summer of 98

Almost an year since i typed on the pages of blogger.com, partly can blame it on the 16 hr work day.. but who am i kidding.. didnt i always want it to be this way.. ya may be..who cares... so what brings me back here.. it was a life changing experience.. like Mr. Pie of Life of Pie, i had a life changing experience which made me start believing in god.. albeit i feel bad for mr richard parker.. how will u feel like if ur kept with food in a room for 6 months and not allowed to eat it.. ask a bong with a fish in the room.. and to be not allowed to eat it.. it is torture of the worst kind.. may be ang lee should explain.. but more on that later..

no it is not the recent spot fixing revelations in cricket.. although suddenly it seems that the countless no of hrs spent in childhood in front of tvs and radios was all fixed.. someone already knew whats going to happen and we always thought it to be the thrill of the game, keeping us hooked.. life changing event .. huh..  but ya will take that tangent some other day.. today is all abt a different life changing event .. the new social media's younger cousin app whatsapp..

to begin with .. this green colored goofy iconed application initially for almost more than an yr looked like just any inconsequential app which is just there on the phone.. saves me a few dimes by cutting down my txt usage.. but nothing which made me believe in the true worth of mobile computing being the new thing.. but then something happened.. something which changed things forever..

let me take a few steps back and enlighten u with the flow of events.. my friend godly god traced down my no, and asked me to join a chat group on this whatsapp.. i didnt know much abt the group.. but then one fine day got a txt from a cute looking chubby chick.. read.. hey abhinav .. pls. accept the request to join the group.. little did i know that these 10 ordinary words will change my life to this extent.. but lets not jump the gun.. n who says no to a cute chubby chick on a im..not me.. :P.. the groups name read Rose Bud, and had a pink colored tShirt with the words Rose Bud School Patna printed on it.. oh man.. this was the group which my school chum godly god was talking about.. i joined.. saw a lot of unknown phone nos.. and suddenly there was barrage of welcome messages.. sersly felt like these folks hav not eaten for days waiting for me to show by.. and then started the round of introductions.. and pleasantries n demographic exchanges.. who is where.. doing whom.. wrapping around whom.. .. and some more useful information.. which somehow i had written down in a piece of paper but somehow am not able to find it.. but believe me was really useful information.. so now ask me the next logical question so what if u joined a chat group.. but here is where it all gets interesting.. this group of friends whom i last met almost 15 yrs ago have evolved into full grown adults with different personas.. the best part was observing them again and comparing them with what i remember of them from school time.. n u ll ask me why do i do that... n here is my response.. my blog my way.. then u might ask why sud u read .. coz u read till here.. :) and then most importantly y did i write it.. i will write a separate one to explain that.. so lets start.. n no offense meant to anyone.. if u do get offended.. pls dont bother me with it as it was u who got offended..  not me .. :P .. now again as a policy no names..

1. Godly God.. 15 yrs bak godly god was a self fearing nice human being, who would treat teachers like his own kind.. wud listen endlessly to classes, take notes.. n was sincere. another thing never told the gal whom he liked that he had a crush on her.. .i had been in touch with god .. was there when he made it to gurukul.. was there when he called n said he is getting married.. was there when he drank an quarter of whisky in 1 gulp saying m done.. n now god is married settled down n talks more like a family man.. he introduced me to the grp chat and disappeared from that day.. i kept complaining n he didnt listen.. n thank god for that.. i mean both of u.. :)

2. Chubby Chick urf Bhookamp .. 15 yrs ago .. setup class.. girl in pink shirt n grey frock.. looks out of place.. has a hard time communicating.. perfect case of social disorder.. cant talk .. cant listen.. y in class dont know.. god knows what she is upto.. i didnt mean godly god.. but god..  15 yrs later.. she is falling over the table.. vodka n cranberry overdose.. cant utter 5 lines without mention sex n city .. or sex n town.. or sex n anything.. so u get it.. if u dont pls talk to her.. last heard she had some problems with the hilton establishment.. she can be identified by posting pictures of herself in which she expects everyone to say she looks thin.. pretty n always likes to let ppl know what she is doing.. it might be mashing onions in the kitchen.. but she likes to keep everyone on same page.. last heard she was a little taller than gary coleman..

3. Bauuaaa urf Naavik .. so navik was an angry young teen.. angry with god knows whom n god knows for what.. but somehow he had the rage.. was smart n somehow had a thing for younger gals.. naavik was a good friend.. very naughty.. but nice guy.. today naavik is a full grown man with amphibian traits.. he has somehow developed an affinity for the sea n keeps posting sea n ship pictures every now n then.. doctors have diagnosed him with land sickness.. he can be identified by publishing very bawdy jokes.. which bhookamp loves alot..

4. Mandbudhi urf Gidhi .. 15 yrs ago .. she was shorter than chubby chick.. somehow she coined this name for herself.. she would take her own sweet time to understand stuff.. sometimes light years.. she had a paranoia disorder of tieing rakhi to any guy around... almost half of the class apart from the gatekeeper had been attacked with rakhi by her.. 15 yrs later today she likes climbing trees.. and somehow she discovered the ale to grow taller and stands at 5 feet 3 inches. yaaay.. thats like Brooke Shields tall in bhookamps planet.. she seems to not understand anything under the sun.. she can be recognized in a conversation by asking too many what did it mean question.. and one more important trait is not showing up on set appointments..

5. Chacha Chaudhary urf Tharki .. 15 yrs back.. chacha was the alpha male in class.. gals drooling all over.. smart in studies.. used to be in the good books of the teachers.. (used to suck up).. till now no one knows how many gals did he date.. but he claimed that even the principal of the school was not left out.. was famous for shiny facial hair and a beauty mole..  present day chacha is full grown up man.. not sure how much vertically.. chacha still has the beauty mole.. his condition has worsened.. he has dropped to peeping attacks, paparazzi and tries hitting on anything which crawls..  the alpha male never dies and was last heard bragging abt shoe size.. he can be noticed by bullying mandu.. and always keeping track of everyones whereabouts.. once bhookamp asked him what time is her flight and he knew the time.. there were no questions asked.. one good thing abt chacha is no matter what he has tried maintaining relationship with everyone through thick and thin.. remarkable trait.. but preferably he wud drop stalking by nex version..

6. Madrasi Sardar .. 15 yrs ago this oriental looking guy suddenly changed his name .. new name was so big that they had to put 2 name tags.. used to get grade 1 noodles for everyone in class and that too 2 boxes so that he got something to eat.. today this indias diversity bran ambassador has settled down in smbhar and rasam land.. speaks fluent telugu.. is very literal.. took offence when someone spelt pneumonia incorrectly.. can be identified by cribbing about too much work and wants to spend his vacation in upper rayalseema..

7. Jhansi ki Raani urf M.. she was very much in ur face.. n kept coming back at u till the time u bend or fend.. nothing has changed much in 15 yrs.. bolder has gone boldest.. since m still scared of her will keep it till here.. seems to be in a secret admiration for chacha.. god .. not godly god .. knows y.. strange are the ways of man.. and stranger for woman

8. Haseena urf chacha ki bahu.. this right wing cute looking chick was always on the topper list of the class.. life was all about being right.. was in the good books for the right reasons.. and made it some books literally as well.. was distracted in boards due to making it in the scientists books.. cut today is still upright but has relaxed and chilled out.. took people by surprise by her ability to crack jokes and take one.. can be identified by periodic blushes on the mention of the scientist..

9. Charsi urf Butter boy .. this guy grew up late n when he grew up ppl wondered y he grew up.. 1st one to officially smoke 2 cigerattes at a time.. used to mouth wash with alcohol and was amazing with numbers.. ultra protected n most of the times PIA.. 2nd thoughts all the times.. today is a full grown man. somehow doesnt believe in the social traits of shaving n keeping tidy.. has amazing sense of humor.. n has good collection of bawdy jokes..

10. Lambu urf Dhakkan.. when he was kid.. no one realized he was a kid.. when he grew up people r still wondering when he will stop.. scientists r still researching which solar interaction resulted in his anatomical disorder.. meanwhile he keeps on posting his pugs pics.. has adapted to social media with both hands.. nice guy and has the coolest 1st names.. :P

11. Behenji.. when she was born she tried tieing rakhi to the doctor.. the same is still going on..

there are many others whom i see on the group but they hardly respond or have not given the master enough time to observe and infer their traits.. This analogy study might sound of place to ppl, but ppl who were there in that class of 97-98 will surely be able to connect to it.. if not they would seriously need help.. :P


Ok then.. will see u when i see u..

ek haseena thi....

Long time huh.. ya had been busy.. crazy wild.. i didnt know when so many months passed in between.. so what changed in last so many months..note: ramdev baba and hazare saab have lost some weight, seems common sense prevailed.. about me i changed 2 jobs.. i graduated from 10 hrs a day to 14 hrs a day on work.. quite remarkable.. expecting it cant get worse.. but heck who cares abt work life balance.. figment of some lazy bums imagination..

so dear friends..how have been.. congrats to ones who went from single to double to triples in the meantime.. i hope life is as fun of a ride as u suckers imagined it to be.. i wish u all the well may god be with u..

so what makes me come back to writing.. well ya.. i met some thought provoking people again in life.. :) yet again.. man dont i love travelling.. and dont i love meeting these people..so here is how it went:

7:00 p.m. I parked the car @ airport rental return and ran towards the elevators to terminals.. punctuality and me have been cater cousins .. more about that later.. so here i was @ the main terminal.. and it happened yet again.. the weather gods didnt want me to take an early flight.. by early evening flight was delayed by 4 hrs.. man so much for avoiding a red eye..

7:30 p.m. After playing angry birds for the umpteenth time i was feeling like the bird now, so i started looking around.. and there they were.. 2 indians.. a 55 something gentleman and wirh a 20 something daughter.. lets call him mr uncle.. and there was the 20 something daughter (haseena from my title).. lets call her miss ... ok haseena.. so mr uncle looked at me and smiled.. and so did haseena.. like father like daughter..

8:00 p.m. I never knew i was such an ardent listener.. mr uncle was interesting.. and he had opinions and he knew stuff.. ok he could see beyond the lets bring the money back home movement.. but quite frankly i liked him.. we were discussing indian politics, the regular ones where do i stay what do i do..

8:30 p.m. The conversations were @ a different level now.. mr uncle was really proud of miss haseena.. miss haseena was living and studying here.. and mr uncle was bringing every trouble miss haseena was going through..he really sounded concerned and with his every concern i was getting concerned..

9:00 p.m. by now i knew more abt miss haseena than her roomies.. she hated eating outside.. the cold here in us, the lecturers who can be mean sometimes.. her not partying not drinking qualities.. sticking to the great old indian culture.. (am not sure if it still exists in india)..her sacrifices..her proudly carrying herself in the salwaar suits..her sincerity..man i liked the movie mother india.. and i could see miss haseena instead of nargis in it trying to plough the field..

10:00 p.m. finally we were boarding the flight.. the doting father and daughter also boarded.. i passed him a smile back.. good to see folks proud of their offspring..

cut 2..few days later

11:00 p.m. so i was off work.. weekend began late and this friend in town whom i met @ one of the games called me for a party.. so here i was .. so i get to meet alot of 20 something folks still kinda stuck in their teens.. and then i met the ONE.. Miss Haseena.. and the glass in her hand had some golden colored liquid, i was wondering what it might have been..

3:00 a.m. Hanging around with the teenagers and listening to their perspective was a great refresher..esp miss haseena..how the world is not how it is supposed to be..the hackers are coming.. i hate bossy people (i figured she meant sensible).. thank god i grew up.. it was pretty late for me as had a morning game and i have started sleeping @ nights offlate..

3:30 a.m. so i was all alone driving back those 30 miles.. the background of sajan re jhooth mat bolo made me think abt mr uncle.. the smile of the proud old man.. i guess some truths are better not told .. IGNORANCE IS BLISS.. god bless mr uncle.. miss haseena in her free time will bless god..

it was one of the most startling experiences of my life.. how people live 2 lives..how their folks take them for something which they are entirely not.. @ these times i wonder how lucky are those who can confide and communicate with their folks.. i mean .. u know what i mean..

Note: before you folks call me and tell me how biased i was, let me make this thing very very clear.. i have no problem with gals partying and living as they want to be.. but it makes the uncles look out of place when they paint a very different picture, and not cause they are changing the facts, but just because they are simply not aware and so very trusting.. now call me :P

Method to Madness -- fight against corruption

Long time.. where was i.. what was I doing.. all that is immaterial... What matters is am back… few things changed in life… but I have read it somewhere that change is the only thing constant.. I guess they were right..

So what made me come back… honestly a 74 yr old man… Mr Anna Hazare… now I will be honest about myself.. I personally am pretty selfish about stuff and am not much of a social thinker… till the time I have my car, my credit card and my cell phone works, world is livable for me… I guess most of my friends kind of gave up on the social stuff after the india shining debacle... but atleast I am honest about it…

So what changed… 2 days back… I was there on a bridge… awaiting some guy in India, as I needed updates from him before we could decide upon the future resource strategy… after waiting for 5 mins, my famous patience, which shows up in little streaks, gave up.. and there I was trying to call him up and check what on earth was keeping him away… so this is how the conversation went...

“tring tring… hello alpha beta gamma here”

“alpha … Abhinav here.. we are waiting for you on the bridge.. hope you remember we had this call…”

“sorry Abhinav.. forgot to inform… but have taken an off today…”

“oh np… so shall we reconvene tomorrow same time if that works for you”

“am not sure when am I joining back… u can ask super alpha to fill up for me…”

“I hope all is ok.. sounds like mid life crisis.. J but anyways whatever you wana do…”

“Yes man.. am on the streets with Anna Hazare… sersly kinda mid life crisis… seems like I am not where I had to be.. and not for a good reason …blah blah blah…”

“I understand… will talk to you later”…..

So what was so very special.. an SDM of a reputed multi national, who is regarded as a go getter, just kicked his career out of the window according to me… and more than the act … his specific reason was more appealing.. am on streets with Anna Hazare.. now I didn’t tell him, but I had really no idea about what was going on in india, my motherland love ends on cricinfo and moneycontrol… so being the inquisitive soul which I am I started digging on to mr Hazare.. so what is it about this man that he has started this civil unrest…

And here is what I understand after a few days of looking up whos who… and whats up…

The 2^nd independence struggle… The 2^nd Gandhi… Civil unrest… 2^nd JP… unbecoming of the biggest democracy… the cribbers and the doers…

Well these were the common punch lines which I could find on the Indian dailies... so what is this whole movement all about… One Mr Baba Ramdev and Mr Anna Hazare, got up on a fine morning and decided that they need to get corruption wiped out of Indian system… well good thought… so they called up their nearest aides and talked about how to go about things… Mr ramdev had regular one on one with people of the country in his camps, and mr hazare found solace in his team, the ultra collaboration social media savvy team Anna. The fb and twitter generation…

So what do they do… they pick up one agenda… and start throwing in popular lines on the same… and the people of india who were kind of exasperated counting the number of 0 s in the 2g and CWG scam, found a mission in their voices. More than the charismatic personality of these 2 leaders, it was the UPA government whose my way or the high way policy, was the root cause of these angry people coming together…

Lets look @ what these 2 gentlemen are asking… Mr Ramdev is asking that get all the funds in Swiss bank which is black money back to india. Or else I will fast… :O he missed an important part HOW…Do you expect the government to go to the banks and say pl. wire the money back else mr ramdev might die of hunger strike.. the whole episode justified one thing, mr ramdev is not much of a thinker, and he said whatever sounded more populist, get the black money back… get me the moon.. would have helped if he would have told how… and the most strange part is he wont eat.. till it is done… now what has the restaurants done in this, why screw up their business.. also how does it matter to the corrupt if mr ramdev is not eating.. but since it worked 65 yrs back with mr Gandhi, so it should now also…

Now to talk about the 2^nd set of thinkers and visionaries in this, the Indian government… picked up ramdev @ 12 midnight, beating up sleeping people… imagine this u sleeping in your room, someone comes in and starts beating ya up with laathis.. and then they didn’t stop there … they went to maligning ramdev, his aides.. smear campaign.. why whats the need.. ur the freaking government on a 1.2 billion people.. why do u need to come to these levels to address a lunatic who doesn’t know what he wants… let him jump around and go home why bother… why give him undue attention.. today he is asking black money, tomorrow he might ask all nri doctors and engineers should come back… there is no end to fancies… now don’t get me wrong abt not getting back the black money… I don’t understand how to get it back, but I surely do understand that by just fasting it wont…

So mr ramdevs experiment went wrong.. and was a good starting point for mr anna as to how to go about things.. so what is Mr Hazare all about… he wants a Lokpal bill to brought into light which will apply brakes to corruption. Atleast he bettered one from mr ramdev and thought about how. The lokpal bill which he has come up with would be a super government, which can investigate anything under sun and falls within Indian boundary.. sounds impressive in the 1^st place.. but lets take a deep dive about what we are talking about... with the lokpal bill which mr hazare is asking about, if I go to a bank, if the counter clerk says wait for 10 mins, and knowing my famous patience, I insist on not.. he tells then he cant help.. and then I take the lokpal number.. call them up and say that this guy didn’t cooperate, the intention could have been under table money making… and phew.. there goes the bank officers life for a toss for the next few months… in the least he will be exonerated but will have to go through the hassles of being investigated… all this because someone was not ready to wait for 10 mins… now simulate the same scenario on almost everything in a daily life on all the interactions.. do you think the Indian system, or for that matter any system can function with so much control checks? Spider mans uncle was quite right in saying with great power comes great responsibility. Distributing across such powers to almost everyone in the country would be lethal… am not sure if mr anna has thought of it… now lets see the implementation and maintenance cost of such a system. Given to make it effective, the amount of work force which this will require would be very high on the state exchequer… again am not saying that lets not do anything.. but whatever we need to do needs to be well thought of… think about what needs to be done, have a clear design, with failover s and then come back and protest, don’t do it just to make it sound catchy… we will remove corruption.. how??????

One common thing which I found in between both of these gentlemen are they are popular people, and they say things which sounds good to common man.. lets get the black money back.. lets finish corruption.. lets change from the land of the talkers to the land of the doers.. know HOW… have a plan as to how to achieve it and then lets get on the road..

Coming to the Indian government, well the less said the better… our beliefs were shattered when india shining went down, and congress with 10 more seats WON and election… we got a nice guy as the PM, but the team he got was even more amazing.. the lesser talked the better.. I remember when I was a kids .. scams used to run in 100s of crore 1000 crore was benchmark.. of arriving.. but looks @ the numbers now.. 100000 + and then you come back and say that the pm wasn’t aware of it... well if he wasn’t then he should go for negligence of duty, and if he was he should go for conniving.. but again looking @ the disdain with which the political people talk, they surely need to be thick skinned.. very very thick skinned.. every thing has got a foreign hand, everything has got a conspiracy theory… the funniest was us supporting anna hazare.. did anyone bother to ask why? Just for the heck of it.. one fine afternoon the Americans played dart on globe, hit india and decided abt supporting hazare.. so much for the self importance… I hope the next election indian people vote sensibly…

And now coming to the media houses, calling this the 2^nd freedom struggle, and anna the next Gandhi.. now to begin with Gandhi was an intellectual, well read and educated, who understood what he was out to achieve, and could foresee the consequences of his actions. Anna on the contrary is not that qualified, and according to his interviews, sounds more like a populous jargon saying old man, rather than an intellectual who can change the course of history according to his social experiments. He is more like the java developer who has picked up few words hearing the masters speak, and has forgotten that all he knows is those words, and he has no idea of how the world is beyond those words.. but he is respected in the organization, as the others don’t know what he means, and due to their ignorance consider him smart.. apathy… but this is how indias biggest organizations are… but coming back to Anna… sorry anna I don’t see it in you.. speaking popular lines and reciting about being true, is not going to solve the issues… come up with something more substantial..

Now calling this agitation is like calling myself Sachin Tendulkar… we are class apart… Indian freedom fight was not something which was done on twitter and fb… I agree that the new media cannot be denied its place, but with no editorial control, we need to understand that self control is the name of the game.. people who don’t understand the difference between omlette and mandate are infuriated about why Anna is arrested… the so called people of india, just want to support Anna, 80 percent of them don’t event understand what he is asking about.. other 15 know what he is asking about, but don’t understand the implications, and the other 5 are there as india team is not performing well.. so since watching the test is boring, so lets go and agitate..huh…

Much ado about nothing… was watching some news reports… I sersly like the way Indian journos speak.. DO YOU THINK THERE IS SOMETHING MORE TO ANNA… it is more like a request to god, let there be more to him, give me the extra sound bite, lets forget abt the quality of journalism, I sersly miss the world this week days of pranav roy, am sorry barkha dutt, giving the sound bites to people who can spark controversy is not thought provoking journalism. But when was it thought provoking, wasn’t it supposed to be entertaining…

Now for a second lets imagine that there is no corruption in India.. my Jharkhand registered car gets caught in pune, and I cant pay my way out.. the only way out is I need to go to Jharkhand, get an noc, go to the other state and get it registered back, all this over the weekdays, with my job not giving me any time off, there being no online system or centralized system, or some expedited way of doing it from pune, I will be in for a ball… and ya no corruption, but I don’t think I would be that very happy… I guess the answer to this is overhauling the overall process and system, and then relooking @ it, lokpal is not a fool proof solution, and its not worth so much ado..for the starters see how bihar government is handling itself.. right to service is an amazing concept, bring it to center and see how without lokpal how things can differ…

Lastly… Hitler was the biggest doer of the modern times, but was not much of a thinker.. lets hope india starts following the thinkers rather than mindless doers… lets hope 200 thousand people stop calling themselves representative of 1.2 billion people.. lets hope that bollywood folks are making movies, rather than promoting Anna hazare… lets hope this Indian government starts managing the country with a vision rather than like the storyline of a mithun movie.. high time we start believing in specialists for specific jobs, rather than everyone trying their hands at everything… lets hope there is some method to the madness… lets hope alpha joins the call next week..

Injuin Halloween..

New post.. will keep it short.. as people have complained missing their office buses coz of the long posts.. ok buggers read it @ work.. stop blaming me for your lazying habits..

so what prompted a reaction today.. well ya.. Happy Diwali blokes.. We kinda had a celebration of sorts @ work today.. 11 am. to 1 pm., supposedly the most productive hours of a persons life were taken away and were spent in a frenzy called Diwali get together.. @ work during business hours, loud squeaky music, queues which looked like 1000 people long, fire breathing comparators, tossing between Raju Shrivastava and Shahrukh Khan, so much raw energy, blokes doing fashion shows, singing competitions.. man this was some event.. extravagant..flaunting our culture to the Fullest.. the kurta the jeans the sneakers.. women were even more heavily made up and dressed.. best part was people were changing dresses in between.. felt like ole college days..

but dono why .. something seemed eerie.. oh ya the in numerous Amrikus who were finding the whole thing something between amusing and irritating.. their hour of lunch was being extended coz of this endless line.. some of them wanted to complete that book over lunch.. some other wanted to chat with their team mates over lunch.. and the ultra busy ones had a small informal meeting over lunch.. okay.. not 2day.. u cud hardly hear urself speaking.. today eating wud be @ desk.. JHALAK DIKHLA JA .. EK BAAR AAJA AAJA AA BHI JAA... i met quite a few folks coming back with their lunch in hand nodding and smiling.. THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN FUN POST WORK.. ya of course such fun after work is even more welcome.. ended up misplacing their subtlety for sense of appreciation.. while during the whole mad cow show did we ever bother to realize that we might be creating unwanted trouble for other coworkers... no pls. dont misunderstand.. to be honest i dont give a damn if u do, but the whole sense of discussion would be lost if you do.. I dont disapprove the festivities, neither i mind the high spirits.. but dont see a point troubling others coz of my festivities.. and come on lets appreciate the concept of space..

evening was having discussion with some fellow intellects.. i was told that 2day was really happening.. aah.. to my point of view, i was told that people were appreciating our culture.. fella.. u see 4 ppl dancing with u.. what abt other 2500 who r getting troubled but not even complaining..arguments presented ranged from challenging people of other culture to show their strength and organize something that grand, to cribs of people wearing makeups and masks and coming on Halloween.. well i hope people of other culture dont take up the challenge, wont like more extravaganza .. lets keep it simple.. we work we go home.. we have project parties to gel with the team once in a while.. lets not get into the strength showing culture flaunting mindset.. for the Halloween part, folks all those people did was to apply make up on their faces, wear some strange costumes and come to work.. Look @ them smile @ them, dont like them dont look @ them... They were passive, non intruding, high in their own spirits.. never got into anyone elses space.. The pinnacle of the argumentative nature of the discussion was "Both US and India are democracies, people have their freedom"... Folks .. "UR FREEDOM ENDS WHERE MY NOSE BEGINS.." what is the astro semantic message in these lines making it so very noncomprehending..in lighter spirits i call this Injuin Halloween..

Same day went to a friends place, saw a photograph of an elderly oriental man in the living room, who hardly looked related to them, until he called himself Sanghai Singh.. so the inquisitive soul in me asked, and was told some cult guru, i kinda gave him a wry sheepish smile, but deep within was kinda convinced that we folks are truly coming out of classical mindset of the GREAT INDIAN CULTURE.. ok might be slowly but atleast we have started appreciating other beings and their right to coexist.. I might not have said it .. that was cool mate.. ok pass it to ur wify .. as it was her brainchild.. :)

Interesting day of sorts... had some friend mentioning something abt taking a few decisions according to the herd.. the subtlety was kinda very naive but hard hitting.. kinda reminds me of these lines..

bheed mei chalte chalte hum muskaan kho baithe hain
kya pata kis gali hum apni pehchan kho baithe hain

Ek Ajeeb si Story

Ok.. long time.. really very very long time.. seems like months.. aahh.. almost an year.. after last blog i happened to see an interview of Aamir Khan and kinda liked him chiming about better quality than more quantity.. being the literal maverick i am, i took it for once in 6 7 months.. but offlate on public demand i am back to the blog.... feels good writing again..

so the last time i cranked about meeting Miss JD @ walmart.. got a few phone calls after that asking me to write about more social topics like iRace, black socks with no holes policies of the company, but i will leave it to lesser mortals.. whats the point in cribbing about things which you dont control, dont like it call it quits.. ok mallu i didnt mean it literally.. now that doesnt ask for quitting ur job.. u can be in the system to protest against it (some yank from ole injuin movie.. ) but again personal choices..

so what do i gibberish about today.. a writer needs food for thought... and here i was all hungry offlate ... nothing was interesting enough to put my creativity to it to give it another form of life.. (well modesty was never my forte)...so i had been looking @ different things around me to take some inspiration and get the word rolling...

and today morning was the moment... morning something really strange happened.. had got a mail from some friends about some northi hitting on some southi or vice versa.. to be honest not sure.. was really early morning.. 8 30 a.m..... found it funny.. people are the strangest creation of the shepherd.. or else what can explain some fella sitting on east calling up someone on almost west to talk about how they think that the guy sitting in nawabland (lucknow) is hitting on a dame from extreme south.. chennai land..

n then while driving to work came across a living soul in flesh and blood named Indresh Vaidyanathan.. looked northi spoke southi or vice versa.. something was fundamentally different.. and then it all triggered a thought process of the endless possibilities of what can the fusion create..

so here i am exploring the possibilities... lets take a case study and try doing a walkthrough of the scenario.. so the main lead, hero for the lesser literals of this case, is a southi who after completing his engineering has come to the northern territories of pune... lets give him a name.. THKVP Babu... ok the initial noise before his name is something called as initials in southernland.. i still remember my 1st day in college in southernland... "WHAT YOU DONT HAVE AN INITIAL????????" sounded more like .. "WHAT DO YOU WANA RUN AWAY WITH MY DAUGHTER!!!" Ok to get the matters straight.. northis dont have an initial.. No initials are not worldwide phenomenon.. so what was my lead charecter called in totality.. Thumulupalli Hanumat Kali Vara Prasad Babu.... now beat that for a name all you Tijus and Viks.. :) Someone spent time thinking over a name.. all the time .. months.. years.. But then there are always Ajay Chandrans to the rule.. i meant exceptions.. coming back to my lead.. southi... came to northland.. all fresh out of college.. new place called Pannii.. nah Pune.. got a little used to for getting the name right.. not used to such short names... look try saying Ottakamandu 20 times without a break.. Pune.. huh.. newaz pune it was..

Scene 1 -- Outside the Hotel Kinara The Senator, Punes Pride..Time the day babu lands in Pune

My lead lands in the city of pune... it took him 20 minutes out of the train @ the auto stand to get all frustrated about why he is not sweating @ 7 in the morning.. why is the sun not beating it out on him.. why the breeze is cold.. 40th minute my lead catches cold ... now all u non believers.. put a chennai guy from 45* C, now in Pune @ 18* C, and check out the different ways a man can cough and crank... my lead.. lets call him babu (come on dont expect me to keep on repeating his whole name.. i dont get paid by the word count ..) so babu got cold before he could reach his hotel... the peaceful ayangar soul had the first hand experience of Nazi atrocities when he got down from the auto and went ahead to check the meter.. "250 Rs" declared the rick pilot, who going by the rick decoration was a big Salman Khan fan... Babu, initially puzzled on seeing the absence of Rajnikant or any traces of him, right from the station, to the shops, to the auto, and with the cold catching up was almost paranoid.. "250 Rs.. ennaa mannna ... le ... ma.... pavi..da..." no this is not fill in the blanks.. something which Babu spoke in the loudest of his decibels.. the rick pilot, adjusting his shakal nagar Roy Ben Avatar glasses, told him this place was 30 kms away from the station and what he was demanding was absolutely right.. Babu being from the land of mathematics whiz kids, took it personally.. "Aiyoooo... Station Hotel.. 30 km... we reachad(deliberate oversight in spelling it.. ever seen a chennai dude saying rached.. lol) here in 20 mins.. so our speed is 30/(20/60) kms per hr... applying bodmas.. 30*3/1, 90 kms/hr.. u mean the rick drove @ 90 kms, almost 60 miles per hr.. Tum Aamko bekoof banata.. " The rick guy, amazed @ this stroke of brilliance was speechless... he tried real hard to adjust the numbers here and there, but babu was now on top of his Tamil best.. "Illa.... Illa.... 100 ... anna.. manaaa... laa... pavi..." and handed the rick guy 100 bucks.. astonished with his daredevilrish.. the rick guy suddenly turned into a social commentator.. explaining Babu why the immigrants to Pune are spoiling the culture.. why there should be a visa policy for entering the city and so forth.. now it was babus turn to get impressed.. this mortal soul of the land was giving social solutions which can solve the ever increasing problems of the bigger city municipalities.. so after some mutual admiration babu handed him another 20 bucks.. and ended it all with a "Podaaaa"....


Scene 2 -- Hotel Lobby of Kinara.. Afternoon 3 o clock

The manager of the hotel looks perplexed.. There is man roaming arnd in the lobby on a cell phone, clad in a Nirma Super White Shirt and white towel.. And making real strange and high pitched noises.. This gentleman(if i so call him.. ) was attracting alot of attention and was visibly disturbing the other guests.. Finally manager asked one of the receptionists, Shalini Chautala diploma in hotel management, PUSA university, Pusa road, nai Delhi, to intervene and bring the house in order.. Shalini, being a new age ultra confident young woman, walked down to the towel clad gentleman.. "Sir.. pls. calm down.. if there is a problem pls. let us know.. we are here to help.. the other guests are getting disturbed.. and why are you in the lobby in towel.. is the water connection down in ur room.. " "Yello.. My name is THKVP Babu.. ama sarry.. no problem medem.. was talking to appa amma.. chinappa .. kinappa... was telling them about pune.. and no this no towel.. this is dhoti.. Chennai Tnagar market.. appaswamy store.. vary white.. " Shalini found this very strange and her PUSA professor never told her how to deal with this scenario.. started laughing.. Babu.. wasnt sure whether she was making fun of her or is it punes way of treating people.. asked what wrong medem.. she politely asked him to continue the conversation in his room.. as other guests are getting disturbed..


Scene 3 -- Parking lot outside Kinara, late in the evening ...

Shalini Chautala got late fixing up some housekeeping issues, and had to take a rick to get back home.. she was waiting @ the parking lot, it was getting a little dark.. suddenly 3 goons from nowhere turn up there and start teasing her.. All that Ghee Butter which mother Shalini had fed her all these years, transform into unmentionable words .. with staunch Jat accent.. The goons startled.. but still continued with the eve teasing..Shalini shouted the age ole lines.. Somebody Save me.... N Suddenly the earth shook a little and the goons fell down.. "Panni podaa...ennaa mannna ... le ... ma.... pavi..da..." Babu thundered and stampeded the ground again... the earth shook again.. more vigorously.. Goons fell down and started rolling on the ground... Babu got more angry.. took the auto standing next to him and threw it @ the goon.. it landed on the goon and blasted in flames.. the other guy got up and stared @ Babu.. Babu got more angry and flexed his muscles.. the shirt tore open... and blew away with wind.. the white thread draping his body was visible, the wicked fella got very nervous and started running away.. Babu stared @ him.. took out his glasses.. threw them @ 45 degrees projectile.. took out a Gold flake small.. threw the ciggi @ the goon, it hit him on the head and he lost consciousness... the ciggi rebounded.. hit the specs.. and went to the flame started by the rick .. got lit from one side and due to the shaking earth which babus started.. jumped back into babus hands.. the glasses due to the hit from the ciggi, changed directions and went towards babus face and fitted to a T... All in glasses and a ciggi in his hand.. babu stubbed out the ciggi and shouted .. "SMOKING is inchurious to halthe..RAJNIKANTAAAAAAAAAAAA" Shalini Chautala ran towards babu, with tears in her eyes and was all smiles by the time she reached him...

Scene 4 -- Babus Shalini imagination.. level 2..

White Shirt, white trousers, white shoes clad babu.. "If you come today... it is too early.. if you come tomorrow.. it is too late...you pick the time... tick tick tick tick..." The actual song can be seen @ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PFURM9eA_Q
Shalini "Sajna aa vi jaa .. sajna aabhi jaa.. nai lagda dil tere bina..." for further reference http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=it8n26qfzqw&feature=related

Scene 5 -- Hotel lobby Kinara hotel..


"Appa amma.. love love love... ennaa mannna ... le ... ma.... pavi..da..... Shalini Chautala.... ennaa mannna ... le ... ma.... pavi..da...love love....ennaa mannna ... le ... ma.... paia..da...Marriage...ennaa mannna ... le ... ma.... paa..da...pls. understand... ennaa mannna ... le ... ma.... paa..da...love love.. Run away.. ennaa mannna ... le ... ma.... paa..da...Aiyoooooooooooo" "Amma appa ready ilaya.. we need to elope .. " "My folks also not ready.. lets run ... " another song.. "O Yaara rab rus jaane de.. diwana jag chut jaane de..mai tera dil ban ke rahun.. begane dil toot jaane de..." bibliography http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lHj6LhvSwY


Scene 6 -- chaturshringi temple pune

"Om Garood..........." Babu and Shalini were tieing the knot.. They lived happily ever after .... and soon they were blessed with a child whom they named... Indresh Vaidyanathan...The End....


He told me the story of their parents meeting up and getting married when i asked him about his genetical experiment, the 18 mile drive to work couldnt have been more exciting.. I almost prayed for traffic jams that day as was so very engrossed in his story..

Ok.. now what do we understand from the case study.. come on folks think.. most of u r into softwares and i understand the cut copy paste job has hardly left any fertile grey cells, but trying is the mother of all inventions..ok something is.. lets not get literal here.. think .. rake ur brains.. ok i give it to you.. "Truth is stranger than fiction..." Simple hai


Now time for post scripts and disclaimers ..

Disclaimer:

all characters in this blog are fictitious, conincidences happen and they can be explained.. so pls. dont bother about an explanation.. will give it in next blog..
this blog is written entirely from the perspective of entertainment and should be considered in the same vain, not that i care if you object, but still read it with a light heart.

A smile is worth a million insults..
--AG 1:31 A.M. Scottsdale..


P.S.--I have been approached by Vidhu Vinod Chopra and Raju Hirani to sell the contents of this blog to him, but looking @ the way Chetan Bhagat was treated i have decided not to sell this story to them, @ any cost. So in case you fans dont see a movie made on this, dont be disappointed.. Some hard decisions need to be taken..

Astla Vista till i write again...

Jab We Met...

“Lets face our fears… ” Gene Hackman, Jimmy McGinty, thundered… the lesser\verbal souls started with their fear of the earthworms, and then Keanu Reaves, Shane Falco, realized what were his fears and what did the writer implied and director meant and Hackman raked, the game was won that very moment… I don’t think he cared little about what this meant to the pedestrians like me, but beautiful scene.. go watch The Replacements.. but ok first finish off reading this post..

So why do I bring Falco and McGinty out of the reel, simple.. everyone has fears and the best way to overcome those is to face them, not hide them or to run away from them… ok I am not responsible for any misinterpretations here.. if you are afraid of jumping from a building, don’t try jumping, the fears are going to come true.. aah so much for the lesser mortals.. coming back to the topic at hand.. so face the fears, never going near the parapet is not going to help. Try going and standing there, not on it, and face the fear.. after the initial tickle in the tummy, it will settle down.. 5 10 mins, you will realize that you have learnt how to face your fears.. trust me it helps.. I did… helped.. so what do I imply here..

Faced my worst kept fear few days back, 2 to be exact.. yes I was dead scared of facing it, it was better to elope or avoid rather than to face it.. was simpler.. you see it chicken out.. get away .. don’t face it.. you never know what the mortal brain thinks of in such situations, so what is the best way out.. run away from it.. work to your best not to ever face the situation.. aah .. man I can still feel the sweat running when I talk of it.. so lets face it..

So finally I happened last weekend.. Just 2 days back… Friday night to be precise.. no the Friday nights are no more ending on a high, or shall I say low of some corner of the house, but instead, they end more on a sober note, working or else watching some movie.. ok lets face it .. more moronic types.. freaking Fridays man all I do is work or watch a movie.. god damn it…

So here I was this Friday, back from work, was wondering about the last notes from the meeting which happened over most part of the day, preparing mental notes for the Saturdays meeting, what all can be given to drive it through.. ok so lets face it I work on Saturdays also .. so here I was back home, with my regular glass of milkshake… looking at the folks cycling around in the complex.. cycle is also an amazing thing, it is so much like a software project.. you have two wheels, lets call them the working team members, then there are the spokes in the chain, the filler team members, and then you have the brakes, the pushing back team members, the good for nothing souls, (again these are my personal views, no offences, and if you take one, least do I care.. ) so here we have the whole project setup, now the manager is the guy who rides it and gives direction, (the analogy is kinda deviating here.. no worries… ideal world scenario…) and the road is the project requirements, process of reaching destination is the project execution… so here is how it all works the manager rides the project, keeps on kicking the fillers in the team, who make the workers in the team work even harders.. poor tyres they take you to the destination and are least cared for.. one day they will go to new set of cycle.. aameen.. so the manger sets the execution in motion, little does he know how the overall thing works, was taught in his earlier years that once you kick or pedal, the whole thing works… bless the tyres, he doesn’t fall all the time.. sometime the tyre develops a mind of its own.. leaves the project in between.. we are talking punctures… sometimes they are the MTB ones, will work in all conditions, so here is all.. manager.. riding the project, fillers filling in, tyres slogging it out and then you have the brakes, why do you need to have them.. hmm well they save the whole project and the tyres from going extra fast.. come on the speed limits needs to be followed.. bless the brakes.. so coming to the road..aka requirements.. sometimes they are straight, or else they look straight.. well the rider thinks everything in the world is a straight line.. bless the rider.. so when the roads tip and turn and the rider still goes in the straight line, the tyres try hard to come out of the situation, but comeon they don’t have the overall control.. so many a times, the project, or cycle, goes out of track.. sometimes the thing may fall also.. aah it was just for the roads or else we had the perfect rider.. wasn’t he going straight always.. wasn’t he supposed to reach the destination, wasn’t he made to lead.. it was just for the road.. bad road.. now you might ask how does the client, senior management all fit in.. ok client is the person at the destination who is awaiting eagerly for the cycle to arrive. Senior management are the folks on the sidelines (10^th floor of the building on the other street) who see all the hullabaloo happening, but sill appreciate the rider.. he rides.. hehehe.. so how do they know whether the cycle is going in the right direction, come on do you still think they know.. grow up kids.. so this is overall software engineering for you… so much from the kids cycling, and they still do make us write certifications to understand software engineering… all they needed was to make people look at others cycling.. much ado about nothing..

Coming back to my fear tale.. so there I was Friday evening, looking at the kids on the cycle.. whole software engineering was right in front of my eyes.. so with all so occupied brain I thought of taking a break.. ok I had another important discussion to attend in the next 2 hrs, so the break needed to be quick.. would have hated to break the break.. so like every other Indian living on the fine coasts of US I decided to go to Walmart.. ok so on the records, every Indian can be seen once in a week at either of these 2 places, hindu center or Walmart. I count ABC out now as I don’t frequent there any more.. so 2.. what is so great about walmart.. well they do sell things cheaper.. ya of coz cheaper than the others.. and being Indians we have all the right to save that extra penny.. a penny here a penny there.. sometime it will make a dollar.. a dollar here a dollar there.. will make 2.. ok I cannot keep on counting like this.. in a nutshell a lot of money.. so this explains our love for walmart.. so walmart it was..

So me and my room mate rode our brand new 2004 made car.. ok for the confused any car which an Indian buys in US is a brand new car.. the make is the unimportant year which the manufacturers tag to it while making it .. not all that important.. ever seen an Indian selling a car here.. it is a brand new accord.. yes 98 made.. brand new.. drives better than a new one.. Honda has degraded now.. the real cars were made in 98.. after that everything is fake.. huh.. bless them.. so here we were on our ride.. the scenic drive to Walmart took us around 20 minutes.. now am still to come to terms with why have they made interstates in phoenix, if every interstate crosses on some corner of the city and you et to drive a lot on the state roads, then why to have them at all.. lets go ahead and break them.. will create employment.. aah lets not go there.. so in a nutshell we drove to walmart..

There it was right in front of us, WalMart SuperCenter.. Trust me every Indians gives a big grin on either seeing a female in shorts or WalMart, female in shorts is understood, aliens are supposed to be awed at, but Walmart, beats me .. anyways .. so 2 happy Indians entered Walmart.. so there we went.. smiling at every American piece of skin which we came across on the way in .. come on they were all waiting for us to arrive there.. such a grin.. so we are at walmart what do we do now.. lets save some money.. now how the Indian mind works here is of great interest .. we shop at walmart, we save money, we shop more so we save more money.. so lets shop all .. we will be saving a heck lot of money.. someone said it correct, profit is where our heart lies.. someone.. important someone..

So we start our crusade, first we go to the vegetable corner.. now we need to look like real shoppers so we look at the vegetables real closely, there was an Indian couple playing with the cauliflower… the way they were checking the cauliflower made me wonder whether they will ever slit it open and burn it on fire.. oh man so much care and concern for something which you gonna cut to pieces and gobble with a pinch of salt and spices.. someday I will start a company which will specialize in vegetable freshness reliability.. someday.. for now we went ahead to the chicken corner.. being the bird killer I am(changed from chick killer for obvious reasons)… I kind of feel at home there.. so many packets of different chicken parts.. all colors all flavors.. this graveyard of the most amazing bird of the century gave me a strange pleasure.. so we picked up packets.. from here there everywhere.. GET IT BEFORE SOMEONE ELSE GETS IT…. THIS WAS THE LAST BIRD THERE… lol.. we stacked the cart with a lot of these packets… so we moved on.. now to the juices section.. aah they taste so sweet.. I never how orange juice tasted till 10 months back, I always thought it to be bitter sweet.. little did I realize that the Smirnoff used to be stronger.. laters.. old days.. so we do our juice quenching.. and move on… suddenly my room mate realized that he had left his favorite juice behind… how can he not buy Welch.. man the company gonna close on loosing this brand ambassador of theirs.. what are the folks gonna say.. YOU DON’T HAVE WELCH…. There he went running back.. now being the lazy gun I am, after a lot of thinking I decided not to go behind him, hehe who wants to walk the extra 10 paces.. so I moved on trusting my roomies direction finding capabilities..

And there it happened.. I just crossed the second aisle and there it happened.. was walking from south to the north side of the 8^th aisle from the south east corner of the store, towards the soda section.. and there SHE WAS… man I have dreaded all these months for this very given moment.. how many times I have had nightmares in the last some months, depicting the exact same situation.. I would be there and she will be there right in front of me.. I never wanted to face her again in my life, I never wanted to face her again.. and yes here it happened she was right there, right in front of me … staring at me.. eyes met.. yes she was the one.. my eyes were not playing any games on me.. my heart skipped a beat, 2 or 3 or I don’t know how many but ya something was happening to it.. I could feel it..

MY FEARS, MY WORST NIGHTMARE was right in front of me.. I dreaded her..

The first instinct was to turn back and run away.. run right out of WalMart, run right into the streets, race with the cars on the street, reach home, close the doors and the windows… get away from her as far as possible.. so much was I engrossed with these thoughts that I never realized I was staring blankly at her.. now one problem leads to another.. wasn’t facing her in the first place not enough that the second problem of standing here and looking at her blankly for last few minutes also came up.. what will she say .. after all these months we have met.. that too in walmart and all I am doing is looking at her with those strange thoughts.. why was she here.. o god why did I come to Walmart, worst why did I come to phoenix, why did my meetings gave me an hours break.. why..

Looking at her I never realized how and when I went back to lanes of memories.. when was the last we had met.. when was the last we were with each other.. when was the last when we had talked .. when was the last I looking at her with those doting eyes, when was the last I held her.. when was the last…beep beep beep beep.. (parental guidance advised..) and after all these months we meet up again.. was it necessary god, weren’t all the adventures or misadventures of last time around were enough.. why again.. why again at this juncture of life when I have almost forgotten about her.. why has she come back.. why did we meet..

Somewhere a part of me was asking me to get away from her, somewhere the other part of me didn’t want to go.. did I want her now also.. not after all this.. I convinced myself into believing it wasn’t worth it.. it was all a mistake a simple and literal bad choice.. people make mistakes, the smart few correct those and move on.. I was smart till date, and here I was facing her…was I missing her.. was I craving for her.. those amazing eyes, those mesmerizing eyes.. god I wanted to look at them for my whole life, and the same eyes were terrorizing me..

I started thinking of old times, when we were together, after work every day I used to meet up with her at some preagreed place.. and what heck of a time we used to have .. atleast am sure of myself.. I always thought the same about her also… those evenings, sitting under the sky, talking about zillion things .. so many zillion things.. right from her neck to my pony.. I used to turn into a talker in her presence.. she was so very special for me.. so very special.. like a school going kid I used to be happy on her possession, having little idea about what she was upto..

The question came again.. can I once again.. after all these months shall i.. I knew my family, friends are going to hate me for the same, a mistake committed twice doesn’t qualify being a mistake.. blunder twice.. ever heard of it.. and strange was the struggle between the head and the heart.. she blew it up for me…. But I always wanted her didn’t i.. didn’t I always knew at the back of my head that its gonna end this way, then why the blame.. why the surprise.. but I wanted her .. didn’t I .. what about what I wanted.. wasn’t that important..

And there I was watching her from those close quarters.. ainna she beautiful.. yes she is .. so there I was with this battle of head and heart going through my head, never realized that my incite was ringing big time.. ye jamin ruk jaaye.. aasman jhuk jaae.. tera chehra jab nazar aae.. so apt so bloody apt..

I had to make a decision, and had to make it quick.. there she was right in front of me.. give in to love, call it lust, but I call it love.. shall I .. shall I give in to her.. n donno how I started walking towards her.. she was shocked.. standing still looking at me approaching towards her.. why isn’t she moving.. why isn’t she going away.. pls. go away.. few strides and I was holding distance.. man I could feel my pulse going up.. she was right in my breathing distance.. she could feel my breath.. yes she could.. from so close you can.. why wasn’t she moving…

I tried telling me again in my head, no not again.. don’t do it …you don’t her again in your life.. but the heart developed a mind of its own.. I extended my hand towards her.. move run away .. go .. pls.. she didn’t.. touched her head.. man trust me nothing could have felt better than touching her head again after so many months.. I never thought we would ever meet again in life and here I was with my again holding her.. I held her again.. yes I was holding her again.. once again.. oh god.. stop me .. tell me its another of those nightmare, she didn’t exist there.. there was no Walmart there, pls. … but that wasn’t to be…

Holding her I brought her closer.. yes I could smell her, that smell of a perfection, I wanted to carry that smell on me forever.. I was missing all those nights we had spent together.. her smiles.. her small talks.. everything.. shall I take her back.. I know I can afford.. well I always thought I could.. her meeting up again cant be a coincidence.. remember the scene from Gulaal, I was behaving in almost the same fashion, I was not ready to appreciate the truth.. she wasn’t worth it.. come on man grow up.. these things are not that very simple. Leave her move on.. the head says, heart gives no ear..

And then it happened… I brought her close to my face.. centimeters apart.. man she looked so beautiful from that close.. and then I said what I had been dieing to do from that long.. “B**** NOT AGAIN….”

I kept the Jack Daniels bottle back on the shelf and moved to the billing counter for checking out, I had conquered my fear, not again.. Good Bye No. 7 for GOOD.

मधुशाला

मृदु भावों के अंगूरों की आज बना लाया हाला,
प्रियतम, अपने ही हाथों से आज पिलाऊँगा प्याला,
पहले भोग लगा लूँ तेरा फिर प्रसाद जग पाएगा,
सबसे पहले तेरा स्वागत करती मेरी मधुशाला।।१। 

प्यास तुझे तो, विश्व तपाकर पूर्ण निकालूँगा हाला,
एक पाँव से साकी बनकर नाचूँगा लेकर प्याला,
जीवन की मधुता तो तेरे ऊपर कब का वार चुका,
आज निछावर कर दूँगा मैं तुझ पर जग की मधुशाला।।२।

प्रियतम, तू मेरी हाला है, मैं तेरा प्यासा प्याला,
अपने को मुझमें भरकर तू बनता है पीनेवाला,
मैं तुझको छक छलका करता, मस्त मुझे पी तू होता,
एक दूसरे की हम दोनों आज परस्पर मधुशाला।।३।

भावुकता अंगूर लता से खींच कल्पना की हाला,
कवि साकी बनकर आया है भरकर कविता का प्याला,
कभी न कण-भर खाली होगा लाख पिएँ, दो लाख पिएँ!
पाठकगण हैं पीनेवाले, पुस्तक मेरी मधुशाला।।४।

मधुर भावनाओं की सुमधुर नित्य बनाता हूँ हाला,
भरता हूँ इस मधु से अपने अंतर का प्यासा प्याला,
उठा कल्पना के हाथों से स्वयं उसे पी जाता हूँ,
अपने ही में हूँ मैं साकी, पीनेवाला, मधुशाला।।५।

मदिरालय जाने को घर से चलता है पीनेवला,
'किस पथ से जाऊँ?' असमंजस में है वह भोलाभाला,
अलग-अलग पथ बतलाते सब पर मैं यह बतलाता हूँ -
'राह पकड़ तू एक चला चल, पा जाएगा मधुशाला।'। ६।

चलने ही चलने में कितना जीवन, हाय, बिता डाला!
'दूर अभी है', पर, कहता है हर पथ बतलानेवाला,
हिम्मत है न बढूँ आगे को साहस है न फिरुँ पीछे,
किंकर्तव्यविमूढ़ मुझे कर दूर खड़ी है मधुशाला।।७।

मुख से तू अविरत कहता जा मधु, मदिरा, मादक हाला,
हाथों में अनुभव करता जा एक ललित कल्पित प्याला,
ध्यान किए जा मन में सुमधुर सुखकर, सुंदर साकी का,
और बढ़ा चल, पथिक, न तुझको दूर लगेगी मधुशाला।।८।

मदिरा पीने की अभिलाषा ही बन जाए जब हाला,
अधरों की आतुरता में ही जब आभासित हो प्याला,
बने ध्यान ही करते-करते जब साकी साकार, सखे,
रहे न हाला, प्याला, साकी, तुझे मिलेगी मधुशाला।।९।

सुन, कलकल़ , छलछल़ मधुघट से गिरती प्यालों में हाला,
सुन, रूनझुन रूनझुन चल वितरण करती मधु साकीबाला,
बस आ पहुंचे, दुर नहीं कुछ, चार कदम अब चलना है,
चहक रहे, सुन, पीनेवाले, महक रही, ले, मधुशाला।।१०।

जलतरंग बजता, जब चुंबन करता प्याले को प्याला,
वीणा झंकृत होती, चलती जब रूनझुन साकीबाला,
डाँट डपट मधुविक्रेता की ध्वनित पखावज करती है,
मधुरव से मधु की मादकता और बढ़ाती मधुशाला।।११।

मेंहदी रंजित मृदुल हथेली पर माणिक मधु का प्याला,
अंगूरी अवगुंठन डाले स्वर्ण वर्ण साकीबाला,
पाग बैंजनी, जामा नीला डाट डटे पीनेवाले,
इन्द्रधनुष से होड़ लगाती आज रंगीली मधुशाला।।१२।

हाथों में आने से पहले नाज़ दिखाएगा प्याला,
अधरों पर आने से पहले अदा दिखाएगी हाला,
बहुतेरे इनकार करेगा साकी आने से पहले,
पथिक, न घबरा जाना, पहले मान करेगी मधुशाला।।१३।

लाल सुरा की धार लपट सी कह न इसे देना ज्वाला,
फेनिल मदिरा है, मत इसको कह देना उर का छाला,
दर्द नशा है इस मदिरा का विगत स्मृतियाँ साकी हैं,
पीड़ा में आनंद जिसे हो, आए मेरी मधुशाला।।१४।

जगती की शीतल हाला सी पथिक, नहीं मेरी हाला,
जगती के ठंडे प्याले सा पथिक, नहीं मेरा प्याला,
ज्वाल सुरा जलते प्याले में दग्ध हृदय की कविता है,
जलने से भयभीत न जो हो, आए मेरी मधुशाला।।१५।

बहती हाला देखी, देखो लपट उठाती अब हाला,
देखो प्याला अब छूते ही होंठ जला देनेवाला,
'होंठ नहीं, सब देह दहे, पर पीने को दो बूंद मिले'
ऐसे मधु के दीवानों को आज बुलाती मधुशाला।।१६।

धर्मग्रन्थ सब जला चुकी है, जिसके अंतर की ज्वाला,
मंदिर, मसजिद, गिरिजे, सब को तोड़ चुका जो मतवाला,
पंडित, मोमिन, पादिरयों के फंदों को जो काट चुका,
कर सकती है आज उसी का स्वागत मेरी मधुशाला।।१७।

लालायित अधरों से जिसने, हाय, नहीं चूमी हाला,
हर्ष-विकंपित कर से जिसने, हा, न छुआ मधु का प्याला,
हाथ पकड़ लज्जित साकी को पास नहीं जिसने खींचा,
व्यर्थ सुखा डाली जीवन की उसने मधुमय मधुशाला।।१८।

बने पुजारी प्रेमी साकी, गंगाजल पावन हाला,
रहे फेरता अविरत गति से मधु के प्यालों की माला'
'और लिये जा, और पीये जा', इसी मंत्र का जाप करे'
मैं शिव की प्रतिमा बन बैठूं, मंदिर हो यह मधुशाला।।१९।

बजी न मंदिर में घड़ियाली, चढ़ी न प्रतिमा पर माला,
बैठा अपने भवन मुअज्ज़िन देकर मस्जिद में ताला,
लुटे ख़जाने नरपितयों के गिरीं गढ़ों की दीवारें,
रहें मुबारक पीनेवाले, खुली रहे यह मधुशाला।।२०।

बड़े बड़े पिरवार मिटें यों, एक न हो रोनेवाला,
हो जाएँ सुनसान महल वे, जहाँ थिरकतीं सुरबाला,
राज्य उलट जाएँ, भूपों की भाग्य सुलक्ष्मी सो जाए,
जमे रहेंगे पीनेवाले, जगा करेगी मधुशाला।।२१।

सब मिट जाएँ, बना रहेगा सुन्दर साकी, यम काला,
सूखें सब रस, बने रहेंगे, किन्तु, हलाहल औ' हाला,
धूमधाम औ' चहल पहल के स्थान सभी सुनसान बनें,
झगा करेगा अविरत मरघट, जगा करेगी मधुशाला।।२२।

भुरा सदा कहलायेगा जग में बाँका, मदचंचल प्याला,
छैल छबीला, रसिया साकी, अलबेला पीनेवाला,
पटे कहाँ से, मधु औ' जग की जोड़ी ठीक नहीं,
जग जर्जर प्रतिदन, प्रतिक्षण, पर नित्य नवेली मधुशाला।।२३।

बिना पिये जो मधुशाला को बुरा कहे, वह मतवाला,
पी लेने पर तो उसके मुह पर पड़ जाएगा ताला,
दास द्रोहियों दोनों में है जीत सुरा की, प्याले की,
विश्वविजयिनी बनकर जग में आई मेरी मधुशाला।।२४।

हरा भरा रहता मदिरालय, जग पर पड़ जाए पाला,
वहाँ मुहर्रम का तम छाए, यहाँ होलिका की ज्वाला,
स्वर्ग लोक से सीधी उतरी वसुधा पर, दुख क्या जाने,
पढ़े मर्सिया दुनिया सारी, ईद मनाती मधुशाला।।२५।

एक बरस में, एक बार ही जगती होली की ज्वाला,
एक बार ही लगती बाज़ी, जलती दीपों की माला,
दुनियावालों, किन्तु, किसी दिन आ मदिरालय में देखो,
दिन को होली, रात दिवाली, रोज़ मनाती मधुशाला।।२६।

नहीं जानता कौन, मनुज आया बनकर पीनेवाला,
कौन अपिरिचत उस साकी से, जिसने दूध पिला पाला,
जीवन पाकर मानव पीकर मस्त रहे, इस कारण ही,
जग में आकर सबसे पहले पाई उसने मधुशाला।।२७।

बनी रहें अंगूर लताएँ जिनसे मिलती है हाला,
बनी रहे वह मिटटी जिससे बनता है मधु का प्याला,
बनी रहे वह मदिर पिपासा तृप्त न जो होना जाने,
बनें रहें ये पीने वाले, बनी रहे यह मधुशाला।।२८।

सकुशल समझो मुझको, सकुशल रहती यदि साकीबाला,
मंगल और अमंगल समझे मस्ती में क्या मतवाला,
मित्रों, मेरी क्षेम न पूछो आकर, पर मधुशाला की,
कहा करो 'जय राम' न मिलकर, कहा करो 'जय मधुशाला'।।२९।

सूर्य बने मधु का विक्रेता, सिंधु बने घट, जल, हाला,
बादल बन-बन आए साकी, भूमि बने मधु का प्याला,
झड़ी लगाकर बरसे मदिरा रिमझिम, रिमझिम, रिमझिम कर,
बेलि, विटप, तृण बन मैं पीऊँ, वर्षा ऋतु हो मधुशाला।।३०।

तारक मणियों से सज्जित नभ बन जाए मधु का प्याला,
सीधा करके भर दी जाए उसमें सागरजल हाला,
मज्ञल्तऌा समीरण साकी बनकर अधरों पर छलका जाए,
फैले हों जो सागर तट से विश्व बने यह मधुशाला।।३१।

अधरों पर हो कोई भी रस जिहवा पर लगती हाला,
भाजन हो कोई हाथों में लगता रक्खा है प्याला,
हर सूरत साकी की सूरत में परिवर्तित हो जाती,
आँखों के आगे हो कुछ भी, आँखों में है मधुशाला।।३२।

पौधे आज बने हैं साकी ले ले फूलों का प्याला,
भरी हुई है जिसके अंदर पिरमल-मधु-सुरिभत हाला,
माँग माँगकर भ्रमरों के दल रस की मदिरा पीते हैं,
झूम झपक मद-झंपित होते, उपवन क्या है मधुशाला!।३३।

प्रति रसाल तरू साकी सा है, प्रति मंजरिका है प्याला,
छलक रही है जिसके बाहर मादक सौरभ की हाला,
छक जिसको मतवाली कोयल कूक रही डाली डाली
हर मधुऋतु में अमराई में जग उठती है मधुशाला।।३४।

मंद झकोरों के प्यालों में मधुऋतु सौरभ की हाला
भर भरकर है अनिल पिलाता बनकर मधु-मद-मतवाला,
हरे हरे नव पल्लव, तरूगण, नूतन डालें, वल्लरियाँ,
छक छक, झुक झुक झूम रही हैं, मधुबन में है मधुशाला।।३५।

साकी बन आती है प्रातः जब अरुणा ऊषा बाला,
तारक-मणि-मंडित चादर दे मोल धरा लेती हाला,
अगणित कर-किरणों से जिसको पी, खग पागल हो गाते,
प्रति प्रभात में पूर्ण प्रकृति में मुखिरत होती मधुशाला।।३६।

उतर नशा जब उसका जाता, आती है संध्या बाला,
बड़ी पुरानी, बड़ी नशीली नित्य ढला जाती हाला,
जीवन के संताप शोक सब इसको पीकर मिट जाते
सुरा-सुप्त होते मद-लोभी जागृत रहती मधुशाला।।३७।

अंधकार है मधुविक्रेता, सुन्दर साकी शशिबाला
किरण किरण में जो छलकाती जाम जुम्हाई का हाला,
पीकर जिसको चेतनता खो लेने लगते हैं झपकी
तारकदल से पीनेवाले, रात नहीं है, मधुशाला।।३८।

किसी ओर मैं आँखें फेरूँ, दिखलाई देती हाला
किसी ओर मैं आँखें फेरूँ, दिखलाई देता प्याला,
किसी ओर मैं देखूं, मुझको दिखलाई देता साकी
किसी ओर देखूं, दिखलाई पड़ती मुझको मधुशाला।।३९।

साकी बन मुरली आई साथ लिए कर में प्याला,
जिनमें वह छलकाती लाई अधर-सुधा-रस की हाला,
योगिराज कर संगत उसकी नटवर नागर कहलाए,
देखो कैसों-कैसों को है नाच नचाती मधुशाला।।४०।

वादक बन मधु का विक्रेता लाया सुर-सुमधुर-हाला,
रागिनियाँ बन साकी आई भरकर तारों का प्याला,
विक्रेता के संकेतों पर दौड़ लयों, आलापों में,
पान कराती श्रोतागण को, झंकृत वीणा मधुशाला।।४१।

चित्रकार बन साकी आता लेकर तूली का प्याला,
जिसमें भरकर पान कराता वह बहु रस-रंगी हाला,
मन के चित्र जिसे पी-पीकर रंग-बिरंगे हो जाते,
चित्रपटी पर नाच रही है एक मनोहर मधुशाला।।४२।

घन श्यामल अंगूर लता से खिंच खिंच यह आती हाला,
अरूण-कमल-कोमल कलियों की प्याली, फूलों का प्याला,
लोल हिलोरें साकी बन बन माणिक मधु से भर जातीं,
हंस मज्ञल्तऌा होते पी पीकर मानसरोवर मधुशाला।।४३।

हिम श्रेणी अंगूर लता-सी फैली, हिम जल है हाला,
चंचल नदियाँ साकी बनकर, भरकर लहरों का प्याला,
कोमल कूर-करों में अपने छलकाती निशिदिन चलतीं,
पीकर खेत खड़े लहराते, भारत पावन मधुशाला।।४४।

धीर सुतों के हृदय रक्त की आज बना रक्तिम हाला,
वीर सुतों के वर शीशों का हाथों में लेकर प्याला,
अति उदार दानी साकी है आज बनी भारतमाता,
स्वतंत्रता है तृषित कालिका बलिवेदी है मधुशाला।।४५।

दुतकारा मस्जिद ने मुझको कहकर है पीनेवाला,
ठुकराया ठाकुरद्वारे ने देख हथेली पर प्याला,
कहाँ ठिकाना मिलता जग में भला अभागे काफिर को?
शरणस्थल बनकर न मुझे यदि अपना लेती मधुशाला।।४६।

पथिक बना मैं घूम रहा हूँ, सभी जगह मिलती हाला,
सभी जगह मिल जाता साकी, सभी जगह मिलता प्याला,
मुझे ठहरने का, हे मित्रों, कष्ट नहीं कुछ भी होता,
मिले न मंदिर, मिले न मस्जिद, मिल जाती है मधुशाला।।४७।

सजें न मस्जिद और नमाज़ी कहता है अल्लाताला,
सजधजकर, पर, साकी आता, बन ठनकर, पीनेवाला,
शेख, कहाँ तुलना हो सकती मस्जिद की मदिरालय से
चिर विधवा है मस्जिद तेरी, सदा सुहागिन मधुशाला।।४८।

बजी नफ़ीरी और नमाज़ी भूल गया अल्लाताला,
गाज गिरी, पर ध्यान सुरा में मग्न रहा पीनेवाला,
शेख, बुरा मत मानो इसको, साफ़ कहूँ तो मस्जिद को
अभी युगों तक सिखलाएगी ध्यान लगाना मधुशाला!।४९।

मुसलमान औ' हिन्दू है दो, एक, मगर, उनका प्याला,
एक, मगर, उनका मदिरालय, एक, मगर, उनकी हाला,
दोनों रहते एक न जब तक मस्जिद मन्दिर में जाते,
बैर बढ़ाते मस्जिद मन्दिर मेल कराती मधुशाला!।५०।

कोई भी हो शेख नमाज़ी या पंडित जपता माला,
बैर भाव चाहे जितना हो मदिरा से रखनेवाला,
एक बार बस मधुशाला के आगे से होकर निकले,
देखूँ कैसे थाम न लेती दामन उसका मधुशाला!।५१।

और रसों में स्वाद तभी तक, दूर जभी तक है हाला,
इतरा लें सब पात्र न जब तक, आगे आता है प्याला,
कर लें पूजा शेख, पुजारी तब तक मस्जिद मन्दिर में
घूँघट का पट खोल न जब तक झाँक रही है मधुशाला।।५२।

आज करे परहेज़ जगत, पर, कल पीनी होगी हाला,
आज करे इन्कार जगत पर कल पीना होगा प्याला,
होने दो पैदा मद का महमूद जगत में कोई, फिर
जहाँ अभी हैं मन्िदर मस्जिद वहाँ बनेगी मधुशाला।।५३।

यज्ञ अग्नि सी धधक रही है मधु की भटठी की ज्वाला,
ऋषि सा ध्यान लगा बैठा है हर मदिरा पीने वाला,
मुनि कन्याओं सी मधुघट ले फिरतीं साकीबालाएँ,
किसी तपोवन से क्या कम है मेरी पावन मधुशाला।।५४।

सोम सुरा पुरखे पीते थे, हम कहते उसको हाला,
द्रोणकलश जिसको कहते थे, आज वही मधुघट आला,
वेदिवहित यह रस्म न छोड़ो वेदों के ठेकेदारों,
युग युग से है पुजती आई नई नहीं है मधुशाला।।५५।

वही वारूणी जो थी सागर मथकर निकली अब हाला,
रंभा की संतान जगत में कहलाती 'साकीबाला',
देव अदेव जिसे ले आए, संत महंत मिटा देंगे!
किसमें कितना दम खम, इसको खूब समझती मधुशाला।।५६।

कभी न सुन पड़ता, 'इसने, हा, छू दी मेरी हाला',
कभी न कोई कहता, 'उसने जूठा कर डाला प्याला',
सभी जाति के लोग यहाँ पर साथ बैठकर पीते हैं,
सौ सुधारकों का करती है काम अकेले मधुशाला।।५७।

श्रम, संकट, संताप, सभी तुम भूला करते पी हाला,
सबक बड़ा तुम सीख चुके यदि सीखा रहना मतवाला,
व्यर्थ बने जाते हो हिरजन, तुम तो मधुजन ही अच्छे,
ठुकराते हिर मंिदरवाले, पलक बिछाती मधुशाला।।५८।

एक तरह से सबका स्वागत करती है साकीबाला,
अज्ञ विज्ञ में है क्या अंतर हो जाने पर मतवाला,
रंक राव में भेद हुआ है कभी नहीं मदिरालय में,
साम्यवाद की प्रथम प्रचारक है यह मेरी मधुशाला।।५९।

बार बार मैंने आगे बढ़ आज नहीं माँगी हाला,
समझ न लेना इससे मुझको साधारण पीने वाला,
हो तो लेने दो ऐ साकी दूर प्रथम संकोचों को,
मेरे ही स्वर से फिर सारी गूँज उठेगी मधुशाला।।६०।

कल? कल पर विश्वास किया कब करता है पीनेवाला
हो सकते कल कर जड़ जिनसे फिर फिर आज उठा प्याला,
आज हाथ में था, वह खोया, कल का कौन भरोसा है,
कल की हो न मुझे मधुशाला काल कुटिल की मधुशाला।।६१।

आज मिला अवसर, तब फिर क्यों मैं न छकूँ जी-भर हाला
आज मिला मौका, तब फिर क्यों ढाल न लूँ जी-भर प्याला,
छेड़छाड़ अपने साकी से आज न क्यों जी-भर कर लूँ,
एक बार ही तो मिलनी है जीवन की यह मधुशाला।।६२।

आज सजीव बना लो, प्रेयसी, अपने अधरों का प्याला,
भर लो, भर लो, भर लो इसमें, यौवन मधुरस की हाला,
और लगा मेरे होठों से भूल हटाना तुम जाओ,
अथक बनू मैं पीनेवाला, खुले प्रणय की मधुशाला।।६३।

सुमुखी तुम्हारा, सुन्दर मुख ही, मुझको कन्चन का प्याला
छलक रही है जिसमंे माणिक रूप मधुर मादक हाला,
मैं ही साकी बनता, मैं ही पीने वाला बनता हूँ
जहाँ कहीं मिल बैठे हम तुम़ वहीं गयी हो मधुशाला।।६४।

दो दिन ही मधु मुझे पिलाकर ऊब उठी साकीबाला,
भरकर अब खिसका देती है वह मेरे आगे प्याला,
नाज़, अदा, अंदाजों से अब, हाय पिलाना दूर हुआ,
अब तो कर देती है केवल फ़र्ज़ -अदाई मधुशाला।।६५।

छोटे-से जीवन में कितना प्यार करुँ, पी लूँ हाला,
आने के ही साथ जगत में कहलाया 'जानेवाला',
स्वागत के ही साथ विदा की होती देखी तैयारी,
बंद लगी होने खुलते ही मेरी जीवन-मधुशाला।।६६।

क्या पीना, निर्द्वन्द न जब तक ढाला प्यालों पर प्याला,
क्या जीना, निरंिचत न जब तक साथ रहे साकीबाला,
खोने का भय, हाय, लगा है पाने के सुख के पीछे,
मिलने का आनंद न देती मिलकर के भी मधुशाला।।६७।

मुझे पिलाने को लाए हो इतनी थोड़ी-सी हाला! 
मुझे दिखाने को लाए हो एक यही छिछला प्याला!
इतनी पी जीने से अच्छा सागर की ले प्यास मरुँ,
सिंधँु-तृषा दी किसने रचकर बिंदु-बराबर मधुशाला।।६८।

क्या कहता है, रह न गई अब तेरे भाजन में हाला,
क्या कहता है, अब न चलेगी मादक प्यालों की माला,
थोड़ी पीकर प्यास बढ़ी तो शेष नहीं कुछ पीने को,
प्यास बुझाने को बुलवाकर प्यास बढ़ाती मधुशाला।।६९।

लिखी भाग्य में जितनी बस उतनी ही पाएगा हाला,
लिखा भाग्य में जैसा बस वैसा ही पाएगा प्याला,
लाख पटक तू हाथ पाँव, पर इससे कब कुछ होने का,
लिखी भाग्य में जो तेरे बस वही मिलेगी मधुशाला।।७०।

कर ले, कर ले कंजूसी तू मुझको देने में हाला,
दे ले, दे ले तू मुझको बस यह टूटा फूटा प्याला,
मैं तो सब्र इसी पर करता, तू पीछे पछताएगी,
जब न रहूँगा मैं, तब मेरी याद करेगी मधुशाला।।७१।

ध्यान मान का, अपमानों का छोड़ दिया जब पी हाला,
गौरव भूला, आया कर में जब से मिट्टी का प्याला,
साकी की अंदाज़ भरी झिड़की में क्या अपमान धरा,
दुनिया भर की ठोकर खाकर पाई मैंने मधुशाला।।७२।

क्षीण, क्षुद्र, क्षणभंगुर, दुर्बल मानव मिटटी का प्याला,
भरी हुई है जिसके अंदर कटु-मधु जीवन की हाला,
मृत्यु बनी है निर्दय साकी अपने शत-शत कर फैला,
काल प्रबल है पीनेवाला, संसृति है यह मधुशाला।।७३।

प्याले सा गढ़ हमें किसी ने भर दी जीवन की हाला,
नशा न भाया, ढाला हमने ले लेकर मधु का प्याला,
जब जीवन का दर्द उभरता उसे दबाते प्याले से,
जगती के पहले साकी से जूझ रही है मधुशाला।।७४।

अपने अंगूरों से तन में हमने भर ली है हाला,
क्या कहते हो, शेख, नरक में हमें तपाएगी ज्वाला,
तब तो मदिरा खूब खिंचेगी और पिएगा भी कोई,
हमें नमक की ज्वाला में भी दीख पड़ेगी मधुशाला।।७५।

यम आएगा लेने जब, तब खूब चलूँगा पी हाला,
पीड़ा, संकट, कष्ट नरक के क्या समझेगा मतवाला,
क्रूर, कठोर, कुटिल, कुविचारी, अन्यायी यमराजों के
डंडों की जब मार पड़ेगी, आड़ करेगी मधुशाला।।७६।

यदि इन अधरों से दो बातें प्रेम भरी करती हाला,
यदि इन खाली हाथों का जी पल भर बहलाता प्याला,
हानि बता, जग, तेरी क्या है, व्यर्थ मुझे बदनाम न कर,
मेरे टूटे दिल का है बस एक खिलौना मधुशाला।।७७।

याद न आए दूखमय जीवन इससे पी लेता हाला,
जग चिंताओं से रहने को मुक्त, उठा लेता प्याला,
शौक, साध के और स्वाद के हेतु पिया जग करता है,
पर मै वह रोगी हूँ जिसकी एक दवा है मधुशाला।।७८।

गिरती जाती है दिन प्रतिदन प्रणयनी प्राणों की हाला
भग्न हुआ जाता दिन प्रतिदन सुभगे मेरा तन प्याला,
रूठ रहा है मुझसे रूपसी, दिन दिन यौवन का साकी
सूख रही है दिन दिन सुन्दरी, मेरी जीवन मधुशाला।।७९।

यम आयेगा साकी बनकर साथ लिए काली हाला,
पी न होश में फिर आएगा सुरा-विसुध यह मतवाला,
यह अंितम बेहोशी, अंतिम साकी, अंतिम प्याला है,
पथिक, प्यार से पीना इसको फिर न मिलेगी मधुशाला।८०।

ढलक रही है तन के घट से, संगिनी जब जीवन हाला
पत्र गरल का ले जब अंतिम साकी है आनेवाला,
हाथ स्पर्श भूले प्याले का, स्वाद सुरा जीव्हा भूले
कानो में तुम कहती रहना, मधु का प्याला मधुशाला।।८१।

मेरे अधरों पर हो अंितम वस्तु न तुलसीदल प्याला
मेरी जीव्हा पर हो अंतिम वस्तु न गंगाजल हाला,
मेरे शव के पीछे चलने वालों याद इसे रखना
राम नाम है सत्य न कहना, कहना सच्ची मधुशाला।।८२।

मेरे शव पर वह रोये, हो जिसके आंसू में हाला
आह भरे वो, जो हो सुरिभत मदिरा पी कर मतवाला,
दे मुझको वो कान्धा जिनके पग मद डगमग होते हों
और जलूं उस ठौर जहां पर कभी रही हो मधुशाला।।८३।

और चिता पर जाये उंढेला पत्र न घ्रित का, पर प्याला
कंठ बंधे अंगूर लता में मध्य न जल हो, पर हाला,
प्राण प्रिये यदि श्राध करो तुम मेरा तो ऐसे करना
पीने वालांे को बुलवा कऱ खुलवा देना मधुशाला।।८४।

नाम अगर कोई पूछे तो, कहना बस पीनेवाला
काम ढालना, और ढालना सबको मदिरा का प्याला,
जाति प्रिये, पूछे यदि कोई कह देना दीवानों की 
धर्म बताना प्यालों की ले माला जपना मधुशाला।।८५।

ज्ञात हुआ यम आने को है ले अपनी काली हाला,
पंिडत अपनी पोथी भूला, साधू भूल गया माला,
और पुजारी भूला पूजा, ज्ञान सभी ज्ञानी भूला,
किन्तु न भूला मरकर के भी पीनेवाला मधुशाला।।८६।

यम ले चलता है मुझको तो, चलने दे लेकर हाला,
चलने दे साकी को मेरे साथ लिए कर में प्याला,
स्वर्ग, नरक या जहाँ कहीं भी तेरा जी हो लेकर चल,
ठौर सभी हैं एक तरह के साथ रहे यदि मधुशाला।।८७।

पाप अगर पीना, समदोषी तो तीनों - साकी बाला,
नित्य पिलानेवाला प्याला, पी जानेवाली हाला,
साथ इन्हें भी ले चल मेरे न्याय यही बतलाता है,
कैद जहाँ मैं हूँ, की जाए कैद वहीं पर मधुशाला।।८८।

शांत सकी हो अब तक, साकी, पीकर किस उर की ज्वाला,
'और, और' की रटन लगाता जाता हर पीनेवाला,
कितनी इच्छाएँ हर जानेवाला छोड़ यहाँ जाता!
कितने अरमानों की बनकर कब्र खड़ी है मधुशाला।।८९।

जो हाला मैं चाह रहा था, वह न मिली मुझको हाला,
जो प्याला मैं माँग रहा था, वह न मिला मुझको प्याला,
जिस साकी के पीछे मैं था दीवाना, न मिला साकी,
जिसके पीछे था मैं पागल, हा न मिली वह मधुशाला!।९०।

देख रहा हूँ अपने आगे कब से माणिक-सी हाला,
देख रहा हूँ अपने आगे कब से कंचन का प्याला,
'बस अब पाया!'- कह-कह कब से दौड़ रहा इसके पीछे,
किंतु रही है दूर क्षितिज-सी मुझसे मेरी मधुशाला।।९१।

कभी निराशा का तम घिरता, छिप जाता मधु का प्याला,
छिप जाती मदिरा की आभा, छिप जाती साकीबाला,
कभी उजाला आशा करके प्याला फिर चमका जाती,
आँखिमचौली खेल रही है मुझसे मेरी मधुशाला।।९२।

'आ आगे' कहकर कर पीछे कर लेती साकीबाला,
होंठ लगाने को कहकर हर बार हटा लेती प्याला,
नहीं मुझे मालूम कहाँ तक यह मुझको ले जाएगी,
बढ़ा बढ़ाकर मुझको आगे, पीछे हटती मधुशाला।।९३।

हाथों में आने-आने में, हाय, फिसल जाता प्याला,
अधरों पर आने-आने में हाय, ढुलक जाती हाला,
दुनियावालो, आकर मेरी किस्मत की ख़ूबी देखो,
रह-रह जाती है बस मुझको मिलते-िमलते मधुशाला।।९४।

प्राप्य नही है तो, हो जाती लुप्त नहीं फिर क्यों हाला,
प्राप्य नही है तो, हो जाता लुप्त नहीं फिर क्यों प्याला,
दूर न इतनी हिम्मत हारुँ, पास न इतनी पा जाऊँ,
व्यर्थ मुझे दौड़ाती मरु में मृगजल बनकर मधुशाला।।९५।

मिले न, पर, ललचा ललचा क्यों आकुल करती है हाला,
मिले न, पर, तरसा तरसाकर क्यों तड़पाता है प्याला,
हाय, नियति की विषम लेखनी मस्तक पर यह खोद गई
'दूर रहेगी मधु की धारा, पास रहेगी मधुशाला!'।९६।

मदिरालय में कब से बैठा, पी न सका अब तक हाला,
यत्न सहित भरता हूँ, कोई किंतु उलट देता प्याला,
मानव-बल के आगे निर्बल भाग्य, सुना विद्यालय में,
'भाग्य प्रबल, मानव निर्बल' का पाठ पढ़ाती मधुशाला।।९७।

किस्मत में था खाली खप्पर, खोज रहा था मैं प्याला,
ढूँढ़ रहा था मैं मृगनयनी, किस्मत में थी मृगछाला,
किसने अपना भाग्य समझने में मुझसा धोखा खाया,
किस्मत में था अवघट मरघट, ढूँढ़ रहा था मधुशाला।।९८।

उस प्याले से प्यार मुझे जो दूर हथेली से प्याला,
उस हाला से चाव मुझे जो दूर अधर से है हाला,
प्यार नहीं पा जाने में है, पाने के अरमानों में!
पा जाता तब, हाय, न इतनी प्यारी लगती मधुशाला।।९९।

साकी के पास है तिनक सी श्री, सुख, संपित की हाला,
सब जग है पीने को आतुर ले ले किस्मत का प्याला,
रेल ठेल कुछ आगे बढ़ते, बहुतेरे दबकर मरते,
जीवन का संघर्ष नहीं है, भीड़ भरी है मधुशाला।।१००।

साकी, जब है पास तुम्हारे इतनी थोड़ी सी हाला,
क्यों पीने की अभिलषा से, करते सबको मतवाला,
हम पिस पिसकर मरते हैं, तुम छिप छिपकर मुसकाते हो,
हाय, हमारी पीड़ा से है क्रीड़ा करती मधुशाला।।१०१।

साकी, मर खपकर यदि कोई आगे कर पाया प्याला,
पी पाया केवल दो बूंदों से न अधिक तेरी हाला,
जीवन भर का, हाय, पिरश्रम लूट लिया दो बूंदों ने,
भोले मानव को ठगने के हेतु बनी है मधुशाला।।१०२।

जिसने मुझको प्यासा रक्खा बनी रहे वह भी हाला,
जिसने जीवन भर दौड़ाया बना रहे वह भी प्याला,
मतवालों की जिहवा से हैं कभी निकलते शाप नहीं,
दुखी बनाय जिसने मुझको सुखी रहे वह मधुशाला!।१०३।

नहीं चाहता, आगे बढ़कर छीनूँ औरों की हाला,
नहीं चाहता, धक्के देकर, छीनूँ औरों का प्याला,
साकी, मेरी ओर न देखो मुझको तिनक मलाल नहीं,
इतना ही क्या कम आँखों से देख रहा हूँ मधुशाला।।१०४।

मद, मदिरा, मधु, हाला सुन-सुन कर ही जब हूँ मतवाला,
क्या गति होगी अधरों के जब नीचे आएगा प्याला,
साकी, मेरे पास न आना मैं पागल हो जाऊँगा,
प्यासा ही मैं मस्त, मुबारक हो तुमको ही मधुशाला।।१०५।

क्या मुझको आवश्यकता है साकी से माँगूँ हाला,
क्या मुझको आवश्यकता है साकी से चाहूँ प्याला,
पीकर मदिरा मस्त हुआ तो प्यार किया क्या मदिरा से!
मैं तो पागल हो उठता हूँ सुन लेता यदि मधुशाला।।१०६।

देने को जो मुझे कहा था दे न सकी मुझको हाला,
देने को जो मुझे कहा था दे न सका मुझको प्याला,
समझ मनुज की दुर्बलता मैं कहा नहीं कुछ भी करता,
किन्तु स्वयं ही देख मुझे अब शरमा जाती मधुशाला।।१०७।

एक समय संतुष्ट बहुत था पा मैं थोड़ी-सी हाला,
भोला-सा था मेरा साकी, छोटा-सा मेरा प्याला,
छोटे-से इस जग की मेरे स्वर्ग बलाएँ लेता था,
विस्तृत जग में, हाय, गई खो मेरी नन्ही मधुशाला!।१०८।

बहुतेरे मदिरालय देखे, बहुतेरी देखी हाला,
भाँित भाँित का आया मेरे हाथों में मधु का प्याला,
एक एक से बढ़कर, सुन्दर साकी ने सत्कार किया,
जँची न आँखों में, पर, कोई पहली जैसी मधुशाला।।१०९।

एक समय छलका करती थी मेरे अधरों पर हाला,
एक समय झूमा करता था मेरे हाथों पर प्याला,
एक समय पीनेवाले, साकी आलिंगन करते थे,
आज बनी हूँ निर्जन मरघट, एक समय थी मधुशाला।।११०।

जला हृदय की भट्टी खींची मैंने आँसू की हाला,
छलछल छलका करता इससे पल पल पलकों का प्याला,
आँखें आज बनी हैं साकी, गाल गुलाबी पी होते,
कहो न विरही मुझको, मैं हूँ चलती फिरती मधुशाला!।१११।

कितनी जल्दी रंग बदलती है अपना चंचल हाला,
कितनी जल्दी घिसने लगता हाथों में आकर प्याला,
कितनी जल्दी साकी का आकर्षण घटने लगता है,
प्रात नहीं थी वैसी, जैसी रात लगी थी मधुशाला।।११२।

बूँद बूँद के हेतु कभी तुझको तरसाएगी हाला,
कभी हाथ से छिन जाएगा तेरा यह मादक प्याला,
पीनेवाले, साकी की मीठी बातों में मत आना,
मेरे भी गुण यों ही गाती एक दिवस थी मधुशाला।।११३।

छोड़ा मैंने पथ मतों को तब कहलाया मतवाला,
चली सुरा मेरा पग धोने तोड़ा जब मैंने प्याला,
अब मानी मधुशाला मेरे पीछे पीछे फिरती है,
क्या कारण? अब छोड़ दिया है मैंने जाना मधुशाला।।११४।

यह न समझना, पिया हलाहल मैंने, जब न मिली हाला,
तब मैंने खप्पर अपनाया ले सकता था जब प्याला,
जले हृदय को और जलाना सूझा, मैंने मरघट को
अपनाया जब इन चरणों में लोट रही थी मधुशाला।।११५।

कितनी आई और गई पी इस मदिरालय में हाला,
टूट चुकी अब तक कितने ही मादक प्यालों की माला,
कितने साकी अपना अपना काम खतम कर दूर गए,
कितने पीनेवाले आए, किन्तु वही है मधुशाला।।११६।

कितने होठों को रक्खेगी याद भला मादक हाला,
कितने हाथों को रक्खेगा याद भला पागल प्याला,
कितनी शक्लों को रक्खेगा याद भला भोला साकी,
कितने पीनेवालों में है एक अकेली मधुशाला।।११७।

दर दर घूम रहा था जब मैं चिल्लाता - हाला! हाला!
मुझे न मिलता था मदिरालय, मुझे न मिलता था प्याला,
मिलन हुआ, पर नहीं मिलनसुख लिखा हुआ था किस्मत में,
मैं अब जमकर बैठ गया हँू, घूम रही है मधुशाला।।११८।

मैं मदिरालय के अंदर हूँ, मेरे हाथों में प्याला,
प्याले में मदिरालय बिंिबत करनेवाली है हाला,
इस उधेड़-बुन में ही मेरा सारा जीवन बीत गया -
मैं मधुशाला के अंदर या मेरे अंदर मधुशाला!।११९।

किसे नहीं पीने से नाता, किसे नहीं भाता प्याला,
इस जगती के मदिरालय में तरह-तरह की है हाला,
अपनी-अपनी इच्छा के अनुसार सभी पी मदमाते,
एक सभी का मादक साकी, एक सभी की मधुशाला।।१२०।

वह हाला, कर शांत सके जो मेरे अंतर की ज्वाला, 
जिसमें मैं बिंिबत-प्रतिबंिबत प्रतिपल, वह मेरा प्याला,
मधुशाला वह नहीं जहाँ पर मदिरा बेची जाती है,
भेंट जहाँ मस्ती की मिलती मेरी तो वह मधुशाला।।१२१।

मतवालापन हाला से ले मैंने तज दी है हाला,
पागलपन लेकर प्याले से, मैंने त्याग दिया प्याला,
साकी से मिल, साकी में मिल अपनापन मैं भूल गया,
मिल मधुशाला की मधुता में भूल गया मैं मधुशाला।।१२२।

मदिरालय के द्वार ठोंकता किस्मत का छंछा प्याला,
गहरी, ठंडी सांसें भर भर कहता था हर मतवाला,
कितनी थोड़ी सी यौवन की हाला, हा, मैं पी पाया!
बंद हो गई कितनी जल्दी मेरी जीवन मधुशाला।।१२३।

कहाँ गया वह स्वर्गिक साकी, कहाँ गयी सुरिभत हाला,
कहँा गया स्वपिनल मदिरालय, कहाँ गया स्वर्णिम प्याला!
पीनेवालों ने मदिरा का मूल्य, हाय, कब पहचाना?
फूट चुका जब मधु का प्याला, टूट चुकी जब मधुशाला।।१२४।

अपने युग में सबको अनुपम ज्ञात हुई अपनी हाला, 
अपने युग में सबको अदभुत ज्ञात हुआ अपना प्याला,
फिर भी वृद्धों से जब पूछा एक यही उज्ञल्तऌार पाया -
अब न रहे वे पीनेवाले, अब न रही वह मधुशाला!।१२५।

'मय' को करके शुद्ध दिया अब नाम गया उसको, 'हाला'
'मीना' को 'मधुपात्र' दिया 'सागर' को नाम गया 'प्याला',
क्यों न मौलवी चौंकें, बिचकें तिलक-त्रिपुंडी पंिडत जी
'मय-महिफल' अब अपना ली है मैंने करके 'मधुशाला'।।१२६।

कितने मर्म जता जाती है बार-बार आकर हाला,
कितने भेद बता जाता है बार-बार आकर प्याला,
कितने अर्थों को संकेतों से बतला जाता साकी,
फिर भी पीनेवालों को है एक पहेली मधुशाला।।१२७।

जितनी दिल की गहराई हो उतना गहरा है प्याला,
जितनी मन की मादकता हो उतनी मादक है हाला,
जितनी उर की भावुकता हो उतना सुन्दर साकी है,
जितना ही जो रिसक, उसे है उतनी रसमय मधुशाला।।१२८।

जिन अधरों को छुए, बना दे मस्त उन्हें मेरी हाला,
जिस कर को छूू दे, कर दे विक्षिप्त उसे मेरा प्याला,
आँख चार हों जिसकी मेरे साकी से दीवाना हो,
पागल बनकर नाचे वह जो आए मेरी मधुशाला।।१२९।

हर जिहवा पर देखी जाएगी मेरी मादक हाला
हर कर में देखा जाएगा मेरे साकी का प्याला
हर घर में चर्चा अब होगी मेरे मधुविक्रेता की
हर आंगन में गमक उठेगी मेरी सुरिभत मधुशाला।।१३०।

मेरी हाला में सबने पाई अपनी-अपनी हाला,
मेरे प्याले में सबने पाया अपना-अपना प्याला,
मेरे साकी में सबने अपना प्यारा साकी देखा,
जिसकी जैसी रुिच थी उसने वैसी देखी मधुशाला।।१३१।

यह मदिरालय के आँसू हैं, नहीं-नहीं मादक हाला,
यह मदिरालय की आँखें हैं, नहीं-नहीं मधु का प्याला,
किसी समय की सुखदस्मृति है साकी बनकर नाच रही,
नहीं-नहीं किव का हृदयांगण, यह विरहाकुल मधुशाला।।१३२। 

कुचल हसरतें कितनी अपनी, हाय, बना पाया हाला,
कितने अरमानों को करके ख़ाक बना पाया प्याला!
पी पीनेवाले चल देंगे, हाय, न कोई जानेगा,
कितने मन के महल ढहे तब खड़ी हुई यह मधुशाला!।१३३।

विश्व तुम्हारे विषमय जीवन में ला पाएगी हाला
यदि थोड़ी-सी भी यह मेरी मदमाती साकीबाला,
शून्य तुम्हारी घड़ियाँ कुछ भी यदि यह गुंजित कर पाई,
जन्म सफल समझेगी जग में अपना मेरी मधुशाला।।१३४।

बड़े-बड़े नाज़ों से मैंने पाली है साकीबाला,
किलत कल्पना का ही इसने सदा उठाया है प्याला,
मान-दुलारों से ही रखना इस मेरी सुकुमारी को,
विश्व, तुम्हारे हाथों में अब सौंप रहा हूँ मधुशाला।।१३५।

पिरिशष्ट से

स्वयं नहीं पीता, औरों को, किन्तु पिला देता हाला,
स्वयं नहीं छूता, औरों को, पर पकड़ा देता प्याला,
पर उपदेश कुशल बहुतेरों से मैंने यह सीखा है,
स्वयं नहीं जाता, औरों को पहुंचा देता मधुशाला।

मैं कायस्थ कुलोदभव मेरे पुरखों ने इतना ढ़ाला,
मेरे तन के लोहू में है पचहज्ञल्तऌार प्रतिशत हाला,
पुश्तैनी अधिकार मुझे है मदिरालय के आँगन पर,
मेरे दादों परदादों के हाथ बिकी थी मधुशाला।

बहुतों के सिर चार दिनों तक चढ़कर उतर गई हाला,
बहुतों के हाथों में दो दिन छलक झलक रीता प्याला,
पर बढ़ती तासीर सुरा की साथ समय के, इससे ही
और पुरानी होकर मेरी और नशीली मधुशाला।

पित्र पक्ष में पुत्र उठाना अर्ध्य न कर में, पर प्याला
बैठ कहीं पर जाना, गंगा सागर में भरकर हाला
किसी जगह की मिटटी भीगे, तृप्ति मुझे मिल जाएगी
तर्पण अर्पण करना मुझको, पढ़ पढ़ कर के मधुशाला।

- बच्चन