Queenie..!!

As she parked her car along the usual slot, Shruti could hear her phone ringing from inside her purse.

“That must be Ravi...”

Her husband had flown to Bangalore the previous day to attend a meeting and hadn’t telephoned yet. She was asked not to call on his cell till 7 in the evening. And he had promised he would call her once the meeting got over.
It was dark already and her sleek black mobile phone had apparently hidden itself under the piles of papers and sundry she usually stuffed her bag with.

“Damn…”

After a few more seconds, the ring tone died down and all she could hear was the humming of the car engine.
She knew he’ll try again. Probably after a few minutes. He would know she missed the call searching frantically for the phone inside her bag. That was how it always had been. Shruti smiled to herself.

She got out of the car grabbing the bag of grocery she had picked up on her way back. As she walked towards her home, she eyes fell on the letter box hanging on the wall right next to the door. It was there on that wall ever since they had shifted to their independent villa. Seven years, two kids and two dogs after their marriage, the wooden box had shriveled and given up on the moist laden Augusts . This would perhaps be the last monsoon it would witness.

It was then that something caught her attention. She could see the corner of a paper from the gap which was left for letter to be put into. Perhaps as invitation, or some notice… or just an ad. showcasing a sale in some random store. She would never be interested. Forget it. Nevertheless, she walked towards the letter box and opened the small window and took it out.

It was a letter. From the stamp she could make out it travelled over seas to reach her. On the cover was written in cursive writing…

To,
Shruti Sharma
C-9/13
Behind Chopra Palace
North Extension
Pune

Shruti frowned. Who would send a her letter in the age of E mails? She flipped it and read what was written at its back.

I found you, Queenie….. with a familiar inverted curve under the phrase and two dots under that. Her heart missed a beat as she blinked in disbelief. “Emily!!!!”
She almost shrieked. After eleven years, Emily had ultimately found her Queenie.. as she lovingly called her.


To be continued...

Some birds fall down before their time,
Some flowers dry up before sunshine,
Some tears are stolen,
Some smiles are mine.

==========================================================================

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हम तो बचपन में भी अकेले थे
सिर्फ़ दिल की गली में खेले थे

एक तरफ़ मोर्चे थे पलकों के
एक तरफ़ आँसूओं के रेले थे

थीं सजी हसरतें दूकानों पर
ज़िन्दगी के अजीब मेले थे

आज ज़ेहन-ओ-दिल भूखों मरते हैं
उन दिनों फ़ाके भी हमने झेले थे

ख़ुदकुशी क्या ग़मों का हल बनती
मौत के अपने भी सौ झमेले थे

By: JAVED AKHTAR

!!!!!!

Do boond umeed ki
Zindagi udhaar ki

Gungunate pal ne dikhaya
Dhoop chaav ka aangan
Pehli baarish aur woh pehli chot
Jaada nahi bas maangte hai
Packet bhar khushiyo ki fauz

Thand si dhoop
Chilchilati sardi
Rahein hai khuli khuli
Aur mausum ne li karwatein


Appraisal ka tension
Workload ka burden
Rishtedaron ka waar
Fursat se bhare
lamhon ka hai ab intezaar


Kuch sacchi si baatein
Kuch random se shabd
Ye maine likhe hain
Main bhi hu stabdh

Tomorrow, when i would have gone a long way in life,
One day, I may, recall Today.

I would smile at my trials to sound intelligent,
"As if it was so necessary, silly me", I'd say to myself.
I would hate the way I snapped back at people and thought highly about myself
"So shallow, so false", I'll smirk.
I would reminisce about the times i spent dreaming of rose blooms
And inhale deeply trying to smell the magic,
Wishing it to be lingering still, somewhere in the corner of my minds.
I would mull over the chats and the pretty laughs,
The unmindful banter and nonchalant decisions.
I would love my life, still want to rewind,
and sigh at what i left back carelessly.
I would treasure the memories, with their scent and color et al.
And would go back into my shell when I want to relive them.

Thank God... There's time for tomorrow...

Color

Too often the only thing you see is everything you can't.
I can't decide whether I dread those days or miss them.

Gamo ki rehguzar par jab ashko ne bhi sath naa diya

Toh hum chal pare akele hi manzil ki talash mein

Aankh ki kor par boond maano latak kar reh gayi

Aur dheere dheere halat ki aandhi ne usey bhi sokh liya..