(November 2022)

Kissi ne halki si awaaz dekar mujhe bulaaya.
Palatke dekha toh saamne khadaa tha mera hi saaya.
Bola, kiss soch mein ghum ho?
Zindagi ke andheron se pareshaan hoon, maine bataaya.

(Someone called me by my name softly.
I turned around to see it was my shadow who was talking.
It asked, what thoughts are you so lost in?
I am tired of all of life’s struggles and the darkness around, I responded.)

Maine poochha, par pehle yeh bataa, tum kidhar se aaye?
Pehle toh mujhse kabhi baat nahin ki, mere saaye.
Main bahut thak gaya hoon.
Aur worry kar raha hoon kal koi nayi stress na laaye.

(But tell me this first, where did you come from?
You have never spoken to me before, my shadow.
I am very tired.
And I am also worrying that tomorrow may bring new stresses.)

Woh bola, mera hona hi roshni ka ehsaas hai.
Stress na lo dost, meri maujudgi badi hi khaas hai.
Agar main nahin dikhta toh shayad stress ka maamla tha.
Chalte raho, nayi subah ki woh pehli kiran ab bahut pass hai.

(He said, my existence indicates presence of light.
Don’t stress, friend; my being here is very special.
If you didn’t see me, maybe then it would be a matter of stress.
Keep moving, the first ray of a new morning is very close now.)