मैला सा चाँद

मिट्टी की चादर ओढ़े

दूर से मुस्कुरा रहा है

जैसे कोई पहेली बुझा रहा है

इंसान की ग़लतियाँ

उसकी बेजिम्मेदारियाँ

आज उसी की हंसी उड़ा रहीं हैं

जैसे कोई आइना दिखा रही हैं

The full moon is beautiful tonight. But it’s yellow, and lacks it’s normal luster. Blame it on the smoke 😦

Time stretches and shrinks based on your perspective. Ten year ago, at this moment, my father was still alive. But that moment does not seem that far back. A year ago I was in Delhi this week. That also seems more recent. And March 2020 when this pandemic began, was just seven months ago, and yet seems like we’ve been on this lockdown since eternity. Is time then relative? Do you make whatever you want out of it? What an absurd thought.

Time may be absolute. But the passage of time is certainly relative. I was a a different person ten year ago, to the moment. Better – yes, stronger – no. I forgive easily, but I hurt easily too. I feel depleted and yet I know how to refuel.

Growth comes in different forms. Emotionally brittle but psychologically stronger. I fear very little. But I feel a lot more. I’m still bruised. But I also pick up myself and run.

I am not at the abyss. But I can still see it from here.