We are, because they are.

To the one in Olive Green-

How brave are you to sign up for this?
Your warrior heart is worthy of all the salute.
The risks you take every other day,
Little do people know of your life,
but your precious ones unceasingly pray.

I sit here shuffling the news like all others,
A little anxious to even accept what's happening,
While you're at the frontiers
Donning that uniform with other brothers.

I try to be brave and not think otherwise,
I'm no warrior like you inside,
But eternally by your side with love and pride!
I can't wrap my arms around you everyday,
But all the wait is worth, like they say!
I sit here by the phone,
Waiting until you're safely home!

While I'm all cranky & fussing-
Over problems too small as compared to yours,
You choose to listen & give me all your attention,
Swimmingly skipping your own without any conditions.

You just won't understand-
Unless you're a soldier or you've been with one,
The odd living conditions while on duty,
and the deeds they've done!
They witness the parts of the countryside &
The way they witness sunset and sunrise,
None of us civilians would ever get to.
When asked,
How are you? Are you sleeping fine? Is the weather too hot?
''All is good, I'm fine.'' are their happy lies & gives us no clue!

If not more, there's one thing I really want to do,
While you take care of those who serve the land,
I will take care of you! 🇮🇳 

Acceptance

I am not perfect and I don’t claim to be.

I have insecurities,

& there are days-

When I don’t think I'm good enough.

Good enough, in the era of Instagram models out numbering the actual models,

In an era where our social media feeds and YouTube

Are filled with 3 step makeover tutorials with-

3 layers of foundation,

Fake eye lashes,

Two shades of contour & concealer.

In the era where "maal"is more commonly addressed to females than drugs.

Where, acceptance on social media by the opposite gender-

brings more happiness & excitement.

But, when will we understand-

all of this comes from 'boys' half grown

Because it takes a 'man'- to understand what's real & what stays.

Not your fault dear boys,

The world's designed that way,

Make up and filters, gym and diets here rule.

But like I said- It takes a man to understand & accept.

An era-

Where majority is racing to cover up their scars,

Take a minute-  stop and think-

Aren't your scars a sign of the battles you've fought & won?

Aren't your scars a sign of how strong you are?

Dear girls,

IT IS OKAY to own your scars,

Layering  them in makeup ain't gonna find you love.

And so,

Please wait. Wait for such love that-

crowns you with the kind of love you never feel the weight of.

Wait, for someone who talks to your heart &

Understands that faces can wear masks.

Work on self, for your self.

Do not 'mend' your self to please the wants of another.

Because when love arrives, it embraces you for who you are,

And stays, forever.

This Holi let us pray that-

Acceptance of the world isn't so important,

No one is afraid to be real & authentic,

Loyalty & Transparency aren't this hard to find.

Our intentions are more pure,

Communication is more honest and polite,

Lies lie at rest,

Respect is not just a word,

Let us try to take care of the little things within us &

The world will take care of itself.

Escape

I'm standing on the roof,

Admiring the color formations in the horizon,

I'm dreaming of an escape,

To the world I've unceasingly mused about.

An escape to find peace,

An escape where my heart is happy,

There's something different in the air at this moment,

It tells me I can do it, 

It tells me I can get through.

I know I've commitments to meet,

I know I cannot leave them behind,

Perhaps just a babyish hope of a better tomorrow is enough for today,

& writing this poem is my escape for the day!

I have an idea,

I know there's no foundation,

A world with a different format-

Where one could go,

To be free from human woe.

A world where there's no shade of fear,

& waking up every AM doesn’t feel so cloudy,

Good art is focused chaos they say,

If only what I paint could be real & stay!

The world is trying to convince me,

That this is the reality of life,

I refuse to give the nod.

My dreamy escape would be a reality one day,

Where I'll have peace of mind,

& happiness will know no words

but just feelings-

it will be one of it's kind!

How is the weather inside you today?

Its past midnight now,

With a window open wide,

The moonlight peeping in,

Just enough to make me see

The beauty of the night.

I'm tucked in bed,

Its cold outside,

I'm all covered

But the mind decides to wander.

Every time I blink my eyes,

memories are flashing wide.

How did the day go by,

How did the years fly.

All the falls I've been through,

& all the break through too.

I wonder how me & the people I know,

Are both, young & depressed.

In the years where we'd be feeling super alive,

In some corner,

are dreading our own existence.

And then coming out of it,

I shift my focus to the good.

Comparing myself with the old me,

looking at the woman I've grown into,

Happy-will the old me be?

I pause my thoughts,

& remind myself to be grateful

For all that I've.

Yes, dreams & goals are still on paper,

But time & hope are the shaper!

Half way through & half away,

But will definitely be-

where I wanna be, some day!

A little detour is never too bad,

as long as you find your way back!

I blink again,

This time- coming back to where I am

at the very moment.

Pushing all that's bothering me,

in the background

I look at the moon

and declare-

Today's going to be my day!

And I close my eyes,

think about family

& the love of my life

sleep finally knocks my door,

& right through it, to another world, I dive!

The Child in me is Alive!

I treasure a home in  your familiar warm hug,

Like a kid who races to a familiar face in a crowded quarter.

Your aroma makes me feel secured.

Like a little baby can smell his mommy & sleeps in peace.

I trust my hand into yours,

Like a baby when learning to walk.

I look up-to you when I fall,

Like a baby waiting for a familiar figure to pick him up.

I find comfort in your soft voice.

Like a kid forgets all his anger, discomfort, pain when talked to, with love.

I tell you my darkest secrets,

Like a kid who comes home quiet after a fight but ends up telling everything to their mom.

A small gesture by you makes me so happy,

Like a kid who cannot control his happiness over a lollipop.

I feel relieved shedding my tears in front of you,

Like a kid, who cries everything out & are back to normal the very next moment.

 My eyes starts to twinkle on seeing you around,

Like a baby, when given his favorite precious to spend time with.

I look up-to you for motivation, cheering me up  and support,

Like a kid waiting for their parents to wave and cheer them up at their sports day.

I wait for you, endlessly-

Like a kid waits for his birthday & for Santa, every year.

The child in me is still alive,

& the child in you is still alive too,

Lets not hold it back,

Let us, let it thrive!

Old Soul Love.

My grandparents have an old soul love,
It is-
Hand in hand, your hand in mine-
until the end of the time.
I've seen them care,
I've seen them scold,
A love story I wanna live if truth be told!
Not forgetting each other's medicines even though memory is all weak,
Enter their room, & two amazing humans with smile will greet!
Body ain't anymore as strong as it was,
Will power crosses 100, age bar is no cause!
Helping one- another with the all day routine,
Followed by their favorite movie matinee.
Having each others back through all thick and thin,
At the end of the day having each other on to lean.
Where-
Evenings are filled with recalling the old stories,
A lot many emotions and life theories.

Learnt-
Quitting is no option, work through it all,
Be it work, health, family, relationships,
Hold on-
Neither too tight, nor to loose & things in place will fall.
How focusing on the positive is nothing but a choice,
How shifting a little focus can fill your life with rejoice!

I aim for such love,
I belong to an army of hopeless romantics,
Hold my hand,
Read me a poem,
Share a cup of tea with me,
If nothing, just let there silence be.
Walk with me through the country roads,
Trust me you won't get bored.
Lets make a playlist of our favorite songs,
We'll play it on days we are on drives long!
Look me in the eyes & that would be enough,
To get me going through situations tough!
A little filmy let the life be, let the life be!
In a world full of mobile screens,chatting and a sky full of smog,
Give me this, Give me this, Give me this!

Why So Perfect??

OK, it's 2.22am and my mind has embarked on its journey of late night thoughts. All my life, I've noted people yearn for perfection. An ideal relationship, a perfect nine-to-five, a perfect wedding, a perfect song, an ideal partner, a perfect house, a perfect dress and yet I see no one admitting that they finally have that 'perfect' thing/person in life. Well, the definition of perfection sure does differ for each one of us, but you know what, your perfect someone or something will also have at least one such thing that's not perfect and it won't bother you because with time you realize that your 'real perfect' doesn't really need to be your ' visual perfect'. Like everybody else, I also had visuals in my mind of  what 'perfection' looks like. Times changed, definitions of perfection changed.

THEN-

A beautiful young lady,

A professional degree by 21, 

Those perfect curves by 22,  

An overflowing bank account  by 24, 

Settling down with someone by 25

Wow, this would be so perfect

NOW-

Still behind that first degree at 22, 

Still figuring out things that actually fascinates me,

Still trying to find ways to balancing my emotions,

Those perfect curves? Well I've postponed working on them for a few years too!

But, I never forget to count on my blessings before opening my eyes every morning.

Trust me, life is still perfect.

THEN-

A Prince who treats you like princess, 

Pampers you like a kid, 

Finds his way to you through that lost Cinderella shoe,

Talks to you just about love, fairy-tales and happily ever afters,

This would be so perfect!

NOW-

A Man who respects you for who you are,

Who need not treat you like a princess but knows how to keep her lady!

Who talks to you about reality and still keeps your faith alive in fairy tales and happily ever after,

Who scolds you for your mistakes but also, understands you like no one else.

Who makes you laugh until your tummy hurts, 

& no matter what chooses to love you every single day.

Fights with you, cries for you, makes you cry too.

This is my new 'perfect'.

BACK THEN-

Four friends on a road trip,

Camping near a river,

Hiking up the mountains,

Unlimited photographs, 

Endless drinks, 

Super chic outfits, 

No restrictions- being a girl.

This would have been so perfect!

NOW-

Four best friends on a rooftop, 

Coffee mugs to keep you awake, 

Endless gossips and endless laughter, 

A game of sequence and may be ludo too.

Shivering out of cold & snatching from one another the only sheet you have, 

You know what- this is perfect too!