King

 Man went out in search of God.

He saw the Sun 

And wondered, 

"A unique ball of fire in the sky 

Giving me warmth, food and light. 

I have found God!"

He set up rituals, places of worship, 

Kept a shrine, wished for things in greed

When Drought dried up the streams 

Water was rare, and conditions extreme.

"Oh, I can't live without Water!

Not the sun, but 

Water is our God", he screamed

Travelling in the desert, food was scarce, 

Not a tree in sight, or fruits to savour

"That's it, the Trees must be God!" He inferred.

Cold winds blew, and he needed fire to keep him warm. 

"The Fire must be God." 

He exclaimed, stacking wood,

"It also helps us cook."

Wild beasts attacked, man overpowered them, 

It didn't take him long to realise

His brains were different from theirs.

A house was built of wood, mud and stones 

Mansions sprang up with marble domes, 

Irrigation controlled famine and droughts,

Dams the flood, knowledge sprouts, 

Sheds protected from the sun 

And farming ensured food from plants.

At last, Man exclaimed in victory, 

"I am God, I am the king.

I know the answer to everything."

Alas, he spoke too soon.

For another man claimed he was God too, 

Then another claimed he saw God as a light

Another wrote about virtue and vice.

Then another and another.

None listened, none reasoned.

They pushed and pulled,

Waged wars of might 

Dropped bombs and shells 

Killed thousands, left millions unwell.

Finally, on the verge of dying.

Man looked up skywards, 

And there stood Time, witnessing it all, 

Brains and intelligence, turning against each other, 

Ego in dire need of help, minds that suffer 

"Indeed", the Universe exclaimed in mockery 

"You are the king.

You hold the answers to everything."

~ Suranya

Conversations

 In no time...

Will the conversations become monotonous;

The stories same old.

You know exactly where to laugh and where to frown,

The mystery of discovery will be gone. 

You'd know what to expect out of me. 

Trigger my occasional blushing.

Soon, silence will fill the room, 

Or the phone line, which I hold close 

Just to hear you breathe into it. 

Soon, I will have no secrets from you 

To unravel the enigma you think me to be.

You will soon see what I am. 

And I wonder...

Will you go seeking adventure then 

Elsewhere, where the grass is greener?

Treat my mistakes as though they were sins?

Or be like you have always been? 

Like nothing has changed.

You know why it scares me like nightmares?

Coz that's the moment of truth. 

The time love is tested. 

That's the time the tinted glasses break 

The time you should hold on to flaws 

To choose a lifetime with me or walk away.

~ Suranya

Move On

 Sometimes a relationship becomes like a dead human being.

You remember the happy memories.

You talk of the good old days.

And you forget to make new memories together.

That's when the problems start...

And you realise the relationship has become a ghost of the past.

Just like someone close to you yet dead.

It's perhaps then time to move on and

Let the grave be decorated in flowers of memories.

~ Suranya

Long Distance

 Half a world away,

Night and Day apart,

Time zones twisted, 

Hearts never part.

No see everyday

No touch of your skin on mine, 

The pillow feels like your hugs.

The increasing count 

Of days apart that bugs.

~ Suranya

Home Sick

 On the other side 

Of my endless waits for you, 

And your hopeless missing me

There is a place where 

Time will stand still 

When you hold your hand, 

And we will finally be Home.

~ SURANYA

The Death of Humanity

Humanity is dead, 

It is their funeral today. 

Venue, you ask? 

On the street of Intolerance.

Turn left on Phobia, 

And you will see the building of Privilege.

Reach the floor of Misogyny, 

Don't confuse it with Patriarchy, 

They may look the same, but they aren't.

You will find the hall of Racism,

In the darkest corner of that floor; 

Enter through the gate of Casteism, 

Carry your identity cards along too. 

Otherwise, you will be termed "Refugees".

But what will you do at the funeral? 

Nobody is in attendance at such a mania 

Because it's not trending on social media. 

~ Suranya

Ek Kahani Aisi Bhi

 Barso purani yeh baat hai, 

Choti si ek ladki thi;

Dil mein uske aas yoon jagi 

Apni kahani dhundne nikli thi.

Kaha kaha na dhunda usne, 

Kaha kaha yoon bhatki thi; 

Galiyon mein, logo mein,

Paharo mein samunder mein, 

Yaha tak ke baarish aur dhoop mein bhi, 

Apni kahani dhoondhti firti thi bechari.

Par afsoos, usse uski kahani nahi mili. 

Zindagi ke kitaab ke kuch panne adhure thee, 

Anjaan sa ek darr tha aur kirdar bade ajeeb thee.

Logo ne kaha jhalli hai, 

Utpatang si sapne bunti rehti hai, 

Kya bekar mein aas lagaye baithi hai.

Aise milti hai kya kahaniya?

Jaise bazaar mein bikta koi khilona?

Par yeh dekho, ek din aisa hua, 

Ke yoon achanak kahani dhundte huye

Woh mujhse aake takrayi.

Woh lekhak nahi, kavi nahi, 

Par baaton mein mujhko bohot bhaayi.

Aur usse achanak aisa laga ke shayed

Usko uski kahani mil gayi.

Iss kahani mein dekho woh thi 

Jaise hamesha hona chahti thi Azad. 

Khush. Thodi si pagal. 

Iss kahani mein main tha.

Jaise uski kahani ka ek bada romanchak kirdar. 

Woh kehti thi main hawa sa usko disha deta hoon 

Woh ek patang jaisi, 

Mere bharose urti raheti, 

Iss vishwas ke sath ke main woh hoon 

Jo bhale na rahe uske paas 

Par usse girne nahi dega.

Sawal bohot puchti thi woh. 

Pata nahi yeh pyar kaise hota hai?

Log dard mein kaise jeete hai?

Yeh rishte kyun ulajhte hai?

Aur ulajhte toh koi suljhata kyun nahi?

Aisa nahi ho sakta

Ke hum pyar kare bhi aur nahi bhi, 

Hum sath ho bhi aur nahi bhi?

Aur iss sab mein bas woh ek kahani mil jaye

Jisse saalo se dhund raha tha dil.

Kahi yaadon ke panno mein koi reh jaaye,

Ya dil ke ek kone mein koi bas jaaye.

Hum haste huye yoon alvida toh keh de 

Par milne ki aas reh jaye.

Humari choti si kahani mein, 

Aisa bhi toh ho sakta hai na?

~ Suranya

Raped

 "I was raped."

"Prove it", they said.

"But you caught the monster!"

"You can also be an imposter."

"Why will I do that?"

"Your clothes, your attitude

Your religion, your caste 

All point at you as guilty 

Question you, we must!"

"But what's my crime?"

You are a woman, enough said."

"I am a Dalit too."

"Casteism isn't the issue."

"Why do you say your caste so proudly then?"

"It is not a case of hate, let's reason."

"Then why was I chosen to teach a lesson?"

Endless debates, TRP on rise, 

But in the end, no surprise 

I had to pay with my life, 

While you kept your vanity and vice.

~ Suranya

Empathy

 I often wonder as you speak, 

Spread your venom through words and deeds,

What does it take to be kind?

Why is it so hard to find?

Perhaps you need a little empathy, 

A bit of tolerance, 

A pinch of humility 

And a lot of love, 

Is it so hard to lack?

What does it take to be nice?

A few good words, 

A little encouragement 

Finding positivity 

And a lot of confidence.

I wonder why the world has lost its kindness.

Perhaps because in putting others down 

In making them cry 

In proving others wrong 

And abusing their ideas;

One seeks the superiority 

They otherwise lack vision.

~ Suranya

Words

 Does my voice not reach you?

Does my breath not echo?

I keep repeating myself, 

In desperate need to be heard.

Why am I so difficult to interpret?

Is my language different from yours?

Why am I so hard to understand?

Or do you ever try to?

Each passing day, each dark night, 

Little by little, my heart beats slower 

I slip into oblivion in shreds of the past

Hoping to be immortal, 

In ink and ideas;

I write down everything you can't hear 

In verses, phrases and letters.

Hoping that some day, 

Long after I leave, 

Someone will understand them, 

Hear me plead.

Connect to the voices silenced, 

Value my thoughts.

It is perhaps then, 

I will truly LIVE through my words.

~ Suranya

Peace

 What is true peace?

In between the words and verses, 

In the smell of books, old and new, 

And the knowledge that lay, 

Waiting to be discovered; 

There is a tiny space between the chapters, 

In blank white pages, for you and me, 

To discover ourselves in.

That, my friend, is peace, 

Of the mind, heart and soul, 

That is eager to conquer knowledge 

With Wisdom.

~ Suranya

Divide

 "Mine." One declares, putting a mark, 

While they looked away, another took a part, 

And just like that, land became scarce, 

It was divided, yours and theirs;

"Mine." Unknown voices lost, 

Those thousands knew the deadly cost. 

They lost their homes, you had your stand, 

"Refugees", they were, in a known land.

~ Suranya

Protest

 On the sunset of tolerance, 

In the bleak hope of light, 

Speak up your opinion, 

Thrive in harshness. 

To survive. 

If you keep mum today, 

Agree in fear of tyranny, 

The future will not forgive you 

For causing the beginning of such a felony.

~ Suranya

Reflection

 "Who is there for me to rely on?

To understand my sorrows, 

Every time I feel there's no tomorrow?

Who is there to bring peace to the turbulent heart?

Music to the lyrics, long lost perhaps?"

I ask You in accusation.

You smile at me as though I am a fool 

Remind me of things they don't teach in school.

"Look," You said, "at the waters of the fountain, 

The pond, lakes, and waterfalls in the mountains, 

And you will find the one you seek, 

Ask them to consider your desperate plea." 

So I walked up a small hill, then a mountain, 

Down by the stream, and a fountain, 

I searched and searched, but all I found was me, 

Agitated, animated, I told You 

"Reflection is all I see."

"Exactly" You calmly stare at me.

~ Suranya

Freedom

 Here I am Alone at last, 

Fluttering my wings, hearing them flap. 

Leaving behind a cocoon of suffocation, 

Of attachments and limitations, 

I fly above, leaving them all behind, 

Worldly beings, unjust minds 

This Fakira flies closer to You, 

Reaching out to your warmth 

In a happy pursuit. 

And here it comes, a gust of wind. 

Sweeping away the bodily being: 

Struggling to stay alive, tired, I let go, 

Blending into the Universe in afterglow; 

Becoming One in a dance of Souls, 

You and I, I and You, never getting old. 

The broken wings reminding them all, 

"She was once beautiful and bold."

~ Suranya

Ifs, Buts and Maybes

Gravely ill or mostly isolated in a room, fairly bored, thinking of possibilities and fearing the inevitable doom, we often reflect back on the journey already travelled, the options explored, and paths not chosen. What ifs shroud our minds, and we often think of the choices we never made. What if we went that way? Would our story be any different? What if we never loved the people we loved? Never regretted our choices? Never understood right from wrongs? Would we still be the person we are? Maybe not.

But would it all decrease the pain we felt in life? Maybe so. If we never felt pain, how would we understand it? Funny how every time we feel pain, physical or otherwise, we tend to think we have never felt so much before. We have never been hurt this way. But is there truly a parameter to measure the different pains under different circumstances? I guess not. Therein lies the beauty of life. If we never had doubts, never wondered what ifs, then perhaps we wouldn't be hurt so much.

Then what about the physical pain we suffer? Why do we suffer? Why do we blame God for every bad day? Why do we assume pain is caused by our sins? Why can't pain be a boon? Perhaps a reason to realise the worth of everything you have. Put a value on the life you live, even in utter disappointments. Still breathing. You are alive. Feel blessed for the breath. Not many are as lucky. You see the colours. Smell the spring. Taste the delicious food. Count your blessings.

What if in a parallel universe, you are just a character in someone's book?, They have already decided your role, your story, people you meet, people you love, people who care and who don't; it's all written somewhere or being told to someone. Live the journey to the inevitable destination, grateful for your pains that make you value your pleasures.

~ Suranya

Enlighten

 Raindrops fall like tears 

On the rosy cheeks of Heaven, 

Deafening on the window panes, 

I can't hear the world outside. 

But I hear You, wrath and roar, 

Speak to me in whispers of the wind, 

Tell me stories in rustling leaves.

Enlighten me if You please, 

Of what lies beyond, and above, 

Endless, boundless and far. 

How insignificant this Fakira is, 

Like a meteor among the millions of stars. 

Waiting to die out someday, 

Falling in her Beloved's lap.

~ Suranya

Desire

 A Sage set out to roam the world 

Teach it things he had known.

First in the crowd, he spotted a man, 

Fighting with another over a loan unreturned.

"Oh, these money-hungry rats!"

The Sage spoke, irked.

"Desire destroys!" He reminded his followers.

He roamed about a park and spotted a few teens.

"Raging hormones!" He shrugged, "Desire extreme."

He met a performer, pausing for claps, 

"You desire fame." He warned her.

A writer refused to sell away his art.

"You desire recognition, let it go."

He warned, "Or else starve!"

Back to his humble hut, alone at last, 

He suddenly felt a restlessness, 

Sick in the stomach.

Doctors were called, Fakirs summoned, 

Some gave him tricks, some advised, all amiss.

The wise old man gave him a cup of drink, 

"God calls this elixir of life, try some."

"This can work, it seems", with that 

He drank the wine down, slept in peace, 

Waiting for a miracle to unfold in ease. 

God appeared in his dreams and smiled.

"You desire to be alive?"

"I do! I do!" The Sage cried.

"But don't you want to be One with me?"

"Can't I, while I am alive still?" 

"Ah, but Desire destroys!" God reminded him.

~ Suranya

Virtually

There was a time when if you told them, "Hey, not only can you talk to people anywhere across the world in real time, but you can also see them." They would probably have dismissed it as a crazy idea. The people in a pandemic that hit a hundred years ago lived through words and letters. Letters that sometimes arrived after the person had arrived or passed away. Years probably went by without seeing someone's face or hearing their voice. It's amazing to imagine how people survived it all. The restrictions. The distances. And the longing. Especially when mental health issues were a myth. We humans most often take things for granted. And count what we don't have. But aren't we blessed to have technology today the way it is? Bringing people closer virtually.

© Suranya

Heroes and Villains

THERE ARE NO HEROES AND VILLAINS IN LIFE.

EVERYONE IS BOTH.

~ Suranya

History

HISTORY MEANS TO PRESERVE WHAT ONCE WAS. NOT TO RECREATE IT.

~ Suranya

Equality

 FEMINISM IS ABOUT

EQUALITY, NOT HATING MEN.

EQUALITY IS ABOUT SHARING AND PARTNERSHIPS.

NOT ABOUT WHOSE PHYSICAL STRENGTH IS GREATER.

~ Suranya

Knowledge

HALF KNOWLEDGE AND FULL OPINION IS 

MORE HARMFUL THAN A PANDEMIC.

~ Suranya

Not History

UNPOPULAR OPINION, WIKIPEDIA AND GOOGLE ARE NOT HISTORY BOOKS. ~ Suranya

Seeking You

 I often wondered who a Muse is, 

How does one soul,

Perhaps nonexistent, attract many?

Is it a person, or a place, what do I seek?

One fine morning opened my eyes, 

And perhaps it answered me.

Rumi's verse read:

"What You Seek Is Seeking You!"

And for a moment, my heart made a leap.

My journey to look for You 

It has been quite taxing, 

Painful and rebellious.

Let's stop playing hide and seek, 

Let's stop pretending to be weak, 

I have stopped looking for You, 

In every person around me.

You make my heart beat miles, 

As I pen down Your thoughts. 

You never had a face in my imagination, 

Just gestures to tell You apart. 

I have seen the world in monochrome, 

I have now seen reality. 

I have stopped looking for You.

I know perhaps, 

You are just another character in my story!

Perhaps the Muse I sought after, 

Hoping him to be flesh and blood, 

But I know You are too perfect, 

To be true in this cruel world. 

I have lost my interest in searching, 

I now believe in faith, 

I trust the feelings and my pen.

It had been a long wait, 

Unfruitful and impatient.

You gave me some greatest stories, 

And dreams fulfilled by them. 

I don't seek You anymore, 

Yes, I quit the search.

My brain is tired, so is my heart, 

But hope refuses to die out. 

Years have passed in waiting, 

Dreams long overdue, 

As I realise that happiness is in loving You, 

Not hoping for You to be true. 

It is what makes us who we are, 

Away from the facade of the world, 

I find You where I see Love, 

The most abundant, 

Inside Me.

~ Suranya

Lovelorn

 All my ideas keep stacking up 

In the trash bin scribbled and torn, 

All my days pass whirling by, 

In your thoughts, lovelorn. 

Woke up in the morning, 

Ready to go back to sleep. 

Laughed through the day 

Ignoring emotions that run deep.

Then the night reflects on my soul 

Like a mirror of the truth, it beholds 

And I know I cannot run, 

I cannot hide, can't act stubborn: 

One day, I have to stop and turn, 

Reflect upon the past and learn; 

A passion for love in my heart will be born, 

A Love that transcends space and time, 

A Love that remains beyond a lifetime. 

Ready to write a new story now, 

Not one that is full of fake show; 

Like a warrior not afraid of scars anymore, 

Brave enough that I have travelled so far, 

Ready to love this time around.

~ Suranya

The Taj Witnesses

The evening sun was as red as vermilion, reflecting upon the white marble of the Taj. Janni sat in prayer, in silence and fear. He stared at her prayer with a faint smile. Today was probably the beginning of a journey to forever. From the moment she dared to lift her veil and stare him in the eyes, Chhatrasal knew something had changed. Hearts transformed. He was leaving for a war, both knew was a lost cause. Yet a hope in their heart refused to go. For as the moon made its way to wipe away the red hues over the white marble, making the Taj shine like a diamond drop, he had held her hand and promised to wait for her on the other side. She had smiled in her tears, promising him the same. The other side was uncertain. Unexplored. Yet, he was not scared. For he knew that there, they were just two souls, beyond name and identity, not a king, princess, religion, caste or creed. They were equal and one. The Almighty didn't judge his children. For their love for each other. It would perhaps be the end of their story here, but it was the beginning of an eternity for the lovers. Because it was their first day of love vows and togetherness. Beyond the norms set by society that separated them, Hands entwined, in between tears, smiles and silences, the Taj witnessed a love, perhaps greater than what it stood for.

© Suranya

Dear Stranger

 Dear Stranger in my dreams,

I have travelled to thoughts extreme,

And places I have never been,

In search of You.

A key in my hand, I struggle to find locks,

A lock in sight, I lose the key I have.

I know not where to find You

So here I am waiting for You

To find me.

~ Suranya

Perspective

 Once in a Universe of parallel time, 

Was a human, appreciating the sky.

On the tree beside them, chirped a bird;

Looking out for prey was a puppy, 

Near the water, not very far.

From the water, a fish poked their nose out,

Thus began a conversation

That led to no solution.

"I can see the sky 

From where I lie," 

Smiled the human, 

"In simple shades of blue and white.

Perhaps a dusk in pink, 

A dawn in red, 

Or a yellow flicker of light."

"I can see the sky from where I stand"

The bird chirped in glee, 

"It's a shade of royal purple, 

Can't you see?"

"My sky is blue and yellow"

The puppy woofed, 

"Loyal I am, not a liar. 

Why can't you see what I see?"

"I live in the water, blurred all around,"

The fish popped in, 

"Black and white, with bubbling sounds, 

I see no colour in the sky or me, 

How can I be the silver you see? 

Why do you lie to me that way? 

My world isn't what you tell it to be"

They started an argument that went on for days, 

Agitated, animated, they refused to give up and stayed, 

Gathered a few of their own along, 

To make their point stronger.

Sapiens, Aviaries, Canines and Pisces, 

None could reach an inference.

One called another blind, 

While they called another ignorant.

Knowledge and Awareness laughed from a distance, 

Watching the world fight each other this way, 

For they had never met their dear friend, Perception

Who could perhaps have agreed with all of them.

~ Suranya

Quarantined Kolkata

It seems like a long time ago that my city was alive and well. Blue buses were plying on the busy roads, and children in uniforms were running down the pavements with bags on their backs. Trees stood tall, and tridents decorated the streets. The office "para" smelled of freshly made tea, cigarettes and momos and the malls were frequented by groups of Aunties, shopping for some festivities. Kumartuli, the artists' paradise of idols. The food courts were filled with the laughter of friends and families meeting over the weekend evenings. The parks witnessed couples in love and quarrels; restaurants buzzed with activities and the aroma of delicacies waiting to be served. Jorasako and Netaji Bhavan stand witness to a glorious past. The traffic snarled, and Park Street was frequented by food lovers.

Often on weekends, friends reunite over coffee and drinks to vent out their week-long work pressure. The street markets and hawkers' calls attracted the passerby's attention. The fresh air by the Princep Ghat prompted many to sit staring at the sunset for a long time. Every celebration, big or small, made us crave for some Ledikeni or Chomchom, and the Phuchka kaku smiled at our frequent visits for a free one after a competition of street snacks. My city was always hosting film festivals, fairs and shows, and people discussed politics in between the sips of coffee at the Indian Coffee House. Victoria and Rabindra Sarovar were lovers' paradise, and in some corner of North Kolkata, people adjusted their camera lenses to capture the idea of Kolkata in people's minds to show to the world. Not a very long time ago, my city was alive.

In a corner of the silent library behind stacks of books, I would sit for hours, without my phone and often stare outside at the large Royal Ponchiana filled with red blooms. The smell of old books brought a sense of calm to my heart.

Yet today this seems like a distant dream. A hope to get back to. Today, as I walk through the empty roads, all I see are scared faces carefully maintaining distances, masks covering faces, not a bus in sight, and the city is doomed in silence. The storm shook the city to its roots, and trees and poles are still lying around discarded by the sides of the road. All major crowd-pulling attractions wear an expected deserted look and stand like ghostly shadows of their past glory. I feel like a piece of the soul of my city is gone. A piece of me seems to be lost with it. The piece that could enjoy a sunset and feel the breeze. The piece that could frequent cafes with a book in hand. The piece that counted days for Durga Pujo. And the piece that knew that the world, even in between all the mess, wasn't a bad place after all.

I don't know that anymore. I don't recognise this place anymore. You know when someone you thought you knew all along becomes a stranger in a moment, and you feel like you never knew them? My city has become that way for me in the past few months.

There is fear, uncertainty and helplessness in the air. It seems to suffocate our minds and souls. And my city of "joy" is drowning in its silence. Every single day.

~ Suranya

Problems

 Here we are in distress

Our life is an entangled mess. 

With enough problems and scars

To last a lifetime, in this farce.

Yes, the problems are indeed large. 

Too big for your heart or mind to adjust.

But not enough to not be kind, 

Not be tolerant or united.

Understand that others also have issues.

Maybe just not in similar lines.

Whose problem is greater?

Whose life is tougher?

Who are we to decide?

Your problems can be big enough. 

But you can't compare it to others.

Let's be compassionate enough, 

And promise not to say

"My problem is bigger than yours anyway."

If "sharing is caring" makes life easier 

There is no harm in accepting 

Other lives can also be messier!

~ Suranya

Last Note

 If tomorrow starts without me, 

Just let the good memories be.

Remember the summer afternoons and ice lollies, 

The winter picnic and folly.

Autumn in all its colourful glory, 

Spring is setting in slowly.

Remember the days in the school lanes, 

Or the college canteen and guitar strings;

That day you smiled at me in a crowd, 

Or held my hand without a doubt.

But here we are, at a crossroads;

My heart and mind are in a mess, 

Each day I sink into darkness.

Drown in the sea of desires

Waves of expectation and dreamy chase, 

Consuming me bit by bit in stress.

Remember me for the happiest times, 

Not the bags under my eyes or sleepless nights.

Remember me for my laughter, 

Not the pain I unwillingly suffered.

~ Suranya

Displaced

 I have no home, 

No Identity of my own. 

No country, no wealth 

No place to belong.

Just numbers and religion, 

Tagged in my being, 

My existence in question, 

Vague as it may seem.

Forced, tortured, uprooted, 

Placed in a camp 

Displaced and lost, 

In life and cause; 

No job, no hope

No reason to live when old 

Questioned and taunted, 

Pawn of politics, 

I am another Refugee.

~ Suranya

Stories

 Cave Paintings, Papyrus, Leaves

Stone seals from the Indus,

Paper scribbles, wood, ink in a pot,

Stories of the Past, present and future,

Stories that have been told before.

And shall be told yet again.

Of Might, Greed, Chivalry and Romance;

Love, Lust, Bravery and Treason.

Lessons Learnt, Characters dicovered,

Cvilisation gone, relics unearthened

Yet, every time you repeat a loop,

Of Vicious circle of mistakes

And nod your head to say,

"History repeats itself."

~ Suranya

Oppressed

You look at me like a criminal, 

An alienated black sheep in your elite society. 

Because of your own prejudice and thoughts.

My colour, my sexuality or perhaps my religion

Pose a threat to your intolerant heart. 

Trapped in my skin, my faith and my orientation.

A storm bottles up and brews in me.

Oppressed, suppressed and hurt, 

Time and again, rejected by you from the start,

There are times I say, Enough!

I rise as a rebellion in your system, 

Your crippled rules end up in chaos. 

But soon the storm in me dies down.

Tired and screaming in silence 

Where none can hear me speak.

I go back under your feet, 

While you smile in victory, 

Sucking the breath out of me, 

Oh, I can't breathe!

~SURANYA

Distances

"Distances do wonders", they say.

You often witness it differently.

Here, confined in the house,

You barely see them anymore.

Every time a sneeze makes you anxious,

The fear that looms underneath it is obvious.

Every time you feel upset or lonely,

You resolve the fights very quickly.

What if there isn't a next time?

What if you can never hug tight?

Unsaid words, scary silences

Unsurity, irritation and helplessness;

Where do we stand?

What does the future hold?

So close, yet so far, situations unfold.

Distances are a curse, you realise in dismay,

When the loneliness is there to stay

And you are with them, yet you aren't.

It's like a boon and a bane,

Lasting for days.

~ Suranya

Migrant Walkers

Hunger lurks in every inch of my body,
Hunger hides in your eyes;
Yours of greed and power, 

Mine for ways to survive.
I walk miles hoping to reach home,

While you take pleasure

In jogging around parks;
I am fragile, yet I have to walk on, 

You are dieting while working from home.
Here I am, child in arm, 

Nobody was there to hear my plea.
There you are, mask and gloves, 

Complaining about the lifestyle you miss.
Here we are, class apart, you refusing wages to me; 

Aware that I work hard and make things easier, 

So that you can live the life you boast of often to society.
I die on the road, alone and helpless, 

You just post about it, shaking your head in dismay. 

The next morning, my blood stains are washed away, 

Lest your luxury car gets strained on the way.

~ Suranya

Lessons for Life

 FAR BEYOND THE WORLD OF REALITY, 

WHERE TECHNOLOGY MEETS VIRTUALITY, 

YOU SEE THEM THERE, HEAR THEIR VOICES.

BUT LOOK AROUND. 

YOU ARE STILL ALONE. 

YOU ARE STILL ON YOUR OWN WITH YOUR FEELINGS. 

AND ON THE DARKEST NIGHT 

WHEN YOU NEED A HUG 

ALL YOU HAVE IS A PILLOW AND TEARS

TO SOOTH YOU TO SLEEP.

THAT'S WHAT DISTANCES DO TO YOU. 

THAT'S WHAT A PANDEMIC DOES TO YOU. 

YOU ARE SUDDENLY SO COMFORTABLE BEING ALONE 

THAT IT SCARES YOU.

IT IS OKAY TO BE SCARED.

IT IS OKAY. 

THINGS ARE UNCERTAIN.

IF THERE IS ONE LESSON YOU LEARNT HERE, 

LIFE NEVER GOES AS PLANNED.

~ Suranya

Storm

There's a storm outside my window,

Gustling, howling, rampaging through the street.

There is another in my mind

Fighting hard, trying to survive in peace.

The gale dies down, as rain floods the lanes

Mine pours down, still remains the same.

Nobody knows what caused the sky to rebel.

Some say it is Hell's angry Devil.

Perhaps we know what the mind's unrest is about,

It is fearful of the uncertain, without a doubt.

Unlike the one outside, free and flying,

The storm stuck inside is caged and dying. 

~ Suranya

Born Free

 The dawn breaks with the cuckoo's cry 

The breeze blows away leaves long dried. 

In Your grace, the planet survives, 

In rejuvenation and newborn sprite.

The birds chirp, nestling their chicks. 

Somewhere in the silence, a puppy squeaks; 

The Earth is healing in our sight 

From everything wrong we did for might.

To Mother Nature's flowers and trees. 

Fired forests and animals forced to flee, 

To all the innocent birds and bees 

We didn't care enough to see.

No honks no smog, no human in sight, 

Empty roads and clear skies, 

See how tables turn so fast, 

All your mighty endeavours barely last.

Alone and trapped Mankind shivers, 

While You bring relief 

To all of Earth's silent givers.

~ Suranya

Irregular

For every few pairs of heartbeat,

I often skip a beat.

Separate and unique,

The doctor said it is a disorder,

But as I lay sleepless in bed,

I count the beats, until for every odd one,

I lose the rhythm, begin all over again.

I often wonder why, my heart doesn't make music

Like yours?

Why mine is chosen to be this way?

I never knew how people skip a beat,

Seeing someone they love.

I skip beats all the time.

Then I found you,

In you, I discovered myself,

I found my music and understood

All my odd beats have been kept away

Just for you.

~ Suranya

 

Prison Break

Trapped in four walls,

You feel an urge to break free 

Barriers of brick are all you see.

You want to step out 

Feel the precious breeze, 

And explore the world. 

Forbidden to see. 

Is it because the heart just wants to rebel?

Is it because you know you can't?

Trapped in your limitations, 

Of knowledge, awareness and traditions, 

Of you, me and them, yours and theirs, 

Why do you never feel like breaking free?

What should and should not be, 

Right or wrong, morals and values, 

Doesn't your mind ever feel the chains? 

That binds it down to the society so insane?

Boundaries shroud its path every day 

Of politics, caste, creed, and religion; 

Patriarchy, misogyny, and perceived notions.

Trapped in your comfort zone, 

The same routine of expectations, 

Living to die, yet not alive, 

In shackles of century-old traditions.

Why is it that your body feels trapped, 

When it is really the mind imprisoned 

Hoping to be set free.

~ Suranya

Life

 Life is the teacher as well as the lesson ~ Suranya

Shooting Star

My ash will turn into stardust, floating in the universe, watching you from afar, sending you wishes from the shooting star.

~ SURANYA

Paranoia

Put under house arrest

As death looms by

Rarely has the world seen

Any of these sights:

Not knowing the future

Overwhelmed at the present

Interesting how man-made boundaries

All perish with them.

~ Suranya

An Innocent Question

There is a thing I learnt about kids. They teach you as much as you teach them. They basically are a book in themselves. My five year old nephew asks curious questions every now and then like every other kid his age. It so happened that he came up with "Tell me, what is the meaning of life?" I looked up from my book at him, as he stopped colouring the hut he had drawn and repeated his question. "What is the meaning of life?" I smiled and said "Let's see, what is life? Umm... See you breath and your heart beats..." He stopped me with a shake of his head. "No no no. That is life. What is the meaning of it?" I looked at his innocent question in silence. Did he know what he had just said? How profound and deep his question was? Probably not. I just smiled. I had no answers. I guess we are all looking for it.

~ Suranya

Saffron

He smeared the Beloved In colours of red, While She looked for Him In saffron instead.

~ SURANYA

Love & Religion

Love comes to your life, sometimes like a storm in the summer afternoon, a relief all at once, and sometimes like a gentle breeze that fills your heart with a sense of calm. Love, just like religion, is personal in nature. Now, why do I call religion personal? Because even if you follow the same religion, your way of seeing God is always different from others. How? An atheist always believes in scientific evidence. Science is his God. Meera saw him as her soulmate and lover. To her, he was human, her husband. To most of us, they are guides, like parents, protecting us. Or perhaps an inspiration. Each person sees God in their unique way. What you feel, hope and believe looks after you is your God. None of the notions of treating God as a lover, parent, inspiration, or something that motivates can be termed wrong. Much like Love. What you feel in love with, or about it, is quite different from what another person feels. No two people feel the same about Love. No one will define love the way you do or see it in its glory, pain and pleasure like you do. Most importantly, they will never feel what you do. That's what makes love unique. And thus it lacks definition. It is different to everyone. Just like God. And there lies the magic. Of Belief and Hope.

~ Suranya

To the One

 "To someone somewhere, who can look into my eyes as an endless universe of mystery and possibilities, exactly the way I will look into his, let's write a story beyond time, place and existence. Where you are you, and you are me, I am you, and I am more than me. Let's dance around in a merry loop of time travel through star dust and moon light, to tell and retell our story time and again to the world, which often forgets, History repeats itself."

~ SURANYA

Life & Death

 I saw Death staring right at me, 

Whispering my name in the wind. 

Scared, I ran as fast as I could 

But the shadows of it still loomed.

I saw Life opening its arms 

And I hugged it tight. 

It suffocated me in its embrace 

Yet I held on with all my might.

© Suranya

Acceptance

 The night reflects on my soul 

Like a mirror of the truth, it beholds 

And I know I cannot run, 

I cannot hide, can't act stubborn; 

One day, I have to stop and turn, 

Accept where my heart stands.

~ SURANYA

War & Religion

MANDIR MASJID SE KHUDA KO JUDA KARNE WALE

AZADI KE NAARO SE TOH DARENGE HI,

INSANIYAT KO CHAHNE WALE, 

INSANIYAT KE NAAM PE

MARENGE BHI.

~ Suranya

Enough

YOU FEAR TOO MUCH, SUFFOCATING IN PAIN, DROWNING EVERY DAY IN UNCERTAINTY; BUT A DAY WILL COME WHEN YOU RISE UP AGAIN, UNNERVED BY WHAT ONCE PULLED YOU DOWN. YOU WILL WAVE YOUR BANNER OF BRAVERY, YOUR WAR CRY WILL RUN A CHILL THROUGH THE SPINES OF THE OTHERWISE SPINELESS BULLIES, AND YOU WILL SAY LOUD AND CLEAR, "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH."

~ Suranya

Name & Number

 WHAT'S IN A NAME, YOU ASK? 

EVERYTHING.

YOUR CASTE, CREED, RELIGION AND BREED, 

FOREFATHERS, FALSE PRIDE AND TRIBE. 

THEN WHAT IF YOU NEVER HAD ONE? 

"DANGEROUS", CRIED THE ANIMALS AND TREES. 

"WITHOUT A NAME, YOU ARE JUST NUMBERS."

© Suranya