Love Letter Laments

This was a poem I recited at You, Me and Poetry evening on Valentines month to celebrate love. The theme for the day was  'We Don't Write Love Letters Anymore'. I began with a couplet from one of my favourite ghazals.

Pyaar ka pehla khat likhne mein waqt to lagata hai,

Naye parindon ko uddne mein waqt to lagata hai,

 Pyaar ka pehla khat likhane mein waqt to lagata hai.

Maggi noodles to do-teen minute mein bann jaati hai,

Parr dheemi aanch parr, dum mein

Biryaani pakaane mein waqt to lagata hai!

I am a love letter standing here in pain,

Looking for reasons on being treated with utter  disdain.

In todays fast-paced world relationships and situationships thrive,

Crushes bloom overnight and flings fade by morning light.

Break-ups and one-night stands are common,

Partners change in the blink of an eye,

Longevity and loyalty are a rarity,

When one goes, another will come by.

Once I was written with trembling hands

And sealed with a kiss,

A whisper of perfume or a dry rose,

Sadly, all this is given a miss.

A love letter no longer any worth holds,

What matters now is only platinum, diamonds and gold.

Holding hands, that flutter in the heart and the love-porn gaze,

All are over-ridded by infidelity, true love is lost in the maze.

Earlier people wondered how to begin,

My dear, sweetheart or only mine,

Now Chat GPT, Gemini and Perplexity

Gives you neatly assembled , formatted love line.

Those were the days when love mattered,

When words came straight from the heart,

Now it is AI all the way,

Real emotions and feelings play no part.

You have forgotten me,

 I ma lost in the corner of the cupboard,

Only the sender and receiver knows my worth,

Among memories kept, yellowed and smothered.

A New Day

Each morning brings with it a brand new hope,

Dreams ,aspirations, a new scope.

With it, also come apprehensions and fear,

Expectations are high and focus is clear.

With positive mindset we start a new day,

Silently praying for things to go our way. 

Sometimes we succeed and at times we fail,

Life after all cannot always be a smooth sail.

At the end of each day while we lay upon our bed,

Mentally taking stock of the day in our head. 

What went right and where did I falter,

What we need to continue and what we need to alter.

Each day teaches us a lesson or two,

We grow wiser if we take them as a cue,

Cause it's experience that make us grow and learn,

Be it failure or success, wait for your turn.

Nothing lasts forever, be it good times or bad,

So keep living like it's the best life you ever had,

Spread love and happiness wherever you go,

Cause that's the best way to live life you know.

H for Heart!

Heart above head,
That's when we fall in love,
Complete and total surrender
Cupid strikes from above!

Head over heels in love,
Attraction reaches it's peak,
We find our soulmate
Union forever we seek!

Whispering sweet nothings,
Long romantic walks,
Wine, dine and movies,
Tight hugs and lip-locks!

Slowly the facade evaporates,
With reality we come face to face,
Head takes over the heart,
We are free of that momentary craze!

Love has no future,
Until it is souls that unite,
True love can transcend barriers,
And lead to a future bright!

True love is an enigma,
Which all can't seem to find,
Yet it's better to love and lose,
Than regret when you look behind!

The search for love goes on,
For some, all through their life,
Only the special few find love,
Live happily forever sans strife!

I Need You By My Side....

I need you by my side

When I have something to cheer,

I want you to know what went right,

My accomplishments I want you to hear.

I need you by my side

When I am in total distress,

With encouraging words from you,

I want you to relieve my stress.

I need you by my side

To share the little things that matter,

When I want to read out my new poem

Or just act crazy like a mad hatter!

I need you by my side

When I feel all alone,

Even in a crowd of people,

When in loneliness I moan.

I need you by my side

When I remember the good times we shared,

Those unforgettable countless moments

When you showed me you cared.

I need you by my side

Whether I am awake or asleep,

This heart of mine is so helpless

It has fallen in your love deep!

I need you by my side

And if you still ask me why,

All I say is you are the reason I live

Without you I will surely die.

Love.....only love!

Love is an enigma,

It is like a dream,

We want it,covet it,

Though distant it may seem.

We all want love,

Someone to show they care,

Togetherness,bonding,

Knowing someone special is there.

That tender touch,

A hug and a kiss,

Sweet ,endless talks,

Company that we miss.

When together,

The world seems fine,

When far apart,

We wish for intervention divine.

Some are lucky,

They love and love they beget,

Others love but alas,

All they have is regret.

Love eludes some,

And they blame it on fate,

"What went wrong,

Why am I in this state?"

Where did I go wrong?

I loved with all my heart,

Where is that someone special,

Who will never stay apart?

I ask for nothing more,

'Tis true love that need,

Soul mate and companion,

With whom my life I will lead.

Love,only love,

Is it too much I ask?

My heart aches for that special one,

In who's love I want to bask.

Mujhe Hai Talaash......

वोह हसीं लम्हे ,जब बाहों में थी बाहें,
मीठी सी मुलाकातें, सिसकती हुई आहें,
वोह छिप-छुपके मिलना,रूठना और मनाना ,
बातों ही बातों में रूलाना और हसाना.
बीते हुए कल की मुझे है तलाश ,
उस  सुनहरे पल की मुझे है तलाश।

वोह पहली मुलाक़ात ,वोह चांदनी रात,
जब हम थे साथ,थे हाथों में हाथ,
वोह  समुन्दर का किनारा ,अनगिनत लौंग ड्राइव्स ,
कॉफ़ी,पिज्ज़स और मच्दोनल्द्स के फ्राइज।
बीते हुए कल की मुझे है तलाश ,
उस  सुनहरे पल की मुझे है तलाश।

फ़ोन पे बातें,वोह पहली किस,
सुनी सी रातें जब तुम्हे करती थी मिस.
कभी बाग़ की सैर, कभी घर पर मुलाकात,
सुलगती  लम्हें जब तुम थे साथ.
बीते हुए कल की मुझे है तलाश ,
उस  सुनहरे पल की मुझे है तलाश।

कहाँ  गया वोह तुम्हारा बेइन्तेहा प्यार,
वोह वादें,वोह कसमें,अब कैसे करू ऐतबार?
इतने कर्रेब थे तो यह दूरियां अब क्यूँ?
क्यूँ चल दिए, बिना बताये यूँ?
बीते हुए कल की मुझे है तलाश ,
उस  सुनहरे पल की मुझे है तलाश।

गर दूर जाना ही था ,तो नजदीकियां क्यूँ?
क्यूँ हसीं सपने  दिखाके रुलादिया यूँ?
क्या यहीं थी तुम्हारे प्यार की पहचान,
तुम वहीँ हो न जो कहते थे मुझे जान?
बीते हुए कल की मुझे है तलाश ,
उस  सुनहरे पल की मुझे है तलाश।

बिना कुछ बताये दूर चल दिए,
मेरे दिल के अरमानों को चूर कर दिए,
तुम्हारी बात और है ,पर मैंने किया था प्यार,
तुम्हें दिल और जान से चाहते थे  यार.
बीते हुए कल की मुझे है तलाश ,
उस  सुनहरे पल की मुझे है तलाश।

इस्सलिये अब भी, तुम यादों में हो,
मेरे कल में,मेरे आज में ,ख्यालों में हो.
अब भी सोचती हु, वोह दिन लौट आयें,
यह दूरियां मिट जाएँ ,तुम मेरी बाहों  में आये.
बीते हुए कल की मुझे है तलाश ,
उस  सुनहरे पल की मुझे है तलाश।

काश जो बीत गया वो एक बुरा सपना हो,
तुम कल भी मेरे थे, और आज भी अपने हो,
काश वोह पल लौट जाए,वोह पहले जैसी बात हो,
मुझे जिसकी है तलाश वो मेरे साथ हो .
बीते हुए कल की मुझे है तलाश ,
उस  सुनहरे पल की मुझे है तलाश।