Banaras ki galiyon mein

ढूंढती हूँ मैं कुछ यहाँ, कुछ वहां
कभी अलमारी में देखा, कभी छज्जे पे
तिन के डब्बों में भी  देखा झाँक कर
याद आता है कहीं रखा था संजो के

क्या बताऊँ सहेली, खुद को भूल गई हूँ,
कहीं छोड़ आई हूँ. किसी किनार
किसी घाट पे, किसी मंदिर में,
किसी नैय्या में मैं थी सवार

उस शाम बैठी थी मैं, तारे थे, चाँद भी था
एक चाय की प्याली थी हाथ में
लगता था खो जाउंगी वहीँ,
ले जाएगी ये लहरें मेरा हाथ धर अपने साथ में

शायद वोही हुआ है सखी मेरे भी संग
काशी की गंगा में रम सी गई मैं
अब न घर में मिलती, न बगीचे में, न आँगन में,
पाऊँगी खुद को बनारस की गलियों में, लौट के ज़रूर आउंगी मैं..

त्रुटियों के लिए क्षमा प्रार्थी हूँ, एडिटिंग शीघ्र ही करुँगी, परन्तु ये शब्द रुके नहीं, इसलिए आज रात को जागकर इन्हें प्रस्तुत कर रही हूँ..
शुभ रात्रि!!

With love in my sheaf

I open my palms, and feel nothingness
I look up to the sky, and feel emptiness
I hear no one, its quiet, its soundless
I fear no ill, its numb, its painless

I am empty, I am grey
I fast, I wish, for death I pray
I am broken, I am cold, my heart is fray
I am aimless, lost, I meander, I stray

Memories of dreams, of hopes of joy
Of childhood stories I enjoy
Just like the yellow maple leaf
Ready to fall, with love in my sheaf

Dreaming...

28th Floor of a mumbai skyskraper
Sounds of waves of the ocean
Can someone paint this picture?
Me in my own creation..

Sun gleaming through the window bright
I get up at my own pace
Soaking in the music and the sunlight
No fight for the rat race..

And then is this home away from home
Where heart prevails and smiles spread
Colorful, red, green and chrome
You and me, love and fred!!

The tram line, and we...

I am lucky to live in a city which is by far the best in public transport system. The need for your own car/ vehicle never arises. Around a year back, atrociously, the bus stop near my home disappeared. This was thanks to the new tram line construction (from Solna to Alvik, in Stockholm, Sweden where I reside). And thus began the journey, which our neighbourhood is still reeling in. The 800 metres walk to the nearest metro station is suddenly extended to 1200 metres. The whole day we have sirens to warn against the loud thump of dynamite blowing the rocky terrain, to build a tunnel for the tram line. I would like to mention that the sound of this dynamite is much less than the honks and noises of the blue line buses in Delhi. You get to feel a thump (reminds me of "Jurassic Park").

A couple of days back, I returned back from work to find a box of Marabou chocolates in my post. The box is specially ordered, and has a "Tack" printed on it. That means "thank you" in Svenska (Sweden's local language).

 There is a note attached to the box as well. I have translated it (the note was in Svenska as well). It is a "thank you" note from the construction company NCC who are handling the tram construction work and SL, the Swedish public transport company. 

The note thanks the residents of the area for their patience, and tolerance towards the disruption of normalcy in the locality. They thank us for enduring the noise, the disturbance in  the walking track and barriers on the road, which have led to discomfort to the public. 
An immediate curve on my face, and all becomes fine. :). I am excited about the whole process now. I am looking forward to the day when I will use the tram to reach my favourite shopping destinations, or to my friend's place. Thanks to the Marabou milk chocolate and the simple thought from NCC-SL, just the concern for the common man, 

Being an Indian, I tend to immediately compare the situation with the construction of the Delhi Metro, whch is the latest which comes to my mind. Just as a reminder and a stark comparision - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-11161014


The tram line is expected to be on in the summer of 2013.