The Lantern Yard

With moon hung by our shoulder, we were seated in the varanda feeling the slightly cold breeze pass by us. We got startled by the unappealing sound of the ambulance siren. I gave a sigh of relief and turned back to take a look at my granny. I got confounded by what I saw. The paled hands of her with wrinkles like that of a cotton shirt that had been left unironed for decades, came together, prepping for a prayer. Her eyes shut down instantly and I could see her lips which were pulled inside, mumbling something. There was this strange tranquilness in the air for a second and then she opened her eyes and continued reading Ramayana. Driven by my anxious mind, I asked her what was it all about. She passed this pleasing smile and started talking," This world we live in is quite a selfish one. We make wishes for ourselves hoping God will listen and make them come true. But that's not how it works." I was listening but I couldn't help but notice that her voice was not quive...

“Yes, It’s witty to do it this way.” “Yes, It should be Ammu”. I overheard mom and dad whispering to each other, the other night. I had already prophesied that something’s gonna hit me in the morning. Next day I woke up to my mom and dad seated  beside me saying” Kunju will have her interview in no time. It’s prudent if she goes ASAP so her quarantine gets over before the interview starts.” “Yes mom. It’s a wise one. I totally agree to it.” I replied to mom. “ Well, then we want you to accompany her.” bombed dad on me. “ What?! Why me though? Especially when COVID is at it's pinnacle. I dont wanna jeopardize my precious life for some loon like her!”. The next thing I remember doing is fillng up zillions of forms declaring that we are corona free. Just a flight, how mundane could it be, despite the fact that my fellow traveller had already buckled herself up with two novels for the ventu...

A time,  when he won't let go of those hands even in his slumbers. A time,  his incurring wrath implored  him to run away.  A time, he departed in pursuit of happiness, forlorn he got, for a tar baby is what life had become.  As disenchanting as it might be, lockdown got him square to what he had been in pursuit of, all this time.

Climb up the highest place you know. Stand at the edge and listen to the wind. It's singing a song for you. Let your hair open and let them flow 'cause you are a queen and the world must know. Open them, your eyes and look at all those wonderful things around you, 'cause it's only one life that we've got and we must live it! For a moment get all those things out of your mind. Let them say what they want, let them do what they want for they are in search of a happy life that you are living already. Scream your lungs out. Say those words they say you shouldn't be knowing, do those things they say you shouldn't be doing 'cause now, right now, right here, it's you and it's your life. And you know what? You can do whatever you wish to do. Forget those rules, they aren't for you. You've got no time to follow them for you have got much better things to follow. Forget that grief for there's an ocean of things for you to feel happy...

I was six or seven when Appa, all of a sudden came up with this game. One has to hide an object and the other one has to find it. And there was this rule that the closer one gets, the other one has to call out 'hot' or else 'cool'. Appa decided to give his Black Berry (mob. Phone) the role  of the object. He hid it and i found, then I hid it and he found out. Though it annoyed mom like hell but it was kinda fun. We were laughing and running around the house like some rodent sniffing for food. After a few times, it was my turn again. This time I wanted to hide it in a place even God couldn't look into. So yeah, I kept searching for a solid place. And you know what? I saw this steel glass under the bed. It seemed to be perfect to hide. And why won't it be. The room itself was so dark. So he wouldn't have a least clue of where it could be. Without wasting a single second further, I let go the mobile into the glass and returned to him with a smirk. He wa...

Last wednesday was so hectic. We all were super tired as we just got back from Jaipur. Now tiredness has a very devasting effect on me. I think about all my problems and issues in one go and sadness hit me hard like a huge truck carrying 100 elephants. So as usual, I cried and cried and cried till my eyes refused to spare anymore drop of tear. My nose just turns red when I cry.  So Kunju, my lil sis took pics of me to show everyone that I looked similar to a rotten tomato when I cried. But to be honest, I was so down. So I grabbed my blanket and covered myself as if it could help me fight my anxities. Anyways, it helped me hide my rotten tomato like face though. Then I heard my mom giggling. I peeped out to see what was she laughing at. And I knew the cause when I saw kunju standing near her with the mobile in one hand. "Mummy!!" I yelled frowing at her. " Ya, now that makes a perfect tomato there" she said winking at me. Then she pulled the blanket off me and grab...

Once, not so long ago I was standing there, Clueless and all alone. Staring at the two roads in front. There were no sign boards. There were no mile stones. Not a single person to tell Where to go. Then I took the path with Most foot prints on, Without thinking where I'll go. Soon, I was lost in the dark With no more foot prints to follow. I tripped over stones And fell. I was so broke that I cried for long. Then there were sharp thorns And not-so-friendly folks. Which describes all the scars That I've in and on. After days of struggle, I ended up on another diversion. Another two roads, I had to choose from, were just in front. But this time, I wasn't all alone. I had strength and my inner self. The lessons, I learnt all along shouldn't just go in vein. The scars I wear should be in count and The tears I've shed should mean something. So this time I chose the road I saw the light in end. It had less foot prints though But it had fl...

That night, I was all alone. ‎I ran into the darkest room I could find ‎And locked myself in, so tight! ‎I sat beside the window ‎with tears rolling down my eyes. ‎I looked across the street ‎through the window ‎with millions of things inside my mind. ‎ ‎l've done wrong. ‎A plenty of them indeed. ‎I have been through the worst ‎and that's enough, I think! ‎But for what I've done ‎I don't deserve to be even alive ‎'cause there's no forgiveness ‎for those who let down their parents ‎ a thousand times! And what about the wrong that I have done to the people all around. But yes! I've been punished And I have learnt my lessons, so well. So, why shall I regret now? when I should never! I have got dreams now! I have got things to chase! plans to follow, people to live for. Then, why can't I still get out of the fear? Why is it still Haunting me everywhere and every time? Why is it despair that is all I see Whe...

Well, well, lemme tell you something. Here in Copper(my home town), we celebrate our Republic Day with Parade competition and ya some dance programmes. Then there would be a mela to cherish the morning of the  Republic Day. Every year there would be so many people gathering in the Nehru Ground, where the programmes are usually held. And every year I and my sister along with some of our friends race to the mela to buy things we adore. And every year, Papa would leave to office saying "I've kept the money in the shelf". It has been so since years. He never forgets to keep the money, no matter what. But this morning, since I was asleep I didn't hear him saying anything. So as I woke up, I was a lil confused if he forgot about it or what. With hope I approached the shelf. Dhk Dhk *heart beats* Huh. There it was. A note of  Rs.200. I held it in my hand with a smile. And as I looked up there was kunju(sister)  standing there smiling at me. We both shared no words but...

Lately, I was travelling in metro. It's way too fasinating you know to fly above the city skipping all those traffic and noise, enjoying the incredible view that the city has to offer. So that day, there was a young boy and his mother sitting right beside me. Probably, they climbed on metro for the first time. As the metro was about to reach the bridge over the river, the boy climed on his seat to have a proper look at the river. "Beta, it's Yamuna" his mom said. After staring at the river for few seconds, the boy questioned "But mom, aren't rivers blue? Why is Yamuna black? The lady explained "It is like that beta!". Wait. What? Really? Was it like that before? wasn't it blue once? Wasn't it's colour  changing like most of the rivers in India? Haven't we humans painted it in black with the brushes of plastic? Well whom to blame when its always about blaming  others. We humans talk about pollution with cigarettes  in our ...

Out in the dark, Under the stars, I stood quietly. Feeling the sweet cold wind Playing with my curles. My eyes were stuck upon a light, Probably coming from the street. But my mind was wondering all around Like a free bee. It was a mix thought of almost Everything under the sun. Me having some supernatural powers Or becoming something great! All the griefs and the pain, The laughs and the grins! But all of a sudden, Out of blue, I saw someone waving at me. "Who are you?"  I yelled. "Not a stranger, you know me well. Just you forget. I'm Your dreams, I guess" he answered, "You need to follow or you'll loose your track". I turned around And saw my mom looking straight into my eyes, Tryna find something. I went back to the room And started off again. But with something called 'Determination' Glittering through my eyes this time. And I knew I haven't lost the track yet.

There were two options for her. A bag full of money And a heart full of love. I wasn't really amazed to see her choosing the first one with ease. I knew she didn't deserve the right one. But off course hopes were clung to me. But it ain't no matter to me, As they got scattered into pieces The way it happened with my heart. The thing that shook me the most Was the fact How money became more precious than it meant to be And how love lost its meaning. They say money can't buy you happiness. But I say money can get you every Fuckin thing. And love would earn you nothing But tears. Well, this was how I lost the meaning of love. And I know, I'm not alone. I ain't complaining. I'm sympathising. I laugh when they say... " I'm in love. " Actually they mean to say " I'm either gonna loose or find the meaning of love " Love is a beautiful thing. But the way people is burying it's meaning Makes me feel sick of i...

I was lost in the dark. Couldn't see Where to go and where not to. Couldn't decide Whom to believe and whom not to. But then came he. Told me it was shallows, And wasn't deep enough. Pulled me out of where I was. Showed me where to go, Where not to. And whom to believe, Whom not to. Out of the hundreds lost in dark, He choose to pull up me. But why was I chosen? Why was only he who came? I had no clues. Nor did he. But, as the time passed on, I understood, Why was it only me? And why was it only he? Literally, we understood What soul mates are meant to be. In life's crazy but wonderful journey, We came up with questions And answered it satisfactorily. But we did it all together. And that was our victory.

He slammed the doors as if we never kissed leaning against them. He broke the vase as if it never carried the flowers of our love. He threw away the frames that depicted our happy days, as if we had only shed tears together. He tore the pillows as if they never wiped our tears. He burnt the letters we used to send each other as if it never meant anything to him. He broke my heart as if he didn't know that it was he, inside. He left me as if he never said that he won't leave me no matter what. And soon all his replies turned into " We used to love. " as if we had no feelings left.

The bell rang restlessly. And when he answered the call, There was a huge silence. An unpleasant silence Which filled each one of us With terror. He looked at my face. I was waiting for 'nothing serious ' As the answer had always been. ' I'm sorry ' he muttered. I had no words. Nor did he. When we reached the place, We saw people we didn't even know. All in black With tears we can't count. There in the middle of Shattered pieces of hearts, There laid the most beautiful soul Covered in white shawl. The soul who lived many lives Before leaving, Was resting. Don't know if in peace or in pain. My eyes yet couldn't believe. Actually, I wasn't wishing to believe. The tears refused to stop And my heart refused to act strong. All my unfulfilled promises, All her soothing words, All her undue love, And all my spoken harsh words. They haunted me all together And killed me half. Didn't know that life could be this harsh...

They say I'm short. Little did they know that I have a whole new world in my tiny eyes. They didn't know that I have a hell lot of dreams in my small head. They didn't know that I'm small but my dreams are big enough to touch the sky. They didn't know that 45 Kg is enough to chase the stars. They didn't know it is Dreams that I breathe. They didn't know that nights aren't for me to rest but to work. They didn't know that I've shed tears in the dark nights, under the moon. They didn't know that this small world of mine is incredibly huge if they see it through my eyes. So little do they know about me. So little do they know about my world. Yet they have to speak.

There were tears in her eyes. As she leaned towards her mother, They leaped out. Some full of pain. Some full of hope. Some full of worries. Some full of prayers. Her heart was strong enough. But the pain was stronger. Deep inside she knew that she was helpless. But the seed of hope was anchoring her soul.

Last Friday night, I was walking by the street. I was looking at the tents, When a smile caught my eyes. A baby so sweet, Barely in clothes. So torn and wan. Her smile was of million Dollars. Pure and bright. A poverty strucken pain was visible When I looked at her mother's eyes. Baby in one and a broom in her other hand. I waved and went past them. I walked forward. I was looking at the sky Creepers, when again a smile caught my eyes. A baby so sweet, In trendy clothes. Ragged and new. Her smile was of million dollars. Pure and bright. A ‎posh full Glee was visible When I look at her mother's eyes. iPhone in one and a purse in her other hand. ‎ I waved and went past them. ‎Everyone is living Despite of their success or failure. ‎In the complicated drama ‎Of  being rich and poor The smile we all wear is the same. As ‎they'll grow up They'll be taught What makes money And what does not. And thereafter loose the sm...

Look into my eyes. Straight into them. ‎You'll find a whole new world hidden in them. ‎ ‎A world with peace. ‎A world with ease. ‎A world with roses ‎that everyone can seek. ‎ A ‎place with no monsters. A place with no fears. A place for everyone Who never wished for tears. ‎ Somewhere we can rest our soul. Somewhere we can feel like home. Somewhere everyone is so humble. Somewhere, where no one is someone. This is the place which I've always dreamt of. ‎This is the place which I breathe for. ‎ ‎

There was a girl, Who was just eight. She had Gold with her. The Gold was so bright, so bright That it became hard to even stare at her. But unfortunately, Those thieves were colour blind. They believed in a world of dark. So, everything they looked at Seemed to be more and more darker. They stole her Gold with ease. They forgot that she was just One among those who breathe. They stole her Gold with no griefs. They didn't know the pain Her mother took to give her birth. They stole her Gold with no regrets. They were unaware of the Tears her father shed. Her Gold wasn't of any importance to them. Her Gold of Dreams, Future, Life All in vein! The screams, the pain, the tears... Yet she is just another girl with Gold Who was eaten up by those hungry Cannibals. There are stories heard. There are stories yet to hear. Some told, some untold! I now don't believe in humanity anymore. And I know non of us do!