वो रेलवे की बंद क्रासिंग...

वक़्त कब थम जाता है पता चलता है कभी? 

वक़्त थमते देखा है कभी? 

इस भाग दौड़ वाली दनिया में शान्ति फिर कैसी होती है, महसूस किया है क्या कभी? 

कभी उस रेलवे की बंद क्रासिंग पे रुको तो महसूस कर लेना ये सब...

रोज़मर्रा की ज़िन्दगी की भाग दौड़ का ठहराव है यह सब...

एक अनजानी दौड़ का अल्पविराम, कुछ देर सुस्ताने का इशारा...

वो रेलवे की बंद क्रासिंग जो कुछ देर के लिए ही सही मगर उस शोर से निजाद दिलाती है जिसे आम ज़िन्दगी का हिस्सा मान चुके है |

Of Holding On and Letting Go!

And just like that, we feel broken,
When all we should do is surrender,
But we choose to feel shaken,
Lying still in emotions that are tender.

Kya Khoob Keh Gya Tha Wo...

Kya khoob keh gya tha wo,
Zamane se alag tha wo.
Aasaan toh kbhi tha hi nhi ye safar,
Magar ulajh gyi hai ab har dagar.

Kya khoob keh gya tha wo,
Meri zindagi ban gya tha wo.
Umaar bhar ka saath nhi bhi toh,
Kuch pal toh theher gya tha wo.

Kya khoob keh gya tha wo,
Meri rooh ko chu gya tha wo.
Hawayon mei khusboo sa,
Wo tha kuch pal ka bharosa.

Kya khoob keh gya tha wo,
Zamane se alag tha wo.
Kaaton bhari zindagi mei tha,
Wo mere daftar-e-gul sa.

© Ila Garg

Mother

I know I haven’t been an easy child, 

There is no way I could be tamed or be mild.
At times, I need to scream and be apart,
But your tender touch is always there to ease my heart.

I get frightened when you are not in my sight,
You are the wall; the force to test my strength,
The chain I hammer at with all my might,
And yet you keep increasing its length.

It’s tough, I know, to be so calm and not be mad,
To at once play both good and bad,
Your care and faith never cease to come along.
The love against all odds still stays strong.

© Ila Garg

Memories :(

Laced with memories, grandma's kitchen called out to me,
As I stepped in, I recalled how it was once filled with the smell of ghee.
She would prepare steaming hot aloo parathas in the shape of triangles,
And tell us stories about the fairies and also the big bad wolves of the jungles.

Each time we visited her, we had so much to look forward to,
Sometimes, she would make us sit on her lap and read to us too.
She would tell us how good always triumphed over the evil,
And then sing a lullaby for us with a touch so gentle.

On the cold nights, grandma used to give us her famous hot chocolate to drink,
It was her secret recipe; even the thought of it now makes my heart sink.
Once upon a time, my grandma's kitchen was full of smiles and spark,
In her absence, now the 'kitchen' feels so lonely and stark.

© Ila Garg

Grandma's Kitchen

Grandma’s kitchen is so full of warmth and light,
On each visit, she welcomes us with smiles so bright.
She hands us huge albums with photographs in monochrome,
As the smell of ghee from the kitchen fills the entire home.

At once, the whistle from the cooker echoes in the kitchen,
Indicating that the potatoes are almost done.
She rushes to the kitchen and puts the pan to heat,
Then calls us out to help her with the balls of wheat.

Soon, the steaming hot parathas are ready,
For any ailment, this is the best remedy.
She then makes us sit in circles on the kitchen’s floor,
As she goes on narrating stories and folklore.

We enjoy the parathas in the shape of triangles,
As we listen to her stories about fairies and jungles.
She tells us how good always triumphs over evil,
And then sings us a lullaby with a touch so gentle.

On wintry nights, granny serves us hot chocolate,
As we hunt for cookies in the kitchen goblet.
Such moments with grandma are full of joy,
Unparalleled we play, and thus we enjoy!

© Ila Garg