to his neck

the bitch has now made him her pooch

tied him to a leash she has 

but she is the one gone wild 

as she is hungry to feel powerful

as they call it, the Alpha..

hence she makes him cater 

to her need of loyalty

which he does willingly

as he kneels waiting for 

the mistress to pull him to her

thus he satisfies her hunger

but he too enjoys being fed on

as long as his hunger 

to see her wild and hungry is satiated

making him want her more

for without his pretentious obedience

who could she gag

who could she whip..

so who is the master and who is the slave..

for she "let him" tie and blind her

she "let him" give her pain for her pleasure

he too "let her" tie and leash him

to let her take charge of his inner kinks

this pondering thus blurs the lines 

bewildering the definition, derived from vision..

for domination is allowed only by submission...

for consent is the master of which we ought to be the slaves..

shayari 6

Mohabbat ki zindagi mein humari itni khalish thi..

Ki bhar diya khud ko aagosh mein uski

Jismein mehez ek khokhli si kashish thi

मोहब्बत की जिन्दगी में हमारी इतनी खलिश थी

कि भर दिया खुद को आगोश में उसकी

जिसमें मेहेज़ एक खोखली सी कशिश थी।

shayari 5

Yun toh shammein hazaar jal jaati hai mehfil mein,

humaare fun ka deedar karne ke liye

ek kasak si bas reh jaati hai humaare dil mein

jise talab hai toh bas ek chingaari ki

jo baha de dil mein woh dariyaa aag ka

jise log mohabbat kehte hain

यूँ तो शम्मे हजार जल जाती हैं मेहफिल में 

हमारे फन का दीदार करने के लिए 

एक कसक सी बस रेह जाती है हमारे दिल में 

जिसे तलब है तो बस एक चिंगारी की

जो बहा दे दिल में वो आग का दरिया 

जिसे लोग मोहब्बत केहते हैं 

The Journey So far...

Followed the convention of writing after a heartbreak,

which is a recommended path to introspect, to contemplate.

It guided me to a garden of fresh perspectives,

as I was getting lured i had an inkling

that the world will never be the same again.

with a simple understanding and a humble vocabulary

weaved a tapestry of words that furnished my mind,

knitted by experience and embroidered by empathy,

making my mind an abode that's lavish,

and also a shelter that's humble and giving.

what started as a hobby evolved into passion,

the anecdotes and lengthy discourses also were too kind,

to provide shelter and space as my mind fathomed twice,

once to find a thought attractive yet elusive, 

then in the quest of words magical,

that rhymed assuring its allegiance.

My mind then expanded its mouth

giving shelter to another tongue,

whose style was as charming as those noble aristocrats

yet so innocent like an infant that's felt a nerve.

when making words sound similar felt binding,

the mind broke free to find a rhythm 

making words discover a beat of their own,

assuring the sanctity of music in literature.

The initial purpose was to pour my heart out,

and now to reach out has become its purpose eventual,

I found solidarity in painting my mind's canvas,

a picture so unique yet so familiar,

but now surrounded by embellished minds

In awe yet envious my mind is,

yet looking to learn, looking to delve deep,

to fathom with my mind and share with my ink

hence this realization dawns upon me

that the world will never be the same again.

 

kalaam-e-khayaal..

Tanhaai mein jab karna chahte the bayaan haal-e-dil ka 

Tab shabd bhi saaki bankar kaagaz ka paimaana bharte the nazmon ki Sharaab se..

Aur aaj jab mehfil mein kuch pesh karne ki ilteja ki hai zamaane ne..

Tab bhare darbaar mein bepardah na karne ki

Aati hai ilteja 

Mere tassavur ki Shabaab se..

तन्हाई में जब करना चाहते थे बयान हाल-ए-दिल का

तब शब्द भी साकी बनकर कागज का पैमाना भरते थे,

नज्मों की शराब से

और आज जब मेहफिल में कुछ पेश करने की इल्तिजा की है जमाने ने

तब भरे दरबार में बेपर्दा ना करने की आती है इल्तिजा, 

मेरे तसव्वुर की शबाब से।

Meri shayari ka ek hi raaz hai..

Ki mera mijaaz hi mera andaaz hai..

Ishq mein Jeena marna toh aadat hai humari 

Ki mera dil hi mera libaas hai..

मेरी शायरी का एक ही राज़ है 

कि मेरा मिज़ाज ही मेरा अंदाज़ है

इश्क में जीना-मरना तो आदत है हमारी 

कि मेरा दिल ही मेरा लिबास है ।

Dusron ka kalaam padhne mein itna mashroof huye..

Ki humari shayari humse rooth gayi..

Ek mashooq ki shikayat hai use ab..

Ki Humne jo khaayi thi kasam humse hi tooth gayi..

Ab manane ki koshish ki toh maalum hua ki shayari toh uska libaas tha....

Jiske bhes mein woh humari neend humara chain  humse loot gayi..

दूसरों का कलाम पढने में इतना मशरूफ हुए 

कि हमारी शायरी हमसे रूठ गई 

एक माशूक़ की शिकायत है उसे अब 

कि हमने जो खाई थी कसम वो हमसे ही टूट गई 

अब मनाने की कोशिश की तो मालूम हुआ कि शायरी तो उसका लिबास था

जिसके भेस में वो हमारी नींद, हमारा चैन हमसे लूट गई। 

Tracks

As the train’s speed goes up a notch,

towards my home where I’m intended to go,

I see from my window the tracks besides this running train

See them get a life of their own.

They seem to move along with the train,

Gleaming from the reflection of the sunlight,

However, as they seem to race the train,

They and I share the same plight.

For these tracks do seem to create an illusion,

But with that illusion comes a restriction,

They may be in motion but can only go ahead,

For going behind is not a privilege they said.

these tracks like me are nothing but slaves,

I am of time and they are of space.

I wonder if these tracks yearn to go back in motion

The way I do, to go back in time

Back to those carefree days, 

an innocent nostalgic notion 

To live those moments of ecstasy,

To bring in to my reality a delusional fantasy

Back to the moments where many relations promised eternity,

Those relations that were thankfully forged,

To save me from the haunting solidarity,

Back to those moments of terrible fall outs

To go back and hug them, and change them to sort outs

To the moment where I was struck by the pangs of romance and trust

Even to the times when I managed to indulge my sheepish lust.

Entwining with one another as these tracks pace,

I feel the same with the ones I left behind,

Like threads of a single lace.

It brings to my mind another query,

Of existence in the other’s memories that are merry.

But damn these tracks for their dazzle broke my trance,

As I enjoyed with my memories one final dance.

I carry no qualms about going back home,

For I ain’t a vagabond to endlessly roam.

Funny how the illusion of these tracks work,

Making them reminisce and later remind,

One of life’s many a quirk

Bringing many a thought to one’s mind 

As I head home, amidst the tracks’ wonder

Comes another thought upon which I ponder,

To the destinations that I’m headed to 

To the new tracks with which I will entwine

How will this new journey be?

Like my memories will the destination be divine.

Shaayari 4

Shaayari mein Aashiqui ka zaayka daalna aam ho gaya..

Aashiqon ne kiya Shaayari ka koi Lihaaj nahi..

Humein bhi ek Aashiq samajhne ki gustaakhi na karna..

Humaari shaayari kisi ghazal ki mohtaaj nahi..

 शायरी में आशिकी का जायका डालना आम हो गया 

आशिकों ने किया शायरी का कोई लिहाज नहीं 

हमें भी एक आशिक समझने की गुस्ताखी ना करना 

हमारी शायरी किसी गजल की मोहताज नहीं ।

Shaayari 3

Woh kehte hain Ki ishq mein nakaam kaun ho sakta hai

Un par toh ishq ka suroor hota hai..

Main kehta hu Ki nakaam hi hote hain ishq mein woh..

Jinhe ishq se zyada use khud pe guroor hota hai..

वो केहते हैं कि इश्क में नाकाम कौन हो सकता है 

उनपर तो इश्क का सुरूर होता है 

मैं केहता हूँ कि नाकाम होते हैं वो

जिन्हें इश्क से ज्यादा खुद पे गुरूर होता है ।  

 

Shaayari 2

Mohabbat ka mujhpar yeh ilzaam hai ki meri  shaayari bas ek fareb hai...
Ki usko haasil karne ki yeh meri koi chaal hai..
Mohabbat se kehta hu main, ki dosh tera bhi kuch kam Nahin..
Ki ho chuka hoon deewana tere husn ka, jiska bichaaya tune yeh jaal hai..

मोहब्बत का मुझपर ये इल्जाम है कि मेरी शायरी बस एक फरेब है ,

कि उसको हासिल करने की ये मेरी कोई चाल है।

मोहब्बत से कहता हूँ मैं, कि दोष तेरा भी कुछ कम नहीं,

कि हो चुका हूँ दीवाना तेरे हुस्न का, जिसका बिछाया तूने ये जाल है।

Shaayari

Woh Mohabbat Bhi Kya Mohabbat Jo Kisi Ko Jaan ne Se Hoti Hai
Sacchi Mohabbat Ka ilm toh kisi ke sath judne Se Hota Hai
Jaanna, Waqt bitaana ,yeh sab to Zamaane ki Banaai Gai fizul Si Shartein Hain
Mohabbat Ki Haar  aksar  Inhi sharton Ko Maan ne Se Hoti Hai

वो मोहब्बत भी क्या मोहब्बत जो किसी को जानने से होती है 

सच्ची मोहब्बत का इल्म तो किसी के साथ जुड़ने से होता है ।

जानना, वक्त बिताना, ये सब तो जमाने की बनाई गई फिजूल सी शर्तें हैं 

मोहब्बत की हार अक्सर इन्हीं शर्तों को मानने से होती है ।

Veeraan Mann

Khayaalon ne jaise dastak dena hi bandh kar diya,
Yeh veeraan mann ab bechain hone laga hai,
Jis ko padhkar kora kaagaz bhar leta tha
Woh Mann bhi ab kora hone laga hai,

Jab zindagi ke aaine mein khud ko talaasha tha,
tab shabdon ki kaarigari se maine kuch taraasha tha,
woh khayaalon ka mahal sang-e-marmar ka naa sahi,
uski khoobsurti mein magar, hai kashish ab bhi wahi,

Lafzon se sajaa ke, ek naya afsana bayaan karu,
Mere yaar-doston ka ab yeh sujhaav hai,
Unki yeh khwaahish puri na kar paa raha,
Kyunki mandraa raha gumnaami ka khauf ab bhi,
aur pad raha shauhrat ka dabaav hai..

Shauhrat toh sirf ek chalava hai, 
Jisne mere mann mein ghar kar liya,
Aur gumnaam ka darr bhi bewajah tha,
jise maine apne andar bhar diya.

Ab karna iss darr ko inkaar hai,
Ki mere shabdon ka jaal bunta hai meri Mohabbat se,
Aur yaad dilana hai iss veeraan dikhte mann ko
Ki woh ab bhi ek nayaab fankaar hai.

Maaloom hota hai ki safar phir se shuru karna padega
 Apne andar ki ek nai manzil talaashne ke liye
Kyunki jisko maana tha mahal, woh sirf ek minar hai,
sahara lena baaki hai, naye khayaalon ka, naye alfaazon ka
Apne mann ke mahal ko taraashne ke liye.

Mediation by Meditation

Channelizing my inertia, as i close my eyes..

I embark upon a journey,

where an answer to each question lies.

I sense my physical structures attached,

and also begin to find myself,

floating above the same, completely detached..

This exile from my body is but momentarily,

yet those moments seem to last for eons,

In those eons i differentiate real from virtual,

I the spiritual, witnesses I the sensual

I feel the breeze of tranquility, yet i don't revel,

I see the torment of my thoughts, desires and feelings, yet i don't rebel..

I feel enlightened and hold no grudge,

I see my ignorance which i don't judge..

I nurture and appease like a mother,

I also instruct and guide like a father

To let the spiritual me pacify the sensual me,

and the sensual me acknowledge the spiritual me,

I choose this internal pilgrimage,

to let them work in synergy,

for that is when one can reach the path 

of infinite energy.

That energy which on return i experience as i radiate,
Allaying my doubts and my trepidation,
For I bring peace between the two,
Performing the Mediation by Meditation

Platonic Planet

Imagine a boy, an extremely young shy boy, trying to initiate a conversation with a girl, with the only motive to initiate a conversation, when he does so, he's teased around, implicating that he's making a move on her or something is brewing between them, when he doesn't even know what "making a move" actually means. Now the teasers must be thinking they were just pulling his leg or having fun at his expense, but what if it scared the boy, what if this incident influences him so deep that he refuses to talk to any girl, he was shy at first and now he's intimidated to initiate a conversation with any girl and vice-versa, because they will always be misunderstood by the rest and maybe by each other too, leading to consequences as boys and girls are quite impressionable. 

Now I know some of you must be wondering "Isn't he stretching it too far??","Isn't he overthinking or over-analyzing too much??", "Isn't he being oversensitive and taking it too personally??", I don't blame them to think that way, because that's how this society is constructed, to influence us to think this way. Today in the times of 2020, we talk about gender equality, yet we are not adept to deal with the sub-conscious sexism not visible to the naked mind in our everyday lives. Don't worry this is not about sexism or chauvinism, it's about that by-product of the same that like a crab pulls us down when we want to think ahead. Oh, did I really go too far?? then let me give you another example.

Let's imagine another young boy who is having a good conversation with a girl and sharing a young bond that may germinate into a friendship, but what happens, he is teased by his peers, his boyhood is questioned, he is threatened with isolation, unnerved, he feeds his mind with the theories that boys don't sit besides girls, such boys aren't fit to be called men. Now do you see what I'm talking about? 

Not yet? let me elaborate a little more, the above two examples don't really encourage a platonic, friendly conversation with someone of the opposite sex, because in our minds a man and a woman can have only one non platonic relationship, actually 2 non platonic relationships (romantic or sexual), unless they consider each other as siblings but trust me I've met people who have an incestuous mindset too. We have spoken enough about how the boys of today need to be reined in and be taught about respecting women, but for the boys of today and tomorrow, if we want them to respect women another need of the hour is to create an environment where it is acceptable of boys and girls to interact with each other, it needs to be perceived as an act of normalcy. 

Like in every case, even this case doesn't revolve around only the male specimen. It's about how we have brought up our girls too. It's understood that given the environment and given our concern we are too possessive about the girls around us, but why is it that whenever they interact with a boy, they are made to feel as if they have committed a sin, sure their girlhood isn't questioned or challenged but is sub-consciously and in-deliberately dampened, by reminding them that they are the "weaker sex", vulnerable and prone to harm and exploitation by the other sex. 

Thus, after disrobing these draconian societal garments, the naked truth is that one section of this human society lives under insecurity regarding its own gender pride and attention of the other gender it knows not how to handle, and the other section, well, they are empowered and encouraged yet made to live under fear of harm and exploitation by their counterparts, in situations and environment as such, how does one expect this world to have relationships that are based on love, true, pure love?

You know what's the one of the major root causes of this issue?, the fact that we still perceive friendship as a seed of a relationship, not as a tree with its own roots. I agree relationships are at times like a living organism, they evolve from one stage or phase to another but that doesn't mean, that the stage, the phase isn't in itself a relationship. The ultimate stage of a bond, its final destination indeed determines the nature of a relationship, but that doesn't mean the stages lose their relevance.

When a man and a woman declare themselves as just friends, there is a certain unrest amongst people, the society in particular, they are so concerned that what will this friendship lead to?, will it lead to a romantic relationship? will it be a physical relationship? or will it lead to a sibling-like relationship?, what if it was a bond that has lead to this relationship called friendship, which in its nature is purely platonic??.

Let's even forget the scope of romantic or sexual relationships, why they have to lead to sibling like too? can't they be just friends?. To be safe, it's time we check how much we are letting the regressive society and the regressive section of media (films and series) affect our mindset. It eventually is leading to glorification of male domination and the objectification of the female.

Friendship has somewhere lost its value too, at times some of us have also in order to pursue someone romantically went on to forge friendships, now thinking about it, don't you think we have degraded friendship to something as a mere tool? people are mocked for getting what is called "Friendzoned" but then again, if we think about it, what's so wrong with it?

The environment of being friends and being platonic was never really created, because we chose to see things through the prism of doubt, convention and convenience, when the prism wasn't even needed. Doesn't it seem stupid that the whole world was there for us to watch and we chose to see it with a narrow viewpoint? 

I feel sorry for this society who thinks so low of friendship. They forget that if relationship, and I mean any relationship is a body, friendship is the soul. Without friendship any relationship is lifeless. Such is the importance of friendship, so imagine how powerful friendship really is, as a bond, as a relationship. 

This is not just about men and women being perceived rightly in their respective beings, it is also about bringing them up together in environment that needs more friendship than friction among them, an environment which functions with their synergy. 

Thus, every relationship to exist and grow into something beautiful needs friendship, sometimes a friendship that initially might look platonic may lead to a relationship that's non platonic, but at the same time a friendship that's platonic, needs to be respected and identified as in itself a relationship. Let this world be open to the idea of being platonic, let this planet be a bit more platonic.  

Infected with Apathy and Symptoms of Empathy.

This is no news that these are tough times. People are genuinely experiencing the truth that the safest place in this world is your home, your very own house. As someone who is introspective, it actually feels good to see that people are making good use of this time to discover and rediscover themselves. I however have come across something that's equal parts enlightening intriguing.

The part that's enlightening is that we humans are capable of empathy. The reason for it to seem enlightening is because we may have advanced technologically, but environmentally we seem to have decelerated. The civilized world today is nothing but "Law of the Jungle" but with suits. People now are complaining that they are vulnerable to life-threatening infections but who is to tell these people that they were already infected by the soul-threatening virus of "Apathy". 

Now for the current pandemic there are factors to be blamed for, but for the pandemic that has been plaguing humanity for generations, whom to blame for that. We as humans have it in our tendency to satisfy needs and complete goals, to make our lives worth living but what kind of life it would be if we are busy finding worth and not adding value to it, certainly not a human life. We are no less than animals if we keep living like this. The reason we are different from animals is that we can empathize, we have the ability to develop and exhibit feelings of compassion, but in the race to satisfy, gratify, achieve, hoard and goad, we forget it all and are at each others throats. 

Perhaps in this period of pandemic we are being reminded that we are humans. Positively there will be antidote for this pandemic causing virus soon, but for the virus of Apathy there is an antidote, something we humans are already born with. You may have understood by now, I'm talking about "Empathy". 

In the beginning I expressed relief in seeing people discover and rediscover themselves, it does seem many of them have discovered/rediscovered the empathy which may have been comatose for a long time. There are tourists, the ones who were being considered the cause of this pandemic, they faced a lot of disdain and rebuffing but in hour of need they were helped by people who weren't of their nation.

This pandemic helped us realize that no matter where we are in this social structure, even if one of the level falls the entire pyramid will crumble. Seeing the daily laborers struggle for their daily wages and observing their pain, many are now using the platform of social media to arrange some sort of relief for them. 

It's not only about empathy for our co-humans, it's about the empathy for our surroundings equally. Seeing the nature back in its simple, pure and pristine form instilled a feeling of wonder and awe and maybe a small amount of guilt, if we recall how for our selfish means we had mean ravishing and ravaging this very nature and leaving it all fragile. 

Yes, this pandemic is a reminder that we humans still have hope to care to love and to be there for each other thus adding value to our lives and yes "this too shall pass", my question however lies in the aftermath of the same. Once this is over, what next?, is this a small flame that will blow out in the pending resumption of the rat-race to add worth to our lives will it be given air to expand burn amongst us, encouraging it to act as lamps illuminating each other, and show each other the light, helping each other become our respective best versions. 

Thus, to conclude, for long have we been infected with apathy, now is the time to neutralize it with empathy, and given we are showing symptoms of the same, it's time to spread these symptoms to others, because showing symptoms won't be enough, it's time to work on these symptoms, make sure it spreads amongst all of us, so that when we survive this on-going pandemic, we can use them to make this world a better place for our succeeding generations, to give back something to this nature towards which we have been so vehement.

Stay safe, find the worth within you to make your life valuable, for every life human/non-human is precious. If not understood now, not sure about the world but you're already doomed..but I'll stay hopeful and positive. 

Too late to Touch ?!!

We are in the times of a pandemic, it's true, it may seem funny and to some inappropriate but what annoys me the most is that the effects of it are such that we are prevented from even "touching ourselves". It's frustrating.

However, the above mentioned preventive measure is only for the physical, and given the occupational hazard of an introspective blogger, I can't help but delve deep in making analogies between the tangible and intangible, the sense and the spirit and with my introspective understanding I've come to a conclusion that we've long adopted this preventive measure as a lifestyle, haven't we?

Just think about it, we are so consumed by the toxicities of the external world that we haven't established an inner connection or as in this context i'd say "touch ourselves". We haven't really known ourselves, we never empathized ourselves, we never accepted our demons and suppressed things inside us which may seem unacceptable to the norms of the society fearing prejudice and harboring hypocrisy. And now, this pandemic just restricts us from touching ourselves in the physical sense, no matter how much we yearn to, no matter how much we have to. It seems unfair, but somewhere it's a reminder of sorts, a wake-up call to remind us that instead of falling for the traps of the toxic, establish a connect with yourself, it's the most effective vaccine against the toxicities that come from the external.

As far as touching others is concerned, pandemics and epidemics are known to have spread by touching others, but it hasn't really stopped people has it? can the same be said about touching others in the perspective of establishing a connection with others? I guess with not that much conviction. Why such apprehension because there is a fear of the individual being at the other end being toxic or being infected by some toxicity which may affect us. It's a plausible assumption and it's a smart call to prioritize safety, but isn't it an invitation to isolation and paranoia? how does one feel safe enough to live fearlessly?

As far as this pandemic is concerned, one has to be patient and optimistic with the belief that "this too shall pass", however it does raise an important question, is it too late to touch ourselves and others? We have been told to maintain social distance from people around us, but ask yourselves, haven't we doing this for a very long time? we communicate, but we don't connect hence we don't "touch". In the above two cases the world, or in this case the social world seems to lack a vaccine that is simple yet the most effective, the vaccine called "EMPATHY". Hence the existing conventional touches are all cold lacking the warmth of this empathy. 

Maybe it's time we begin touching ourselves to feel our existence and maybe realize the purpose of the same. Maybe it's time that  we with faith and hope begin touching others. To prevent the pandemic we aren't touching our face, nor are we getting into any sort of physical contact with others and are maintaining social distance, but if we maintain our empathy in this period of paranoid pandemic and help each other around, we will manage to "touch" a lot of people.

To conclude, once this pandemic ends, and it will, maybe we should resolve to touch, be it ourselves, be it others, so that the ever existing pandemics that intend to infect and rot our spirit and sanity, can be fought and won over. If we can win over these pandemics, the existing one won't last long. 

Stay safe... 

 

Chastised Masculinity

Piercing through the fabric and flesh,

Intending to view my soul,

Her eyes reflecting her state of mind,

the mind that's clouded by fear and prejudice

She claims she wishes to peel my layers,

such is her delusional innocence,

for my mind can visualize the obvious shrouding,

of my soul, my being with her accusations.

She claims she wishes to peel the layers of my soul,

for she assumes my mind has disrobed her of her fabric

she assumes my eyes have raked her with desire

but i know that her eyes pierced me with judgement

Afraid to view and appreciate the aesthetics

i sit at a corner, with tears that assure isolation

disgusted with my existence as a man,

i punish myself for the same 

assuring my tears some company,

i let the blade graze my skin,

the blade reminds me of her piercing eyes,

as comes out the tears' thick red kin

Gradually, pain makes way for hope,

enlightening about her plight

attacked by the one claiming themselves as men,

but were wild hounds dressed as humans

there were many like her but few like me,

thus they wear masks of cynicism.

At first i abhor my manhood, questioning my faults,

but its in the flaws i discover my purpose,

Vowing to redefine masculinity..

I take an oath to strive and endure..

To be the man she wants me to be.

I pray they get their justice

For their justice is not theirs alone..

To pray for all is a trait that's human..

The being that I am before I was declared a man..