CYCLING THAT MORNING

Cycling that morning

Made me feel complete.

Its pleasure was much more than

Living in some lavish suite.

It seemed as if my nerves

Were dancing from within.

The road was all empty

And I felt like its queen.

It made me recall everything

That was but merely past.

Both sweet and sour memories

Struck my mind really fast.

But it also made me cherish

The moment I was living in.

The poor past began to fade away.

As I began feeling the joy of being pristine.

There were certain tunes in my mind

That elated my heart's beating.

But they were absolutely futile

In comparison to the birds' twittering.

No horns or cars were there.

Everything seemed serene.

No shouting, scolding or arguing.

The world appeared green and clean.

I had heard once that

Green is the colour of jealousy.

Haha! Now, I laugh at this thought.

For me, green proved to be a remedy.

Maybe it's just about perceptions

That engross our mind from time to time.

Depending on the path we choose,

The same thing can be either sullen or sublime.

It was an exhilaration for me.

I don't want to leave it again.

Devoting some time to cycling

Made me forget all pain.

It was lime and salt

For my rusted personality.

Maybe this is what is

Cycling's speciality

 ---------------------------------------------------------©Radhika Gupta(June26,2018)

MISS MINA

Miss Mina lost her most lovely temper

When scolded by a family member.

The relative called her clumsy.

She said," No one loves me."

Then, she heard the words of her father.

"My daughter looks ugly.

She looks stout and clumsy.

But, she has a heart of gold.

She is truly brave and bold.

Her simplicity is her beauty.

When no one stood by me,

Her faith in me was plenty.

She understood things beyond her age.

She never made any money wastage

Unlike those who spend frivolously.

She works hard constantly

Avoiding any bad company.

Is it easy to control teenage emotions?

But she shuns any stupid affections.

I am proud of her audacity.

When sometimes I watch her studying,

I am completely left just wondering

If I had also done the same labour.

But, even I never tried to seize the hour.

Her willpower is simply mesmerizing.

Many a time when she felt hungry,

She either didn't eat or ate homemade curry.

When her friends ate delicious street foods,

She dominated her taste moods.

I don't remember her enjoying any luxury.

She is clumsy by her choice

For she doesn't wish to raise her voice

In front of fools whom she respects.

The harshness in you she easily detects.

But she never makes any noise.

Oh! Constant hitting can cut any rock.

For me, her sudden outburst isn't a shock.

There is a limit of meaningless scolding.

After a point, mean things start to sting.

She is a human, not a still wall clock.

If you still have some self-respect,

Then your words, you should wisely select.

Don't  you dare to mock her again

Or else my anger I won't restrain.

The beauty within her is just perfect."

Miss Mina's eyes were filled with tears.

She had not been given any praises for years.

She said," Thank You, dear father.

Your words have made me stronger.

Hearing such words is a boon for my ears.

I am lucky enough to have you.

Under your guidance, I grew.

But today, in a way I let you down.

I failed in handling their frown.

I am just insane in my view."

I was standing at a distance and saw this scene.
I felt as if it has become people's daily routine
To judge others by their appearances.
Is it what we mean by coexistence?
Are these our etiquettes and discipline?

They say,"Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder."

In reality, for external beauty, their souls smoulder. 

Maybe they are just another bunch of hypocrites

Who believe people like Miss Mina to be misfits.
 Perhaps we all are merely turning into living monsters.

---------------------------------------------------------©Radhika Gupta(June24,2018)

THEY ARE JUST UNKNOWNS

It's easier to talk to someone unknown.

Maybe some people feel just too alone

When relations are completely blown

And the heart is turned into a mere stone.

Well! Some people may also talk for fun.

They may wish to know the other person.

For some, it's time pass before time's gone.

There may be simply no other reason.

Then there are thinkers and writers

Who may even wish to hear whispers.

For them, life is stories on new matters.

They secretly wish for unique adventures.

There are also those who disguise and talk.

Talking to them may not be a cakewalk.

They may be a grey shaded "Sherlock".

Their true identity may leave us in a shock.

Finally, there are those who don't want to meet.

In real life, you don't wish to give them a greet.

But talking to them feels simply sweet.

There is no involvement of any personal benefit.

You never share much personal information.

You never tell about your house's location.

Away from any so-called temptation,

With an unknown, builds a nameless relation.

You both forever remain incognito.

There is no involvement of the ego.

Basically, you both don't know

If the other one's a crow or psycho.

Haha! The other one may be a fierce Dracula

Who may be living in a ruin crowned by a cupola.

What if it's a conspiracy under some big umbrella?

What if the other one has a pretended aura?

Oh! Just never urge to meet the other.

Even if you urge, then don't just bother.

Stay like an undercovered agent forever.

Then you won't need to fret or become sombre.

Unknowns don't have a preconception about us.

So, we feel that they won't be creating any fuss.

To some extent, the sweetness may be harmless.

But, an excess of sweets may harm our fitness.

It's better to save our lives that is more precious.

Technology may have gifted us alluring unknowns.

Most of us have them on laptops or smartphones.

Talking to them may be easy or convenient.

Talking may also be a source of entertainment.

However, at the end of the day when you feel they are knowns,

Don't forget that they are just unknowns.

---------------------------------------------------------©Radhika Gupta(June21,2018)

EXPECTATIONS

Expectations are what kill us.

In our life, they cause a ruckus.

They are like the tip of a compass

That just constantly pins inside us.

There is a cycle of expectations.

Its vicious circle continues for generations.

We all ride this cycle amidst commotions.

The riding may have different notions.

Oh! This is a long cycle, dear.

This cycle is quite unclear.

Trying to understand it, is queer.

But, I will try to express without fear.

Let's start with our birth,

When everything is joy and mirth.

We are unaware of our worth.

But, expectations are ample on earth.

Some expect a girl, while others a boy.

Unknowingly some plan to destroy

The freedom that may give the child joy.

However, life is not just a simple toy.

The teacher expects a good student.

Students expect a better teacher.

Is expecting enough to be prudent?

Well! Expecting is a common feature.

When we grow up further,

They say,"Just be a good learner.

CA, Doctor or Engineer?

Right now, it doesn't matter."

We get overwhelmed and feel free.

Maybe we don't know of the future decree

That may fall on us like a big old tree.

We develop self- expectations to forever glee.

We work day and night for achieving goals.

To fulfil our expectations, we drench our souls.

But on our way, someone else takes controls.

The goals once dreamt of turn to mere potholes.

Those who gave us fake freedom once

Now, start calling us a dunce.

Our expectations undergo a deep silence.

Their expectations gift us an inner turbulence.

Both ways there are expectations.

One side ours, another side theirs.

There are emotional variations.

But for us, both ways, there are tears.

Weeping and crying our expectations change.

For them, we try to go beyond our range.

For us, a new plan we try to arrange.

The new expectations seem quite strange.

One more fight now, we wish to conquer.

Old expectations no more remain stronger.

Upon upcoming troubles, we hardly ponder.

These expectations leave us all sombre.

Gradually, even we start loving fresh expectations.

We submerge ourselves into deep calculations.

Now, we expect a better result in our operations.

In a mad rat race, we skip our prime considerations.

Life turns to mere ranks, promotions and figures.

Day by day, a new expectation within us triggers.

Anything already achieved, now hardly matters.

We start worrying about a handful of failures.

Then one day, we find someone whom we love.

Even here, our expectations soar high above.

On rejection, we become a crestfallen dove.

Now, we expect even others to despise love.

Wait! The vicious circle doesn't end just here.

In marriages, expectations act like a spear

That can brutally and easily rip apart and tear

The healthy relationship between the pair.

We expect from parents and from friends.

We expect from the societal ways and trends.

In our offspring's life, we wish to make amends.

Again riding this stupid cycle starts making sense.

Even on the verge of death, we just expect

That matters ere doom should be made perfect.

We expect that we will get some respect.

Oh! Our expectations and the facts hardly connect.

Some father dies expecting his son to see him.

Some son dies expecting his father will know him.

Some mother dies as an expectation's victim.

Some daughter dies of expectations so grim.

Some husband dies expecting his wife to love him.

Some wife dies expecting love like a dream.

Some hopes die expecting one day to gleam.

Haha! We all enter, live and leave just expecting.

Like a deadly disease, expectations stick to us.

They are boons rarely but mostly a curse.

I don't think that I can further discuss

Because I sincerely don't expect a fuss.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------©Radhika Gupta(July19,2018)

HER WOEFUL TALE

She sauntered with unknown grief,

Importuning Him to retort in brief

If His presence was there or none

For the traitors had sucked her dry anon.

Whilom she sang the psalmodies,

Brimmed with peaceful melodies.

She was brook and life was vale.

Then why did she suffer an assail?

Why was she left all pale?

Was it due to her being a female?

Her defilers ruined her chastity.

All alone she witnessed their alacrity

That stole away her vivacity.

She was forced to suffer a deep agony.

Alas! She was left with no sanity.

Didn't they have any morality?

Is this what we call humanity?

Is it too easy to savage someone's sanctity?

All they cared about was their shitty salacity.

They fooled her so craftily

Hiding their so-called mendacity.

Oh! This is the bitter veracity.

That they were good was her fallacy.

Who knew she would fall prey to their phantasy?

Even assaulting had a systematic trail.

Their cruelty made her frail.

Alas! Again they failed

In becoming an ethical male.

She questioned and even God lost the debate.

But the dreary homo sapiens just couldn't relate

To her incessant suffering, her quest.

They made her subject to a series of an inquest.

The assault became a mere jest.

This was her period of unrest.

Her ravishers were no less than pests.

Gradually, her prowess to fight began to congest.

Forlorn and depressed, she decided to peacefully rest

Into the lap of the brook and vale.

Alas! Again the humanity failed

And all we are left with is a woeful tale.

---------------------------------------------------------©Radhika Gupta(June17,2018)

RASH DRIVING (A calf and a little girl)

A calf and a little girl were talking

Of something that didn't seem shocking.

They were resting in heavenly gardens.

Thanks to someone's rash driving.

The girl said,"Who split your legs and belly?

People call you an animal that's holy.

You might have been cut in a slaughterhouse.

People fight over you. Isn't it a glory?"

"Oh! Don't think that my life was sorted.

To me, people on Earth seemed horrid.

Though they have a religious love for me,

None fought the driver who left me distorted.

Out of a hundred people, a few were kind-hearted.

But most of them wanted things to get disconcerted.

At the slaughterhouse, I was sure to be cut someday.

But suffering on road was more brutal.",the calf retorted.

The girl felt sympathy for the poor animal.

However, her own story was quite identical.

She too perished in a harsh road accident.

In the burning school bus was her funeral.

She said," The day I died was the exam day.

At home, away from school, I wanted to stay.

I prayed to God to keep me away from exams.

Maybe that morning I was my prayer's prey.

The driver seemed strange and his voice slurred.

Maybe due to rains, his driving got absurd.

In a hurry, he ran into a tanker carrying petrol.

How come his vision got so blurred?

The bystanders filmed the whole commotion.

Even media came for the coverage of the situation.

Police, school and parents were also informed.

Alas! None cared for our quick hospitalisation.

There were a few peers who got rescued.

Most of our lives liveliness simply subdued.

Rash driving kills lives on a daily basis.

You and I are just two.", she said in a sad mood.

Being a humble creature the calf said,

"We both are joined by the same thread.

Death may have approached us differently.

But now, in the end, we both are dead."

The girl said,"Dear calf, you speak appropriately.

You were killed on the road brutally

While my life ended inside the bus.

It was simply rash-driving that killed both of us."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------©Radhika Gupta(July14,2018)

THE PETRICHOR

It's the first rain marking the arrival of monsoon.

There is something subtle about the air.

My mother is humming some arbitrary tune.

My soul is indulged in the fresh petrichor.

All have their own worries to think about.

No one has time to slow down and stare

The sky's tears that are so incessantly cast out.

But, my soul is indulged in the sweet petrichor.

I used to see children of the same age playing in the alleys in rain.

However, I never made boats of any colourful paper.

Rain dancing just never made my senses go insane.

Something that I cherished always was the calming petrichor.

Even if I ever wanted to get out and dance madly,

Tales of going sick early always made the dancing scarier.

To reach school, I used to wear the long old raincoat shabbily.

The windows in class freed me more like the gentle petrichor.

Nevertheless, there are people for whom rains sound romantic.
For some, it may be a symbol of a love journey that got over.
Some are also fond of Indian rain myths that are simply fantastic.
But, the charisma of the petrichor excites me more.

When the sky used to cease it's mourning and crying,

It used to turn pure blue for everyone to peacefully share.

But, as time passed by, dear pollution set the sky to be terrifying.

Grievously, now, the Earth hardly remembers its beloved petrichor.

In a few days, it might abruptly rain cats and dogs.

There may be suspended tours and some flooded river.

Lack of food supplies and croaking of political frogs

May devoid me of my indulgence in the deep petrichor.

There are also others who may suffer from this rain.

Who knows there may be some dejected farmer?

Who knows what untimely rain will do of his crops again?

What if all left with him will only be the fragile petrichor?

Rapid deforestation and windstorm may kill some evergreen trees.
People and animals falling in open manholes may die or get sicker.
There may be collapsed bridges and multiple casualties.
Will people anymore love the enchanting petrichor?

There are some places that may suffer a drastic drought.

Some places and people may undergo cloudburst and downpour.

What about the downtrodden whose skin and food may rot?

I hope even under testing times, none neglects the familiar petrichor.

Rain brings with it many questions to ponder upon.
Endless possibilities of answers are always there.

I don't know what this and future rains will bring on.
However, I can never forget the much dear petrichor.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------©Radhika Gupta(July10,2018)

RECOGNIZING OUR REALITY

"People are recognised by their work."

Once, someone proudly told me this.

I never knew then of the worldly jerks.

My life was all happy-go-lucky and bliss.

Then I got aware that it isn't just about work.

Even if you are walking alone without disturbing,

There will always be a few ones who will smirk.

They will surely do the foolish barking and hurting.

You won't be wishing for some stupid fame.

But they will bestow it out of grace on you.

They won't mind illogically tainting your name.

For fun, they will do what they want to do.

If you will go right, they will ask you to go left.

If you will go up, they will ask you to go down.

If you will not choose to go and stay erect,

Then they will nicely gift you the fool's crown.

Neither long hair nor short hair will please them.

Neither a veil nor a short bikini will be correct.

In their opinion even a brilliant human is dumb.

At any cost, they will find in you some defect.

Is it because we are wrong somewhere?

Or is it just because we are different?

Undoubtedly their thinking is not fair.

Maybe they are jealous and belligerent.

Even roses are hated by a few for their thorns.

But it never stops them from being a rose.

Even if you try to mutilate the flower's form,

Its pleasant and subtle essence never goes.

Sweets are loathed by some for being unhealthy.

I say," Did the sweet plead you to eat it?"

But the human norms point the sweets as filthy.

Their own mistakes, they will never admit.

It's not just for once that I experienced this.

There has been a chain of events like that.

It's like forcing you out of a sudden into an abyss.

They will just treat you like a dusty doormat.

The worst part is your lack of worthy retort.

Since they don't want to listen to your boring speech.

But if you will inquire about their speech's purport,

They will blow their so-called democracy fife.

Does democracy mean saying anything to anyone?

Is it a licence to freely blabber and abuse?

They use it like randomly firing a blowgun

Without knowing which hit may turn into a bruise.

How double standard it is! I wonder at times.

People insanely do what they don't expect from us.

They say that they are saints away from crimes.

But the next day, out of tiny stuff they make a fuss.

So, here is a conclusion that I believe in.

Currently, people are not just recognised by their work.

They are also recognised by slanders and backbiting.

Spreading fancy rumours is other's favourite homework.

People are also recognised due to other's sins.

People are recognised due to other's stupidity.

Alas! When such treachery by other's begins,

They fail to realise the death of morality.

However, if they call you a tiny winy cat,
Don't forget that you are a fierce lion.
It's their problem if they are spoiled brats.
Don't make them your problem. Just carry-on.

 Deep within, we can recognise our reality

Because it is what matters the most.

We simply cannot forget our true identity

Accruing to such so-called living ghosts.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------©Radhika Gupta(July10, 2018)

WHAT IS "LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT"?

What is "Love at first sight"?

My mind questions this at times.

Is it some sort of delight?

What are its symptoms or signs?

I really am not aware of it.

Maybe due to my inexperience.

Haha! I thought of it as a shit.

Pardon me 'O lovers' for saying this.

I believe it's like a fresh variety of burger

The craving for which may turn you restless.

You know having it may harm you further.

But your desire for consumption is reckless.

What happens once you munch on it?

The burger remains no more to be seen.

It's taste, your mind just can't omit.

But the next day, you wish for jelly bean.

At first sight, even an antique art is alluring.

What follows once you bring it in your home?

For a few days, you can't stop staring at it.

Then the staring becomes dull and toilsome.

Perhaps it's like aiming hard to win someone.

But once you conquer what you require,

You simply take for granted this fortune.

Now, something else you wish to acquire.

You feel sympathy even for strangers.

You just need to be a human being for that.

Mere sympathising doesn't make you lovers.

Pity can also be aroused by a tiny cat or chat.

Even two workers may share their worries.

It doesn't mean they will serve each other's needs.

You may be sharing all your mundane stories.

Such an obscure feeling into love hardly concretes.

Then there is something called friendship

It may make you think that you love.

It's like sailing together in one ship.

But, dear it's something beyond love.

You may say that it's often seen that

Cute friendships turn into adorable love.

Well! I am not at all against this fact.

But, this rare love should be taken care of.

I don't think I should talk further.

Again pardon me for any mistakes.

I still think 'love at first sight' is a burger.

Haha! You may think of it as grapes.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------©Radhika Gupta(July7, 2018)

YOU SHOULDN'T KILL THE HOPE

Dejected look on her rosy face

Faded the dinner's aroma.

She seemed left in disgrace

Due to someone's brash persona.

The room almost sank in silence.

For a while, none spoke a word.

There was a loss of mind's balance.

But for her gey cells, nothing stirred.

The two birds swapped a look

That appeared quite absurd.

When one of them muttered,

The other's speech sounded slurred.

"How was your job today?", 

asked the lady having soda.

The girl said," Another hard day.

I couldn't achieve the sales quota."

"Is this all I need to know dear?",

Retorted the lady musically.

The girl said,"I love you, mom.

I can't say anything else truly."

The mother smiled radiantly.

She gave a hug to her child.

Even if just for a moment,

The girl's heart turned mild.

Her mild heart softened the eyes

That burst into a ceaseless rain

Of tears that could have flooded the room.

She didn't want to lose her job again.

Mom said,"Oh dear! I know your feelings.

You simply can never hide them.

I don't care for any stupid job.

You are my most precious gem.

People will try to let you down.

It's their devious stratagem.

Don't surrender to any shame crown.

Don't reduce yourself to any contemn.

Hard times will make you strong.

They will disturb you like a tightrope

Shakes a novice equilibrist's aplomb.

But you shouldn't jump from the rope.

'YOU SHOULDN'T KILL THE HOPE'."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------©Radhika Gupta(July5, 2018)

DEAR EYES, WITHIN YOU, PEACE DWELLS

My eyes are writhing with pain,

Still, I don't feel like to sleep.

In this tiny brain of mine,

Only some dreary thoughts can creep.

Will things be more claro?

What will possibly happen tomorrow?

Will I be subject to some sudden blow?

The notes in my mind keep playing legato.

My mind never stops thinking so.

My eyes whole night just keep aglow.

They keep looking the fan above.

What if I am subject to some hefty shove?

I don't know why this happens with me.

Is there some invisible key

That I cannot see?

Probably, it makes me do this stupidity.

It may be some sorrow,

That finds it's way through the eyes.

Or it may be some past

That mocks at me being too wise.

I don't know what it is.

It's sometimes glum, it's sometimes bliss.

Isn't it worry? Sometimes I think so.

Then I shun this thought in one go.

Then I tell my eyes quietly,"Everything's alright.

Just take care of yourselves.

Take rest for a while.

For 'DEAR EYES, WITHIN YOU, PEACE DWELLS'."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------©Radhika Gupta(July1,2018)