Rhythms of Life

RHYTHMS OF LIFE

Compiled By: Saloni Sandip Shah

A PROJECT BY SPLIT POETRY INDIA

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 Rhythms of Life

SPI PUBLICATION
India

ISBN xxx-x-xxxxx-xx-x
This book has been published with all reasonable efforts taken
to make the material error-free after the consent of the author.
No part of this book shall be used, reproduced in any manner
whatsoever without written permission from the author, except
in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and
reviews.
The Author of this book is solely responsible and liable for its
content including but not limited to the views, representations,
descriptions, statements, information, opinions and references
[“Content”]. The Content of this book shall not constitute or be
construed or deemed to reflect the opinion or expression of the
Publisher or Editor. Neither the Publisher nor Editor endorse or
approve the Content of this book or guarantee the reliability,
accuracy or completeness of the Content published herein and
do not make any representations or warranties of any kind,
express or implied, including but not limited to the implied
warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose.
The Publisher and Editor shall not be liable whatsoever for any
errors, omissions, whether such errors or omissions result from
negligence, accident, or any other cause or claims for loss or
damages of any kind, including without limitation, indirect or
consequential loss or damage arising out of use, inability to use,
or about the reliability, accuracy or sufficiency of the
information contained in this book

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DISCLAMER

This Anthology is a fiction. The compiler has tried best

to edit and curate the content of the co-authors and is
made plagiarism free. All the Write ups in this book are
unique. In case of any plagiarism detected, neither the
compiler, nor the publishers are responsible. Co -
authors will be solely responsible for their own content.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The making of this Anthology would not have been

possible without the co-authors.
I would like to thank one and all who trusted and
inspired me to come up with new compilations. Heartly
thanks to the co-authors for being a beautiful part in
most hectic life.
Last but not the least, many many thanks to SPI
publications for publishing this masterpiece and Miss.
Swastika Jha for giving me the opportunity and her
constant support till the completion of the project.

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BLISSFUL NOTE

In the rhythm of life,

Sometimes we find ourselves out of tune,
But as long as there are people,
That care for you and support you,
They’ll provide the melody
For the music you compose.

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CO-AUTHORS
1. Abinaya.Gk
2. Adira Singh
3. Aitijhya Mondal
4. Alok Abhishek
5. Ambika Jha
6. Anagha Palathoor
7. Ananya Boruah
8. Anubhav Shrivastava
9. B.Smita
10. BhagyashreeKamlakarOvhal
11. Bhoomi KevalGondaliya
12. Bhushita Ahuja
13. Bibi Amal
14. C. Lahari Reddy
15. Christina Lawrence
16. DarshithaP Mandoth
17. Deepa Das
18. Deepu Bela
19. Divesh Dwivedi
20. Diya Mehta
21. Gaurav Jangid
22. Himani

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23. Himanshi Gupta

24. Hishita Lakhani
25. Ishani Das
26. Jackson Chang
27. Jagriti Kasaundhan
28. Jasprit Kaur
29. Khushboo Shukla
30. Khushi Pathak
31. Kirti Gajbhiye
32. Layashree A.V
33. MassidKhalate
34. Mayank Aggarwal
35. Mili
36. Mille Sharma
37. Mohammad Ashar
38. Moitry Das
39. Mridhula Karthik
40. Mrunalini Chaturvedi
41. Neha S Baniya
42. Nidhi Buddhdev
43. Niharika Koka
44. NimesaMajee
45. Nisha Vidyadhar Shanbhag

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46. Parthajit Dev Purkayastha

47. PoulamiSinhamahapatra
48. Prashant Chauhan
49. Pratyaksha Singh
50. PrithaKonar
51. PritiDarade
52. Priyadarshini Bhattacharjee
53. Priyanka Banerjee
54. Priyanka Dhull
55. Raghavi Arora
56. Rahul Raj
57. Dr Ramsha Rizwan
58. Reshma V Radhakrishnan
59. Rinki Khanna
60. RishavVisen Singh Rajput
61. Risheek Gupta
62. Ritesh Rajendra Ghatmale
63. Dr. Rizwan Ahmad
64. S J SedrIck
65. Saheli Banerjee
66. SandhitaPurbi
67. Sanghamitra Swain
68. Sanjana Krishnan Vk

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69. SanyaTikarya
70. Sheereen Siddiqui
71. Shikha Shalet Sarkar
72. Shruti Kumaresh
73. Shruti Lad
74. Shubhashish
75. Siddhi Kalvankar
76. Sneha Lonkar
77. Somil Jain
78. Sonia Joseph
79. SreelakshmiViswam
80. Srishti Mathur
81. Subhalaxmi Senapati
82. SucharitaLenka
83. Suvasree Bandyopadhyay
84. Tamanna Bhatt
85. The Dark Side Wolf
86. Ullasini
87. Uzma Mirza
88. Vilinoto K
89. VishakhaMalukani (Morika)
90. Vriti Jain

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COMPILER
SALONI SHAH

Saloni, 19, is a quintessential poet with a fervent

passion for all forms of art. A proud girl hailing from
city Shrirampur, she is majoring in CS field. She
started penning down poetry in the lockdown period as
a hobby. Most of her poetries are based on true feelings
which she tries to express through words. Blooming as
a budding writer she aspires to be a great author.

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LIFE: A CONFECTIONERY
Ever gazed the confectionery’s sweet goodies,
The cakes, pies and the mouth-watering candies,
With such a delicacy crafted and baked,
With such a love and sweetness life is made.

God the confectioner has given such a treat,

Given to the spirit with human outfit,
Sometimes bitter like dark chocolate but sweet,
Also sweet moments like strawberry come with a big greet.

It brings chills at times as ice sparkles on cream,

How much ever we feel the pain of sensitivity,
The taste is only enjoyed by the witty,
So my friend lets live and love life under its sweet beam.

-SALONI SHAH

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THE DREAMS YOU REMEMBER

The dreams you remember

Are meant to tell a message,
If they knock you down like timber,
You should hold onto them;
If they're cold and dead like December,
Consider letting them go,
If the dream remains like an ember,
It's time to fan the flames of thought.

For, if a dream affects your reality,

It means something to you.
If thinking about that is not your cup of tea,
Then start drinking something else,
Because these thoughts are necessary
And can help you sort your mind
When life becomes unlucky
And gets harder for you every day.

You see, your dreams come from your heart

And mean all kinds of things.
They could be of memories that tear you apart
Or pull you together.
They could be visions of you sharing your art
In your gallery on opening day.
They could be dreams where you play no part
And only see others living their lives.

Dreams also come from your mind

And symbolize your deepest thoughts.
In your dream, you were in a bind
Which symbolized your personal constraints.
A different night you could not find
The words to speak; this symbolized
The time you felt left behind,
Unheard, and forgotten.

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Dreams mean so much more than

You could ever imagine, at times.
They could explain exactly what ran
You away from someone years ago.
But why doesn't your mind ban
You from from seeing the nightmares?
It's almost like your brain is asking: Can
You Handle Your Own Anxiety?

Sometimes, dreams mean nothing at all,

Yet remain locked away inside.
These simple dreams sure do enthrall,
But leave us feeling kind of silly.
What about the dream with a baseball
And a chicken on third makes your brain
Say, "remember?" Sometimes, it's the small,
Insignificant dreams that say the most.

Sometimes, we need to let go.

We stick to the overthinking
Instead of moving with the flow.
We often read into the wrong things
And miss the point; although,

We do discover more about ourselves

And learn good things to know.
We remember a lot of complicated dreams.

Yet, still, we hold on to see

If they can help us out in life.
It's hard to know what the message may be,
But it's worth a shot to listen,
Especially when you disagree
With everything your dreams about.

-SALONI SHAH

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TIME AND LIFE

How perfidious you are?

You tiptoe through my blue devils
You trot through my content
What are you?—I wonder
From a three feet cradle
To a six feet deathbed
You rule the voyage in between
What are you? – I wonder
Flash of misery
Sunlight of joy
Or a fusion of fact and fantasy
What are you? – I wonder
As I sip the coffee,
I greet the sweet
--- the ephemeral sweet
And then I quaff
I feel something bitter
Stunned as I am,
To realise that this is what you are.

-SALONI SHAH

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CHERRY IN THE SEASON OF WHITE

Just as the end of the rainbow,

You stood up in front of my eyes ,
Still my heart looked on for you ,
Knowing all the fact ,
So as the pot of gold .

And came alive in me ,

As the songs of love ,
To what I danced around ,
In the whirling wind dazzled ,
To the tunes you made up in your voice .

Resembling the magic ,

You brought all the fictions picturizing ,
Wondering my soul , feeling the grace up to the sky ,
Flip flops of eidetic ,
Over our treasured souvenir.

And You my asset ,

No matter you bequeathed me,
So that I stucked in the icy woe ,
I got through it outlasting ,
Snugging our love tight ,
So as to feel the warmth of solace .

-ABINAYA.GK

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THE DREAM WITHIN

We dream a lot of things but live some
We want to wear many hats but wear none
We are we, and who to be
No one can be you and me, not just anyone
We all want someone to turn too
But are not the ones to be turned too
We all want to be respected but don’t respect others

We want to be inspired
But are not the ones to inspire
We want success
But don’t work for it
We are selfish, when we should be selfless
We should be us, in this pseudo world
We must dare to dream and act to accomplish
Be someone not just anyone
We all are just Anybody
When we have that somebody in us that nobody recognises

We have the strength, the patience and the passion to reach for
the stars to change the world

-ADIRA SINGH

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THE UNSAID
Seasons change, but who do they change for?
aren’t we foolish
keep falling for the same thing.
how every day you wished the caterpillar would morph.
morph, it did,
with colours as vivid they sting through reality,
morph, it did,
but not into the happiness you had wished for.
truth is, we’re all running in circles.
seasons change, but what do they change for?

the fallen leaves

failed in telling you its secrets
when I whisper it to you
you say you can’t hear me
but they were never secrets
for you knew them all along.
but your heart couldn’t say yes yet
to the truth that the seasons nest.
Seasons change, but you never do.
every part of your body aches for home
seasons change, but you never do.
you don't have a home, the sky took you refuge.
seasons change, but you never do.
what they told you wasn’t ever true
seasons change, but you never do.
you only thinkthat youhave.
-AITIJHYA MONDAL

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HYSTERIA
you'll find talia and hannah, you'll find the falling leaves.
you'll find the stare of the veiled girls
You'll find things they’ve only dreamt about
you'll find things they'll never tell you about.
a tapestry stitched through these flavours
savour the taste at the tip of your tongue
savour those stories of cold beerand ice
All those
Stories of the girl in your next lane.
How come you forgot
The place you loved so well.
The pavement that remembers your footprints
And the scent of his breath
How come you forgot
All the stories you loved so well.
Of stardust and amnesia
And of remembrance?

have we all become

Too old for all of this?

We’re all getting old

and that’s when the perception twists.

Stories of lands.
Lands we’ll never see.
Of kings and goddesses
And of fairies.

We’re all getting old

and that’s when the perception twists
But we’ll never be
Too old for any of this.

-AITIJHYA MONDAL

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दिल
दर्द हो या ख़ुशी सब सह लेता है,
है कितना नादान छु प के कोने में रोता है,
अपनों की बातों को याद कर लेता है,
है कितना नादान दर्द में भी हांस लेता है,
किसी ने तोड़ा तो किसी ने जोड़ा,
सब ने अपने मर्ज़ी से इस दिल से नाता जोड़ा,
कोई गम दे गया कोई खुशी,
फिर भी दिल मुस्कु रा के सब सह गया,
किसी के प्यार में धड़कना भूल गया,
वह छोड़ के क्या गई जीना ही भूल गया,
बेजान बेबस सा था , ना जाने कब पत्थर का हो गया,
किसी के प्यार ने फिर से पत्थर को धड़कना सीखा दिया,
किसी अपने ने मुझे जीना सिखा दिया।
किसी अपने ने मुझे जीना सिखा दिया।।

-ALOK ABHISHEK

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रात
ख़ामोशी अंधेरे में चुभती है,
करवटों मैं राते मैं गुज़रती है,
दिल की बात ज़ुबान पर नहीं आती,
अश्कों के ज़रिए यह बयां होती हैं,
फिर भी कहते है , हमको फिकर नहीं सताती है,
खुद से बोले झूठ दिल को बहलाने के लिए,
क्यों जिये जा रहा हूं मैं, अपना मान बहलाने के लिए,
हूं भीड़ मैं भी अके ला ज़माने के लिए,
जी रहा हूं में अपना मान बहलाने के लिए,
दिल लगाने की सज़ा पाई है,
मौत से भी बद्तर ज़िन्दगी मैंने बिताई है,
झूठे वादों की चिता जला कर,
तेरी यादें भुलाए हैं,
ज़िंदा रहने की कीमत मैंने,
खुद को खो कर चुकाई है,
फिर भी जी रहा हूं अपना मन बहलाने के लिए,
फिर भी जी रहा हूं अपना मन बहलाने के लिए!!!

-ALOK ABHISHEK

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AM ALWAYS BY YOUR SIDE, EMILY

Times came, times went but I was never alone.

And I wanted to say a prayer for you.
I laughed despite the sorrow,
I danced though there was no hope flowing by.
It was because of your love,
profound which made me travel distances far and wide.
It's been a while without you.
Now there is a hollow in me,
without your essence,
with no love breeze.
I still search for you,
wondering will you come this time to set my soul free.
I can walk a thousand miles,
talk trillion words in a breath.
I want to see you again but you are nowhere in sight.
I know true love never fades away and makes things right.
In between you and me,
now stands no distance, blacks or blues.
We are together always, till eternity.
I am Jack and you are Emily.
You never left me, nor did I ditch you.
We are two love birds bound for heaven this time or other.
We were always true to our cores, always a family.

-AMBIKA JHA

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CHILDHOOD

All wish for happy days,

when there are no tensions and worries.
These days are those of childhood,
when all bad is good.

As a child one is innocent and cares a damn.

Whether you pinch your sis or break the car with a wham.
You can play Holi inside the house,
catch a dirty mouse.

You can ignore your mother's duty call.

And restructure your beautiful doll.
You can jig and jump with joy.
With a nogooder you can exchange your toy.

These days are carefree and great.

For the dawn of childhood phase toddlers can't wait.
You can mastermind, you can wittingly or wickedly shine.
When have to distribute candies between friends, you can say,
'all are mine'.

You can pull your brother's hair,

eat food of his share.
When scolded show your teeth bare.
Mom would do nothing because you are a no-solution
You are in yourself a wonderful human-like, more little-demon
like evolution.

You call your friend a dog.

You spend time playing in a filthy bog.
You put tadpoles in your dad's shoes when he is ready for his
morning jog.
Childhood cares for your notoriety.
Naughtiness becomes your private property.

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For your fun, super adventures you will be scolded is a surety.

You manage to be always funny, never too dull, old.
You just see rainbow colors in front of you.
You get ideas from the sun.

When your mom tries to get you for spilling the milk you are on
the run.
Crazy, funny, cool are days of childhood.
They can be studied to write a book.
Every smarty pant kid has the prime time fun and enjoys crazy
cut in this period by hook or by crook.

-AMBIKA JHA

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MRINALINI
Was a sunny day, breeze tangling my hair
Me younger than ever.
Kite lost in air ,from the child in me
Looking at memories; dusty pages of a book
Beautiful flight than when bound to me.
It chokes to look out scenery that shadows..
Was in an age, a beautiful cage,
With thick grille, made me shreak.
Only way to protest, Me holding
Mrinalini- her ink Leaking, my tears too…
Was suffering till then, met a poem on the way
It made all the changes and brought back all the seasons.
None remains stagnated in this world
Everything undergoes change one way or another.
It is a choice for mobile and not immobile.

-ANAGHA PALATHOOR

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MYSELF ALWAYS

Everything around except me appeared frozen.

Rain stopped, patches of clouds stagnated.
A young doctor blurted out everything.
In carcinogenic silence, results of test
Flashed through my sweet mind,
with a flair of quick convalescence
Me a Mona Lisa, Fabbro made me intentionally
Everyone was watching to fathom out
As litmus papers.
Song of cuckoos nor gurgling of raven
Never defiled or agonize and will never.
Life is as it is after all.
Just face it and move on…

-ANAGHA PALATHOOR

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A BEAUTIFUL ILLUSION
I admired the beautiful ambience,
It felt calm and serene, much to my suprise.
It held me captive for a while,
Maybe, healing was just a matter of time.
I walked through the people observing them and their lives.
It confused me more;
They seem different from those prejudices, from me
Because, no one was hurting each other;
No one was being deceitful.
No one was bidding a farewell because of qualms;
No one came close just to distant themselves again, shortly.
There, no one was feeling lonely in a crowd;
There, no one was faking a smile.
Just then I realised, there; every being was living a life worth
living.
But why? It felt so delusional;
I don't belong to this world, it’s not real.
And, just like that I woke up from my deep slumber;
A mere fantasy it was, I sighed.
A smile slowly crept on my lips,
Wondering off from the reality was a pleasure of mine.
It was a beautiful illusion that made me smile.

- ANANYA BORUAH

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BIRTH- A BIRTH OF A BABY WHO HAS A

HOPE TO BE BEST IN LIFE.
Hero,
I go into the hospital
to make sure you're growing and strong,
The Doctor says, "This isn't right,
You're 2 centimetres long"

The Doctors tells me calm down, don't cry

You have to be strong,
I don't understand why this is happening
Did I do something wrong?

Only 5 months along and scared to death

What am I to do?
They rush me to another hospital
Why? I have no clue.
They take me in a room
where I will have to stay,
Please let everything be OK
for hours to God I'd pray.

Days turn into weeks as

I lay in the hospital bed,
The time has come, you're ready to go,
The Doctor soon had said.
As I'm in the operating room
Scared to death I lie,
Chances slim, fear all around,
It could be a good or bad day.

I hear you cry a wonderful sound

Eyes opened wide,
They say that you're here, room full of joy,
Thank Heaven that you tried.
I felt like your HERO

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But would you be OK?

Questions, concerns, tears and fear

They rush you off to the ICU

You're too small to breath on your own,
Doctors amazed, nurses in shock,
If we would have only known.

So much love we gave to you,

So much love you gave us back.
You'd be coming home when you get well,
Your bags we soon would pack.

So fragile and small

Chances were closest to Zero,
You made it through everything
And now you're MY HERO!

-ANUBHAV SHRIVASTAVA

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MY LOVE!
He asked me,
"Are you okay!?"
I answered,
"Yes. I'm okay. "
Even though I wasn't okay.

He could sense the same.

Without questioning further,
he took my hand,
came closer,
looked into my eyes
and
hugged me tight.
That was all I needed for that moment.
That warmth,
that kindness,
that pure form of love.
I was feeling happy from within.
What else could I ask for
when he's beside me!?

-B. SMITA

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RAIN OF CONFESSIONS
Look outside the window
Clouds turn dark, and it starts raining

Close your eyes and listen

Raindrops knows my feelings

Like lovers underneath the umbrella

I want to hold your hand and walk on street.

Like flower's don't bloom without rain

I don't bloom without your smile

Seeing my heart flutters just by looking at you

The falling rain stop and brought out the rainbow of love
And even the street bloomed with flowers of love

Again close your eyes and

draw it,
Your resting head on my shoulder

OOps that's my imagination

How could you see

I don't know
When My Love will reach you
But Putting on my courage
I confess to you today that I LOVE YOU

-BHAGYASHREE KAMLAKAR OVHAL

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मेरी प्यारी दोस्त

बहुत कु छ कहना भूल गया हु तुमसे,
उसका अफ़सोस आज भी है,
होगी मुलाकात एक दिन मेरी तुमसे,
उसका इंतजार आज भी है।
कही तो मिलोगे तुम जिंदगी के सफर में,
शहर दर शहर तलाश आज भी है।
इस मतलबी दुनिया मै निःस्वार्थ बनके ,
तुझे ढू ढ़ने का ख्याल आज भी है।
जिन गलीयो से तुम गुजरा करती थी,
वहा तेरा इंतजार आज भी है।
यह संभाला हुआ रूमाल किसका है,
दोस्तो का सवाल आज भी है।
खत्म करो ये लुका छु पाई का खेल,
तुमसे हारना मुझे आज भी है।
होगी मुलाकात एक दिन मेरी तुमसे,
उसका इंतजार आज भी है।
तेरी आँखो के काजल का रंग मेरे में आज भी है,
परंतु तुम्हारी आँखों की अनुपस्थिति आज भी है।
तेरे होठों की वो मुस्कु राहट मेरे दिल में आज भी है,

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परंतु वो होठों की अनुपस्थिति आज भी है।

तुम्हारे साथ जीने की तमन्ना आज भी है,

परंतु तुम साथ देने के लिए तुम्हारी ना आज भी है।
बात बात पर तुम गुस्सा करती थी उसे चाहनेवाला आज भी है,
परंतु वो गुस्से करनेवाली की अनुपस्थित आज भी है।
तुम्हे साथ देने के लिए आज भी तैयार हुं,
पर तुम साथ देने के लिए भी नाराज हो।
अब ये अफसोस रहेगा तुम्हे कु छ कहना था,
और उसका इंतेजार आज भी रहेगा।

-BHOOMI KEVAL GONDALIYA

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GOLDEN YEARS OF CHILDHOOD

Childhood is life’s most precious time,
It slips away as fast as a sloppy dime.

It is when one can claim their original self,

Stuffing consciousness in a locked shelf.

Childhood is when your actions are excused,

You are not judged by the society or accused.

Childhood is innocence and naughtiness combined,

Those are the golden years when one isn’t confined.

Going to school and meeting your friends every day,

Childhood can be summarised by the word- hurray!

After years, a teacher’s scolding feels almost a blessing,

And all those values and morals learnt act like a dressing.

Childhood is when you’re free from pressure & worries,

There are no urgent deadlines and panicked hurries.

It’s when you as a tiny flower bud are nurtured and cared,
Showered with love and for the future, tenderly prepared.

It’s when you enjoy the rain of knowledge under the sun,
Fly free as a bird and with an evergreen smile, have fun!

Childhood is life’s most precious time,

It slips away as fast as a sloppy dime.

-BHUSHITA AHUJA

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PEACE
The lucky breeze ticking by
And the final view kissing goodbye
The site above her looked so peaceful
So much at ease
Like she could catch the dew drops
With just a touch of her tender carpels!
She found her peace there
Right beside that old oak tree
Where she once swinged, swayed and rhymed.
She was feeling obliged
The world felt like her's now
As if she had finally made a place in it
Like she figured the last cross puzzle
And now her life was complete
So with true satisfaction and happiness
There in the stoned mud
She laid and upon her was it scribbled
"Our beloved departed.
A beautiful daughter, a wife and a mother"
So she was in peace at the end
And this time it was not just to pretend!

- BIBI AMAL

ALL ME
The day you walked with me
The day you first noticed
The day you held my hand
The day you shared your fears
Everyday held deep in me
Everyday was special to me

Why? You may ask

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Coz I loved you beyond you could compare

I loved you with no hopes of return
I loved you with dreams of together
And I loved you with all ME
I laughed at your cranky self
I listened keen to your girly grunts
I smiled when I cried inside
I cried when you felt despair
Why? You may ask.
Coz I wanted you to have happiness
And I loved you with all ME
"I love you", you said
"We'll be together", you said
"You're mine", you said
"Can't live without you", you said
"One day", you said
But then it was all "just" said
As everything you said
Didn't "only" belong to me
But to many more
Who served you long
Yet I was the one blamed
I was the one who did
And I was the one who faked
And the one who deceived.

Why? You may ask

Coz I was not seeing clear
Coz I wasn't all brains
I was unaware
And I loved with all ME

- BIBI AMAL

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MY DREAM
They say dreams are a result of continuous actions and thoughts.
Which I always ignore them considering the boring life I fought!

But then I had a dream.....

That was a dream where my hands weren't held by someone
wicked who would harm,
but were held by someone who took me in his arm!

That was a dream where I didn't had to struggle to find

happiness among things, trees and birds,
because he alone was enough to make me happy with this
actions and words!

That was a dream where the words I heard didn't induce any
fear,
rather induced love when he called me dear!

That was a dream where my steps didn't fear of falling into traps,

because he was there preventing and protecting me from such

mishaps!

That was a dream where I didn't think of losing anything

because I was finding myself when I was with him.

And that was one such dream I wished to happen in real and
scream...
but then he reminded me, this is just a dream!!

- C. LAHARI REDDY

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ASTRAY!
Am a night bug,
steered by the
Moon,
all my life
and then,
You
intervened
led astray
in you
caught!
In an endless
sequence,
to circle
around you
You kept me
enchanted
to stage,
this spiral dance
around you,
never did this
prisoner knew
that it's a bulb,
and not the moon!

- CHRISTINA LAWRENCE

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THE SPECTATORS!
She saw me as a,
Void space,
Idle,
Muted,
Futile,
Purposeless,
Had her own stance
In me,
Thoughts,
That degrades me,
In her head for,
Infinite times,
At this moment,
She seem baffled,
Outraged,
But why,
Is it Because she,
Couldn't accept,
The stream of dreams,
Oozing out of this voidness?
Or does she fear me?
I leave it to her...

- CHRISTINA LAWRENCE

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दादी जैसा कोइ नहीं

दादी जैसा कोइ नहीं

दादी आप मेरी जूनून थी ।
इसलीये सिने में मेरे सुकू न था!
मुशकिलो के समय में हर कदम पे राह दिखाई ।।
आप मेरे आसुओ का पानी।
और होटो की मुस्कान बनगई ।।
न आपने मुझे गर्मियो में धुप लगने दी ।
ना सर्दियों में सर्दी ।।
क्युकी दादी जैसा कोई नहीं ।।
दादी आप माँ से पेहले मेरे गुरु बने ।
आप के बीना घर भी सुना रहे ।।
जैसे रंगो के बीना होली अधुरी है ।
वैसे ही आपके बीना मेरा जीवन भी ।।
पूरे परिवर को आप बन्धके रखते थें ।
खुबसूरत थी जो भी बात दिल से कहती थी ।।
ये तो मेरी अछी किस्मत हे की आप मेरे साथ थी ।
आपसे जरासे भी फ़ासले मे ना कोई बात है ।।
सच है दादी जैसा कोई नहीं ।।

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अपना आशिर्वाद युही सदा मुझपर बरसाते रहना ।

ना कभी अपने प्यार के लिए मुझे न तरसाना ।।
माँ की हर डाट से बचाना ।
पापा से मेरी हर ख्वाहिश पुरी कर वाना ।।
सब के हते एक दिन आप मुझे छोड़ के ,
आसमन मे चमकता तारा बन जाओगी ।
मागर मुझे पता है आप कभी मुझे छोड़के ना जापाओगे ।
उपर उनकोभी पात है आपका और मेरा रिश्ता बरसो पुराणा है ।।
सब के हते हैं,
और मुजे भी पता है,
की दादी जैसा कोई नहीं ।।

-DARSHITHA P MANDOTH

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MORNING LOVE(Love and Erotic)

Cuddle me all night,
Cover me in your arms, Kiss me, and Love me,
Heal my SOUL, I wish to wake up by your side,
When the morning wakes, Sun rises, birds chirping,
I want you to pull me to you, Play with my hairs,
Untangle the tangled love, Kiss me, Pour some Love,
Touch me with your fingers all over my body,
Like the feathers show some love in the air,
Let our Hearts meet, Lips Sync,
Bare me, and take me with you in you,
In your arms, in the world of tenderness,
Tangle me in you, Come close to me, My LOVE!
Take me to the heaven of warmth,
Ohhh! The heaven of intimacy,
Let us make some LOVE,
The MORNING LOVE ……

-DEEPA DAS

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बचपन
वो बचपन लौटा दे ऐ मेरे रब्बा
मुझे मेरा खिलौना लौटा दे ऐ रब्बा
बचपन की वो नादानी फिर मुझे करनी है,
बाबा का हाथ थाम कर फ़िर मुझे चलना है
माँ की डांट फिर खानी है
फ़िर वो घुटनो पर चोट खानी है
मुझे फिर सब कु छ भुला कर मुसकु राना है
ये दुनिया बडी खराब है मेरे रब्बा
मुझे मेरा बचपन ही लौटा दे मेरे रब्बा
यहाँ मानव दिल से खेलते है
दर्द बहुत देते है रब्बा
मुझे वो बचपन ही लौटा दे मेरे रब्बा
वो दिवाली की मिठाई
रंगो की होली
वो मेलों में घूमना
ईद मे गले मिलना
वो बीना किसी डर के जिना
दर्द का तो पात नहीं,
पर वो चोट लगने पर हलका सा रोते हुए मुस्कु राना
भाई का गले लगना , बहन सघ मुस्कु राना, वो झूला झूलना
बचपन की कहानी थी खूब निराली
लौटा दे वो बचपन मुझे मेरा दोबारा ।।।।

-DEEPA DAS

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बन जाऊं गी में भी राधिका..!!

बन जाऊँ गी मैं भी राधिका
बस तुम श्याम बनकर तो आओ
ये मुरली मुख पर लगाकर
कोई प्रेम-धुन तो सुनाओ।
वृंदावन में कदंब डाली पर
कोई प्रेम झूला हम भी झूलेंगे ।
तुम कोई वृंदावन बसाकर तो देखो।
बन जाऊँ गी मैं भी सीता
अगर तुम राम बनकर आओ
खुद के अंदर जो रावण है उसको तो जलाओ
तुम भी पत्नीव्रता धर्म निभाकर तो दिखाओ
सीता के वियोग में राम कि तरह तड़प कर तो देखो
सीता के बिना भी राम की तरह सीता के होकर तो देखो
अरे, तुम ना बन सको राम
और ना तो श्याम
मैं फिर भी तुम्हारी हो जाऊँ गी
बस तुम पत्थर से इन्सान बनकर तो देखो
कभी जिस्म से नजर हटाकर...
रूह से दिल लगाकर तो देखो.!!
-DEEPU BELA (Dips Ahir)

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चाहत सपनों की..!!

जिंदगी में आज उजाले हैं
कल गम के बादल काले थे
पावों के नीचे भी छाले थे
सीने में चुभते दिल के टुकड़े हजारों थे।
सांसों की रवानी में भी दर्द की कहानी थी
फिर भी ये बात हम ने जानी थी।
ये तो महज एक किस्सा है
अभी तो बाकी पूरी कहानी है।
हमने भी ये ठानी है बदलनी ये कहानी है।
पावों के छालो ने चलना शिखा दिया और
दिल के जख्मों ने जीना।
कु छ अपनों की मगरूरी ने गैरों से मिला दिया तो
कु छ गैरों की अच्छाइयों ने अपनो को भुला दिया।
कु छ अधूरी चाहतो ने सरेआम रुला दिया तो
कु छ टू टे सपनों ने रातों को भी जगा दिया।
कु छ ख्वाबों ने हकीकतों से नाता तोड लिया तो
कु छ रास्तों ने मंजिल पर आके रुख मोड़ लिया।
कै से ना बदलती ये कहानी यारों
हमने अपने लहू से जो लिखी थी।
कै से ना होते जिंदगी में उजाले यारों
हमने अंधेरे में भी खुद को जलाया था

-DEEPU BELA(Dips Ahir)

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RESCUER OF MY PAIN
Take me please, I ask you,
Take me from this place
And end my pain,
Atlast put a smile on my face.
lift me higher than the rest,
Rise me up above the sky.
let me see my world,
How they sing my goodbye.
whisper your words of comfort,
and heal, cure my pain.
please make me happy,
Let me smile once again.
embrace me warmly in your arms,
wash me off from my dirty sins.
take my life onto yourself,
and let the sadness win.
Take me with you,
l am never asking it again.
you are the one I turn to,
you, the angel of my pain.

--DIVESH DWIVEDI

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ताल ज़िंदगी की ::
ज़िंदगी की ताल से ताल मिलाना चाहती हूँ ,
अब अपनी ज़िंदगी को जीना चाहती हूँ ,
ज़िंदगी की ताल से ताल मिलाना चाहती हूँ ,
अब अपने हर पल को जीना चाहती हूँ ।
अब चाहती हूँ अपनी स्वतंत्रता के साथ दुनिया घूमना ,
इस ज़िंदगी की ताल की धुन सुनना चाहती हूँ ,
ज़िंदगी की ताल से ताल मिलाना चाहती हूँ ।
अब जीना चाहती हूँ अपने लिए , सिर्फ़ उन लोगों के साथ जो सही में अपने है ,
नहीं जीना उन नक़ली लोगों के साथ ।
अब सूखा लो अपने मिट्टी के मटके को जिसकी मिट्टी अभी गीली है ,
इस ज़िंदगी की ताल की धुन सुनो ,
ज़िंदगी की ताल से ताल मिलाओ ।
जनाब , एक ही ज़िंदगी है ,
ज़ीलो उस ज़िंदगी को भी और उसकी ताल को भी।

-DIYA MEHTA

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ज़िंदगी – एक धुन :::

गौर से देखो इस दुनिया को ,
सुनाई देगी दिल से एक धुन ,
अच्छे हो तो प्यारी सी ,
बुरे हो तो न्यारी सी ।
गीत को सुनो , दुःख को भुनो आग में ,
गीत को सुनो , दुःख को भुनो आग में ,
दिल को करो हल्का ,
दिल होजाएगा ख़ुशी से भरा ।
जब प्यार हो गीत से ,
ढूँढे नहीं जाते है sur गीत के ,
मन से निकलती है गीत वो ,
जो जोड़ दे टू टे हुए चमन को ।
जब प्यार हो गीत से , मोहब्बत हो गीत से ,
जब प्यार हो गीत से , मोहब्बत हो गीत से ,
निकले होठ से वो अक्षर ,
जो सोचे ना जाते ,
बस निकल जाते ।

-DIYA MEHTA

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KOI HAI
Suna hai
koi hai jo mujhe mujhse jyda janne lagi hai,
Mere har lamhe ko apni yaado me sametne lagi hai,
Mere har khawab ko apna man ne lagi hai,
Meri har khushi me apni muskurahat dhudne lagi hai,
Mere har gum me apna aanchal bhi gone lagi hai,
Mere izhar pr apni najre zuka kar ikrar karne lagi hai,
Mere sath ek pal bitane ki chah me hajar muskile uthane lagi hai,
Mere sath bitaye har pal ko zindgi ki haseen yaade manne lagi
hai,

Koi hai jo mujhe mujhse jyda pyar krne lagi hai..

-GAURAV JANGID

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PERSEPHONE’S LOVE
" Do you think I would go away?",
I ask the obvious king of the underworld.
I met his dull bleak eyes, the loneliness, sorrow
poured into mine but the adoration and
the love stood out, captivating me
into a never ending spiral.
The golden ichor in my veins
called onto his, filling us
with wants and hunger.
The offered pomegranate
would seal our fate,
make me stay with him.
The rip, blood red seeds plucked
into a six left a stain on my lips.
The halted lifeless eyes were
filled with fire and relief as
I closed the gap between us
and kissed him softly but passionately.
His hands cupped my cheeks
as his eyes filled with love
which reflects into mine.
"Be the empress of my heart and
the queen of all that's dead.
Rule along with me, my love",
He asked me with hopefulness.
How do I explain that I deliberately
walked down the gates of hell
and willingly ate the six seeds.
How do I explain that he was my salvation,
my better half and the only one who truly saw what
I, the daughter of the king of olympus and harvest
was capable of.
-HIMANI

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ENEMY TO FOREVER LOVE….

We fight, we strive,
We never talk each other,
We shout, we loud,
We truly hate each other,

To say, we were classmates,

We always pull down each other,
In reality, we were rivals,
We never hold up one another,

One day everything changed,

You and me became friends,
Friendship turns into love,
You and I become one,

Life took a new turn,

From enemy to Companion,
You filled it with love,
Though we still fight much,

From enemy to lovers,

That's our journey of love,
You accept all my flaws,
That's why I loves you alot.

-HIMANSHI GUPTA

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LONG-DISTANCE RELATIONSHIP
Right now you maybe a thousand miles away ,
But you are the only one who makes my heart sway,
This isn’t going to be easy for the both of us I know ,
But what I believe is that when we meet next we will be stronger
and closer than before !!

I wait eagerly all day for us to share our moments and talk ,
I’m actually counting days till the time we can hold hands and
walk ,
Everyday on video call when I see that beautiful smile on your
face ,
My heart skips a beat and it runs at such a fast pace !!

You are the best thing that has ever happened to me ,

I hope you know that you are as special as can be ,
I miss you like crazy like the deserts miss the rain ,
But right now I guess we have no choice , we are in vain !!

Every morning I tell myself , that we are only one day closer to
seeing each other again ,
And this is what actually gives me the power to love you from
afar , until we meet again !!
- HISHITA LAKHANI

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LIFE IS UNPREDICTABLE
Life is too short and very unpredictable ,
None of us know what is coming next ,
All we can do is appreciate the time we have now,
Love each other infinitely ,until God calls us to rest !!

We all feel we are in control of our existence ,

We make big plans for our future selves ,
Sometimes things go perfectly as we had planned,
But most of the time we are lost in the journey of pleasing
ourselves!!

It only takes a second to change the things around us ,

That's how fragile and unsure life will always be ,
Live for today as today is all we have ,
Start changing your thinking from 'I ' to 'WE'.

So if you love someone start showing it and if you are missing

someone call them,
Forgive the ones that hurt you now for there will be no perfect
time for this ,
Count your blessings and be grateful for what and who you have
in life,
For we are only messengers of God, the final call is always his !!

-HISHITA LAKHANI

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WINGS
She lived in the shadow of a lonely girl,
Why so quiet, you don’t hear a word,
Always talking but she can’t be heard
She wants to speak for her mind and thunder.

Maybe she has got all,

Except for a voice to be heard
She listens to her burden dancing in ecstasy,
While she runs past her destiny…

Her wings,
Broken by the heartless reality
Had the potential to fly,
Wonderful enough to break the sky.

She ran on the beaten track,

Lost in the woods
Looking for a proud her in hoods,
Trying to breathe in the air transforming….

She took her broken wings,

They watched her burn across the sky,
She heard the echoes of success
When she defied all those odds!

-ISHANI DAS

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LOVE AND WAR

Love and war.

Apparently simple scars.
Similar in impulse and haste,
Dissimilar in toxic taste.

First impressions
Are actually first misconceptions,
Shadows of cold and ice
Both make one perish twice.

Love feels like

A bed of red roses.
But when it dies,
It feels like needles of hate and impulse.

Then icy indifference comes,

Hate comes,
War comes,
And stays.

Love we know is love that is rare,

Hate which we hate is all in the air
They will always be there,
Forever here.

-ISHANI DAS

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TEAR

My tears are frozen by the past,

Which are like the lonely island in the ocean.

Day by day, I wish that my beauty could talk to me,

Night by night, I hope that my wine could be served without the
bitter taste.

The dropping tears touch my feelings with their emotions,

Listening their voices becomes my daily routines.

I'm kneeling down on the floor,

Praying for the love from my Lord.

The tears are still falling from my eyes,

Until my love wipes it with her tender hands.

-JACKSON CHANG

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WINE

Sweet wine tastes like the honey,

Honey also makes a couple to love with each other.

Excitement comes after drinking the honey wine,

Like a couple fall in love with his or her partner.

Your lip is as soft as a bud,

Which releases the fragrance around the people.

Roses are sung by individuals as the symbol of love,

A bed of roses are my secrets for making the mellow wine.

The real love is beyond any descriptions,

Until someone who can truly explain what the love is.

-JACKSON CHANG

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HEY ANGELIC WANDERER!

Hey Angelic wanderer!

I wanna give rhythms to your life.
You are full of purity and virtuousness,
Your eyes are full of love and wisdom,
Your head is full of emptiness,
Because you have bloated your heart with all the magics.
But still, Why everyone calls you absurd and furious,
Because you sleep in footpath?
Becuase you rely on others for food?
Because your clothes are dirty?
Beacause your proffesion is begging?
I know, it aches you alot,
When everyone calls you mad,
I know you are soulful and meaningful,
You are the one who makes wanderer word more worthy.
Hey Angelic wanderer, You are beautiful!
Hey Angelic wanderer, You are beautiful!

-JAGRITI KASAUNDHAN

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OH MY BEAUTIFUL SCARS!
Oh my beautiful scars!
I’m in your debt,
For the marks which you left.
I wanna thank to you
You taught me how to be loved,
You taught me how to be cared,
You taught me how to leave the footprints gracefully.
Oh my beautiful scars!
You are beyond grace,
Which can never be traced.
You are beyond compassion,
Which defines best fashion.
You are beyond romance,
Which can never be financed.
Oh my beautiful scars!
You are my first love
Who will last with me forever.

-JAGRITI KASAUNDHAN

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I KNOW WHAT LOVE IS

I dont know what love is
I dont know how it’s born
I know how two people meet
I know how they start getting sweet
I know how the talks happen
I know how the word dance happens
I know how the glances change
I know how they start crossing a range
I know when the hands touch on an avenue
I know the silence becomes an item on the menu
I know how the intimacy grows
I know how it starts to show
I know how the breaths exchange in the moment
I know how it starts to torment
I miss these small shining minutes
I miss withdrawing from the limits
I miss everything that the so called love plants in a land of just
plain grass
I crave that same sparks and the light in the moments that are
dark
I’ll say again
I don’t know what love is !!
Because the void inside me just fills me
The blood in viens stays in me
And the poems all fail
And the cravings all wane
And i realise love grows and grows
Sometimes it’s stubborn enough to not let go
Sometimes it’s the river that continously flows
And it might take years and years for it to find roots that hold
deep enough to not uproot.

-JASPRIT KAUR

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I AM NEXT
I am next
I am next
Next to be caught in this web of security
Also called as patriarchy
I am next
Next to be lulled in sweet lies and faulty conviction
Because that is just a taught benediction
I am next
Next to think that if I get a man who “allows” me to do whatever
I want , I am lucky
I am next
Next in this never ending chain of trauma
The trauma that lives in each women of this so called system of
patriarchy
I see, I am next
Next in the thought where this never ends
The victory always seems just around the bend
You see, I am next
Because no matter what I do, I’ll be just another women tangled
in this impossibel yarn with no way out of this barn
I knew I was next
When I decided to settle for bare minimum And never tried to
reach for the maximum
I knew that generation I give birth to will be next
Because I was taught to be next.

- JASPRIT KAUR

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प्यार
तुम्हारे साथ प्यार करना तो आसान था,
पर तुम्हारी यादों को भुलाना बहुत मुश्किल हैं !
तुम्हारे साथ हसना तो आसान था,
पर तुम्हारे बिना हसना बहुत मुश्किल हैं !
तुम्हारे साथ वादे करना तो आसान था,
पर तुम्हारे बिना उन वादों को निभाना बहुत मुश्किल हैं !
तुम्हारे साथ बातें करना तो आसान था,
पर तुम्हारे बिना उन बातों को भूलना बहुत मुश्किल हैं !
तुम्हारे साथ सपना सजाना तो आसान था,
पर तुम्हारे बिना उन सपनो को साकार करना बहुत मुश्किल हैं !
तुम्हारे साथ जीने की तम्मना को सोचना आसान था,
पर तुम्हारे बिना जीना बहुत मुश्किल हैं !
तुम्हारे साथ हर बात पर लड़ना तो आसान था,
पर तुम्हारे बिना खुद को उस लड़ाई मे हारते हुए देखना बहुत मुश्किल हैं !
तुम्हारे साथ खुद को यूँ सवरता हुआ देखना तो आसान था,पर तुम्हारे बिना खुद को यूँ
बिखरता हुआ देखना बहुत मुश्किल हैं !
तुम्हारे साथ अपनी हर खुशियाँ बांटना तो आसान था,
पर तुम्हारे बिना हर दुःख को महसूस करना बहुत मुश्किल हैं !
तुम्हारे साथ दिल की धड़कन को बढ़ा होते हुए भी महसूस करना बहुत मुश्किल हैं ना तो
आसान था,
पर तुम्हारे बिना इस दिल की धड़कन होते हुए भी
महसूस करना बहुत मुश्किल हैं!

- KHUSHBOO SHUKLA

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क्या वो सच्चा प्यार होगा?

प्यार हमेशा उससे करो
जो प्यार तुमसे ज़्यादा कर्ता होगा
अगर प्यार होते हुए ना जताए

तो क्या वो सच्चा प्यार होगा?

जो तुम्हें दुःख देने के बाद
चाहे की अब मनाना भी तुम्हें ही होगा
मान ने के बाद फिर ये दौहराए
तो क्या वो सच्चा प्यार होगा?
जो छोटी छोटी बातों पर हाथ उठा कर
तुम्हें रोता छोड़ जाता होगा
और दर्द ना हो उसे तुम्हारी चोट देख

क्या वो सच्चा प्यार होगा?

बात बार पर शक करना
जिसकी शख़्सियत का हिस्सा होगा
और फिर भी तुम्हारा ऐतबार करना
क्या वो सच्चा प्यार होगा?
प्यार से करे दो बातें
फिर पीठ पीछे देता धोका होगा
क्या सच्चा क्या झूठा

असली मतलब प्यार का क्या होगा?-

KHUSHI PATHAK

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LOST AND FOUND

Yes, there were moments
When you broke my heart.
Yes, there were moments when we were together but poles
apart..
Sometimes I feel that we shouldn't have met..
Sometimes I feel to put my life on Reset..
You were everything for me the day we crossed path..
But I was nothing for you the day you experienced wrath..
I was blindfolded with my crazy feelings for you..
But you never understood what I was going through..
You were my moon revolving around the my Earth .
But you never felt my Love and its worth..
Yes there were moments when we were cute together..
Shouting at each other but mute together..
I have a few complaints but never going to tell you..
Because you are going to say "Excuse me, your complaints are
in the queue."

Yes, I was angry on you but decided to move on..

May be my heart will take some time to feel like a new born..

I feel happy for you that you chose to loose me.

Because this will give you an opportunity to truly love and miss
me..

Anyways, You will be always there in my heart cuddling me

around..
Because our love wasn’t less than a game of Lost and Found..

-KIRTI GAJBHIYE

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SUNDAY MORNINGS
I still miss those Sunday mornings..
Your yawning with the breezy Sun,
Those mild rays were so blessed to touch your face and made
you blush..
I still miss those Sunday mornings..
When you used to wear my shirt to make those two special cups
of coffee..
Without even adding a pinch of sugar,
it tasted as sweet as you my toffee..

I still remember those Sunday mornings..

When you used to watch movies
lying in my arm..
Watching a romantic scene and you cuddling me around with
your brightest charm..
I still remember those Sunday mornings,
Those morning kisses and little fights
Ending up by hugging really tight..

I still remember those Sunday mornings,

Because then I also used to live
my life for sometime..
After burning in the fire of work
throughout the week..
I always kept waiting for the Sunday
mornings to spend some more time with you which were
magically unique..!!

-KIRTI GAJBHIYE

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BIRTH OF YOU IS FOR YOU

All of us take birth,
enjoy for a while,
grow old and finally die.
What do we do in the mean time?
We just dedicate our lives to one
or the person for one or the other reason, without knowing our
goals, our dreams.
Why do we that?
Just for a reason that we love them?
It’s not that person who gave you birth,
It’s your parents who gave you birth,
so that you can live your life.
When will people realise that
their birth for creating their destiny,
not others?

- LAYASHREE A.V

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THOSE TIMES WERE TIMES…

It was the time when
we smiled for ourselves, not the camera.
It was the time when
we had to wait for someone to talk, not on phone.
One rupee, many candies.
One place, many memories.
What we had the most was time,
we could play all day,
we never had tension of getting tanned.
Memorable are those, when we
sneaked in other's farm to pluck fruits.
We never had a thought of recording
all the fun and amazing moments,
as we were busy making memories
that will last for a lifetime.

- LAYASHREE A.V

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GODS HEAVENLY PLAN

Life is only a circle
Everything just goes around and around
One day you’re flying high
Next day you’re flat on the ground

Everyone’s here for a reason

Every child woman and man
We are all a part of the tapestry of life
All a part of god’s heavenly plan

Strangers you meet may be angles

Hiding behind the disguise
Always treat people you meet with respect
For everyone’s equal is god’s eyes

Our lives are woven together

Each one of us plays their part
To live our lives the way god planned
With faith and love in our hearts

Some remember we’re here for a reason

And that Jesus was the savior of man
To live your life in harmony
And to follow god’s heavenly plan

- MASIDD KHALATE

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WAY TO REACH A GIRLS HEART…

Want to reach a girl's Heart...
This is how one should start !!
Be a gentleman smart ....
Look into her eyes
Just ignore her figure size!!
Kiss on lips never ever keep it on tips...
Let it just skip...
Always focus to kiss her soul !!
Congratzz you are on goal...
Wanna share feelings take her for a good stroll...
Relationship with pleasures or benefits never even think...
Purity of love will vanish
It will make you and your soul stink...
Be confident
Hold her hand n take her stand...
Never ignore your feelings
Just let it expose
Don't wait any longer
Now go propose!!!!

- MAYANK AGGARWAL

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AM I USELESS??
Am I useless???

If you think I am useless...

You never know how hard I work whole day
So just think twice before you say...
If you still think I am useless
It’s not your mistake you are simply clueless!!
That no effort go fruitless...
So think before being ruthless to me…
Sorry but even I am not free…
As If you ignore me once I will never disturb you again.
Then talking to you would be my first task to refrain.
Then one day you will suffer as all your efforts to see me will go
in vain.
So think before you consider me useless because no effort go
Fruitless!!
So never forget every setback has a comeback!!

- MAYANK AGGARWAL

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SAPNE ME HAQIQAT
Kho gya hu ekkhyaal me
Yaadon me, kuchswaal me
Haqiqatnahihai jo
Zindagi k kuchmachayebawaal me...

Aankheinkhulinahi, kuchshorhai
Koi to awaazhai, jo mashoorhai
Gaatahai wo raag zindagi k
Uskefitoor me, kuch to zaroorhai...

Khoya hu main kuchuskiawaaz me

Sun raha hu use, usi k andaaz me
Ginn rahahai wo kuchshabdo ko apne
Na jaanekiskeagaaz me...

Na kholi jo maine koi aashai

Chuphai wo, wo jiskiawaazhai
Dekhajaise koi sapna ho khaas
Duniya k shor me, ab meri awaazhai...

Gaata hu main na koi mail me

Khel raha ho sapno ko, ekkhel me
Ankheinkhuli, to sapna khatam
Shor hai meri awaz bs, bheed k is shor me...

-MILI

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AN UNKNOWN REALM: DREAM OR

DEATH
Feel my coldness? My opaqueness?
My unparalleled beauty and my ever so ethereal form?
Tell me, oh traveller, o’ dear wanderer, do you see that?
Tell me, do you feel that?
Tell me, oh traveller, o’ dear wanderer,
Tell me that you see that.

See my unattainable semblance?

My beautiful white aesthetic? My violently delicate nature?
Tell me, oh traveller, o’ dear wanderer, do you feel at peace?

Do you feel lost and still seem to have found yourself;

Amidst this mess; this unreal disaster?

I witnessed a total overlap; A theoretically impossible collusion

of my real and ideal self.
I can hear my 5 years old self’s bubbly laugh, and my 11 years
old self’s shy laugh,
My curious 16 years old self’s confused “um..”, and my
frustrated 20 years old's rant.

What is this realm? Where am I?

I am brought back to reality by a voice addressing me as a
“traveller”. As a “wanderer”.

Tell me, oh traveller, o’ dear wanderer,

Tell me that you feel content at this very moment.
I do, I say, but what is "reality" anymore, I ask.
With that, everything ceases to exist suddenly. A fast yet
calming collapse.

-MILLE

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THE RIGHT PATH

The winds swayed, the branches creaked
I kept walking beside the trampled creek
The howling sound of wind
I was unstoppable, I was determined

The drops of water from the sky

Filled the bucket and brought me joy
It got washed away where it belonged
I kept walking, for the distance was long

People tell me, the night was creepy

It made them keep themselves locked
I kept walking in a town which was sleepy
They told me I was crazy, I was mocked

The winds howled more, chills and shiver

Shaking me to the core
It started to snow
And I could bear no more

I kept walking in the snow

With the magic of self-determination somehow
Soon it was the time of dawn
And I could see the sun, the fear was gone
I wish the world sees the way I do
It will be a whole new world; I wish I could do!

-MOHAMMAD ASHAR

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DREAMS
Dreams are a virtual reality
The more you think about
More you fear on prosperity
It may be an indication
What beholds for you
It may require a supplication
To complete the future and you

Dreams of the day

Are full of ambitions and hope
What you can achieve
What you want to aspire
What hope you carry
And what life may transpire

All dreams do not become reality

Some don't see even the light of day
Those which get buried
You don't even have a say

It's not wrong to dream about dreams

It may not be right to live only for the dreams
Live your life with zeal and happiness
You may not have a life to dream those dreams!

-MOHAMMAD ASHAR

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I AM A LOVER.
I am a lover.
Searching for love
In the crepuscular rays of the sun,
In the burning flames of rituals,
In the inferno of rage.

I am a lover.
Finding inklings of endearment
In the petrichor on a hot summer day,
In Poseidon's great waves,
In the tearstains of a soldier's wife.

I am a lover.
In throes of love
With the paroxysm of fervour in coffee coloured eyes.
With the translucent soulful laugh.
With the viridity of beautiful heart.
With the wildness unleashed within.
With the red of roses, with the black of alleys,
With the white of snow, with the green of meadows.

I am a lover.
In love with you.

-MOITRY DAS

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SEASONS OF LOVE
In the clear water of a summer stream
Your face shone out bright and clear
I wrote in the leaves and flowers
About you who is like the soft sunlight
Like a cloud in my horizon
Like a rhythm in my soul
You stood like the bright flame of
The mud lamp which burns in my heart
Come swimming through the
Gentle breeze like a cloud and
Sprinkle your shower on me always
You are my favourite dreams who is
Like the peacock when it spreads
Out it feather during the rain
Memories are standing on my way
Like the trees on the way side
Girls who wear anklets are who is
As beautiful as the moon
Iam the Avenue of trees which
Decorate your foot path
In cage which is wrapped with
Leaves
Iam being awakened from my
Meditation because of a butterfly (you).

-MRIDHULA KARTHIK

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THE YOUNGER YOU

All these years have gone so fast
It’s true when they say that time never lasts!

I still remember
When you were tottering around
Trying to stand and yet falling down!

Crawling everywhere
Making sure I was still there
Else who knows I might just vanish in thin air!

All you knew then

Was to hold my hand tight
Knowing then there was no thing
To bother or scare you to fright!

Today when I see

I behold a new you
Not yet an adult neither a toddler
You with your friends are the teenage crew!
I enjoy seeing you grow
But still miss the olden time
A younger version of the same girl
In the past when you were only mine!

- MRUNALINI RASHMI CHATURVEDI

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THE FOND BOND

High & low she wailed & she cried
She searched for her mother
As her heartbeat, she couldn’t find
Not even an hour ago
Had she left her mother’s womb
This new place felt weird
As if there was some approaching doom

She was cleaned, she was checked

While still, she yelped & she wept
It really didn’t seem fair for her
To be kept away from her beloved mother!

Suddenly she felt the warmth

As the arms that cuddled around her
Were those that she had longed

And slowly she opened her timid little eyes

Coz the heart thumps she now heard
Were the one’s she could recognize
Instantly all was quiet & still
As if a vacant playground
She sipped her first meal
Feeling so safe & sound.

- MRUNALINI RASHMI CHATURVEDI

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JUST TAKE ME BACK

Take me back to the days
when i was a kid
no tension of tomorrow, only innocense and
immense affection and care
Take me back to the days
where we all you used to play together and attachment behind
those silly fights
No class, society and discrimination of caste and creed
Take me back to the days where we all love listening to same
vintage grandmother stories repeatedly
And the happiness we get from two rupees pocket money
secretively
Take me back to the only time where
We dont have mobile phones, social media and we used to enjoy
power cuts, gossiping with friends, neighbours whole night
Those game of hide and seeks where we all behaved nuts still
reunites
Take me back to the days
Where we dont know what is love breakup and lies
And dont know what were pillow cries
Take me back to the days were we dont have to take flights
to hug our mom, to feel that warmth and talk to her about all our
intense pain of plights

Just take me back to childhood days where we thought we all

were nice
and will share this together forever bond till paradise!
Just take me back!

-NEHA S BANIYA

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I AM THE MAN, HUMAN BEING!

Oh yeah! I am the man, the human being
Always fond of my established wellbeing
Though I was born naked and going to mix in this sacred soil
But I own this entire world empire as Idroil
Yes, I am greedy, greedy for money.
I know Iam not going to take this money when I die
I know no baggages and relationships are allowed there.
Still I am going to generate more revenues and profit only for
my selfish desires
Oh yeah! I am the man, the human being, greedy human being
I know when angels will be taking my soul
only my close ones will know how my beats will be palpitating
and pain I will be suffering
I know Only the deeds I do will be counted there still i am
unkind to the needy

not more than four people needed for my caravan

But once I was a great businesses man
I don’t know about heaven and hell
Thing I know is death, dreadful death
Still, I am the man, the human being, greedy human being.

-NEHA S BANIYA

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एहसास
खूबसूरत सा एहसास है तू मेरे लिए,
हर पल तुझे ही पाने की चाहत है मुझे।
साथ रहे तू हर पल मेरे,
होती है यही तमन्ना दिल में मेरे।
खूबसूरत सा.....
क्या है अहमियत मेरी जिंदगी में तेरी,
शब्दों में कभी मैं बयां नहीं कर सकती।
और तेरे सिवा जिंदगी मेरी,
कभी सोच नहीं सकती।
खूबसूरत सा......
हर वक्त मेरे पास रहे तू,
ख्वाहिश करती हूं रब से मैं।
कभी ना दूर हो जाए तू मुझसे,
यही दुआ करती हूं रब से मैं।
खूबसूरत सा......

-NIDHI BUDDHDEV

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सपनों से समझोता मत कर
सपनों से समझोता मत कर
हर बार आगे बढ़ने का होंसला रख।
एक दो बार गिरे तो क्या हुआ,
गिरकर उठके चलने की ताकत रख।
राहें नहीं होती है आसान हर बार,
अपने आत्मबल पर भरोसा रख।
मुश्किलें तो आती जाती रहेगी लेकिन
अपने सपने पूरे करने का जुनून रख।
रुकना नहीं है तुझे कभी राह पर,
चींटियों से ये सीखकर चलने की चाहत रख।

-NIDHI BUDDHDEV

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HOW DO I WRITE A POETRY ON YOU,

WHEN WE HAD A LOVE STORY…
Tell me,
How do I write a poem on us
When we had a love story.
Tell me how do I stop thinking about you
Knowing that we had a history.
How do I hold you responsible
For darkening my world,
When you were the only one
Who lightened it when everyone else couldn’t.
How can I say ,
You broke my heart
When once in your heart,
I found a home.
How do I say your eyes lied,
When in those eyes
I once found my paradise.
How do I say
You left me,
When you stayed
Longer than anyone did.
How do I write a poem on us
When we had a love story?
But here I'm writing a poem because you were the part of that
story.

-NIHARIKA KOKA

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I’LL BE A STAR TO YOUR SCAR

Materialistic products?
Nah, they aren't everlasting.
Promise to give you all my time?
Well, you already have my heart.
Get you moon and star?
I can't, actually no one can!
Be with you forever?
I cannot, because that's a myth!
Well,
Even though I cannot get you star,
I promise you to be a star to your scar,
And wish you, looking at shooting star,
I hope it keeps you safe even if we're far.
Though I don't want to give you materialistic products,
As they don't last,
But I promise to give you love that's everlasting.
Even though I cannot get you moon,
I promise you
To be a moon in your darkness.
Even though I cannot give you all my time,
But I promise to be with you whenever you need me.
Even though I cannot promise you forever,
But I promise to be with you
In a way that you'd cherish forever.
-NIHARIKA KOKA

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SKY, AUTUMN AND YOU

Dear sky will you marry me?
Cause when I see you across and over
Across the sea and over the horizon
Cause when you are over me and I am beneath you
I feel so proud and protected and pretty
You make me feel less separated from the sickly sweet world
You make my heart glow
And make me feel butterflies at the pit of my stomach
I look up at you and swallow the lump in my throat
I look at the sky so beautiful and young
Stare at the clouds so free and the sky so open
I feel it call it calling me towards it
You make me feel special
I feel it in my blood when the autumn wind blows against my
body.
Giving me chills, injecting freshness in my veins.
The autumn of yellows, browns and the stretches of red.
The autumn of dry leaves left on the road to be stepped on, to be
felt by young bloods. Young lovers.
The autumn of love.
The autumn of life
Yet the autumn of the dark. Darkness of us
The soothing autumn wind blows through my ears. Making all
the other sounds faint.
It blows on my face kissing every spot of it
The autumn makes me wanna stand in the middle of the road
and spread my arms in the air watching the leaves of love falling
on me.
Dear autumn can I be a part of you? Because you make me feel
loved.
You tell me that I cannot be given upon.
The autumn keeps cherishing me and loving me,
Then you come, turning everything upside down
Who are you?
Why do I feel like I have known you for ages?

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Why does the sky and the autumn feel so lonely without you?
Who are you?
An angel in disguise?
A bird from paradise?
A mermaid from the sea?
Someone that no one else can see?
Have you come for me? Do you find your autumn sky in me?
But why do you always make me sad? Do I really deserve you?
The pink clouds that hover in the sky, the red brown leaves that
are fallen, feel even
more ethereal when I see them with you.
Dear you, can you love me?
Dear you, can you let me touch you?
Can you let me be with you?
Because when I am with you I feel like all the sunshine belongs
to me.
I feel like we belong to the starlight, together
Your smile lights up my whole face,
Happy like the sparrows camouflaging in the autumn.
Crazy and free like the birds gliding through sky
You are special.
Thank you, you make me feel less suffocated.
You make me wanted, love and necessary

-NIMESA MAJEE

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MAYBE THIS IS LONELINESS

Maybe this is what loneliness is,
Maybe this is how loneliness feels.

You want to cry,

But ain't got a shoulder to.

You want to sleep,

But ain't got a lap to.

You want to love,

But ain't got a heart to.

You want to do everything,

But ain't got anything.

Maybe you have everything,

Maybe that still is nothing.

-NISHA VIDYADHAR SHANBHAG

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UNITY IN DIVERSITY
The endless diversity of life,
So divine, so surprising,
reflecting in all spheres,
originating from a single point and thereby diverging to all
around the globe.
Indeed, how surprising is life!!
Everyone being brought up breathing in the same air and water,
yet giving rise to different spectrum of emotions.
Everyone being kneaded out of the same dough,
yet giving rise to different shapes and colours of bread.
Indeed, how surprising is life!!
For, to someone, the entire life goes on working hard, just to
earn a single piece of bread for livelihood,
While to some others, life is all about enjoying a single piece of
meal at a five star restaurant.
To someone, the entire life goes on complaining and making
excuses,
While to some others, life is all about overcoming the hurdles of
life.
For someone, the entire life passes away impressing others,
While to some others, self complacency is indeed the truest
meaning of life.
To someone, life is all about creating a helping hand for others,
While to some others, life is all about creating hurdles for others.
For someone, life is all about becoming a source of inspiration to
others,
While to some others, the same life is becoming a disaster to the
society.
Indeed, how surprising is life!!
Interestingly, we are all different leaves originating from a single
root, unknowingly sharing the same place in unison.
That's the true beauty of life!!
And the truest essence of life is unity in diversity.

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- PARTHAJIT DEV PURKAYASTHA

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YESTERDAY’S TODAY
Yesterday was once a ‘today’!
A ‘today’ that we cheerfully remember as yesterday…
A ‘today’ which could have been better,
Had we learnt to ‘be’ better on that day!!
I looked through my eyes:
The eyes only saw the stained window pane, and nothing
beyond.
Again I looked down the memory lane,
All I remember is the panorama outside that pane!
Those alleyways…
Walking then, I used to consciously remember all the pebbles
and thorns!
Today, I remember those ways but only with a smile,
Walking with my eyes closed in the darkness of my mind!
Walking down those beaches…
Then, I had loved the gentle lapping of the waves;
But, nonetheless had irked at the cacophony all about.
Today, my imagination only paints the sparkling water and azure
sky,
And my heartbeats only sing with the crashing foaming waves!
Yesterday had a sniff, which was both damp and steamed coffee.
But, today that same yesterday smells of our memories, laughter
and cries!

Then, I used to look at the leaves and ferns not so whole, not so
green;
And the crawling little larvae were more than akin!
But today, I remember,
only the colourful butterflies fluttering all over the trees!!

If the yesterday a bit dampened, a bit softened and a bit erased,

Can be so beautiful and bright today, but not retrievable!
Then why let the humdrum affairs, worries and ill-will,
Tarnish a beautiful yesterday’s today?
Why not let’s live a today just as we would, a yesterday’s
today!!!

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-POULAMI SINHAMAHAPATRA

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जिंदगी का सफर
कभी सोचा नहीं था,कभी कु छ चाहा नहीं था
जो मिला खुश था,जो ना मिला उसे कभी मांगा नहीं था
जिंदगी का सफर
कभी चलते चलते थक सा गया फिर भी रुका नहीं था
दर्द भी हुआ तो किसी से कु छ कहा नहीं था
हा,कहना था मुझे कु छ शायद किसी से बहुत लेकिन
मेरी जिंदगी में ऐसा कोई मिला ही नहीं था...
जिंदगी का सफर
कभी रोया नहीं था ,दिल तो कई बार हुआ
पर किसी का सहारा ही नहीं था
आंखे नम हुई तो छु पा लिया
हसीं में अपनी लोगो के सामने
खुद के गम को ही भुला दिया
हा,जिंदगी का सफर मेरा सिर्फ मेरा ही था
क्या करू सब थे साथ फिर भी मेरा अपना कोई नहीं था..
जिंदगी भी कितनी अजीब थी कं धा था लोगो का लेकिन सहारा सब सिर्फ दिखावे
का था
जिसपे चाहा भरोसा करना
अक्सर सिर्फ साथ मेरे वो अपने ही मतलब के लिए था

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जिंदगी में सीकवा अब किसी से नहीं

जब कोई अपना ही नहीं तो फिर किसी से
उम्मीद कभी कु छ करना ही नहीं
जिंदगी का सफर मेरा बस सफर ही है
हम बस चलते रहे आज तक ख़तम हुआ ही नहीं

- PRASHANT CHAUHAN

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दोस्ती ही इश्क है।

दिल का बेहलना जरूरी है,
शायद! इसलिए दोस्ती गहरी होना जरूरी है!
मोहब्बत मुकम्मल हो ना हो पर दोस्त का साथ होना बहुत जरूरी है।
कोई ऐसा जो आपके हर दर्द को समझे
ऐसे दोस्त का होना जरूरी है,
मोहब्बत से अगर साथ छू ट भी जाए,
तो साथ थामने वाले दोस्त का होना जरूरी है।
मोहब्बत ने कभी आपको सर झुकाना सिखाया हो।
तो सर उठा कर चलने की सीख देने वाले दोस्त का होना जरूरी है।
अरे अफसोस है ऐसे इश्क की किस्तों पर, जिसने दिल को ना समझा, जिसने रूह
को ना समझा जिसने सिर्फ हैसियत को समझा और जिसने सिर्फ जिस्म को समझा।
ऐसी मोहब्बत का तो ना होना जरूरी है!
जो सिर्फ आपकी आवाज से आपकी भावनाओं को समझले ऐसे दोस्त का होना
जरूरी है।
अगर कभी सफर आंधी, तूफान या बरसाने वाली रातों का हो !
उस सफर में जो मझधार बने और आप उसकी ढाल बने ऐसे दोस्त का होना जरूरी
है।
जो आपकी तड़पते दिल को शांत कर दे ऐसे दोस्त का होना जरूरी है।

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जिंदगी में अपनों का साथ अक्सर छू ट जाता है मगर

वह ऐसे दोस्त ही तो है
जिनके साथ जिंदगी का सफर कभी खुशी कभी गम, तो कभी भैया ऑल इज वेल
वाली वाली एहसास के साथ यू चुटकी में बीत जाता है।
अगर उस दोस्ती में आपको कभी इश्क मिले तो उसे बस संभाल कर रखना,
अपनी तरफ से पूरी जान लगा देना कभी खोना मत, क्योंकि ऐसे साथी का दोबारा
मिलना जरा मुश्किल है।
-PRATYAKSHA SINGH

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मेरी ‌ये स्याही भी ना..

‌उफ़.. मेरी ‌ये स्याही भी ना.
बस तेरा ही ज़िक्र करना चाहे,
बस तेरा आशना बनना चाहे..
एक नज़र में लगने लगी उसे तू हसीन,
तुझ संग बिताए पल मे ये खोना चाहे,
कभी तेरे आँखों के काजल से रूबरू होना चाहे,
कभी तेरे होठों के लफ़्ज़ों से मरासीम की बात करे,
कभी तेरे लाल बिंदी का रंग बनकर तेरा माथा चूमना चाहे,
कभी तेरे चेहरे के रौनक की बात करे,
तो कभी तेरे शबब का ज़िक्र करे..
उफ़.. मेरी ‌ये स्याही भी ना
बस तेरा ही ज़िक्र करना चाहे,
बस तेरा आशना बनना चाहे..

-PRITHA KONAR

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ALAS! A DAUGHTER
I am,
About to come..
Into this world of numb,
They don't know,
Who I am,
But I know,
They will find it mum..

Science is there,
To find me here..
Now they have given an amount,
To find if it is paravail or paramount..
Fate played a game with me,
Let's see who wins,
You or me..
Fate already knew the truth of prick,
Fool was I who wasn't aware of this trick..

"Instead of bless,
Provided a mess.."
Said they..
At last Fate won,
And I wasn't the one,
After extreme scrutiny,
"It's a baby girl" written in my destiny..

Later challenged Fate,

One day the world will reverse the time and date,
To bring the worth of us,
And we will no longer be anonymous..

- PRITHA KONAR

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MUERTE (DEATH)
Lying on bed of death,
Blood all over and beneath .
Deep breathing and pain,
Crying for last breath in vain.

A girl's dream were shattered ,

Because she knew she didn’t mattered .
She smiled softly, warm tears falling,
thinking of the old days when she was small and crawling.

Happy were those days,

Playing all day in the sun rays.
Everything felt more beautiful,
When she fell in love with a man, soulful.

She was small innocent baby,

In love, believing everybody.
Agony was going to begin,
When the wedding was over with being happy again.

Bleeding elbows, head and cheeks at night,

She understood she didnt chose right.
Thrown in the dark room to decay,
Embracing her death, now she felt okay.
-PRITI DARADE

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ODE TO THE LOST LOVE

Reminiscences of the old days, of love, of monotony, of his and
mine
Amidst mountains and lakes, starry clouds filled the night
Walking through the dark woods, you tame my messy steps
I see you, far away, etching down your thoughts, I see you,
creating art
Did I ever tell you, my love, you are a masterpiece?
Did I ever tell you, my love, you are a monster?
We had unspoken silences, we had awkward laughs,
I found myself caged in a strange city full of friendly men.
You touched me, you grabbed my arm, did you know me?
Years of silence, pinning me down, every night - did you know
me?
Oh! The sheer pain I felt - you left me to walk alone, bleeding.
Eyes ogling me down, a thin cloak failing to keep me safe
Where were you then, my lost love?
I fall deep, deep down the ocean, waves crushing my body.
"Let go," he shouts, giggling from the shore, sun shining far
above.
I fight, I fight to breathe, your fingers choking me down.
Paper boats floating away, so peaceful, oh, so serene.
Love, farewell thee! I drown alone.
Now, I drown alone.

-PRIYADARSHINI BHATTACHARJEE

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AN ETERNAL LOVE
Once they were sitting on the hill top
Hand in hand under an umbrella.
It was monsoon
And they were
Reminiscing their first day of meeting ,
Looking at the green jungle they thought -
“Our love is as green as those leaves”
And their faces were illuminating.
It was autumn
And the jungle was an amalgamation of fiery red and thirsty
yellow,
They were roaming in the jungle.
“Why are the leaves so still?”, asked the boy;
With a warm hug she whispered
“It’s time to regenerate our love.”
It was winter and the jungle was white with snow ;
Said the girl, “ Can’t see the leaves anymore”.
The smiling face from the opposite side replied ,
“Our love is as pure as the snow”
And the wind of happiness started to blow.
They are still walking together through all the seasons ,
Love grows everyday between them,
Every season shows a new reason ,
To sit on the hill top ,
To cherish their love again and again.

- PRIYANKA BANERJEE

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YOU AND ME
Lying on the sand he counts the stars,
Again and again his eyes become blur.
Neither, he allows his tears
To roll down;
Nor he allows his mind
To break down.
World teaches him, “Men should not cry”
And he knows, he must try
To showcase his strength.
Yes, everyone is not worthy enough
To see your tears ,
Be strong
And demolish your fears.
I am your shoulder ,
I am your strength,
Keep your head here,
And
Let it rain.

- PRIYANKA BANERJEE

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CAN A BOY AND A GIRL BE BEST

FRIENDS?
This is an age old question for some
But the answer is yet to come
So why not decide today if it's true
By comparing the stories I've found few

Story 1

We met in school and bonded right away

We knew our friendship was here to stay
Through much ordeal, misunderstandings and our feels
We welcome you here on our wedding day

Story 2

He is the real one I ever found

Through the fake reality he was my solid ground
He was here when everyone left me alone
He's so much like me he's like my this male clone

Story 3

We were kids who grew up together

First in Greece and then Paris we gathered
We all need a friend to share our woes
Because wherever I go there he goes

Story 4

She understands me in a way no one else can

Prioritises me over any of her man
She's there when I need, she's all that I need
A friend forever as we have several times agreed.

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Story 5

I met my ex then I met her

She was just her friend, for me she's sister
The best listener I could ever find
She's got a kind heart and a sharper mind

Story 6 (My own)

Hats off to this one guy I met

A work bestie so great one could ever get
Handles me well, cares so deeply
No longer just a friend, he's more like family

So the answer we have was the one we wanted

A girl and boy best friend is a wish that's granted
No matter if it changes no matter if it gets tough
Tolerates prejudice but always retains the same love.

-PRIYANKA DHULL

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DEATH
I see the horror when you hear my name,
The screeches as I come to claim my share in the game.
It is true that my demeanour is of darkness,
An aftermath of stillness
And manic depressive illness.
But as you will scour my roots,
You will see tranquility and sleep are my only substitutes.
I, who, see the reality
Torment and agony of the mortality
And the sanctimony of divinity.
I, who, liberate humanity from its shackles,
Putting an end to its dreadful endless battles.
I, who, procure its remains,
Like a mother grasping carcass of her child’s remains.
Look into my truth,
I seek to bring ease and sooth.
I,who, is not intoxicating
Rather unfettering the souls in waiting.
I, who, is death.

-RAGHAVI ARORA

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शरारत उसकी भोली

‌उफ़.. मेरी ‌ये स्याही भी ना.
बस तेरा ही ज़िक्र करना चाहे,
बस तेरा आशना बनना चाहे..
एक नज़र में लगने लगी उसे तू हसीन,
तुझ संग बिताए पल मे ये खोना चाहे,
कभी तेरे आँखों के काजल से रूबरू होना चाहे,
कभी तेरे होठों के लफ़्ज़ों से मरासीम की बात करे,
कभी तेरे लाल बिंदी का रंग बनकर तेरा माथा चूमना चाहे,
कभी तेरे चेहरे के रौनक की बात करे,
तो कभी तेरे शबब का ज़िक्र करे..
उफ़.. मेरी ‌ये स्याही भी ना
बस तेरा ही ज़िक्र करना चाहे,
बस तेरा आशना बनना चाहे..

-RAHUL RAJ

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मां तू सर्वोपरि है

जिसकी हर बात निराली होती है ,

मां जो सबसे प्यारी होती है ।
मां के डांट में ही सारा प्यार छिपा ,
जिसने हमें बहुमूल्य प्यार दिया ।
हमें बीजा हमें उपजाया ,
पोधों की भांति हमें सींचा ।
लिखना पढ़ना हमें सिखाया ,
अच्छे संस्कारों का हमें सीख दिया ।
जीवन का पाठ हमें पढ़ाया ,
सद गुणों से अवगत कराया ।
सच्चे पथ पर चलना हमें सिखाया ,
हालातों से उबरना हमें सिखाया ।
करते है हम नमन उनको ,
जिसने हमें सच्चा इंसान बनाया ।

-RAHUL RAJ

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WINGS OF A BUTTERFLY

I shall fly :
With no caterpillar reflections
On a prior day's afflictions
With no limits on my hopes
And my dreams without restrictions.

I shall rise:
Like the mist of a meadow
From the baby cocoon
Like the sun on a day
That is fresh and a new boon.

I shall see :
The flowers around me
Full of nectar, surrounded by bees
I shall smell the fragrance of change
From the angle of the breeze.

I shall hear:
The wind's voice --
Hey pretty!
You are harder to catch as per your choice.

-DR RAMSHA RIZWAN

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TO MY GRANDMOTHER
You are the first memory of my childhood,
the hands that taught me to walk.
Now I want to be that little girl again and
walk down memory lane holding your hands.

I remember playing with you

in the backyard every evening.
I remember you saving me from
mom's scold for my little mistakes.
I loved braiding your thin black hair
and every stories you told me.

You never told me stories of princesses

waiting to be saved by their prince charming,
those were tales of valour of warriors
and heroes, who fought against all odds.
I was inspired to be one among them.

Your wisdom showed me light

in the darkest alleys of life.
Though you are not with me,
memories of those bygone days
and the values you taught me
are treasured in my heart forever.

-RESHMA V RADHAKRISHNAN

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बचपन की मीठी यादें।

जब भी याद करती हूँ अपने बचपन को,
तो होठो पे भीनी सी मुस्कान,
और दिल में दफ़न उन मीठी यादों,
का मानो किसी ने पिंजरा खोल दिया हो,
वो दिन भी कितने मजेदार थे,
गुड्डे-गुड़ियो संग खेलना,
उनकी शादी रचाना।
मिट्टी के छोटे छोटे बर्तन तो,
मेरी छोटी सी रसोई का अहम हिस्सा थे,
बारिश में खेलने,
और काग़ज की नाव बनाकर उनकी दौड़ लगवाना,
वो मंज़र ही कु छ और था।
रविवार की सुबह वो समोसे- जलेबी का नाश्ता,
और शाम को कु ल्फ़ीवाले की कु ल्फ़ी,
का अलग ही मजा था।
रात को जब कभी बत्ती चली जाती,
तो छत पर चादर बिछाकर,
लालटेन जलाकर अंताक्षरी खेलते थे।
ना जाने कब बड़े हो गए,
कब जिम्मेदारियों के तले जीना ही भूल गए।
आज भी बचपन की मीठी यादें याद आती है।।

-RINKI KHANNA

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TINY BUD
Alone in childhood
Growing within the timorous walls of the mind
Watching serene skies and silent fields
The mind so paltry
One second craving for love and attention
The next muddled in mind games
The innocent face manifesting signs of wisdom
Questions making turmoil in his brain
The meaning of childhood
Concealed
To the unwary mind
Just like the tiniest bud
He is now ready
To make those beautiful blue eyes
Shine so bright
That even the tiniest bit of light
Sparkle and spin
Later he would understand
That
Broken pencils and incomplete homeworks
Was better than
Broken hearts and foiled dreams

-RISHAV VISENSINGH RAJPUT

109
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NEW DAWN
The fear of death
Endless scuffles and brawls
For the potion of immortality
But ask thyself
Do you truly desire to live long?
Watching your darlings and pet
Wither and fade away
While you prolong
Your sufferings in this place
Haven't you witnessed enough?
Thou shouldn't fear death
Because quietus sets you
On a trail of deliverance
Look in the eyes
Of your fate
Accept it
Don't dread it
Look at it as the new dawn
As a pleasant surprise

- RISHAV VISEN SINGH RAJPUT

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MY TIME WITH THE DARK

And that's the beauty of the darkness!
When the world sleeps itself to ignorance,
The one who is awake feels the substance of eternity.
With emotions flooding, a gentle river traces its path from the
ocean.
A seemingly green expanse turns pitch black in the night,
Tumbling down the road taken often a serene flow is
established.
The nights are indeed beautiful in an incredible way of their
own.
Something so unexplored and evocative can be truly
mesmerizing....
Lest you fear the reality or despise the perpetual slumber,
That's what they don't understand that darkness is the nature's
materiality!
While all the daylight brings is chicanery;
Darkness is when the human heart caustic with pungency of
broad sunlight reveals its true self....
The wounds we have been
Pretending we don't have,
Begin to haunt us In the brevity of night!

-RISHEEK GUPTA

111
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REFLECTIONS
In the windows, I see those reflections;
Reflections I hate, and reflections I adore,
From dusk till dawn and from noon to night;
Until I cannot see no more!
In these closed confinements;
I built a paradise of my own,
Away from the chaotic outsides;
Away from those daily chores.
I get to see what it means;
Being away from the disruption binding us together,
A moment of solitude and peace;
Something that, ALAS! Can't last forever!
And yet when I gauge my conscious;
I find myself pretty petrified,
To head back into the reality;
From a world of merry illusions by my side!
But when I dived deep into those reflections;
I saw my own eyes,
Evading a tangible future ahead of me;
No beginning to fathom, full of fear and lies.
A sweet melody is now ringing in my head and I have to return
from the world of reflections,
I have to learn to Create beautiful consequences and head
towards my vindication.

-RISHEEK GUPTA

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बचपन तू ने जीना सिखाया

मशगूल रहते है हम
ए बचपन तेरी याद में
तूने ही तो मज़े दिए जिंदगी के
जिमेदारियां और दर्द तो आये बाद में
मीठा दर्द होता था
जब बचपन में हम गिरते थे
जवानी में अगर गिरते हैं
तो सातों आसमां हिलते हैं
बचपन में कोई चीज न थी खुद की
नाही फ़िक्र किसी बात की
बुढ़ापे में सबकु छ हैं
लेकिन नींद गयी हैं रात की
सच कहता हूँ ए बचपन
जिंदगी जीना तूने सिखाया
जवानी और बुढ़ापे ने तो आखिर में
मौत का ही खेल दिखाया

-RITESH RAJENDRA GHATMALE

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क्या कहूँ तुझे

तुझे समंदर कहा
तो तुझ में डू ब जाऊँ गा
तुझे आसमाँ कहा
तो तुझमें खो जाऊँ गा
तुझे धड़कन अगर कहा
तो धड़कता रहूँगा
तुझे मंजिल अगर कहा
तो भटकता रहूँगा
तुझे समय अगर कहा
तो वही ठहर जाऊँ गा
तुझे शाम अगर कहा
तो वही ढल जाऊँ गा
तुझे अगर कु छ ना कहा
तो सोचता ही रह जाऊँ गा
और तुझे कु छ कहा
तो सोचना भूल जाऊँ गा

-RITESH RAJENDRA GHATMALE

114
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COME, WALK WITH ME

Come, walk with me into the nature's blessed abode,
To see the wondrous beauty the Earth has endowed,
We will bask in the splendour of sunlight,
And listen to the chirping of the birds forthright,
As sounds of whispering trees and burbling streams,
Make our minds wander in lovely dreams.

We will walk where sunlight goes down below,

Making paths easy to flow.
Come sit beneath the glowing embers of an autumn tree,
Colours of which are a natural wonder to see.
In winter the forest seems to be a still desolate place,
Waiting for spring to open its vase.

It is here that together we ponder,

About the realities of life and wonder,
How to overcome our difficulties,
And nicely fulfil our responsibilities.
Every now and then let us answer the nature's call,
To come and see life's beauty and the miracle of it all.

-DR. RIZWAN AHMAD

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SAUDADE
All alone in my home
Searching you in a dark zone
Somewhere in the zone
Causing me to be alone
I find hope in our memories
That's the only one giving me those energies
Please pick up the phone
For I've never felt so alone
My sleep is very hard and rare
Because you aren't there
Please come back for my sake
Because of you I am always awake
Missing you from those morning lights
Until those late nights
Come back soon
Missing you until the moon

-S J SEDRICK

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SARANGHAE
A day doesn't pass without
Seeing you my sweet little heart
Counting every stars to know
Where you are
All alone in this empty room
Waiting to see you very soon
Silent words are hard to speak
For your thoughts is what I seek
Without you there is emptiness in my heart
Hope I don't depart
Couldn't bear the distance
That's keeping us in existence
Come soon before the monsoon
And lite up my room
All I need is us together but never to be apart

-S J SEDRICK

117
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CRIES
I stood in between
My ears splitting with the loud cries,
Of a joyful mother and a teary wife.

The death of a father of an unborn child,

And the melodious 'uludhwani' to welcome the bride.
I stood in between
Hearing both the tumultuous cries!

One son leaving his parents behind,

Another son is giving the cause to smile,
The child would never see his father again,
I stood watching both the scene
With tears of joy and pain!

This is the rule of the world of God

One goes away and another takes its pot.
Cries and smiles, tears and laughter
This is the mystery of the Nature!
I stood in between
The candles and lights brightening a home,
Another is plunged in darkness and gloom.
My house lies in between the two.
I stood watching both the views!

-SAHELI BANERJEE

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BROKEN SOUL
I am weak...I am not strong
I'ven't done anyone wrong,
Why it’s me who suffers the most?
I am dead. I am lost.

I can remember the first time I cried,

How I wiped the tears,
Buried the pain inside.
All my memories good and bad that's passed
Didn't even take time to realise.

Staring at the crack in the wall,

Waiting for it all to come to an end,
Still I curl up right under the bed,
'Cause it’s taking place over my head,
All over again!

Lying awake, watching the sunlight.

How the birds will sing,
As I count the rings around my eyes,
Constantly pushing!

-SAHELI BANERJEE

119
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THE MIDNIGHT OF LIFE

Life is stuck at a place called midnight,
Far is the dawn and emptiness is bright.

Half way yesterday & half to tomorrow,

Between the lines is a soul full of sorrow.

Lost my faith, my vision & my soul,

Searching the paths to become whole.

Without you I scream in my thoughts,

Wherever I see I witness you lots.

I miss you when my heart beats,

Your name is what my heart repeats.

I don't know why you went away,

The colourful rainbow is seeming grey.

I miss you with every breath I take,

My shattered world is now at stake.

Am yearning to live a moment with you,

I wish before you I would have bid adieu.

-SANDHITA PURBI

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AND YOU PRETEND YOU ARE GONE

And you pretend you are gone.

I sleep on your cotton clotted pillow,

And I still  feel your lap's billow.
You always break my darkness to dawn,
And you pretend that you are gone.

I still sleep on your side of bed,

A sleep where your dreams are fed.
You subtract negatives & make an add-on.
And you pretend that you are gone.

When I break to tears and am a mess,

I feel you in my heart when you caress.
You are running in my veins to keep me on,
And you pretend that you are gone.

I live a life in your memory lane,

Where there is no one to see my pain.
You rebuild my strength when I feel like a pawn.
And you pretend that you are gone.

-SANDHITA PURBI

121
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अंधेरापन
जिंदगी की शुरुआत होती अंधेरे से
खत्म भी उसे अंधेरे में
रोशनी कु छ चंद लम्हों की मेहमान है
उस अंधेरे को कभी ना कभी दस्तक तो देना है
किसी को अंधेरे की खोज नहीं
पर अंधेरा किसी से दूर नहीं
चांद रोशनी के पल को सवाल लो
क्योंकि यही जीवन का नियति है
अंधेरे से शुरू अंधेरे पर खत्म है

-SANGHAMITRA SWAIN

THE WARM ARMS

In arms of your, I just surrender my soul I am no more
Just clench me closed that on one can come close then you and
me
Let's the air know the essence of you and me
let the Aroma of our love spread like the blossom of winter
Do not let me go away from your warm arms that are carrying
me all away
Just hold me tight that no one can see me today
That no one can see me today
-SANGHAMITRA SWAIN

122
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तेरे प्यार के
तेरी यादें हर पल मेरी जिंदगी में घसीटकर
खोये हुए अपनापन को महसूस करवाकर
तेरे लिए जो प्यार मैं संभाल कर रखी
तुझसे नफरत का नाटक करके
खुदको भी ना संभाल पायी मैं आज..
दुश्मन थे तुम मेरे
ऐसा पहचान घोषित किया मैं तुझे
मैं कितनी कोशिश करूँ
अपने आप को ये एहसास दिलाने के
जितने व्यर्थे थे मेरे हमदर्दी तुम्हारे सामने
कभी लगता है लायक़ भी नहीं तेरे प्यार के ...
अपने आप से शीशे में देखकर पूछती हूं..
क्या मुजमे इतनी शक्ति है कि मैं तुझे भूल पाऊं ?
तेरी चेचरा सिर्फ हस्ता है वह तोड़ा सा
जब तुझे नज़र आता है मुझे
सिर्फ जान पहचान कि वह निशानी छोड़ने के लिए
लेकिन जो रिश्ता इतना गहरा था..
टू टने के सामान है,
ये जो अनजाने की बर्ताव तेरी..
जिससे तुमने सल्कारित किया है मुझे |

-SANJANA KRISHNAN VK

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स्त्री अवतार
एक लड़की ने इस भूमि में अपने पैर आगे रख दिए
जन्म हुआ एक मासूमियत का
भोलापन नज़र आती है, चेहरे देखने पर उसकी
जो ली एक स्त्री अवतार
अके ली नहीं थी जन्म उसकी धरती में
साथ पैदा हुआ सौ सपने
सहन शक्ति नामक तलवार सौंप दिया रब ने,
कु रबान का राज़ बता दिया खुदा ने उसे..
जो कदम रखी एक स्त्री अवतार में
जो गुड़िया जैसी प्यारी,
सुन्दर ऐसी, सूरज की सुनेहराई जैसी
खेलते-मचलते,चलते -बढ़ते,
शादी में बँधी,एक औरत बनी आखिर..
प्यास है उसे जीने की..
अपनी आँगन को खुशियों से भरने की
स्त्री अवतार मै रहे ही हर स्थिति में वीरांगना बनने की!
मरती है लोगों के जान में बसते ही ,
जो मिटाई हर मुश्किल,
पायी वह जो हर मंज़िल..
बन जाती है ईस्वर की प्यारी, सपनों भरे जन्नत में |

-SANJANA KRISHNAN VK

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LETTER TO LOVE
(some memories never fade)

I need you in the darkness

So that my darkness can go away
I miss you in the time of lonelines
So that my lonelines can go away
I care for you ,
because in my heart you live
I talk about you ,
because in my words there are prayers for you.
I see you in my eyes ,
because you live in my eyes so I can see and enjoy each and
every rainbow of life.
You are my strength
which make me stronger and stronger day by day
Whenever I fall you hold me as you are my backbone
whenever I feel insecure you always came and hold my hands ...
You always says that we are like diya and bati types
I always laughed on this but today I feel yes we are incomplete
without eachother .
Once again thanks for coming in my life our memories will
always remain in my heart .

-SANYA TIKARYA

125
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तेरी राधा नहीं रुक्मणी बनना चाहती हूँ !!

एक लड़की ने इस भूमि में अपने पैर आगे रख दिए

जन्म हुआ एक मासूमियत का
भोलापन नज़र आती है, चेहरे देखने पर उसकी
जो ली एक स्त्री अवतार
अके ली नहीं थी जन्म उसकी धरती में
साथ पैदा हुआ सौ सपने
सहन शक्ति नामक तलवार सौंप दिया रब ने,
कु रबान का राज़ बता दिया खुदा ने उसे..
जो कदम रखी एक स्त्री अवतार में
जो गुड़िया जैसी प्यारी,
सुन्दर ऐसी, सूरज की सुनेहराई जैसी
खेलते-मचलते,चलते -बढ़ते,
शादी में बँधी,एक औरत बनी आखिर..
प्यास है उसे जीने की..
अपनी आँगन को खुशियों से भरने की
स्त्री अवतार मै रहे ही हर स्थिति में वीरांगना बनने की!
मरती है लोगों के जान में बसते ही ,
जो मिटाई हर मुश्किल,
पायी वह जो हर मंज़िल..
बन जाती है ईस्वर की प्यारी, सपनों भरे जन्नत में |

-SANYA TIKARYA

126
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UNCONDITIONAL LOVE
Falling in love with you
Was the only choice I've had
That swept me off my feet
And I literally gone mad.
I felt butterflies dancing inside me
And everything seemed so blurred
What I could see was only you
Everywhere your voice murmured.
I walked into love with you
Choosing every step along the way
Started believing in fate and destiny
And had almost gone astray.
Just to say I love you
Was never enough for me
You've always meant more than that
More love than you've ever seen.
My love for you will never fade
I've said this many times
You'll remain in my poetry
To make more beautiful rhymes.

-SHEEREEN SIDDIQUI

127
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CHASING YOUR DREAMS

You should rather give up your life
Than giving up on your dreams
Or choose to find a way for them
By walking through every stream.
Like a tree takes time to grow
You can't get what you want
With just a blink of an eye,
Everything has a time to happen
Your chance will soon come to fly high.
You are allowed to dream big o dear!
Just try and try and try
God will test your patience though,
But you don't ever dare to cry.
Save your tears for the day
That you wished to see from so long
Your eyes will shower the tears of joy
And nothing will any more seem wrong.
Just set your mind to face the challenges
And let yourself scream,
Coz that day is not so far
When you're gonnafulfill your dream.

-SHEEREEN SIDDIQUI

128
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ON THE PATH OF LOVE

On the path of love
Let's walk with loyalty..
No cheats... no lies..
No burden... no cries..
Just love... love and love should be between us..
I'll call you my King... You call me your Queen..
Just love blooming between...
No doubts can make us apart..
Let's took our relationship ...
Into another spark..
You are the wish...
That fulfilled for me..
Everything happens for a reason..
Now It makes a sense to me...

- SHIKHA SHALET SARKAR

THAT’S ME
Old fashioned...Or way too better..
Don't know what suits me the best..
But I know... I am best among the rest.
You party... I stay at home..
Caring my mom... When ever she's alone.
Responsibility they call it...
Its love... I show it.
Floating my ideas... Want some rest..
A shoulder that can carry.. All my weight ...
A man that make me his princess ..
Oh am I dreaming... Let be awake..

- SHIKHA SHALET SARKAR

129
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SHE
The very reason of existence,
The power-packed athlete,
The coy bride,
The wrinkled oldie;
Don't wither, hold it!

Some bloom in the reverie of a casanova,

Whereas few are forced for a companionship under the cosh,
Some are wished for courtship,
Few are dreamt of tying into nuptial;
Alas! They are categorised under the convenience, Sigh!

She has the rugged heart,

an endured mind,
yet a magnanimous soul,
that magnifies her grandeur;
Don't take her for granted,
For she being so kind!

Pull her from the wreckage, else she too can wreck, what's she
has restored;

Don't treat her like an onus

Don't encumber
Till when she will relinquish?
Till eternity?

-SHRUTI KUMARESH

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WHEN I’M IN PAIN, I PEN DOWN……

When I am in pain,
I pen down,
Shed a teardrop and scribble the unspoken,
rather to wear a clown ;

Being vocal about it, is what made me evil,

They anticipates that I might aim to chisel;

I'm expected to stop being opinionated,

I need to carry the woman in me falsely decorated;

They instigate me to bury my woes,

Disclosing it to society may thrust me into some more blues;

-SHRUTI KUMARESH

131
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DREAMS
Small or Big,
Cute or Dreadful,
Gives pleasance or horror,
It does not follow anyone’s order.
It’s approach never assure,
Uncertainty even in happening true.
I am talking about dreams
Which can give screams
Or even pleasant sleep.
As the eyes open,
Often activates skip button,
Forgetting what had happen.
But often sticks in mind
And force to think,
Was there any hidden hint?
To be taken care
Before doing any deed.
Dreams often build a ladder
As it want us to reach higher.
Whether in day or night,
No matter what time,
What matters is action and passion,
For making dream reality with perfection.

- SHRUTI LAD

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PEN’S DREAM
My pen is eager
To have something written.
But mind is in trouble,
To get some words,
That would burst,
Fulfil the thirst
Removing the dust,
Make such an impact,
Mind would be force to visualize.
And then would realize,
After a long span,
When they become old man,
Even though forget words,
But they have idea,
Hanged in mind.
It would give them feeling kind,
And will find for same words.
My pen is eager,
To fulfil it’s dream
And fill face with grin.

- SHRUTI LAD

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ESCAPE
Devastated in reality
Dreams are my only escape
Solace moulded by myself
To fill the dimensional gap!
I can't cry in reality
Dreams are my only escape
Screams as loud as they could
To calm the pain in the manner they should!
I can't laugh in reality
Dreams are my only escape
Fill the aroma with my subtle voice
To be heard by God with no noise
I can't envy for things in reality
Dreams are my only escape
With imaginative power I build
To hide, the strongest shield!
Senses are lost in reality
Dreams are my only escapes
I am a child living in a fantasy set
After the accident that I met!

-SHUBHASHISH

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LOVE
Eternal love,
I want more of you,all of you.
I dance at the tune of your endearment
You beautiful soul you're so magnificent
The tenderness of your touch and
your lively presence.
I wanna cry because i don't deserve this.
A perfect man so flawless.
The night when you moulded me in your arms for the first time,
I danced silently, mesmerized and shy,
when you leaned to whisper in my ear
I almost felt weak in my knees,you knew
You said i looked graceful
And placed a kiss on my bare cold cheek
You were so mellow,as we danced side to side
The intimacy so pure,so dignified
Oh love i see the universe dancing in your eyes.
The charm of your smile,my eyes can't let go
I am falling for you, together let's grow old
Give me all of you,let this night go slow.

-SIDDHI KALVANKAR

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क्या मुझे कभी समझ पाएगा वो..

आसान सी थी ज़िंदगी मेरी
सपने लेकर आया था वो
खुशियों से भरा दामन मेरा
और चैन चुरा ले गया वो
क्या मुझे कभी समझ पाएगा वो??
दुनिया मेरी सीमित थी मुझमें
अपना मुझे बना गया वो
जीना सीखा था अके ले मैंने
ठोकरें खाते छोड़ गया वो
क्या मुझे कभी समझ पाएगा वो??
लाखो अरमान थे दिल में
उन्हें जगा गया था वो
चुर चूर कर हिम्मत मेरी
मुझे मात देकर गया वो
क्या मुझे कभी समझ पाएगा वो??
मेरे सपनों का था मसीहा जो
सपने मेरे तोड़ गया वो
काबिल थी मै जिसके भी
साथ काबिलियत ले गया वो
क्या मुझे कभी समझ पाएगा वो??
होता था दिन शुरू जिससे
मन मेरा ले गया वो
आंख ना लगे आवाज सुने बिन
नींद मेरी ले गया वो
क्या मुझे कभी समझ पाएगा वो??
बात अपनी अगर सुनाए उसे
तो बोल मेरे रुकाता वो
भरकर जज़्बात फिर दिल में
मुझे ही बाते सुनाता वो

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क्या मुझे कभी समझ पाएगा वो??

उम्मीदे नहीं थी ज्यादा उससे
पर प्यार भी न दे पाया वो
छोड़कर मुझे फिर अके ला
हर वक़्त क्यों चला गया वो
क्या मुझे कभी समझ पाएगा वो??

-SNEHA LONKAR

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A LAST SHOT
Mirroring dejection , sipping harmony,
Bubbling scars into silence, my heart still beats a cacophony,
Shattered and thumped,
Laying flat ,cold and bumped ,
I drank the poison pretending it to be wine ,
It hurts deep down , loosing my dear sunshine ,
But what could I have possibly done ,
Gave my fullest , still couldn't reach my sun ,
So if what tomorrow will be a dark night ,
I'm proud that being crippled I still gave a fight ,
May be this war ain't made for me ,
So at the end I did bend my knee ,
With a scarred heart there I lay,
I wish it was made of clay !
Hoping someone flags it someday ,
Or May be you could have asked me to stay !

-SOMIL JAIN

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CHOCOLATE DREAMS
Holding my breath , grasping the shiny stars ,
Peeping their twinkle , fighting my cold wars,
Constellating thoughts , making my own galaxies,
Jumping on the moon , witnessing cosmic tragedies ,
Darting asteroidal anger on various planets,
And crying in joy watching those heavenly comets,
Trespassing the various black holes,
and Tunneling love into infinite worm holes! ,
Burning all the heart breaks in the sun ,
And picturing my moon like a cheese bun!
Running a marathon , greater than light's speed,
Is it ambition or is it my manky greed?
Speculating spacely fireworks and the devilish dark,
There i lay on my bed , running my fingers on cloudy pillows,
making my own mark!

-SOMIL JAIN

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FACADE
She fell for his
Infactuatingly fleeting facade
Tinted with specks of gold
That disappears within a
Wink of breeze
Whose love never cease
Leaving her imagination
Scattered into a million pieces

- SONIA JOSEPH

DREAM
I dream of dancing
Among weeds and wildflowers
In secret meadows
Encompassed by wilderness
Free from constraints of time
They find so many words to describe me
Yet not a single word to define me
I'm a mystery and will forever
Live like one
Unsolved and unique

- SONIA JOSEPH

WORDS LEFT UNSAID….

Under the tangerine skies
With zephyrs sprinting by
On a vast sandy shore
Our hearts entwined for more
Soft soothing symphonies playing by
Silohuette of birds flying high
Hand in hand we soar with love
Watching the iridescent hues form above

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Men in their crisp suits

Women in their best flashy boots
Smiles and laughter
Joys and everafter
They exchanged their vows
Under delicately arranged boughs
Was all but a wish
She could dream about
But
Some wishes and dreams remain a doubt
While
Some remain unsaid throughout..

- SONIA JOSEPH

KISS-AN EROTIC DREAM

"Revealing in the pleasant
taste of honey
Their senses entangling
Breaths infused with each other
Craving to melt
The frozen moments of time
Tuning into a rhythm
As if their kiss wereit's song
And
Their lips instruments of music".
Awwwww! What a wonderful dream I had;she thought
Waking up she gazed at their wedding photograph,the moment his
lips touched her it felt complete a feeling of sweet symphonies
moaning to escape. She felt every moment of that very special day.
Clutching the photo to her chest she whispered "I love you;your the
best ". She retires to her cold bed awaiting to dream until the
breaking of dawn.

- SONIA JOSEPH

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ACT1: TODAY
If all the world's a stage and all the men and women merely
players;
Claim the lead in your own play and forget the pay
Hooray when you're gay and say nay to dismay!
Don't spare a chance to sing and dance
and put your audience in a trance!
Own the tragedies,comedies and romance;
Life's too short to be a llama in someone else's drama.
Never was a play like yours written:
None but you will ever be as fitting!
Embrace the spotlight before the curtains fall;
Having enthralled every eyeball as you exit the hall
Because they knew even as you bid adieu,
To thine ownself you were true

- SREELAKSHMI VISWAM

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SLEEPING BEAUTY
Sleep my sorrow and pain
Sleep the storms inside my brain
Sleep my runaway dreams and ghoulish screams
Sleep my uprising fears and unshed tears
Sleep my loveless heart and opened scars;
In the morn my demons shalt know no bars.

My prince when he hails

for his Sleeping beauty will fail
to find she who believed in fairy tales,
because the monsters in her head
killed the monsters beneath her bed.

- SREELAKSHMI VISWAM

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CONSCIOUSNESS
I could admit,
This time
that I had hunger for lost enthusiasm, happiness and love.
Scribbled thoughts which run calmly in search of abeyance —
an abeyance to reach out my leftover pieces in an old me
and the eyes which could see beyond horizons;
strangely January is again a beautiful lie, only at nights can you
trust
The feelings in warm blanket,
To what they sensed all day.

-SRISHTI MATHUR

DISCERNING CONVENTION
With
Distorted perfections,
Fractured perceptions,
And
Unfulfilled abstractions,
We are all
"Cracked"
In our own way!

-SRISHTI MATHUR

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SOCIETY
Hey, Happy Birthday!!!
: Thank you, girl!
: You are now 27.Right?
: Yeah! I am super excited.
: That’s great. Anyways what’s your plan now?
: About what?
: Come on! Plan to get married.
: Excuse me!
: What? Every girl should get married at 27-28.
: Oh!! Is it mandatory??
: No, but…
: Then it’s my choice. Right?
: Yeah…
: Then please let me decide. I’ll decide when to get married.
: Sure thing dear. But this is the time you need some
companionship.
: Ok! Let me tell you that I’m happily single and I’m super
happy and satisfied with life. So stop being dramatic and stop
bothering about me.
: …but…society will not spare you!
: You are the society!!

-SUBHALAXMI SENAPATI

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WIDOW
Bangles snatched,
Mirrors broken to shreds,
Gates closed even for breads,
Greens,yellows and blues are for girls,
Red is for brides,
Limit yourself only to whites you hapless woman.
Dance is barred, you shouldn’t know the music.
Hush! Hush! Hush!
You should never tell about your rights.
When your husband died, burnt on pyre,
Why didn’t you jump into it?
Don’t worry my child, don’t be surprised.
I’m the society; I’ll bring your demise.
Or simply, I’ll erase your identity.

-SUBHALAXMI SENAPATI

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I WANNA LOVE YOU MORE

If we reach at the edge of the universe someday,
Hold my hand in the darkness
The starless sky,
The skyless beyond!
Like a shroud upon the darklings condemned,
To accept satiation into the meaningless hope of incidents called
life.
How do they claw and scratch till they work their way, into the
throbbing flesh of humanity
Ripped to sherds,
Seasoned with judgements and opinions, roasted in the vessel of
desires.
When we are blind and hurtling here and there searching in for
love.
Centuries later,
Maybe we blow dandelions
To ensure that we casually dump into each other,
and become soulmates in a while.
On the other hand of the Earth where the Sun still shines
Until the ultimate dark.
Like the last strongest flicker of a glow room.

-SUBHALAXMI SENAPATI

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WHEN SKY FEELS LIKE HEAVEN

Seasons stay busy,
Taking the turns some holds the truth with all the species some
are born to change their colours.
Some alter inner feelings,
Some are amateur to child-like behaviour, others are scaling to
the levels of maturity but the best part of cosmos is we can act
anything liberally.
During an era of seasonal
changes and sands of time.
I'll germinate seeds of love, while others get to taste the sweet
pulp of this plant.
Nonetheless its happiness and harmony,
I wish to give away.
If the death pays a visit,
I can hug her peacefully,
Even God will answer, "to give the fruits of your labour I didn't
wait"

-SUBHALAXMI SENAPATI

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DREAM CATCHER
Morning sunshine
Beam of symphonies
Escorting glittery zephyr
Blessed her window
Warbler's euphony
Indelible serenity.

Embroidered with a wise silence

Her crimson lips sparkle
Crystal sublime melodies
She hides metaphors
In her colossal eyes
Scent of raindrops
Decorate her velveteen hair.

When it's night

The sound of silence
Amidst the faraway lands
Northern lights
Her window hugs
Ecstasies of paradise

Splendorous her ambience

You ponder and decipher?
Her pursuit of solace.
She carries patience in her bag
Hope, her secret narrating tales to the blanket of stars.
Her aura escalate tranquility.
For she is the Moon
Beautiful with her scars.

-SUBHALAXMI SENAPATI

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TANGLED LIFE
Captured by the darkness
My soul flaps its wings
Against the gloomy cage
Bleeds profusely and cries still
Mislaid are the hopes
Memories turned facade
Ecstacy a mere mirage
And love is nothing but
Luminously disapproved fallacy.

-SUBHALAXMI SENAPATI

ETERNAL SKY
Walking down the alley way,
I found myself looking at the sky
Forwards the adobe of eternity
Searching for the admist stars.
With pearls of rain dropping on me
In its wetness so divine with a sway.
I was in the search of beauty.
All along the eternal sky.

-SUBHALAXMI SENAPATI

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MOVE ON
They said move on...
A Move on will count upon
N the whole of you will transformed
Still move on
Cause there is a success awaiting
Spring is glittering
U have a social cause
U should move on...
U gonna be get an identity
There is an opportunity
U will earn...u will learn..u will churn
U will strengthen the society
Just Move on....
Leaving your roots behind
Half of your life you invest.
The people and their respect
Let everything bereft
Simply move on...Still move on...
The nights you awakened
The books u mugged,loved, and cared
And the whole of your time you shared
They said move on..

-SUCHARITA LENKA

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LIGHT WITHIN YOU

I ran for my whole life,
Fast,Faster
I ran,
Away from darkness,
Seeking light,searching Light
I ran in all directions
Seeking answers, searching truth,
I ran
And I slowed down.
Tired, exhausted
I stopped running
I paused and knelt down
Closed my eyes
And there were all my answers
All along in me
Waiting to be searched,
The light you seek has alwys been within
Slow down.pause
Reflect. Receive.
The light awaits you within..

-SUCHARITA LENKA

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THE NEW WORLD

Let's leave this monotony and stroll through the oblivion,
Somewhere far, beyond the chaotic fruitless region,
How about we find a new world, a place of our own?
Would we call it our Home?

Let's escape into the oblivion, a new world, unknown.

Let's paint the sky with a new color or two
And pretend like we never existed, hence never withdrew!
Let's escape from the chaos, a world so outgrown!
For it would be the new world and it would be our own.

Are we really living or is it called existing?

Now, lets's escape from this chaotic futility of being.
Nothing seems to make sense, a void has taken over,
All we need is a glimpse of fresh air.

Let's forget who we are, let's forget what we are,

Let's embrace the newness, for the new world awaits us
And the doomsday is near!

-SUVASREE BANDYOPADHYAY

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ALL OUR LIVES

What do we wait for all our lives?
A stable, perfect, flawless sense of being?
Is it worth it or is it a baseless illusion?
Why confine ourselves into boxes which constantly push us
backwards
Into the void of unknown when the only truth is the sight of
oblivion!

Why do we keep pretending all our lives?

To be these happy souls with happy faces
When the realm of reality drives through renunciation!

All our lives, we keep on seeking for more

The end of which leads us nowhere; the path is filled with agony
All of it dies in vain, all our lives;
All our lives…

-SUVASREE BANDYOPADHYAY

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WHAT WENT SO WRONG?

As we moved apart beyond eternity,
I wondered, what went so wrong?
All those trembling thoughts keep coming back still
making it all feel like a hopeless debacle.
I still wonder, what went so wrong?

Was it our endless ardor or the ceaseless approbation?

Was it too much?
Was it not enough?
I still wonder, what went so wrong?

As we traveled through our collective contrived domain of

imagination,
It felt right.
As if, the world came to an end, right there, into the void of
oblivion.
But, it was not enough. It was never enough.

Now it all seems like an endless reverie, or should we call it a

nightmare?
Everything was perfect until it was not, not anymore.
Two of us were pertified of losing each other, until we weren't,
not anymore.
the end of the Autumn marked the genesis of Winter.
No fear is there, though the path is long!
I still wonder, what went so wrong?
What went so wrong?

-SUVASREE BANDYOPADHYAY

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DREAMS CAUGHT ON TAPE

I saw a dream
Running through the plants green
I was independent and free
My destination was a beautiful abditory
I was in a castle
Wrapping itself around with shapeless clouds
Thriving and calling your name out
With tears in eyes and can't be more proud
Chandelier was swinging
Silence sounded like a symphony to my ears
Crown felt so good like it's familiar for years
I was so happy with shedding leaving behind my fear
There was a throne
Sitting in the middle of the hall calling for me
With signs of danger and beautifully broken I see
Flowers and butterflies on the other side looked so fallacy
Then I felt your gaze
Looked so green and filled with high esperance
I was gorgonized with your Orphic appearance
Pulling on my hand now finishing that long distance
I hear the bells ring
Wearing a red gown I pictured myself with you
walking barefoot on sand with feet touching water blue
Kissing each other we said our oaths Sky became all hue
Eyes got open
I felt melancholy getting filled in my heart
Dream was beautiful and I was so stalwart
Now when it's gone I abnegate this part

-TAMANNA BHAT

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LONELY DIARIES
Build up a castle of your name on it
Then saw it turn into dust
One swish and flick my dreams are apart
Heart of the iron covered in rust
Laying in my bed and in back of my head
I over-think situation happened
breathe paces up and tears rolls down
The next thing can be seen is end
Choking on myself trying to make no noise
Chest rise and falls faster
No remedy can be find for my loneliness
Thou called me a born loner
Like a paper this wrist is to cut through
just to harm the one with loathe
Shadows chasing my demons in the sleep
Hurt and injured fate of mine
Conjuring up reckless pain from the past
teared apart and sobs quietly
No one knows why would they even care
They have changed their priority
I heard million times people tell me a lot
When I want they'll be there
And now that I am suicidal hurt inside
Nobody I see who can hear
I am tumbling in the blood pool of mine
Leave me on the hell's entrance
Bury me under a tree grown full of flowers
So I can die in a beautiful ambience

- TAMANNA BHATT

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COLD DEATH
Collapsed too many times-wondered if I should carry on:
Saw inordinate demises which I still can’t move on.
Like a fly, caught on web – unable to move
Chances were rough, for a future to view.

All alone, hope seemed to be unreal as my Fiction,

Spent years alone recriminating people of past depiction.
But words of her pumped the Glass to beat a bit longer;
For she said, “Try and make it hard for past to bother.

Neither a Lover nor a Best friend, but a pragmatic:

That presence forestalled turning humane into lunatic
For the society buried him despite his efforts to save poor
flowers:
Without the time to see its True colours.

Busy world filled with depression for a seconds’ pleasure,

Makes it hard for the clean-handed to measure,
The length of love he must share to be less harmed
Which makes him a rough person –an avoidable bond;

But someone must be present to hear its cry deep inside,

For I changed and still striving hard in daily barrage
For she said to do my best as tomorrow may be a unsure
I ain’t better, still alive to see the best despite hell that’s’about to pour.

-THE DARK SIDE WOLF

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SHOULD I END NOW?

Though the weather is warm, I feel cold all the time.
I tried to spread love, yet Cold plays the mime.
They stab me back by prejudging on:
Time revealed the truth, yet scare wasn’t gone.

If some seconds were spent on understanding,

I wouldn’t have been left for years whining.
My character nearly has become from human to a Zombie;
Reticent, yet for people like us within, there’s this little kid-
For a warm love to escape this HARSH COLD!
-THE DARK SIDE WOLF

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TIP A CHANCE
Like the warmth of summer that is
Embraced by the verglas of winter
The tenderness in your eyes is now
Replaced by an unfamiliar glare,
Like the changing seasons
You have come to become
An nonentity to me and I to you
Cause unlike the sun and the moon
That have harmonised their roles in nature ,
I and you failed to give each other
An another chance to be understood.
A chance to redeem ourselves and all that we had,
Is now being swept away like a sand castle on the seashore
Consumed by our burning self-conceit.

-ULLASINI

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WISH I WAS YOUR PHOENIX

Your tears take
My breath away,
I see you wither
In pain, helpless
I watch you fall apart.

I want you to know, that

I feel your suffering
Deep within me,
My tears fall
In vain, impotently
I see you loose yourself.

Your agony made

Me wish I was your Phoenix,
My tears not futile
Heal the scars you bear,
Take your pain away.

From the ashes

I rise time and again
To be your shield,
Your tear filled eyes
Make me wish
I was your Phoenix.
-ULLASINI

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AN ELEGANT DREAM TO CONQUER

A dream, which bubbles up my mind,
She stands so high, But everyone here pretends to be blind
The curve of her smile is very kind,
But who cares there’s yet her smile

The epitome of beauty,

And an ocean of selfless love
How can we forget to adore,
A heart with companion and empathy for all

She often has a fear hidden in her heart,

But still she rises and tries to conquer the world.
She smiles like a lamp, But there is darkness in her heart,
But still she rises and strives for love.
A lot of dreams beneath her heart,
But still she rises to fulfill the dreams of others in her world.
She often gets hurt by her near and dear ones,
But still she rises and fixes their broken hearts.

An excellent example of love,

A perfect sculpture of serenity.
Spreading the colours of joy,
A passionate with a dignity.
The divine power that empowers the world,
The elegance in her that flows in the blood.
Yes, I dream of all things “SHE” do’s,
Afterall a little attention, Keeps going her doing more do’s…
-UZMA MIRZA

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THE WAY OF LIFE

Amused by a world we call our home, a global village.
There are people living all around only to live all alone.
Drug, a dear friend: too many starving for a companion.
Publicity:a metaphor for living life to the fullest.

If life is a journey; I bet the world has lost it's way.

There are people talking everywhere; no one to listen.
We push, pull and run to reach the finish line;
trying so hard to make it in life yet have forgotten to live.
We are called a generation of intellectuals, fooling but ourselves.

Life is like a fiction; especially those of a tragic genres.

It always rains hard on people who deserve the sun.
If this is life, is it worth living ?
Oh! We can remake the process.
We must love and begin to live.

Love conquers the world.

Love is the way of life.

-VILINOTO K

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….IS ALL I ASK FOR

To love you with all my heart is all I ask for,
When my heart aches all I ask for is your hug to comfort me ,
To hold you closer & feel your body touching mine is all I ask
for ,
To wake up next to you every morning with your lips licking
mine is all I ask for,
To cuddle with you under the blanket & feel your warm breathes
is all I ask for ,
To make romance with you & feel your fingers moving on my
body , touching my body & soul is all I ask for ,
To have your last name added with my first name is all I ask for,
To grow old with you is all I ask for,
To take care of you when you are physically, emotionally &
mentally low is all I ask for,
When it comes to express gratitude towards God for every little
thing in life all I ask for is You

-VISHAKHA MALUKANI(MORIKA)

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BLEEDING TEARS
For that one moment, it all felt right
The thought of killing myself felt right
For I was ready to give up
The thought of liberating myself felt right
For nothing felt worth not doing it
The thought of leaving the chaotic and barbaric world felt right
For I was tired fighting everything
The thought of leaving people alone felt right
For I was tired being a burden on them
The thought of hanging myself to death felt right
For I wanted the agony to end
The thought of getting hit by a truck felt right
For I wanted to stop existing
The thought of lying peacefully in a coffin felt right
For I was tired of holding my tears back
The thought of running away and never returning felt right
For I wanted all of it to end
Unfortunately, I had to snap out of the thoughts
For I am not even allowed to think of all those things
But for that one moment, it all felt right and peaceful...

-VRITI JAIN

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