The sameness of monotony

I run toward the light
Hoping the future is bright
I want to reach the street
As fast as I can be carried by my feet
I long for the sound of other voices
As if expecting warm comfort in their noises

They are close behind me, I know
At any time now I expect a blow
They, of the notorious fame
My life, my pride, they shamelessly claim
The heavy hand on my shoulder makes me scream...
Thank God, it is only a dream

The alarm ceased to ring several moments ago
I start the new day just like the old one, on the go
I miss the bus, just like yesterday, what’s new
I wonder if I’d have cared if I flew
I wait patiently for the train
Hoping like mad that it won’t rain

I hear a commotion a few feet ahead
A woman tries to pull hair out of another’s head
My book talks of the interpreter of maladies
Engrossed thus, I am not bothered about “local” tragedies
I jump off the train, helped slightly from behind
Another successful journey, an accomplishment in my mind

I reach the workplace ahead of time
There are 30 minutes to ten, before the bells chime
I savour the quiet of the office with some relish
The imminent buzz of phones, shuffling of feet, shouts across cubicles, will make it hellish
I begin work with the corporate ritual, checking of email
Replying to those marked “urgent”, adding to the trail

There were four ‘To Dos’ for the day, I pencil in two more
I start with the one at the top, taking the ship to shore
The lukewarm coffee is just about enough to keep me going
What’s on the menu, I walk past the lunch room, in the hope of knowing
Some colleagues praise the green soup, others the fiery red sauce
I focus on the noodles thinking, Indian Chinese food joints will never be in loss

The drones of other voices in the room fade
As I concentrate on which text box on my Powerpoint slide to shade
The deck of slides is almost ready to be sent
As I furiously type out the covering email to those for whom it is meant
I have done well today, I pat my own back
And cross out five of the six tasks on the rack

The conference call brings some good news
The client wants us to probe further certain issues
More business means more work
Ha, that’s one thing from which consultants never shirk
I discuss tomorrow’s work plan with my team
The new recruits are more eager than the old hands seem

We decide to call it a day, I wrap up
A half sandwich, my case papers and laptop
Another two hours of solitude, crowds, dust, grime, noise and peace
I wait for the end of the train ride to go home and wash off the grease
The reality show “hunt for the rock-star of the century” is on television
The family eats a conveniently timed meal during the intermission

I provide a quick report on the events of the day to the folks
And hear, in exchange, the rumours in the housing society and such jokes
The bed looks more and more inviting
Now that my senses are calmer from the air conditioning
I heave a silent prayer, thank God for the night
And hope for a better day... I know it’ll be the same... oh, what the heck?! All right...

A midnight rendezvous

Bas ek mulakat hui, na kuchh khaas baat hui
Par baat ki khaasiyat ki pehchaan baat ke baad hui
Ek aur mauka mile mulakat ka, sirf yahi arzoo dil mein aabaad hui

Sitaron ne sun li shaayad woh arzoo
Chand ne hamari taraf se ki tamanna ke hon hum unse rubaroo
Woh lamha aakhir pesh hua jiski thi hamein justujoo

Is baar bhi unki nazaron ne di dil ko dastak
Aji, rukiye to, kabse tarse hain dekhne ke liye aapki aur ek jhalak
Chaliye, jaiye, hum bhi dekhen humse door reh paayenge aap kab tak

Ek anjaan kashish hamein unki taraf kheenchti hai
Bas bechaini hi dil-e-gulfam ko seenchti hai
Ab sirf unhi ki tasveer aati hai saamne jab yeh nazarein apni palkein meenchti hain

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"Din ke saath raat nahin hoti, sitaron se dil ki baat nahin hoti,
Jin doston ka saath chahte hain hum, khuda jaane kyun unse roz mulakat nahin hoti..."