Asian Literary Society

A soul sister is a kindred spirit, She understands your thought before you speak it, She makes you so comfortable, You can share anything without any trouble. With your soul sister, there is instant connection, You feel for her an immediate affection, You love hanging out with her, With her, your life gets better and better. Meeting a soul sister is very rare, A person full of love, understanding, care, She will give you everything, Without expecting anything. A soul sister is always there for you in any situation, She will support you with great passion, She will bring out the best in you, Encouraging you through and through. Having a soul sister is wonderful, You will laugh together and be cheerful, She will teach you the meaning of selflessness, She will keep you tranquil and erase your restlessness.

You were the blazing sun in the colossal of my life, when I had nothing other than you, my biggest treasure... Myself, a handful of sand in this vastness of autumn blaze which got flared up by the sudden inferno...... Too tired I’m...the holocaust has burned me out ...the lanes and by lanes of this poor heart has been blazed by the conflagration of passion.... My malignant steps towards the black hole seems unanswered towards the hollow unending comforts...the radiated heat has glared like hot coals on the soles of my feet manifesting indelible tan tattooing on my bare skin... The burning embers erupt every now and then like blazing cigarette butts surging my heart and soul... Perhaps, it was my mistake to interpret you; the firestorm now on the verge of saturation......will one day be a forgotten chapter in the pages of history for which I get suffocated... Want some peace of mind......wish the blaze subsides providing eternal bliss...

  Wistful wishes riding away Jockeying on as far as it may Trotting along with the zephyr Almost on the nadir Illogical sparring with the logical  Imagination swooping on elusive  Wayward are the thoughts within  Untamed, Unbridled brains Insatiable blaze of desires Humanity trapped in a maze of ardor!

Can this ever end, the blaze of constant hatred? This unstoppable conflagration has left so many hearts, homes, countries in flames and inflicted so much pain. Strangely all for what? Isn't it insane? We have set compassion on fire. Can we still call ourselves humane? Though we so proudly claim that we created the modern world so sane. It is all in vain when with one hand we hurl the bomb and with another we blame.  We pretend to make it simple and plain that peace is our motive and that we must attain. But the next day, the news comes that put our untruths to shame Again it wins, our hypocrisy and again we put humanity to flames. Hasn't this story been the same for eons, since we came out of caves and trained our minds to point our claim on the lands with distinct names? If we have to blaze, it should be the covetousness and greed and unified we must destroy this maze that imprisons our gaze to not let us see beyond those narrow lanes, we declare as our domain.

Everyday mother would say "Go child, go out. Evenings, you must meet your friends and play." So, off I would go, jumping, hopping gleefully playing those games that taught me team spirit and to stay happy with whatever came my way. Much happened in the playground but it would never return home, come what may.  So we learned to deal with conflicts while we played. All we knew was to spray the hues of laughter and gaiety on each other and to sway our bodies, matching our steps so that no one strayed. Social evenings, weddings, or religious congregations, we attended all, and with sincere hearts, we prayed, "This must never end, this beautiful age." But the prayers were a waste For it was to end and slayed, the childhood of carefree days For time and tide can't wait to be gone leaving behind only the trail of moments to stay behind as childhood memories to be cherished as a phase from the past; Also someday to share with children or grandchildren as some bedtime fa...

The day I witnessed you bud in the pot, Wished to speak with you my heart out! Desirous to share the feelings of joy or gloom, Took every care to see you full bloom. Longed to be with you every morning, To express my love and a deep bonding! Your colorful demeanor towards me leaning, Expresses your gratitude moreover and smiling. Your happiness is so refreshingly breathtaking; When the butterflies hover on you dancing, At times a playful honey bee nectar sucking, You even welcome the annoying bees buzzing! I find an unseen connection with our souls, An expression of love a beautiful red rose. My best buddy and a resilient bestie, The unconditional love that you bestow on me! You wipe off my worries an adorable companion, Gazing at you creates a sense of compassion. To share my thoughts with you  is a welcome treat, A unique soul sister that no one could be!

Having lost my parents, my grievous, lonesome life became so pale Simple gust of wind could knock me down like a gale There were many around trying to offer me solace But none could connect to my soul, none trustworthy to face Suddenly you appeared like an angel stretching out your helping hand Cheered me up with genuine feelings, each other we could understand A beautiful soul, you had your own way of dealing with life An inspiration, your smile held the power to chase away my strife From strangers, we became friends, that matured into being soul sisters We became a pair, one mind and soul, shining like the twin stars The sunshine of my life , you have an access to my soul You never judge, only embrace and support, you are my sister sole Not connected by blood, a time tested kinship, a phenomenal bond we share Through love 'n laughter, kindness and compassion, for each other we care With bright-hued friendship we share this bond transcending time, space and distance Even when apar...

कुछ ख्वाब सुनहरे रखे थे कच्चे-धागों के पहरे थे,  सहज-सलोने बचपन के पर गांठ पुराने अपने थे। कुछ प्यारे-से कुछ गहरे-से कुछ रंग सितारों वाले थे,  कुछ तुम जैसी चमकीली थीं उनपर लम्हों के पहरे थे। प्यारी-प्यारी शर्मीली-सी कभी परछाईं तुम मेरी-सी,  आंगन की सोन-चिरैया सी कभी मतवाली चुलबुली-सी। खिलती खिलती-सी धूप थी  कभी साथ सुनहरी प्रीति-सी,  कभी यादों की जंजीरों में बहती आंखों से मोती-सी।  माना कि याद पुरानी-सी  बहती नदियों के पानी-सी,  तुम दूर सदा पर यादों में  कच्चे-धागों सी प्यारी-सी। 

I lay in my mother’s womb peacefully To see a new world after nine months, waited eagerly. I knew I will, soon place my tiny feet out On the face of this earth, there were no doubts. I wished to see the blazing sun I dreamt of the stars and the moon. I was waiting for days to pass Never knew my dreams would be shattered, like glass.   One day I heard a voice filled with anger, “She is a girl, won’t accept her”. Hearing this, I trembled and cried I pleaded, “I want to live and not die”.   How I wish I were a boy My father would have jumped with joy. But alas, I was killed in the uterus with no traces left I breathed my last and forever put to rest.   I was part of you papa, real connection Then why was I deprived of love and affection? My end brought ecstasy in his eye My mother was left alone with her muted cries.

रिश्तों को जब हम बुनते है कच्चे धागों से , नहीं फलते वो सिर्फ साथ निभाने से । ना घोलों रिश्तों में कोई ज़हर ज़िन्दगी बड़ी ही छोटी है , जियो हर पहर ।   ना रिश्तों को कसके पकड़ो , ना ढील दो इन्हे बस प्यार से सीचों और दिल में बसा लो । दिल में गर कोई बात हो, तो कह दो किसी भी कड़वाहट को ना पनपने दो ।   कच्चे धागों से बने रिश्ते, अक्सर टूट जाते है जोड़ तो लोगे इन्हे, पर गाँठ रह जाती है । गलतफ़हमी का शिकार ना बनो रिश्तों का मोल जरा समझो ।   झूठ का दामन ना थामो ऐ नादान अपनों से नाराज़ रहना नहीं आसान । रिश्ते तो जुड़ते है मुकदर से गवा ना दो अपने अहंकार से ।   रिश्तों में स्वार्थ की ज़मीन ना हो इन में तो बस फूलो सी खुशबू हो । यूँ   ही नहीं आती रिश्तों में मिठास, हर   रिश्ते   की   नींव   होती   है   विश्वास ।  

  I know you take me as a sign Of the prime of life having passed by, Of living in the shadow of the peak Of senility and withering, so to speak. Of someone who is helplessly shriveling, Staring at her imminent end; Of being shoved into a pile of dust, The vagaries of fate, upon me thrust. Solving the 'loves me, loves me not' conundrum, Adorn a wedding or garnish a delicacy, Dancing in circles in a ten tiered Rangoli, I have been the quintessential  girl,  carefree. I've also live in a book, fragrant and old, Holding a story within me untold, I stay, while the funeral procession passes like a wave, To watch a lone visitor, talking to the grave. Till dust I become, I savor each day Reveling in my repertoire. As manure then, a shrub I may nourish, And a rose shall bloom, after I perish.    

Giggles, secret and million dreams  Lying with the backpacks under the trees  Free  souls    with no care  Gutsy enough to each day dare  Loitering around on narrow lanes  Racing with the clouds in vain  Diving into streams and lakes  Life was a piece of cake  Being in love with the idea of love  Fantasy, fiction imagination about all above  Curves of lips that only the mirror could decipher  Oblivious to parents advice  The only worries were pimples and spice  College was a preferred venue  Canteen served simple yet favorite menu Sneaking out for fizzy drinks  Love was expressed in ink Wish could press a rewind button  Where did those days disappear all of a sudden?  

It has been a long time probably eons since I’m waiting for you like a parched rose with withering petals in between the pages of your diary... It’s been always enriched with bittersweet memories of the bygone days to gain momentum in the vastness of time and again... Does it still perturb you??  If it does, will invariably fetch a few drops of happiness to spread my fragrance once again...   The unembellished silver lining is still attached with the thorns to remind the bond that too has withered along with these brittle,  withering leaves leaving a trail of bookmark amongst the pages signifying footprints within sands of time to track the dazzling era of our togetherness...

Gifted with a beautiful bewitching crimson-rose by her love, rapturous she felt Placing it in a special vase how she desired it would never wilt Every day she kissed the rose that to her seemed the prettiest Its velvety petals, the softest, it's fragrance, the sweetest But with its transitory life the blooming flower Was on the verge of bidding goodbye to its admirer Slowly it started losing its bright hue and elegance Turning from red to light brown, it lost its fragrance One dawn she saw it ruined and shed, by the windblown Loose petals upon the floor were random strewn With care, she picked up the withering petals tenderly, lovingly and passionately Kept them in the pages of her book glancing at them wistfully Those petals had shone and shown beautiful moments in her life Welcoming a new aura, she felt, in her love, she will always thrive Though withered, she'll not grieve over them, nor mourn their loss For those are the petals of their love within, still retaining the glos...

Slowly entangled the thread of thine sleep to weave the dreams and fix with mine. If you’re the sleep and I’m it’s dream, we unite to knit real nights that shine.   Wandering aimlessly into thine thoughts, hover gently from one such to another. You hypnotize my mind, body, and soul, rest seems pointless, hence need not bother.   Perhaps, only travelers to amble, migrate and venture, dare to start. Explore the unknown designed somewhere to a secret corner of my heart.   The remaining words of this thirsty heart are described by these accentuated eyes. For ages, they remain untold forever while the rhythm of the heartbeats of the whole world rise Miles apart from you, my dearest. distance seems to be moments’ pleasure. You fulfill the dreams beneath my eyelids, prudently secure them as a priceless treasure.  

Don't let the dreamer in you Believe what others say For these are your dreams, woven bit by bit, so laboriously, day by day Putting in all your thoughts, your passion, your love in such a way that what comes in front of you is a manifestation of what played at one point of time At the back of your mind, night and day. That fantasy which others thought was much away from the reality But it all changed when you shaped the clay  and strangely, you found a needle in the hay. Earlier, those who discerned you as nothing are now amazed They no more mock you as insane As you have dared to make your way keeping your faith in that speck of grain  you see now your efforts weren't in vain Cause'  you have changed from dreamer to achiever!

She is a dreamer of corny traits, Never fluttered her wings beyond measure. She never aspired to grapple the azure belt, For her affinity is embedded in the petit treasure. Her capacious world was replenished by the cozy warmth of parental love She and her dreams curled up undaunted in the shield of her homely pleasure.   Her dreams pertained to the concerns and expectations of her progenitors, She yearned to observe the glistening benediction in their eyes for her, And ever to be their obedient daughter, She fruitfully adopted her role as a perfect peace-maker.   With time she matured ways has sculpted a world of her own, And build a dream edifice where she reigns in peace, and blissfully handle. She wants to summon holy vibration with her dedication, To protect her consort and children from all that is formidable.   Her diligent execution has shaped her dream And to play mother and wife she can move to any extreme, To have her home shimmer with the succinct warmth of af...

कहने को सिर्फ कहलाते है ये कच्चे धागे जरा देखो न इन मन्नत के धागों को किसी से बंध जाते तो पूरा कर देते है हर मुराद के सपने! भाई की कलाई पर सज जाये तो बन जाते है दुआयें बहन के हाथों बंध जाये तो बढ़ जाती है उम्र की डोर! ये कच्चे धागे न जाने कितने रिश्तें को समेटे खुद में रिश्तों की अहमियत बतलाते है! पत्नी के हाथों में बांधकर सात जन्मों का अटूट बंधन बनाता है एक इंसान,फिर वो कच्चा धागा बन जाता है सबसे मजबूत धागा जो बांध लेता है अनगिनत रिश्ते! यही तो है कच्चे धागे...  

Beautiful, windy, autumn, Colorful fall, a carpet of leaves, I wonder what the future holds for me, This beating heart waits patiently. The trees are bare, the leaves flying, The autumn wind is getting stronger, I wait scared and alone and tense, Wondering what this autumn will bring. This autumn of my life, When the leaves are about to fall, Scattered are my thoughts like the leaves, Growing tensions and apprehensions. Then my heart tells me, forget your tensions, Enjoy the season, enjoy every moment, Enjoy the beautiful autumn of your life, Appreciate the bright colors of falling leaves. Autumn is the time to make splendid memories, To experience life's wonderful breeze, To focus on the marvelous joys of living, And to forget all your suffering.

    The Universe offers a ceaseless enigma, Of stars being born out of the dust, The azure sky light up in a panorama, As celestial mysteries dance in a fest!   The morning dew freshly fallen on the grass, Tickles the feet below, I wonder while plucking flowers for my vase, Were the tears of the Weeping Willow?   Enamored by the mystery of the rainbow, A child picks a brush to paint the sky… Wanting to brighten the prismatic hues mellow, He looks up to God and asks “May I?”   Mystery enshrouds every nook of Nature, Striking a poet’s imagination, a scientist’s thought, A uniqueness is granted to every single creature, The micro to the macro, in a single thread are caugh t…

She was gasping for her last breath, Someone finally strangled her to death. Every night she used to see this dream, And would get up with a jerk and scream.   A mysterious harsh voice kept ringing in her ears Almost every day, her eyes welled up in tears. Each morning she remained upset Gripped by fear and stress.   A few days later, she was found lying lifeless on her bed The doctor arrived and declared her dead. Suffocation was the reason given for her demise Soon the house was filled with cries.   Her sudden death left her father aghast and clueless He was deeply impacted and anxious. He went from pillar to post, To find out the truth, an utmost effort he put forth.   To unfold the mystery of her death, Her father did try his best. The investigation lasted for months, screaming for justice But, alas, the cause of her death remained a mystery

Once again fall is in the air, Leaves of autumn in myriad shades tethered to the trees Sway and gyrate with the blowing wind, They fret not that they are going to wither, Nor are they worried to get crumbled, Having lived every moment listening to the songs of nature, They bid adieu to the trees peacefully, And rest on the ground, In layers of golden carpet, And in absolute quietude Wrinkle and crumble To become one with the regenerating earth once again, Hark! The bare trees don't give up either, They stand tall, braving the gruesome winter patiently, Awaiting the jocund spring to bring life once again.  

If garden-fresh roses bloom in paradise, Lord! pick a bunch for me. Give them to my dearest parents, would make them indeed happy. Say, a gift from their only daughter who has missed them all throughout. These twenty years seem nothing less than ages and eons no doubt.   Every moment of every minute seemed so very painful once. But learned to live the best of all, suppressing sorts of qualms. No more little girl, I'm anymore, have become wiser, you see. Learned to be responsible enough and hence, no need to worry about me.   Time has taught me every lesson that no book ever can teach. Traversed the phases with smiles and tears, desired no further to impeach. Life seemed difficult but viable much without my Mom and Dad. Mastered nuances all with care, fate seemed not that bad.   Wish, they rest in peace together in Lord's abode of peace. Every moment of every minute, tell them, I just miss. Miss them, all these twenty years, every season and hour. Every sunshine and festiv...

When time is stored within sands of an hour. When beauty is stored within the petals of a flower. When colors are stored within the paintbrushes of the sky. When motifs are stored in the wings of the butterfly.   When happiness is found in the smiles of a child. Nothing is better when distance is reconciled. When tears are mingled in waters of the ocean. Entity gains strength in every devotion.   When the rhythm is found in incessant rain. When knowledge is gathered in years of pain. When music is confined in a gurgling brook. And lyrics in nature's lap, rather than a book.   When the truth is stored in the valley of death. Life is ensured with every single breath. When grief is stored in mountains of sorrow. Hope stands still in every tomorrow.    

Whenever you are feeling low and wallow; Try conversing with the moon’s sparkling glow! Uplifts the mood, a joyful riddance, Brightens and enhances the facial radiance! If anxiety is brimming the mind; Interact softly with the wind chime, Serenading tunes emanating out of the strings, The euphonious music of the wafting wind! At times when fear grips the broken soul; With constant hammering of life’s rigmarole, Lie face down in the cosy lap of a green field, Feel the divine warmth of a protective shield. A lot to learn from nature’s giving; Demanding a wee bit always forgiving, But not to mess with the ecosystem or destroy, Neither take it for granted nor create a ploy. Observe closely the birds perching and tweeting; Soak in the melodious sound of their chirping, An adorable companion to break the monotonous silence, Rejoice with the bounty given in abundance. Nature’s conversational effect is a calming potion! Soothing to the body like a creamy lotion! Every breath of air we inhale i...