Kya Likhein ?

क्या लिखें ?
क्या बयान करें ?
वह हसी या वो हवा
जो जुल्फों को तेरे, लहरा देती थी
या वो मशवरा, या वो दवा
जो मुश्किलों में तू पिला दिया करती थी
या फिर वो बेकरारी या खुमारी
जो तेरे आने से आती और जाने से बढ़ती थी ।

क्या लिखें ?
वह अलफ़ाज़ जो तेरे आने पर जज़्बातों से दब जाते थे
या वो सुर और साज
जो बिना कोशिश के ग़ज़ल बन जाते थे
या वह जज़्बा और जूनून,
जो रातों को जागकर काम मुकम्मल करवाता था
क्या लिखें ?
सब लब्ज़ तो आंसुओं से मिट जाते है
क्या कहें ?
सब यादें तो धुंधली सी हो जाती है
क्या समझाएं ?
वो धड़कनें जो चल रही मगर धड़क नहीं,
या ये की ये धड़कनें पहले किसी और के लिए थी

ज़िन्दगी दिलों का सफर है।
जिस्म वसल के लिए बेकरार है,
दिल फिराक होने की तलाश में है,
न तेरी मेरी कहानी वस्ल की है, न फिराक की
न दिल जुड़े है, न जिस्म मिले है,
बस सवाल है यह की
अब क्या लिखें और क्या बताएं ?

Wo bhi waqt tha (वह भी वक़्त था)

वो भी वक़्त था,
जब अरसा गुज़र जाता था तेरी यादों मैं,
जुल्फों का वह खेल या तेरी मेरी आँखों का मेल,
हर लम्हा जेहन में मेरे थम गया था,

वह भी वक़्त था,
रातें बसर जाती थी, तेरे ख्यालों में,
यह गीत सौ सौ दफा सुन लिया करते थे
बखत इश्क़ बयां करने से डरते थे,
तो तुझे इश्क़ करके भी भागते थे

तेरे पास इश्क़ देने के लिए इश्क़ था,
मेरे पास वह इश्क़ लेने का जज़्बा न था,
मौसम गुज़रे, रातें गुज़रे, मुलाक़ातें रुक गयीं
तुम हमें शायद भूल गयी
और हम तुम्हे याद करके भी
याद नहीं कर पाए ।

अब तेरे पास इश्क़ देने के लिए वक़्त नहीं,
या शायद अब तुम्हे हमसे इश्क़ नहीं,
मेरे पास अब वक़्त भी है, हुनर भी है, पर तुम नहीं।

वो भी वक़्त था,
जब लिखने बैठे तो पन्ने काम पड़ जाते थे,
अब बस लिख देते है, लेकिन कुछ बयां नहीं कर पाते।

वह भी वक़्त था,
जब इश्क़ को दुनिया का सबसे ऊँचा दर्ज़ा दिया था,
अब शायद हम आशिक़ उस दर्ज़े के नहीं,
ख़तम नहीं कर सकते वो शुरू जो तुमसे हुआ था,
बस यही इल्तिजा है, वो वक़्त वापिस आ जाए,
या तुम आओ, या हम जाएँ,
या तुम इश्क़ दो, या हम दें,
लेकिन यही गुज़ारिश है,
सात नहीं तोह बस एक जन्म, हम और तुम हम बनकर गुज़ार दें । 

Shunya - Zero - शुन्य

इस मदमस्त शाम के दरमियान,
तलाश है उस शुन्य की,
वही शुन्य जो गुमशुदा है,
कही नक़ाब पहने हुआ है,
बखत यह ढलती शाम उसी शून्य का मुख़्तसर है ।

अचानक से चलती हुई ये सर्द हवा
न महक है, न कोई खुशबू
गुज़रती है यूं मानो तुम यहीं हो,
क्या वजह है की हवा मैं कोई इतर नहीं,
कहाँ गयी फूलों और मिटटी की सुगंध ?

आदत सी है मुझे तुम्हारे इतर की,
जो इस हवा की तरह हमें
अपने होने का एहसास करता था,
तुम्हारे बिना अब हर खुशबू शुन्य है । 

Phir se dikh ja (फिर से दिख जा)

तेरा मिलना, सांस लेना
ज़रा सा दिखना, आह भरना
नजर-ए-गम हुए हो जबसे,
आशिकाना थम गया

फिर से दिख जा, यूं ही मिल जा (X 2)
इश्क़ कामिल ना सही, रोशन ही कर जा ।

जान जा रही, ओ जाने जां
यादें आ रही, लौट के आ,
इस इश्क़ को, राज़ी नहीं तो, रोशन ही कर जा ।

फिर से दिख जा, यूं ही मिल जा (X 2)
इश्क़ कामिल ना सही, रोशन ही कर जा ।

क्यों है यह आस दिल में,
सांसें काम है, हर इक पल में,
जा रही जो, तू ज़ेहन से
बंजर हो गया समां

फिर से दिख जा, यूं ही मिल जा (X 2)
इश्क़ कामिल ना सही, रोशन ही कर जा ।

जन्मो जन्मो का है बंधन,
कैसे होगा रूहों का संगम,
इतना कर दो, हम पर रेहम,

फिर से दिख जा, यूं ही मिल जा (X 2)
इश्क़ कामिल ना सही, रोशन ही कर जा । 

Teri Jhalak (तेरी झलक)

तनहा राहों पर, बस चल रहा हूँ
उन आहटों का मतलब समझ
जो तू दिखी तो, फिर से दिखी तो

बस दवा बन गयी, तेरी झलक
तेरी झलक, तेरी झलक (X 2)

बेचैन सा बस, गुमान है अब
जो तू मिल गयी
आ गया सबर

तेरी झलक, तेरी झलक
बस दवा बन गयी, तेरी झलक । (X 2)

तेरा यूं सवरना और फिर न दिखना
दिखकर न मिलना और फिर से दिखना,
आ गया उस फलक का इशारा समझ

तेरी झलक, तेरी झलक
बस दवा बन गयी, तेरी झलक । (X 2)

अनजान था मैं, गुमनाम अब भी
बस दुआ बन गयी, तेरी मरज

तेरी झलक, तेरी झलक
बस दवा बन गयी, तेरी झलक ।

On the existence of God

To find out if GOD exists or not, assume a hypothetical entity, ABC, which has all the qualities opposite to GOD. In a very basic sense, God is colloquially defined as a supernatural entity which directs two things: one, the creation of every metaphysical entity (reality) in the universe; two, the human consciousness. Most people believe in either the first or second or both of these characteristics. Hence, the entity ABC must have characteristics which are opposite of above two: one, no role in the existence of metaphysical entity; two, can't dictate the human mind. It means that: a metaphysical entity exists as such with ABC not responsible for its existence (axiom/premise of identity), the human mind has a faculty of volition (free will) to use its consciousness as it wishes to use. If we assume the axiom of identity (former) and the axiom of consciousness (later) which are nothing but the abovesaid characteristics of ABC, then ABC must exist.

    Now, it's important to question whether ABC and GOD can exist simultaneously. Let say, they exist. It means these two opposing entities are the reason behind the existence of metaphysical objects and human consciousness. Even if there is an infinitesimal chance that GOD is playing a role in directing human mind and physical objects, you have to start with some premise to prove this (just the way I used the premise of identity and consciousness to prove the existence of ABC). And the premise must be easily acceptable and based on observation. For instance, the premise of identity and consciousness is enabling me to write this draft (a very basic action). Is there any basic premise for God's role in the universe? Well, there's anyone used by Eastern philosophy - that God (supreme being) is divided into billions of parts (souls) which are, at least, actuators for human consciousness, if not metaphysical objects. Hence, the premise of soul and identity is enough to prove that God exists. The first premise is completely questionable as very few people claim that their soul is guiding their actions. Their claims are based on their personal experiences which are neither shareable nor provable. Furthermore, their claims are the result of historic mistakes repeated again and again by the so-called scholars who think that their consciousness is below someone's direction. A premise cannot be accepted if one experiences it with any prior conviction. I didn't use the premise of consciousness with any conviction- it's a matter of fact that, for example, if I wish to move my right hand I can and if left I can. Everyone can easily agree with this premise. But it's not possible to agree with premise of soul; only cultural and social knowledge (attained as I grew up) asked me to hold such convictions.
     Hence, the entity ABC definitely exists with 2 major premises which everyone accepts. The premises of anti-ABC (GOD) aren't commonly agreeable, which rules down its accountability further.  

Figments of transient relationship: Friendship

On the first Sunday of August, Indians celebrate Friendship day.

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Today is Sunday. While finishing up with my experiments (ah! bygone weekend ), I got a notification that my friend Eshan has written an ode to his friend (Immensely touching- the first line, especially!). Aping this emotional outlet method (chronologically I wrote it before due to different time zones), I thought of giving it a try and defining what does friendship mean to me?

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So, let's switch on the accelerator, and start the emotional rollercoaster ride on with one of the latest track sung by Arijit- Tera Yaar Hoon Main.

Being an introvert, I rarely had friends before. All my life revolved around myself. Infact, I hated people as I was taught that the strangers are no good to befriend. So, the first sense of friendship came as a bliss to me, but in figments. It was an assumption that moved me, that the person I met is my friend. Not trying to make it my story, I think the best thing about a potentially enduring relationship is the abstract idea of magical attachment it endows with itself. You feel it first and start expressing it later. Within the clutches of your social interaction limits, you set the boundaries of your friendship. For me, that boundary starts with zero value (introvert again!). Setting the payoff to zero makes it clear that you are giving no space for any new disturbance in your life. But then, I am bewildered how that boundary starts expanding. It happens itself and these moments are purely countable and very few in your life. You never need to start being a friend of someone; it just happens. The circumstances and trajectories of your life go hand in hand, so parallel, with someone (coincidental is supposedly marriage) that makes you question for the coming years- how did we meet. Isn't it like a dream? You never realize how it started and when you realize that, you are in the middle. I think this well supports that friendships and dreams arise out of your subconscious mind. Your hidden fears, expectations, goals, and problems all come up together to make your subconscious talk to that person in a particularly intriguing fashion. Your subconscious mind is well designed to make you progress ahead in life. So it behaves quite differently with every other person. The moment it resonates with someone, it becomes gold. The relationship becomes pristinely obscure enough to well put into words. That's why friendships are so fulfiling- like dreams, they are meant to push you further towards going ahead in your life and winning the unconquered battles. Friendship is ultimately meant to give meaning to your dreams.

Keeping up with this utility of friendship- a good bond between people help them to attain new vibrational plane of mental and spiritual energy. Every new phase of life demands new of you. A new friendship with someone prepares you for that.

My approach towards this relationship has been quite abstract in many terms. In my high school years, I just started assuming that the person is my friend. Then I started pushing my frontiers to the next level to make myself compatible to be a friend of hers. It went well with the sour-sweet taste. Then the senior school demanded a new friend and inadvertently I forgot the previous liaison. Again, I didn't advance. But passively, I started working with him towards our set goal and in the process, became good friends. Repeating this process several times over made me capable enough to summarize the facets of this relationship that fascinate me the most.

There are two rules you have to understand:- a) It's going to end someday/month/year/decade. b) You need to give your heart into its sanctity. Some people think that life-long friendships are bliss. No, it's not! It's probably receding (Marriage is receding too, but that happens after so much of advancing that the hysteresis is quite high that you are capable enough to set your equilibrium anywhere in between). Every friendship comes with its expiry date. But you have to be passionate enough to invest all your brain and heart into it, as this friendship is meant to uplift both of you. Surprisingly, an upgrade doesn't happen with anyone. In fact, very few people benefit from their friendship. There are several reasons for that (can't specify in order to make this article positive in reading and not going into perils of unhealthy relationships). Most of the people think that being friends means hanging out with each other, enjoying the materialistic parameters of life, and understanding each other. I think these are stupid things to do in a friendship. Brute force method towards strengthening your bond never works well. In addition, finding the same taste in a new friendship as in a previous one is quite futile an attempt. Friendship for me is: doing nothing. I just sit back and start assuming that the person is my friend. If you ask me who are my current friends; I have a big list comprising of existing stalwarts like Malala Yousafzai- a female right activist, Elon Musk- a polymath, and many researchers. But bear with me for such diversion; I assume approachable people as friends too ;) In that sense, friendship for me means walking through the same phase of life with them, having fun in the process of solving each other's troubles, motivating each other, strengthening your desire to live life passionately, love or being loved by them like never before, attempting things never done before, letting them bring a change in you, and finding meaning in your silences. Learning from each other, sharing experiences and being self-less throughout in this approach make the most out of it.

Lastly, bear in mind that it will end, so be prepared for that. After that, don't lose contact, but don't force (can you stop yourself- no in this digital age) upon refurbishing the contact. If you again happen to meet again in a different phase of life while facing new problems, you might patch up again. But never try to put impetus onto it.

I don't want to put some conclusion to this article. Maybe next year, I will add more to it when I mature more. In a few lines, I misconstrued friendship with love as they aren't entirely mutually exclusive.

To be continued..