seeking

the more i yearn,
the more you laugh.
the more i chase,
the further you fly.
the more i need,
the more elusive you are.

where is my pride?
where is shame?
what is this bliss i seek?
what magic is in your name?

if only you'd pause,
you'd see, my ache,
my want, my hankering,
is only for thee.

but your eyes are closed,
your thoughts elsewhere.
i ask for but one instant,
will you open your heart for me?

Tricked!

operating on apathy? me?
i admit, i used to lose
my shirt, my temper,
the change in my pocket,
and many an hour, rescuing
books lying on sidewalks,
their spines torn, pages unglued,
imaginary suffering of friends,
their tears and travails,
beer bottles buried in sand,
empty and broken,
idols immersed in oceans
overburdened with plastic,
singing birds in cages,
and performing monkeys,
outstretched skinny hands,
starved for food,
little fish from big ones,
scared cats off fences,
but i realised, tho late,
you had planned it all.
a simple ruse to distract me.
am wiser to your tricks now,
i'll let my need rule me
plain and true: i need you.
shan't hear anything but your name
see nothing but you
feel nothing but love
until you show yourself
take my hand and make me yours.

another review!

was standing in the queue for tickets to 'the aviator' when i heard two twenty-somethings ahead of me, squeal something about going to the movies together. now films have always been a lonely occupation for me. just the screen, the coffee in my hand and me. used to hate the incessant chatter when movies have all the magic. but hindi films are another creature altogether. you need company to slay it, caress it, keep it or throw it. anyway, here they were to twenty something women discussing a new film which i was certain i was never going to see it, because the woman who usually drags us to these films had just found herself a new job. so i listened in happily.

"did you know he got it lasered?"
"eeek!"
"yaa men. now he is all chicknaa. warnaa he was so hairy!"

(aah! so they are talking about anil kapoor, but why? i thought zayed khan was more their generation, but i listen on...)

"how could you see it without me!"

"sorry yaar, i had to take my mother!"

"how could you! you could have called me at least. i would have come with you! your mum knows me!"

"no re. sometimes she is just verrrry low. its been seven months since dad died naa. so she needed to be a little pampered."

"yahi film you got or what to see?!"

"aare baba but it was sooo baad! i'm telling you, tera sau rupaya bach gayaa!"

"why?!"

"aare...kareena's clothes are the only good thing about the movie!"

"lekin the promos are sooo hot --"

"they must have shot the promos separately!"

"aare...bol to rahee hoon, at least shbd they showed sanjay dutt's bare back. this one has nothing. poora waste of sau rupya!"

"what are you saying?!"

"there's no bewafaii in bewafa at all!"

(at this point they notice a huge smile across my face, and realise that i have been listening. they put a hand on their mouths and start giggling. i motion them to move forward as it is their turn to buy tickets. predictably, they are going to watch 'sins'!)