Lessons that I needed to learn!

For last one week, on every single day my boss used to give me additional job that made me stay up till 8 O’ clock in the office. I had given my time to my girlfriend that week but was not being able to spend any time in the evening with her. She was terribly upset with me for that. She thought that I was making excuses to avoid her.

Sometimes, I felt really angry at my boss. But I could not do anything. I slogged my ass off till late in the evening whereas he left from the office at 5 O’ clock sharp. He got extra time to spend with his family whereas I was being stopped from even starting a family. “How cruel life is!” I mumbled in my mind.

When I talked with my girlfriend in the night after going from office she gave me an ultimatum. “Either we are meeting tomorrow or we don’t meet again ever,” she blared like a lioness.

Next day, I implored to my boss for releasing my early, but he told that I was the future Sr. Manager of the purchase department and if I would show such irreverence to the hard work then my future prospects might hamper. I knew he was blackmailing me. But, I needed the job badly.

My boss again left the office at right time. And I was alone in the office to ruin my love life and create my future. I felt like breaking my head. My girlfriend just hung up on my call as I told her that I wouldn't be able to go in the evening together.

I knew that my girlfriend was furious but I couldn't do anything.  I decided that day that I would leave this job. “Job is there to facilitate life not to ruin it,” I convinced myself.

I decided that next day I would convey my decision to leave the company to my boss. Next day, when I tried to go to my boss’s chamber, his secretary informed me that he had taken leave for that day. I thought of informing him through sms but then changed my mind. A face to face conversation is always better in such circumstances.

I thought of telling him the next day. But next day again he was on leave. Three days of the leave passed by. My girlfriend wanted me to quit the job as soon as possible. She had sent my CV in her company and they were also interested in me. But the problem was that I was not being able to contact my boss.

On the next Sunday, finally I got some time to spend with my girlfriend. My girlfriend was again complaining that I was making excuses and not telling my boss about my leaving of the job, she also told that I was not man enough to tell my boss that I was leaving because of his tyrant work hours imposed on me. As I was driving my bike to a restaurant to calm down my girlfriend’s anger with some good continental cuisine, I spotted the car of my boss parked outside a stadium.

I stopped my bike and told my girlfriend, “Come along with me, I will tell my boss about my resignation before you.”

“But how will you find him in this crowd of the stadium?”

“I am a man, I can find him out,” I told her with a manly pride.

As I entered the stadium, I found that there was an athletic meet of schools going on. My eyes scanned for the face of my boss. After searching him for twenty odd seconds, I found him out.

“Follow me!” I ordered my girlfriend.

As I inched closer to him, I saw a young girl of ten coming close to him. He made her sit and sprayed her left leg with an analgesic bottle. He moved to the right leg of the girl and unwrapped the straps of the prosthetic leg that she was wearing and put powder on the stump knee. In a few minutes the girl was ready to run. She went in the line for the race of 100 meters. 

We were watching all this from a distance.

My boss was backing her up with all the encouraging words possible. She came second in the race. And my god, my boss seemed to be on the seventh haven.  The girl came and hugged him.

My girlfriend and I kept looking at the whole scenario from a distance. We didn't say each other even a word but we understood that it must have been due to the preparations for the athletic meet of his daughter that my boss used to leave the office early. I felt ashamed that day because my boss was trying to fashion optimism in the life of his daughter but I was thinking that he was being tyrant to me. That day, my girlfriend and I knew that life is not only about being restless as lovers but patient and enthusiastic as parents in the hardest of times for their children.

That day, I came to know what it takes to be a man!

That day my girlfriend and I matured as human beings and started respecting life more than ever. After that episode, we came to know the new meaning of togetherness.

Each moment is auspicious...

Pic Courtesy: http://www.beautyscenery.com/2013/10/sunrise-wallpapers.html#.VRpdPI6urSE

Each moment is auspicious,

 Each moment is tagged in from immortality.

 Each ray is sent from the divine fire,

 Each to each we are assigned to love and serve,

Sublime is the nuptial hour.

Of man and God

All moments are auspicious that lead to this silence of communion.

Morn and evening sing praises of this solemn hour.

Each moment is auspicious

thus and each breath intense with love is supreme.

By: Meera Panigrahi

It is raining out there...

Pic Courtesy :http://www.sweetlilmzmia.com/tag/tranquility/



It is raining out there,

The lightning flashes across the dark sky,

Thunder growls and the wind knocks lightly,

There is a whole universe of activity outside.

Inside, I sit with a lamp flickering,

 Inside I am silent Only my breath flickers,

 I shall wait till the home bulbs burst into life again,

Now all is still. Inside and outside.

The rain it was that drove me inwards,

 While there was a scurry of activity outside,

 With lightning flashes and mild thunder ,

And the wind knocking lightly against the closed windows.

I sat and waited for the storm to pass.

And now I feel washed and pure inside and outside.

By: Meera Panigrahi

Triple Filter Test!

Pic Courtesy:  http://downloadapp.info/Chanakya-Niti-For-Everyone-831661908.html

In ancient India, One day a person met the great Chanakya, and said, "Do you know what I just heard about your friend?"

 "Hold on a minute," Chanakya replied. 

"Before telling me anything I'd like you to pass a little test. It's called the Triple Filter Test." 

"Triple filter?" 

"That's right," Chanakya continued.

 "Before you talk to me about my friend, it might be a good idea to take a moment and filter what you're going to say. That's why I call it the triple filter test. The first filter is Truth. Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about to tell me is true?"

 "No," the man said, "actually I just heard about it and..." 

"All right," said Chanakya. "So you don't know if it's true or not. Now let's try the second filter, the filter of Goodness. Is what you are about to tell me about my friend something good?"

 "No, on the contrary..."

 "So," Chankaya continued, "you want to tell me something bad about him, but you're not certain it's true. You may still pass the test though, because there's one filter left, the filter of Usefulness. Is what you want to tell me about my friend going to be useful to me?"

 "No, not really."

 "Well," concluded Chankaya, "if what you want to tell me is neither true nor good nor even useful, why tell it to me at all?"

____________________________ Use this triple filter each time you hear loose talk about any of your near and dear ones.------- Meera Panigrahi

ज़ाम मे थी कुछ तो कशिश...

चित्र साभार : http://www.texaswineandtrail.com/women-influence-wine-trends/

ज़ाम मे थी कुछ तो कशिश,

पल हो गायब, होश से सजे बारीश,

नज़र झुकाए हुए,

नम थी पलकें , हंसी सजाए हुए,

शुरू  हो बात , जाने- ज़ाम लगाए हुए, 

रियासत नयी बनाए हुए I 

दिल की बाते , लापता धड़कन तेज हुए, 

मौसीक़ी  की लहरें, झलकाए महफ़िल,

खुद को आज़ाद पाते हुए I 

दीवाना फिर सबको कर दे,

जाने-जामपे जान और थी बाकी,

साक़ी हो शौक  इसी शौक़ीन के लिए,

ऐसे ना सोच, चोट खाए हुए , 

समय की बात ,समय के बाद ,  

आज हम खुलके जीए I

रचना :प्रशांत 

अंजान राहों से आज हम गुज़रे हैं...

चित्र साभार :  http://pixabay.com/en/bridge-pair-couple-man-woman-walk-525615/

अंजान राहों  से  आज हम गुज़रे हैं,
अपने कुछ ख़ास के संग,
रंग जमाए हुए,
उसके रंग में खुद को नहाये हुए I

उससे मिलने की तम्मना हीं है अब
मेरी हर ख्वाइश का सबब,
गर वो खो जाए मेरी आँखों के पैमाने से
तो  दफ़न कर देना मुझे महीनों में या रब I

उनकी आँखों के मयखानों में ,
ख़ुद को ख़ामोशी से सजाये हुए ,
हम चाहते हैं रहना ज़िंदा,
उनकी तस्वीर को मुहब्बत - ऐ-बेपनाही,
से दिल सजाये हुए,
हम चाहते हैं  डूबना उसकी मदहोश आँखों के समंदर में ऐसे,
जैसे उड़ता है खुले आसमान में कोई परिंदा I 

                                                                      रचना : प्रशांत

तो जी, के बस तू ही तू है इस दुनिया में...

चित्र साभार : http://pixabay.com/en/fitness-jump-health-woman-girl-332278/

मंज़िल गर है  हासिल, तो  ऐसा लगता क्यूँ नही,
हर मुकाम है  तेरे बस मे, तो  ऐसा लगता क्यूँ नही I

इतना है खालीपन, फिर साँसे क्यूँ हैं  भारी ?
खाली है  ज़िंदगी, फिर क्यूँ नासमझ ज़िद है न्यारी ?

हर हासिल पे, तू क्यूँ मनाए ख़ुशी?
हर चोट पे क्यूँ कमाए बेबसी?

जब दुनिया से तुझे, मुँह मोड़ लेना है,
जब दुनिया को तुझे, छोड़  जाना है,
तो जी, के बस तू ही तू है इस दुनिया में
तो जी, के बस तुझसे हीं दम है इस दुनिया में I

रचना : प्रशांत 

आज सदीओ के बाद खुदको हम संभाले हुए...

आज सदीओ के बाद खुदको हम संभाले हुए हैं 
कितने छुपे  राज़ को पंख अरमान देते हुए हैं   I

डर है  की नक़ाब गुम ना जाए सारे आम परदा ओढ़े,
और बेआबरू खुद को ना पाए,
ईसी पत्थर मे भी दिल अगर जमाना जान ना पाए,
अपनी जान से अंजान अगर जमाना जान ना पाए ,
तो क्या ना हो जाए,
प्यासा अगर जमाने का प्यास बुझाए डूब जाए ,
पर किनारा दुनिया को दिखाए I

ख़ुशी  होगी ऐसे ही अर्पण मे ,
जमाना से दूर जमाने को समझ ने मे I

रचना : प्रशांत  

Listen to yourself!

                    Picture Courtesy : http://pixabay.com/en/silhouette-woman-tree-landscape-67202/

Why do we weep more often and Why do we weep more often and laugh so less?

We are angels of light meant to ascend to realms of bliss. 

Then why do we hate more often and love so less?

We are swan birds meant to contemplate on the still waters deep . 

Then why do we choose the desires of the dark forest?

Mankind , when will we learn the wisdom of the Ancients,

And Live in the sway of the inner light

In a perpetual unfolding of consciousness.

-------- Meera Panigrahi

A prayer for hope!

                     Picture Courtesy: http://pixabay.com/en/woman-praying-believing-god-person-571715/

 

A New Year may or may not bring to fruition our hopes and desires,

 And dreams may languish in forgetfulness Friends may vanish from our pages,

 Sure, but all the same Hope never dies in the human breasts, 

That there shall be heard no more the groan of voices,

As battles rage or Nature spits her venom on unsuspecting lands.

Mourning , as flights disappear God knows where

And the tears of mothers, daughters, sons and fathers

Washing the shores of despair. 

New Year, open your book to the page On which is written Man's sagacious saga of peace

And retreat from blood be-strewn drama Open your book to the page Which says "All is Well"

---- By Meera Panigrahi

अलग हो ख्वाइश ...

चित्र साभार : http://pixabay.com/en/netherlands-statues-sculptures-men-116471/

अलग हो ख्वाइश और अलग हो पहचान ,
यह हो तो ना पाया ,
अलग से एक और ज़िंदगी ,
यह भी ना हुआ ,
अलग जी भी ना पाया ,
अलग से अलग हो ना पाया I

रचना : प्रशांत 

ऐ जिंदगी तुझे मैं...

 

 

 

चित्र साभार : http://pixabay.com/en/beauty-woman-flowered-hat-cap-355157/

 

 

ऐ जिंदगी तुझे मैं, 
क्या और किस नाम लेकर पुकारूँ,
कभी तुझे मैं कोसूं ,
कभी तुझसे रूठ भी जाऊं,

तेरे करीब आ के तुझको न पाया,
जब खुद से तुझको दूर पाया,
तेरी परछाईं को खुद के और करीब पाया I  

कितने रूप हैं तेरे,
तेरा तिलिस्म ले अंगड़ाई साँझ सवेरे,
तेरे चक्कर का मैं फक्कड़ ,
तुझे जी गया कई बार ,
मर मर कर I 

रचना : प्रशांत 

फिर एक बार दिल तो चाहे के...

चित्र साभार : http://pixabay.com/en/snowball-fight-snow-winter-young-578445/

फिर एक बार दिल तो  चाहे के,

खंजर चुभे, और दिल की प्यास बुझे ,  

इल्तिज़ा बस  इतनी ही है हमारी के  , 

फिर से दिल को  लगे 

दवा मुहब्बत की ज़हर I

चोट खाए अगर अपनी हीं करम से, 

तो भाई खूब है, मंज़ूर भी वोही,

फिर एक मौत, जी भी लेंगे ,

मुहब्बत ईक और बार तो सही I

भले ख़ुशी हो, या हो ग़मों  की ख़ुशी,  

आज़ाद  गिरने की डरसे खुशी ,

जिंदा हूँ , यह एहसास कम तो नही,  

मरता भी हूँ , यह भी कम तो नही I 

अपना लिया, यह कुछ कम तो नही , 

पल जो जी लिया, यह भी कुछ कम तो नही I

रचना : प्रशांत 

क्या होली थी, कुछ याद है....

चित्र   साभार :  http://www.happyholi2015.org/2015/02/happy-holi-2015-images.html

क्या होली थी, कुछ याद है,  

और कुछ याद नहीं  ,                                                                               

कभी हम करते थे शोर की सवारी  , 

कभी सुनसान खामोशी थी हम पे भारी I

क्या होली थी क्या बोली थी , 

किससे रोए मिले, बिन कहे मिले ,

हँसी की गोली जहाँ तहाँ बिखरे ,

होश मे रहे , गिरे और ठहरे I

कुछ याद आए वो लस्सी की प्यास , 

स्प्राइट पे भारी वोदका की गिलास , 

माँग माँग खाए वो भांग के पकोडे ,

उड़ जाने के डर से टेबल को जकड़े I

जय जय शिव शंकर की भावना ,

बीच मे हनी सिंग का घुसना , 

कभी मन ही मन गुनगुनाना ,

गाने के बोल मे आक्टिंग कर जाना I

होली ने लौटा दी वो ही पुरानी  महफ़िल ,

दोस्तों में  वो ही  प्यार और दरियादिली, 

भगवान तुझे शत शत प्रणाम ,

होली के दिन रहे दुनिया हर दम रंगीली I

रचना : प्रशांत 

Optimism nullifying pessimism!

For last two hours, I was thinking of going to submerge myself into the sea: reason was sudden sense of nihilism in tenets of life.  I had flunked my engineering exam in the very first semester.  Failing an exam was something that I had never been familiar with. I had been a brilliant student throughout my academic career. But today when the results came out for the first semester, I was crestfallen. A thunderbolt struck me when I saw one ‘F’ in front of my name.

And since then, I had left the college campus, gulped down two bottles of beers and smoked some grass. I had thought that these would give me courage to end my life, a life that was now christened as a life of a failure.

I was bereft of any positive thinking in life. I was thinking that I had let down my family. I was thinking that how I would face my family, which was so proud of my academic excellence, with the rotten report card of first semester.  

I was of the view that I had worked really hard and despite that I had failed. I was in the questioning mode. I was asking God as to why did he fail me, only to make fun of me before my parents and the society. I was bereft of all faith in the hard graft.  Since my childhood, it was ingrained in me that hard work is the key to the success. You take care of the hard work and the hard work will take care of the upshot.  And this is the result that god had given me after all the hard work. The re-exam felt like an ignominy for me.

Thinking that God had let down me, I was hell-bent on ending my life. I inched closer to the deeper zones of the see.  As I was going far from the shore, I was going more down in the sea. One moment came when my lips were submerged and I had to trample my fear that was advising me against drowning. But I decided against the advice.

I submerged my nose and head full in the water. But after submerging myself, I started feeling suffocated and started to wiggle and wriggle. In that moment, I wanted to be alive, I was struggling for breath but all I was getting was just filthy water of the sea. I was trying hard to take myself up on the sea level but the strong undercurrent of the sea was pulling me down.

Now I was thinking of giving one more chance to my studies, now I was feeling comfortable with the idea of taking the re-exam, now I was full of courage to face the smirks of my classmates. The sudden calamity had changed the direction of my thinking and filled me with the vigor to fight for the life ahead. But what a dichotomy it was, when my mind was sinking in dejection, my body was on the shore and now when my mind was floating on the sea of optimism and hope, my body was sinking in the sea.

I badly wanted to be alive. I badly wanted to give one more serious chance to my studies and exams.

Suddenly, I felt a thrust from the wave within the sea and in a few seconds I was lying on the sandy beach with the body drenched with water and mind soaked with optimism of a new life.