Ten minutes...

Traffic was at an all time high. I had difficulty in even maneuvering the handle-bar. I grew increasingly annoyed at the lack of communication. Irritated at the score of vehicles in front of me. I had to somehow reach the place. Soon. Three more seconds, two more… I strangled the accelerator, the Pulsar made a screeching sound, and I was off…

Finally, I was hitting top speed, the high 100s in a busy road. Honk, honk, honk and the stupid people scattered. I was flying… I could see a truck waiting to turn. I honked…The idiot. He had to wait.

Honk, honk, honk…

Suddenly, it seemed to me that the driver couldn’t hear me. Suddenly, I had this funny feeling that the truck driver was indeed going to turn. Horror drowned, I tried to twist the handle-bar. The tyres went screech…I hit the truck full force, the headlights crunched, and I was flung into the air, really flying this time, and just before I hit the ground, I realized to my dismay that my helmet lay on my bed at home.

“search him…He must have some phone in his pocket. Call his mom, dad, someone…Quick…”
“hey, here..here it is…”
“Quick…Quick…”
“No need..There’s the ambulance..Call later…First lift him onto the stretcher. Come on, quick…”

I could sense my limp body being lifted and put on the stretcher. My eyes were blurred, my breathing heavy. I suddenly rememberd. “The message…The message….” I spoke, spewing blood. “What message ?” the man who helped me into the ambulance spoke in my ear. “My cell…The message…”

I could sense him taking my cell phone out. “Ya, some message…Not important. Lie down. Lie down. Don’t strain yourself. “

“Re..Read it….”

“It just says “No need to come. I’ll come by auto.”…”

I smiled, and I heard the ambulance siren splitting the traffic, the gentleman by my side looking at me with a curious face…And I thought to myself sadly...Oh mom…

Ten minutes too late….

Then… I thought of the doctor at the hospital… He would say the same thing…
And I smiled…

Black and white...

The ocean’s blue, vast and lonely,
Reminds me of myself, my own life,
So much a failure, so much a disappointment,
Hopes and dreams, reached the skies,
Ten months of crucifix-pain, dying by the hour,
All seems in vain, all seems to be lost.

I knew a bright future was ahead at one,
The antics, the joy you brought to me,
Gave me ecstasy amidst the growing storm,
Things were to turn sour, I wasn’t worried.
I’ve got you, my rose of the desert,
I’ve got you.

I knew you’d be a star at seven,
Picking up marks, rag-picker like,
Singing your way to glory, and,
dancing your way to records,
The future Shah Rukh Khan, the badshah.
I’d die to do a duet with you, my angel.

Things flipped at fourteen, first signs,
Adolescence, the man of the moment,
You started to think of me as a no-brainer.
Girls caught your fancy, you became a dog,
Tongues out, chasing them, first signs of trouble.
Fights seemed common, my dreams seemed
To blur, anguish writ I wait for you.

Eighteen now, first time voter, bearded,
Into smoke, drinks, girls and nv.
All your talents thrown to the wind,
Every move of yours, a disgrace.
Everyone’s complaining, thrashed up by
The police, for illegal sex trade, and, still,
I preferred to believe, you’re innocent.

Twenty came, pain and sorrow tagged along,
First time you raised your hand to beat me,
Black and blue, inflated cheeks, deflated heart,
The jail, your second home. The prostitute’s. your first.
The walls, the floors, the world all had something to say,
Not the fame I foresaw, but the pain I overlooked.
My dreams, our household, came crashing down.

Enough…I can’t go on longer. I need space.. peace.
I’m happy by myself, silently joyful, without you.
It is true, I gave birth to you, ten months, I held you,
You’ve repaid me already, ten years, of bliss.
Enough… You’re past your sell-by date. Leave me alone.
I think of the future… more hurt, more sorrow…
I don’t need it. Oh God, have pity on me. Take him away.
Life is beautiful without you…

Come on...

Vanquished, ashes of burning fire,
Intricate web,and, complex emotions,
Shining star, on a cloudy night,
History beckons, shortfalls too many,
Night's tears never visible,
Ultimate joy, buried under unbearable pain.
Don't give up...
Come on !!

Mirage...

Prince of paupers,
Rich in heart,but, love repels,
Architect of failure,
Kind words hurt me,
All her love, a mirage,
Sword of silence slices thro' me,
Hurt and agony, fate and destiny.

Dark knight...

Somewhere alone, oh my beloved,
In my dreams, oh so divine,
Nectar sweet, the hope of bliss,
Dark knight, an angel's delight,
Hero's welcome, the con of man,
Upstart, brought down to earth,
Jack of none, the master of none,
All is not well in life...