My Dear Father

11th October 2011 – I remember the day clearly when I spoke to my dad for a few hours while on my way to office. It was a usual day, but never thought the day would leave its mark in history as the darkest day of my life. I have been in London since 5 years now – and living away from my parents and loved ones have always been sad for me.

I wrote this poem just a few days after he died. I miss his terribly.

kuch baatien adhuri si hai… kuch baatien an kahi si hai…
chod ke chale gaye jo hamien… aaj aankhon mein nami si hai…
sochte the ke inti jaldi kya hai.. baat to kal bhi ho sakti hai….
ab na koi kal… na koi baat… aaj aankhon mein nami si hai…
zindagi bhar sirf khushiyo ki raahon par chalaya tha…
na koi pareshaani…. na koi gum ka saaya tha….
jo gum ka zeher ho to khud pee jaate the….
aur humein muskuraate.. hue roshni dikhaate the….
jab hoti thi galti to kehte the… udaas mat hona…
aur aansu agar aate to kehte… bus ab mat rona…
sar par haath rakh kar raat bhar sulaya hai…
cheezen kho jaaye…. phir bhi na rulaya hai…
woh kehte the ke ye cheezen aur paise to aate aur jaate hai…
pareshaani aur udaasi unko waapis nahi laate hai…
galti kitni badi ho…. maaf hamesha kiya hai….
humein gale laga kar galti ka sabak diya hai….
baarish ka mausam ho phir bhi school chodne aate the…
humein chaata de kar khud hi bheeg jaate the….
ek cheenk bhi aa gayi to humko thaam lete the…
aur khud ki bimaariyo ko humse chupa dete the…
ajnabi sheher mein jab hamien bhejna tha…
do pal bhi apne baarien mein na sochte the…
pata tha akele pad jayenge door beto se…
phir bhi hame himmat aur haunsla dete the….
Baatein to abhi aur bhi hain… yaadien to abhi aur bhi hain…
rukti nahi zindagi yahaan… ke aage unke saath safar aur bhi hain…..