And Promise Me …

The Good Traveler

And promise me
You’ll always remember:

You’re
Braver than you believe, and
Stronger than you seem, and
Smarter than you think.”

A. A Milne, Winnie the Pooh

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On the road

Sonamarg, Kashmir

A Home

I haven’t met you
I haven’t seen you
But often I feel a home in you …

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Where the glacier meets the sky, the land ceases to be earthly, and the earth becomes one with the heavens; no sorrows live there anymore, and therefore joy is not necessary; beauty alone reigns there, beyond all demands”-

Halldór Laxness

A Postcard from Kashmir

Meeting among The Mountains

Kashmir, Heaven on Earth

I dreamt of walking
On mountains
And
I dreamt of meeting
You ….

Here I’m walking
On the lands of magical mountains …
High above the crowds and the clouds,
Under the ancient pine trees
I’m in its close embrace ..
Surrendering to the magnificence …
Believe, I could see nothing
In the thread of mist
Caressing the wind
Everywhere I see
You …

Only you …

Heart full of gratitude for this gift of being alive to see the magnificent heavenly beauty by The Divine.

Kashmir, Heaven on Earth

Detached Attachment

Shalimar

I was waiting
For you
And you didn’t show up
while my odes started to burn …
A heartache …

After a while,
There a humble person came along ..
Seemed so at the moment …
I asked him to take a picture of me and
There I sat at the corner of a bench
In the garden …
Took some time to
Get my mood toned
Up my unsettled face …
There the man waited patiently …
A gentleman ….

Once it’s all set yet unsteady
As I was,
I heard the man said, ‘Ready?’
Twinkled at him and said, ‘Yes’
Smiling …
With the chilly breeze that was
Passing through
I preferred my warm
Jacket kept aside
And my heavy heart smile
For the warmth I needed ….
A harmony ….

Later on I welcomed a friendly
Conversation with the stranger
He seemed to like all of it …
My chitter-chattering
And laughter flowed freely, naturally …
Then we started walking
In the garden, blooming all around
An attachment ….

The balance was the two umbrellas
For each of us,
His violet, mine yellow one
We were walking and talking
Keeping the in-between distance mindfully yet our heart-felt notions were quietly replaying …
The undefined mysteries of the world, meanwhile …
Letting love in our heart, unknowingly …
After a while, we faded into our different paths
Just two strangers with memories
A detachment ….

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Tell me, what is that one odd yet beautiful encounter you experienced in your lifetime?

I wish …

I wish
I were a bird!
So that I could
Fly to you
Just right now …

Midst the Silence …

Wherever you’ll be, I shall be able to see you

Midst the silence of the valley
As I walk through
I feel
My hurt inside is too loud …

Midst the silence of the valley
As I walk through
I feel
I’ll never ever forget you …

Midst the silence of the valley
As I walk through
I feel
I just don’t want to let you go
But inside I know I must …

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Pondering

Is a reflection of you
A mirror of a beautiful reflection of me?

Or

A reflection of you
Is nothing but a beautiful reflection of me.

Melancholia

Soft yellow breeze …
Sweetness surrounds …
Such tenderness …
Yet a melancholy mood …

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In Silence …

If you’re silent,
I know in silence you say more …

If I’m silent, then it’s not that
I don’t want to know about you …

If I’m silent, then it’s not that
I don’t feel what happens to you …

If I’m silent, then it’s not that
I don’t remember you …

If I’m silent, then it’s not that
I don’t care about you …

If I’m silent, then it’s not that
I don’t miss you …

If I’m silent, then it’s not that
I don’t love you …

I miss you
I know you
I care for you
I remember you
I feel for you
I love you

Always …

Chained: Can You Escape Fate? – A Poem

If only you would realize some day, how much have you hurt me,
If only your heart ever, craves for me or my presence…
If only you feel that love again someday for me,
If only you are affected someday by my absence…
Only you can end all my suffering and this unbearable pain,
If only you would know what you could never procure…
If only you go through the memories of past once again,
Since the day you left my heart has bled, no one has its cure…
If only you would bring that love, those showers and that rain…
If only you would come back and see what damage you create,
I’ve been waiting for your return since forever more…
If only you would see the woman that you have made,
You said we cannot sail through, how were you so sure?
If only you can feel the old things that can never fade,
You may have moved on, but a piece of my heart is still with you…
I know how I’ve come so far alone; I know how I’m able to wade,
People say that I’m insane and you won’t ever come back again…
Maybe you would have never made your separate way,
Maybe you would have stayed with me and proved everyone wrong…
If only you would know the pain of dying every day,
If only you would feel the burden of smiling and being strong…

– Mehek Bassi, Chained: Can you escape fate?

Two Young Mind

In the long echoing life
Two young mind
Found an element so fine
Like red wine
And sharpened their last breath
Through the long echoing death ….

The pair loved many years
Endured life what God gave them
Asked for them no second best
And celebrated life with no other but the rest
In the long long echoing life
Through the long echoing death …

Both loved the strange thoughts
Not so sober for the sober though;
Yet knew how to laugh, weep and go
And all the living mock
Drank the sweet extremity of their passion rough
In the long echoing life
Through the long long echoing death …

The woman talked to make up solitudes
Sounded almost like a pretty autumn time
Blossoming and falling into a bursting rhyme
The man knew this beautiful woman-soul
And was pleased to see her gorgeous look
And dared enough to make her whole
In their long echoing life
Through their long echoing death …

Traveled many moons
The two mesmerising soul
Through the days of their young and old
Almost shared all the neighbouring mind
Emptied the cage and let the cage bird fly being so kind
‘Fifty years’, the woman counted
‘Fifty sweet years’, the man whispered
Their love broods
Still in the long echoing life
Still through the long echoing death.

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Fall, Fluttering, & Fallen_

Blossom
I shall smile while
Fluttering around an autumn tree ..

Sometimes I seek so far
Watching the river flow and a
Rendezvous in you …

For a moment
The beautiful changes
Touch me to free my soul …

I sit down
Deep into the woods
Under the autumn trees …

I don’t know how to tell it more
But as you blossom
I shall smile
Till then an ache in secret
Remembering beautiful memories
In cherry blossoming …
My darling!

Jaduu Ki Jhappi – A Magical Hug

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Did you give Jaduu Ki Jhappi to her today?

Jaduu Ki Jhappi means Magical Hug.

This hug is so powerful that it’s given so tightly, yet so tenderly with all the care and affection that one feels for another, that it itself makes a whole lot difference without saying much words and you both deserve this Jaduu Ki Jhappi always.

Never miss to give it when your beloved needs it; Never hesitate to ask for it when you need it from her, your lover, your best friend …

Your Jaduu Ki Jhappi means the world to her, remember that.

Love your beloved like you never take her for granted, scold her if she is not taking care of her, pamper her like a little girl, protect her as you are her only bodyguard, hold her like you will never let her go❤️ –

“Jaduu Ki Jhappi” says all of these and more to the lovers …

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So tell me ​
Have you given Jaduu Ki Jhappi to your beloved today?

Solitary Dream – A Painting-

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Come and let me embrace you
With the colorful memories,
Rooted in our hearts
That we owe to ourselves ….

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#JianBirdGallery❄️

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Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart.

– Kahlil Gibran

What do you think?

Happiness Tasted –

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A cup of coffee with a friend,
Is like happiness tasted and time well-spent.

And then a toast to us,
May we find many reasons to smile together.

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How do you experience ‘Happiness Tasted’?
That may very well be a good thing, but I am curious, you know.

Unresolved

She asked him a stupid question …
He kept himself quiet saying nothing …

In the nothingness of this silence she felt embarrassed …
But never ever embarrassment felt so good to her.

What was the question by the way? ☺️

Unfinished – A Painting

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Each flower reflects God’s perfect glory,
Quietly drifting along the wondrous things around;
Though unfinished it seems,
There is magic
In its vibrant colours!

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How vibrant are you in reflecting your magic around?

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#JianBirdGallery❄️

Unuttered

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I struggle to convey in words
What I want to say to you ..

I talk to you every day
You may not hear me
Word by word;
But you already know it all, I know …

You remain so quiet …
Day by day you are becoming quieter
(Oh! How I hate it!)
It seems that you want me to
Remain quiet too …
Cause all these chattering
May make it messier between us
And I can see that too …

Sometimes I think
I will stay quiet …
May be, only then
I’ll be free from
My struggle to say it all
To you.

Have you ever experienced such inexpressible moments to express yourself in your life?

Cogitating

Feeling totally lost
Lost inside …
May be it’s my reunion
With my inner guide …

Adrift …

Fallen;
I wont be lost

Stolen;
I wont be lost

Hurt;
I wont be lost

Not strong;
I wont be lost

Scared ;
I wont be lost

Fought;
I wont be lost

Silent;
I wont be lost

Loved
I wont be lost.

Find me
Before the mountains crumble.
Find me
Before I m lost.

How often do you feel lost, lost in translation of your feelings and emotions?

This street photography was taken by me, Downtown Brooklyn, April, 2022. Apart from the whole girly face image, I loved the collage of a bird at the bottom left. Do you love taking photographs while just walking the roads? Do you observe things and people around while on the street? Do you contemplate in midst of crowd? Can you find quiet time with yourself even when you are with people around? Just asking! I’m curious to know you 😊

Yearning

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Have you seen her cheeks lately?
How can you see?
You remain so busy!
Now a days the busy hours have increased a lot
Even you forget to give her
The one you have taken from her ….

Have you seen her cheeks recently?
How can you see?
Why would you have time to look?
You have a job to do with your life and then it’s all going well for your life, you think!
Your life is quite fine even without seeing her at all …

Have you seen her cheeks just for a while?
A glance?
See, what she has done to her!
As if there is no one in the world without you, no one …
Her mind is not in the worldly affairs also.
She spends her whole day sitting beside the window,
Waiting for you …
Sometimes she even thinks she’ll go straight to the grave without showing her cheeks to you!

Have you seen her cheeks for a moment?
Do you remember how you loved the colours of spring on her cheeks!!
Remembering this the tears roll down her cheeks now …

Now when you see her again (if you have time)
You’ll wonder
How you have forgotten the form of her cheeks in the moonlight!
Now if you see her once, you’ll be in love touching her cheeks again … soft and angelic ..
You’ll be the breeze to her cheeks ….
She will smile with dimples appear on the ends of her lips.
Bringing back the colours of spring on her rosy cheeks, once again ….

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Wonder how you bring the vibrant colours of spring on your loved ones’ cheeks ….

Let’s Sit Here ..

Let’s sit here
With a cup of coffee …
And see the beautiful nature
With the blossoming cherry 😊

Tune in for Love

We all express in a different language
But eyes never lie …

If you love someone
Look deep into their eyes ….
Let their eyes sparkling, and smiling
At the very presence of your being …

Otherwise
Set them free
Their eyes may speak, sparkle and sing ……
At the very presence of another being!

We all express in a different language
But our hearts beat in the same tune
At the sight of our loved ones …

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Don’t you think so too? Our hearts join in our hearts Only when the same tune comes from our hearts. Boom boom. My heart is beating so fast💓 And yours?

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The above image was a capture by me. I love black and white photography

Yet Undefined

She knows that he doesn’t know
How it’s hurting in her heart
He knows that she doesn’t know
How it’s hurting in his heart

She knows that he doesn’t know
How she is waiting for him
He knows that she doesn’t know
How he is waiting for her

What she knows he doesn’t know
What he knows she doesn’t know

They only know what they think they know about the other …

Does she know about herself enough?
Does he know about himself enough?

She is not what he thinks he knows about her
He is not what she thinks she knows about him

Who is she to him then?
Who is he to her then?

Strangers!
For now …
In time to come,
They’ll find themselves
Somehow …

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The photograph is taken by me 😊
Isn’t it a beautiful photograph? I love black and white photography. And you?

Early Morning Rituals

Wake up early morning …
Watch the beautiful sunrise …
You can watch it from your small or big balcony or rooftop (if possible or you prefer)
Or just from your window …

Sit and feel the breeze on your cheeks …
Contemplate … touch the petals softly …
Smile … keep smiling 😃
Oh! I forgot to say …
Can you please sit with a glass of warm water with honey and কালিজিরা (black cumin) in it?
(Or you like a cup of tea early morning?
I don’t know about you)
They say it’s good for health if you can have the warm water with honey and black cumin in the early morning of everyday …
Write something … converse with yourself …
Read aloud for a while …

Stretch your body …
Make your bed nicely …
And say, ‘Thank you bed for a wonderful warmth that I felt from my last night’s sleep on you! You are so very kind!’
You can blow a flying kiss to it 😘

(You want to go for a walk
Early morning?
I don’t know about you.
But if you go for an early morning walk,
It’s all good … Let’s walk together …)

Now start the day.

Heyyy, don’t forget to take a long shower
(If you are not in a hurry though;
See, I don’t know about you)

Finally, be grateful for the day, pray …
For you are alive, breathing!
Every new day is a new beginning …

Byeeee for now 😊

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What are your morning rituals?
Let me know please.

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Quiet Envelope

Rain, rain, rain all day long!
Musing among the pattering sounds ….
A quiet envelope within me;
A tsunami …

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Inquisitiveness

Though I know

A name is a name

Is a name is a name …

Just like, “Rose is a rose

Is a rose is a rose” … 😊

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In whatever name we call

At the end

A rose will always be a rose

And you will always be you …

Therefore what’s in a name!

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Yet I’m curious 🧐

“What’s your name?”

“What’s your name?”

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Rendezvous

I know exactly

How it would be to meet you …

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It might happen

That I might be busy observing you

Once if we meet ever …

It might happen

That I might forget to drink water

In front of you …

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Which colour do you like?

How do you smile?

Are you talkative?

Or quiet like me!

Or you talk gibberish like me

I m sure I might talk gibberish in front of you though …

Out of my belly butterflies 🦋

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I ll be busy

Observing you

How do you look?

How do you talk?

What do you prefer wearing?

Are you nervous?

Do you need your space to feel relaxed a little bit

Then you would get up and go to the outside for a while … (to take deep breaths?!)

Have you also forgotten to drink water

In front of me?

Just like me?

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Exactly how you will start the conversation

With me?

Would it be casual or formal?

I think you ll be formal

Gradually you ll be casual that I know

It might happen after a while

That we both are laughing on a joke

The joke might be just about our time …

That our time is so silly billy

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I know

How it would be to meet you …

However it might happen that

I will never see you in life …

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But look, I swear

In the solemn silence of everyday dawn

I meet you from afar!

Everyday I meet you as the soft yellow sun rises in the far away skyline

And the birds sing to me the prose of our meeting

And the soft breeze portrays to me

Exactly how our first meeting would be …

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Now tell me

Can I not know you from afar?

What do you say?

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Conversation Over Coffee ☕️

It was raining here …

She called him with a cup of coffee in her hand.

It was raining there too …

He received the call with a cup of coffee in his hand.

She said, ‘What are you doing?’

He said, ‘I’m drinking coffee and watching the rainstorm. And you?’

She said, ‘I’m drinking coffee too by the window, watching the raindrops falling on the trees in my garden. Enjoying it.’

He said, ‘How’s your treatment going on?

She said, ‘fine.’

He said, ‘Well, that’s good to know. Why did you call now?’

She took a moment. Then …

She said, ‘I missed you.’

He took a moment. Then …

He said, ‘Do you miss me just as a friend or as a guy?’

She said, ‘As a guy!’

He took a pause. Smiled a little bit.

She took a sip from her coffee cup as if to relax a bit with the words spoken finally to him.

The pouring rain was making a beautiful breeze.

They both felt it on their way.

From here to there.

From there to here.

He said, ‘I’m done with the house. I even sleep here sometimes. It’s pretty. I did a pretty nice job.’

She said, ‘I plan to visit soon.’

He said, ‘What?’

She said, ‘May be in about ten days. Next weekend!’

He said, ‘Why are you coming? Are you coming to jump into the sea here? Don’t you even think so. You’ll freeze to death, you know. The water gets cold in winter. You know that, na?’

She said, ‘Why are you saying this and that? Why will I jump into the sea? I’ll be coming to visit you. Not for any other reason.’

He said hurriedly, ‘Okay. Let’s hang up. I’m busy.’

Then he smiled a sweet smile after such a long time.

Then he started singing, ‘If you ever need me, just give me a call. I’ll run over to you whenever. Whether it’s raining or hail-storming, I don’t care.’

Then she smiled a sweet smile as if she was hearing his song. 🎵

It was raining here.

It was raining there.

Their conversation was going on and on …

In the rain.

She
He

Cherished – A Painting

Cherished

I am with you without speaking much
In an intimacy that’s only mine
As free to wander in the silence of the long highway road
As the way the trees shimmer orange, red and yellow in the sunlight …

I am with you without meeting you
In a sacred heart that’s only mine
As a veiled woman would enter a paradise
As God takes care of my every weakness within me …