Zindagi Hai! Chalo

ज़िंदगी के रास्ते में सायबान नहीं मिलेंगे,
तुम बेरहम धूप में तपना सीख कर चलो;

चौराहें इतनी है कि खोना तो लाज़मी है,
अनजान तंग गलियों में से रास्ता ढूंढ कर चलो;

कंकड़ और कांटे बिछे रहेंगे तुम्हारे पथ पर,
उनके दिए ज़ख्मों पर मरहम लगा कर चलो;

कई हमसफर तुम्हे छोड़ अपनी अलग राह पकड़ेंगे,
तुम अपनी राह पे अकेले आगे बढ़ कर चलो;

दुर्घटनाएं तुम्हारे जिगर को झंझोर के रख देंगी,
तुम अपना होंसला बुलंद रख कर चलो;

भीड़ में, भगदड़ में, तुम भुला दिए जाओगे,
तुम अपने लिए थोड़ी जगह बनाते हुए चलो;

ज़िन्दगी है! ख्वाब तो टूटेंगे और महल भी बिखरेंगे,
तुम अपनी उम्मीदों को ज़िंदा रख कर चलो।

ये कविता निदा फ़ाज़ली जी की गज़ल ' सफर में धूप तो होगी चल सको तो चलो ' से प्रेरित है।

I am Enough, Just as I am

For the longest time, I felt lost in a fog of self-doubt. My worth seemed inextricably tied to achievements, my self-esteem swayed by the opinions of others. I was caught in a relentless pursuit of perfection, a chase that left me exhausted and unfulfilled.

I’ve come to realize that true value lies within, not in external validation. It’s about recognizing that I am enough, just as I am. There's a strength in accepting both my triumphs and flaws, understanding that they are integral parts of who I am.

Mistakes, once seen as catastrophic failures, are now viewed as stepping stones. They've become opportunities for growth, lessons learned in the school of life. Every misstep is a chance to evolve, to build resilience, and to emerge stronger. It's about embracing imperfection and understanding that it's human to err.

Life is a symphony of emotions, not a monotonous melody. Joy, sadness, fear, and love are all part of the human experience. By allowing myself to feel the full spectrum of emotions, I've discovered a depth of understanding and resilience. It’s about finding balance, recognizing that it's okay to feel vulnerable, and trusting that these feelings are temporary.

Solitude, often overlooked in our hyper-connected world, has become a sanctuary for self-discovery. It's in those quiet moments that I've rediscovered my passions, my values, and my true self. It's about nurturing a deep connection with oneself, a foundation upon which genuine relationships can flourish.

I've learned that I am the architect of my own life story. The power to shape my reality lies within me. It’s about taking responsibility for my choices, celebrating successes, and learning from setbacks. It's about believing in my ability to overcome challenges and create a life filled with purpose and meaning.

This journey of self-discovery has been transformative. It’s about embracing authenticity, cultivating self-compassion, and fostering a deep sense of inner peace. It's a continuous process, filled with growth and evolution. And most importantly, it's about living a life that is true to myself.

Toh India Ho Tum

Laal batti pe na rukne wali tumhaari gaadii ko, jab kali billi ke saamne rokte ho, Toh India Ho Tum

Bekaar movies ko multiplex mein dekhkar 100 crore club tak pahunchaake, raaste par sabziyaan lete waqt 5 rupaye dene mein naraaz ho jaate ho, Toh India Ho Tum

Phone pe screenguard crack hote hi badalwaate ho, par bike bina helmet ke chalaate ho, Toh India Ho Tum

Saal mein do din maze se loud speaker pe desh bhakti ke gaane bajaate ho, par cinema haal mein national anthem pe khade hone se alsaate ho, Toh India Ho Tum

Tinder pe swipe karke apna pyaar khojtey ho, par toote Dil ka ilaaj karaane baba Bangali ke paas jaate ho, toh India ho tum

Kehte ho corruption se desh khokhala ho raha hai, par traffic havaldaar se chootne ke liye hari patti nikaalte ho, Toh India Ho Tum

Swades movie dekh kar India ke liye kuch karne ka plan banaate ho, par agle din office jaake onsite opportunity ke liye manager Ko maska lagaate ho, toh India ho tum

Kehte ho ki apni beti ki kaabiliyat pe bharosa hai tumhein, par uski ki padhai se zyaada uski shaadi ke liye paise bachaate ho, Toh India Ho Tum

Dil se aah toh maatrabhasha mein hi nikalti, par angrezi mein bolne wale ki baat ko zyada mahatva dete ho, Toh India Ho Tum

aatanki hamle ke baad saath mein candle march pe nikalte ho, par Netao ke behkaave mein aakar gairmazhabi logon ko paraaya samajhte ho, Toh India Ho Tum

Jaldi mein ho isliye duniya ko dhakka de ke aage niklte ho, par phir bhi kahin par samay par nahin pahunchte ho, Toh India Ho Tum

Hindi mein gaali dene walon ko aonchi nazar se dekhte ho, par angrezi ke apshabdon ko kehna cool samajte ho, Toh India Ho Tum

Anekta mein ekta ko samvaad mein chipka ke samaaveshi bante ho, par insaaniyat ke naate har insaan ki izzat karna nahin jaante ho, toh India ho tum

Paryatakon (tourists) ko shaan se apne sheher ke monuments ke baare mein bataate ho, par wahan ki deewaron par Apne pyaar ka aelaan kar jaate ho, Toh India Ho Tum

Desh ki har ek buraai ke liye sarkaar ko zimmedaar bataate ho, par sarkaari naukri le liye laar tapkaate ho, Toh India Ho Tum

Apni gaadi chalane ke liye chaalak dasvi paas rakhte ho, par desh chalane wala neta chauthi fail ko chunte ho, Toh India Ho Tum

bharat ke itihaas ka sirf bakhaan mat karo, bharatiya kehlane ke kaabil bano
Ignorant banke apne aap ko best mat samjho, doosron se seekh kar behtar bano
Sirf jaan gawaana hi deshbhakti nahin doston, Apne har karm se India Banaa Rahe Ho Tum
Agar excellence ke jazbe se apna hunar taraashte ho, Toh India Ko behtar Bana Rahe Ho Tum

Ityaadi

Un andheri raaton mein, tumne diya sahara tha,
aankhen band karva ke meri, mujhko sapna dikhlaya tha,
us saath ka toh main, tahe dil shukraguzaar hoon,
tumhari udaarta ka rakhnewala hamesha mein abhaar hoon.

Tum mujhe kal pehchaan bhi na paoge,
bhoolna na chaho, toh bhi bhool jaaoge,
zindagi ki kashmakash mein yun ulajh jaaoge
ke kuch yaad rehjaye, bas yeh aas liye jaaoge

Is zakhm ko bhi kisi tarah si hi lenge hum,
kisi tark aur vivek ke dhaagon se,
prem ka jo nasha sa mehsoos kiya tha humne,
us se nikal hosh mein aa hi jaayenge

Kuch yaadon mein dooba ja raha hoon,
smrition ki lehron mein beh raha hoon,
tum bhi chal chalo mere sang us haseen samay mein,
sang bitaaye un yaadgaar lamhon mein

Inspired from the song "one year, six months" by yellowcard

छुपा जाते हैं

कभी छलकती आँखों में आंसू छुपा जाते हैं
कभी धड़कते दिल में आरज़ू छुपा जाते हैं
कभी मचलते मौसम में शरारत छुपा जाते हैं
और कभी भागती ज़िन्दगी में अरमान छुपा जाते हैं

कभी उलझते रिश्तों में एहसास छुपा जाते हैं
कभी लिखी हुई बातों में अलफ़ाज़ छुपा जाते हैं
कभी कहे हुए लफ़्ज़ों में मायने छुपा जाते हैं
और कभी गुज़रती यादों में जज़्बात छुपा जाते हैं

कभी ख़ुशी की लहर में ग़म छुपा जाते हैं
कभी दुश्मनी की फ़िराक में दोस्ती छुपा जाते हैं
कभी अजनबी महफ़िल में अपनापन छुपा जाते हैं
और कभी चेहरे की ख्वाइश में पहचान छुपा जाते हैं

बस यूँ ही हम ज़िन्दगी से बेवफाई करते चले जाते हैं
वो जवाब मांगती है और हम सवाल पूछते चले जाते हैं

Trusting the Journey

Life's a crazy rollercoaster, isn't it? One minute you're soaring high, and the next, you're plummeting into a loop-de-loop. But here's the thing: I've come to believe that there's a method to this madness. That every bump and twist is part of some bigger picture.

It's like that time I lost my job. Devastated doesn't even cut it. I felt like I was on a sinking ship. But guess what? It forced me to take a hard look at what truly mattered. I ended up finding my passion, and now, I'm doing work I absolutely love.

I know, it sounds cheesy, but there's something really powerful about believing that everything happens for a reason. It's like having a secret superpower, helping you bounce back from the tough stuff. And it's not just about the big stuff; it's the little things too. Like that missed bus that led to an unexpected chat with a stranger who ended up becoming a really good friend.

Of course, life isn't always sunshine and rainbows. There are days when it feels like the universe is playing a cruel joke on you. But even then, I try to remember that this too shall pass. And maybe, just maybe, something amazing is right around the corner.

So, yeah, life's a mystery. But it's a mystery I'm excited to solve. One twist and turn at a time.

Songs with mean

I feel a lack of patience to give songs a patient hearing. Don't really seek the meanings beyond the music. Mind is just so pre-occupied with doing nothing. I now know what mediocrity means.