Gajavadha and Ekanto

In the forest Kaalaranya between the outstretched arms of time lived a happy kingdom of birds and beasts. Some lived by the morning sun thriving in its light and some by the night scented flowers and the far moon. Kaalaranya was ruled by the Simha family of Lions for many centuries and all its kings were known to have been proud and strong and fierce. But there was a time when there ruled a certain king called Gajavadha Simha who was prouder, stronger and fiercer than all the rest and died a strange death.

This is a story of that very Gajavadha.

When Gajavadha was so young that stretching his head he only reached his father's knees, the king brought home a little black wolf from a hunting trip. The little wolf was named Ekanto and he grew up with Gajavadha as a brother. They went to their first hunt together and fought their first battle side by side. So the raw years of their lives melted in the fierce desires of their heart and the day of Gajavadha being crowned the king soon dawned. That morning the old king took Ekanto into his dark cave and seated him in a corner. Far behind fell a shaft of light from a slim opening on the roof. The old king sat in it for the very last time. He bent his head thoughtfully and blinked his old eyes thrice, then sighing said
- Ekanto, today Gajavadha shall sit on the warm throne of this cave. And he shall be king. I'll be leaving for the cold days of my life till my flesh leaves me picked free by loving vultures and my bones dry on a far off land of strangers"

Ekanto started and spoke in a deep

The flowers of bouganvelia

They unfold in gentle shades,
Carmine, yellow and white,
They fold lightly in the light,
Oh the flowers of Bouganvelia!

They are no flowers.
They are leaves outgrown,
And one day I shall strew them
These not flowers of Bouganvelia
On your threshold,
And away you shall see when you walk,
And away you shall walk when you see them.

Jo poochey koi

jo poochey koi kaun nagariya
teyro rana rahe sakhi
jo poochhey kou kaun sarovar
paar karey tou jaana hai
jo poochhey kou kaun baag ko
maali teyro phool chuney
tu kahiyo sakhi dilli nagri
meyro rana rahe kabhi
tu kahiyo sakhgi jamnajyu ko
paar kare bhi jaana hai
aru aapno kesh saja
yo kahiyo sakhi unko tu
jo baag ko naath yudhisthir
uhan humaro maali hai.

Bhaado key jaatey

bhado key jaatey
draupadi apni kaali karai
aakash par yun ulat gai
ki neeley kabootaron key ek jorey ney
parosiyon key chhajon ki ot ley socha hai
- ho na ho
yeh saawan key baadal ka ulta lota hai.

Dilli

ye kaisa intizaar hai, ye kaisi bemani chah ki kasak hai,
ki vasl-e-sukun ke darmiyan bhi dard-e-hijra ki mehak hai.

aisa nahin ki tamanna koi dar-e-yaar khari bebas hai,
phir ye merey ghar laundi, kis rooh ki junoon, kis khoon ki hawas hai?

hai zamee bhar ummeed-e-sukhan, sailab-e-jashna da falak hai,
mujh sey poochhta hi nahin koi ki ye rasm-e-bazaar kab talak hai.

ilm-e-daulat au gham-e-rezgaari sey oobey hain, kya sabab hai?
jab ki dilli bhi door nahin apney to phir ye kaisi talab hai?

had-e-jism, had-e-zehen, had-e-rooh ke baad aaee jo ye sarhad hai,
pataa nahin kaun mulk hai, kaun si kaum hai, kaun sa mazhab hai.

Sanskar

hain suni door jangalon ki kahaniyan,
ki jahan aur bhi sooraj hain,
aur bhi nadiyan hain,
aur bhi boliyan hain, patton ki
khusarfusar key parey.

merey sapney par hain, parindey hain,
merey pair, jar hain phir bhi zindey hain.

jaron,
tumhi rakhti ho mujhey khara,
tumhi urney nahin deyti,
apney kandhon ko kisi aur key kandhon sey jurney nahin deyti.

Six by six

ye din bhi mantar jaisa
ek sau aath
ek sau aath
harkat ho gaya hai.

aao merey paas
chhatis karor haathon
aur
merey kaan saaf karo.

taaki
jab mein uthoon
to mujhey
kam sey kam
sab kuchh
saaf to dikhey.

ekdum
six by six.