Straight from the Heart

चाँद सितारों के बीच बैठे, इंसानों की ज़मीन से दूर हटके, अगर होता हमारा एक आशियाना? सवेरे का उगता, या फिर शाम की लालिमा लिए, सूरज खिड़की से झांक, मुस्कुरा कर "हेल्लो" कहता. हवाओं में वोह ठंडक होती. जोह थकान को दूर भागती, पसीने को प्यार से पोचती. शहर के कोलाहल, गन्दगी की बदबू से बहुत दूर, ऊंचे आसमान में, कितना सुन्दर होता हमारा यह आशियाना? घर के अन्दर ही मानते आषाढ़, श्रावण, जब बादल आकर dhak देता घर का आँगन. तरसते नयन को मिला होता चैन, जब दूर दूर तक दीखता हरियाली. मगर शायद यह भगवान् को मंज़ूर न था. आसमान की बोली लगाने में मैं पीछे रह गया. अर्थ व्यवस्था की जानकारी थी मेरी बहुत ही कमजोर. अफसोश, आसमान में आशियाने का हमारा ख्वाब, सिर्फ एक ख्वाब बनकर ही रह गया.

Tucked in a corner of my wallet. One amongst the many of its breed. Not commanding much respect, Was a soiled fifty rupee note! Its crumpled edges and dirty looks, Almost torn along the centre fold, Made it not worth much to me. Shopkeepers refused to accept, Politely asking me to replace, As if I was the one who had printed the same. Get it changed at the bank, Was the advice given by my friend. No one is going to accept such a dirty note, He helpfully explained. Then I saw this beggar boy. His dress was torn and hair matted. Layers of dirt seemed stuck on his face. Tapping the window of the cars at the traffic light He begged for a rupee by displaying his plight. I called him over and handed him the note. In soiled hands, I thrust the soiled note. Am sure it will of use to him, I thought. Be it soiled, nevertheless, lot of worth. For a second, the boy seemed to have been struck dumb. Was it delight that made his senses go numb? “I do not own a ban...

Having accepted the offer to work for a mining company, I had been over the moon. At such a young age, I would be getting an opportunity to work with one of the best companies of India. Besides this was one of the high paying companies that had come to the campus that year. I knew Gouri would be thrilled. “Hi! I have got the job with the mining company that I had written to you about!” Striking a conversation was not my forte. I blurted out the good news without any preamble. “Hey! That’s wonderful news! Congrats! When did you get the information? How many have been selected from your batch? When will you be joining?” Like most girls of her age, Gouri was talkative, always wanting to know things to the minutest of details. I enjoyed listening to Gouri’s chatter. We had struck an instant rapport after we got introduced because I never had to make an effort to start a conversation with Gouri. She ensured that she did the bulk of the talking and spared me the pain of trying to keep the...