Asian Literary Society

जब तूफानों में कश्ती कोई कहीं डगमगाती है उठती लहरों से बचने की तरकीब नज़र नहीं आती है तब छोर पे जलती लौ , व्याकुल नाविक का धैर्य बंधाती है और एक छोटी सी उम्मीद , उसे किनारे तक पहुंचाती है। जब बर्फीली सर्द हवाएँ हड्डियों को पिघलाती हैं जब आगे बढ़ने की कोई , राह नज़र नहीं आती है तब हिम शिरा को छूने की मुहिम , अपनी ज़िद पर अड़ जाती है आशा की हठी किरण , उसे परबत शिखर पहुंचाती है। जब मशालें पराक्रम शौर्य की , आँधियों में बुझने लगती हैं शत्रु की असंख्य सेनाएँ , शूर वीरों का मनोबल हरती हैं तब देश प्रेम की ज्वाला सीने में धधक ऊर्जा जगाती है ज़िद्दी हठी एक आशा , विजय ध्वज शिखर पर फहराती है जब जलते शुष्क मरुस्थल में , मुसाफिर राह भटकते हैं तपते सूरज से विह्वल , नर पंछी विकल हो उठते हैं तब मृग मरीचिका बन आशा , उनको लक्ष्य दिखाए प्यासे तन मन को शीतल जल की आशा आस बँधाये। जब अंग्रेज़ों ने भारत में अत्याचार मचाया उनकी ताकत के आगे , कोई भी ठहर न...

Sakharam was teary-eyed while he collected the hospital waste and carried it to the sanitation department. His pregnant wife was due for delivery in another week but he wasn't able to go as he wasn't given leave. Dr. Rahul Sharma, the ICCU physician read his eyes and went to him clad in his PPE braving the deluge of COVID patients... Sakharam..don't worry...We are all in the same boat. Tell me her whereabouts so that I tell my colleague there to tend to her. Thank you, Sahab...Sakharam could not stop his tears... Suddenly there was chaos... Two policemen were wheeled into the emergency. Constable Mahipal was bleeding as he had been run over by curfew violators. Sub Inspector Rohit was wincing in pain as his hand had been crushed by rioters. They were taken into the Operation theater and were being clinically assessed for surgery by Dr. Rahul. Doctor saheb...please save me..you are God... Prayed the policemen... Dr. Rahul smiled and patted ...

My mother planted jasmine, just when I breezed in ‘n came into being    She patted the soil around its roots, similar to how she assured my well-being      She tended, staking trellis for it to climb on, wrapping it around as it grew,   Just the way she propped ‘n poised me, bracing me to bloom into view     The mulch ‘n manure of love, hope, dreams ‘n faith was heaped on both,   Moistened with drops of patience, she pruned the stray stems of rage ‘n loathe      The balmy, ambrosial fragrance bewitched ‘n beckoned bothersome pests   She softly deposed, dragged down such unsought, superfluous requests     Sometimes life bogged me down ‘n I forgot to fare ‘n bloom, just like the jasmine   Mother tempered us, her serene, still watch, made me ‘n jasmine, eternally sanguine      I burgeoned ‘n blossomed, akin to jasmine,   ...

Bleep! She scrolled down to the WhatsApp. She felt darkness and melancholy closing in as she read the message in the doctor's group---         “Dr. Simon Hercules, who died after contracting novel coronavirus from a patient was denied burial by the locals. The mob not only protested at the cemetery but also hurled stones at the ambulance.”       Oh! The disgrace and humiliation! They had become her once noble profession's middle name! Dignity denied even at that very last juncture!      She, Dr. Natasha Menon, a senior resident in the state-run hospital, adjusted the blue gown, her mask, and walked up to the window. Her eyes followed the inane movements of cars filling the spaces next to the ambulances in the parking lot as her mind wandered.         She had been a part of the COVID-19 contingency plan from the beginning, working in shifts, providing 24/7 care. She could...

The expert visited the Haveli On a project for archaeology Chambers seeped in old traditions He was in awe of its opulence A photograph caught his fancy Royally magnificent as can be A glint held his attention The Emerald Ring was all that he could see In the photo was a royal lady Depicting utmost grace The news that was doing the rounds She had disappeared last year without a trace The months passed and his project was in the last stage. Only a small area remained to be seen Suddenly something unexpected halted The progress of the excavation team The Earth moved beneath his feet Post that he couldn't remember anything They had excavated a skeleton In its finger was the same Emerald Ring. 

The lone ray of the sun streaming in an old room The hope in a soldiers eyes that the war shall end soon Hope is when an orphan thinks she'll not be alone God shall send a family whom she'll  call her own Hope is  life's antidote for any sadness or pain The mirror of hope might be in a tiny drop of rain The flickering flame of a candle burns till it's last light Emits optimism when it says never give up without a fight Changing season speaks of hope Such cheer and happiness it brings When the flowers bloom and say Winter's given way to spring Aspiration lies in small things, we see Hope lies within you and me Be optimistic and There's no peril you can't cope After all someone's rightly said The world lives on hope

She sat in the hospital corridor A dejected picture of varied hues Bloodstained clothes Mud smeared palms too Defeated was her stance Her face depicted profound gloom As they rolled him in hurriedly To the emergency room A couple sitting across Were moved by her plight A lone helpless damsel In the middle of the night He was probably her lover Or someone she was close to But the deepest secret in her heart Oh! Only she knew Was just a push from the ravine enough? She got up to leave, casting doubts aside There was still some work to be done He was now going to fight his own battle inside She returned back to the crime scene It sure looked like an accident too Tomorrow shall be her day She'll start life anew!

Through the entangled foliage of my tree A gleeful branchlet of pristine jasmine peeped at me The naive, serene, sweet smiling flowers glowed in their purest white As they sparkled with dewdrops in the morning light Memories unleashed, I went back to our fragrant days When we chanted love songs at the peak of our heydays In summer when the jasmine plant, we planted, blossomed with flowers With an innocuous smile, you gathered some and stringed them for hours In the evening when the garland graced your braided hair Your unbeaten charm made me whisper, "You look so beautiful dear !" From open calyxes wafted the scent so intoxicating I was drunk in the  moment, held you tight with my heart fast beating Sadly our love story ended shortly, you are no more by my side With aching heart my tears I try to hide Yet at night when in ethereal beauty the jasmine blossoms at late hour I feel our love is still alive like the essence of the flower When the s...

An epitome of beauty, she is ethereal, a gift of God Every morn in the sculpted mirror her beauty she adored A bunch of white jasmines she picked and allowed to affair While adorning them on her neatly braided jet black hair Delicate and sensual, jasmine so virgin and pure Tonight this was all that was needed for her to lure Her yearning lover, so he’d give in to her unfailing charm As he embraced her desirously in his enthused arms Whispering sweet nothings to her under the tranquil moon As fragrance from her hair languidly drifted across the room Jasmine buds symbolic of love and passionate affection The romantic ambiance was set almost close to perfection Flames of fire burnt within as aching souls in ecstasy entwined Mating of heaven and Earth tonight was manifestly destined He admired her beauty amidst the silvery moonbeams As they neared the culmination of their magical dreams The night was fragrant with the sweet smell of crushed jasmine Her blush seared through her cheeks as s...

To our fearless and resolute heroes Who are leading from the front Putting their lives at risk for us And they don't complain even once We all have immense respect for These brave souls toiling for us To make our world safer and To eradicate the deadly virus A few days of our freedom In return for their dedication Is all they really ask To ensure a safer Nation We are all in this together All including me and you Let's abide by the quarantine It's the least that we can do A few ounces of trust  And some moments of reverence In return, hope shall prevail We all can make a difference Their efforts give us the confidence This pandemic might soon be a thing of the past  Then shall rise a brighter tomorrow And ..This too shall pass