Time Flies

It is summer in Patna. The gulmohar trees have lost their mind, in full bloom they light up the afternoon sun into an inferno! The roads are dusty, straight out of any of those Bihari gangster movies. The women are still the fullest sharpest and prettiest among all women. I met a couple of old acquaintances, they look the same, only I look older. And what is it with these small towns, they still remember my escapades from twenty years before, of guns and goons and girls? Wish I had not been so Bihari so young, I might have grown up with so many more choices of things to do.

Yes, I did go to the places we went to, to the tree under which I kissed a girl the first time in my life...god, it had to be you. They now have a mall! A big one, the kind we see in big cities, with lovers escalators and pretty housekeeping chicks.
Twenty years is too long a time in time. Much has changed and so have we. The bel-ka-juice tastes the same, only my mother looks much older. Sister Suma still lives in church inflicted penury, dad still does social work and I still miss you like Malda Aam. Time flies to some place unknown to you and me. Someday we will catch hold of this tyrant and take him to the place where we kissed first.

Lest You Forget

There was a time when time stood still
When time slowed down to a trickle
And floated around you and me like pollen grains
Each full of promises of destinies untold
Full of stories yet to unfold

Then you spread wings
And flew into the summer winds
Time moved on
Faster than ever before
As if it were trying
To make up for lost time.

Seasons have come and gone
And you and I have caught ourselves different boats
But far ahead I see the sea
And there again some day
We shall together be.

Forever

How long will you live Raj?

Forever Princess.

No really, how long will you live?

I was serious the first time babe, I will live forever.

Dog you are, can't you give a straight answer?

I did. You remember the time my grandma died, a part of me died with her. I know that I will never ever get over that loss. And then when I thought really hard about what I was going through, I realized something very important. I realized that every time I lose someone dear to me, a part of me dies as well. I know that in this long road to death, parts of me will die along the way. By the time they put me to fire, there will be very little of me left to burn ;-)

But you said you will live for ever?

I did. My grandma lives for as long as there remains a soul in my family who remembers fondly of her, and then she lives in the stories I will tell my children and my grandchildren.
For as long as they who love me live
For so long shall I too.

I love you Raj, do you?

I do Princess.

And you will tell your children about me?

I will, I promise.

Raj,... Then I too shall live forever?

Yes my love, you too shall live forever.
Forever.

For New Beginnings

Yes I know. I have heard this said before.
Everything that has a beginning has an end.
Beginnings and ends are two sides of the same coin. They go together.

But hey, so what if that which there once was
Is now no longer there
My lines are not for things dead and past
It is for things yet to start.
This is for New beginnings
Whatever be the end.

Railroads to Infinity

Raj?
Yes Baby?

Every time I see the train tracks, I feel forlorn and lonely.
Why baby?

You know what they say about those tracks no Raj... that they run parallel to each other, and forever, they never meet. Does that sum up our lives too Raj? Will we be forever running together, but never really together?

No baby, I don't see it that way. Every time I see railway tracks, I am reminded of you and all the ruckus we create when we are together. I believe that because these tracks run parallel, good things happen. Trains run on them, and people get to meet their loved ones. I believe that there should be more trains,... and the tracks should forever run parallel.

Dog you are Raj, you and your sick mind. I wish these tracks would stop staring at each other over the ages and come together some day.

They do come together princess. They come together every time a train runs of them tracks. The train brings them together. It connects them and lends their existence a very beautiful meaning. The irons wheels carousing the iron rails makes such beautiful music, it reminds me of you. The rail roads remind me of the years I have to wait for a few moments with you.

Raj..?
Yes Princess?
Let there be more trains.
Yes Princess, let there be more trains.