A different lesson

It was early morning and the sun was showering its light on my face, but the rays which were penetrating my head and igniting my brain were disturbing enough to force me out of my bed. This happens every day and I have to leave my favorite place to no one for the whole day. And I know, if I continue to lie down like that, I will still be forced out of my abode of rest by a set of other irritating elements who happens to be my great room mates. Sometimes I really feel that sleep is one of the loveliest creations of God for the entire living being but no one has ever been able to unravel the mystery behind it.
So it was the beginning of a new dawn, and as usual I was scolding myself again for being late. I was wondering, why all the people were sitting silently and not preparing for the day and my eyes went on the calendar which was hanging in front of me and that gave me a logical explanation….
It was Sunday and I was out of the bed so early??? No, this isn’t fair at all….
Mr. Sun why did you wake me up so early today??? If you can’t sleep , at least let the others sleep man….Everyday if you have got the responsibility of lighting the earth, it doesn’t mean that you expect everyone to get up and be like you. And you know how important rest is for a human being?? I mean after working for the whole week we get one day to take rest and you don’t even care for that.
“You should not rise on Sundays, you should also get one day holiday, and directly rise on Monday”, I was telling this to the Sun….
Imagine the prospect of Sun not rising on SUN-Day…..
I was standing and looking through the window, and advising Mr. Sun on my illogical thoughts that will bring a social harmony on this earth, but the vibration of my cell phone broke my reverie and was so high that I had to reluctantly apologize to Mr. Sun and come back to welcome the intruder who disturbed me in such an important meeting.
I thought it would be some colleague of mine planning to waste this Sunday too by roaming and loafing out…but no it was an unknown number. I picked up the call and tried to recognize the voice, which was actually known to me.
“Hey man forgotten or what, It is Saquib”
“Oh My God where are you my dear friend….long time didn’t hear from you”
It was one of my old friends trying to revive an old friendship by reciting all the idioms and phrases, he had learnt in the English Class. I also tried to show some but I know it’s not my piece of cake and again I stooped down to my level and then the sentences were fully loaded with all sorts of slang which I am sure will be censored if spoken in public.
“See it’s a serious matter…If your blood group is A positive then you need to directly go to Sanjay Gandhi Hospital and meet one old lady, who is hospitalized there and needs blood. She is going to be operated today and she doesn’t have any one to look after. If you can do this favor God will reward you. “
Now this God stuff always drives everyone crazy and people are ready to do so much if someone takes his name. In my case it was a matter of just a few milliliters of blood so I thought it a good opportunity to get some praise from my heart who always scolds me of being a self centered man. I thought at least for some days it will stop speaking against me and I will gain some respect from him if not from any other…
I asked my friend to accompany me as it was necessary to take precautionary measures. What if I lose my control by seeing the cruel nurse inserting the horrible needle in my vein? He can at least take me back home peacefully.
We reached the hospital soon and at the entrance there was a lady with a smiling face sitting and eagerly waiting for someone. We guessed maybe some attendant of that patient…. and asked. She nodded her head and started taking us towards, we thought to the bed where the patient is lying. On the way she started asking about us and I went on explaining to prove our credentials. I thought she was suspicious whether we were the right persons or not. Her questions were general, what we do, how do we know Saquib, but you know the human mind ….it always tends to think in the negative direction.
At the diagnostic centre she stopped and asked me to go and talk to the nurse sitting at one counter. I followed her commands and gave the patient’s name. The nurse filled a form , took my signature and asked me to go and lie down on the strange looking bed in the next room.
Then came the horrible scene of me getting tied to the bed…actually I was not tied to the bed but my left hand was cuffed, I don’t know why they make that scene so terrific. At that time whatever tool they bring, it doesn’t look friendly to the eyes. Then the prick of the needle, and the pain which is less but the eagerness before that drives a normal person crazy. I have always been curious to see that scene in spite of being scared but somehow I manage to always replay it in my mind, so that when I come next time I better be prepared. But that has never helped me in overcoming the phobia of deadly needle and the monstrous syringe. I mean they always turn my face white, I never understand why? So my hard earned blood was taken away for which I was very happy. I was imagining my heart standing in front of me and smiling with pride.
I got down from the bed and saw that lady’s face whom we met at the entrance. She was still smiling and looking at me with a sense of gratitude. I requested her to take us to the patient so that we can give her assurance that everything is fine and there is no need to worry about anything. After coming from such a long distance to donate blood to an unknown and poor person who was not well, it was necessary for us to greet her at least.
She smiled and told “You people have already met her”.
We were surprised and asked where and who is that lady?
She again repeated the same sentence and told she is going back to her bed now…..
She thanked us and then we saw the lady marching towards her room where she was admitted and going to be operated the same day.
I still remember the look on her face, a face without any worries and eagerness as if she is someone else attending to the patient.

Lal Rang

Main!

Apni duniya me gum tha

Ek Khwaab!

Jahan musurahat thi

Haseen muskuraahat

Chehre par tabassum

Jisne mujhe apni aaghosh me

Dhaanmp rakha tha

Kitni khushnuma thi wo waadi

Kitni seher aamez

Kitni pur fareb

Jahan Dard Gumnaam tha

Hawaen zehen par jadoo chalati thi

isqo aashqi ke naghme sunaati thi

Na jaane kyun aur kab

Kisi ne jaga diya

Mere jismo jaan ko hila diya

Dil par ek nashtar chala diya

Mujhe haqeeqat bata diya

Main pareshaan ek ajnabee ki tarah

Jise dekhta tha

Jahan dekhta tha

Ajeeb lagta tha

Sawal karta tha

Kya yeh wahi duniya hai

Jahan mai jeeta hun

Kaifiyat aisi ke

Sab kuch naya ho

Sab kuch badal sa gaya ho

Meri duniya me

Aashiyan to jale na the

hamsaaye to ghamgeen na the

Tamannaen to luti na theen

Wahan to!

Khushboo thi

Shaadabi thi

Husn tha

Rang tha

Lekin yeh laal rang?

Nahi!

Yeh rang nahi ho sakta

Is me to dard hai

zindagi hai.........

Udaasi hai..........

Josh hai..............

Taaqat hai..........

Rang me jaan to nahi hota

Rang me toofan to nahi hota

Rang me ranj to nahi hota

Rang me zarb to nahi hota

Lekin Ab!

Meri aankhen khul chuki thein

Meri rooh zindagi paa chuki thi

Mera qalb roushan ho chala tha

Haan!

Main ab jaag raha tha

Seher jaa chuka tha

Badal chant chuke the

Aur phir

Dard hi dard

Karb hi karb

Cheenkho pukaar

Andhera aur sannata

Meri pareshaani ne sada lagai

Gile aur shikwe kiye

Ke!

Mujhe kisne jagaya hai

Meri haseen waadi se

Mujhe kis ne nikaala hai

jawab do

Achanak! Ek sada aai

Pur asar sada

Pur kashish sada

Pur khatar sada

Pur nazar sada

Wahi laal rang!!!

Mera sawal....

Aaho naale me dooba tha.

Tum kaun ho?

Lahoo!

Jo tere ragon me bahtaa hun

Jo teri duniya me syaah hai

Jo teri duniya me paani hai

Main wahi lahoo hun...

Jo yahan aankhon se tapakta hai

Haan! Main hi hun

Tumhara mujrim

Lekin is jurm par

Mujhe fakhr hai

Main tumhe roz jagata hun

Manzil ka pata batata hun

Khwaabe ghaflat se

Nikaal laata hun

Tilism tod deta hun

Haqeeqat aashkaar karta hun

Main tum me hi rachta hun

Main tum me hi basta hun......