On My Own In Pandemic

 Time passes by

I have learnt to sit inside four walls of my house

The only long walk I take, is no more in parks

but on my 8th floor

From the window touching my bed,

passing through my bathroom door, kitchen, living room,

to lobby outside my main door,

passing through three lift

till the opposite closed room no 804

and back again.

Enough exercise for the day

is to complete six rounds.

Sometimes might walk down

to seventh floor and climb up again.

With me as my sole company,

I have learnt to argue with me,

I rest against my soft pillow

close to the window

and watch the sky change colors

during the day

from light blue to dark blue to pitch dark

with twinkling diamonds on cloudless nights

Greedy crows visit me

only if I have

bread to share.

On the days when I am generous

I offer them mithai or crumbled fruit.

Friends I had once upon a time,

I recognise them no more.

Food has been my savior.

My daily normal food has suddenly got exotic.

English vocabulary puns behind my cheeks.

Stale curd is now greek chilled yoghurt.

Palak is local greens,

chappattis are tortillas,

fried potatoes -french fries,

rolled up roti with left over food is wraps.

I buy fruits from farms

all the way from Tons Valley at Uttrakhand,

those hilly regions of north east India.

I am supporting farmers who protest on the street.

I tweet my support in 140 characters

My linen pyjamas with floral design

are ordered from Surat.

I invite my family to buy the same designs

and we party on booth camps,

each one us chomping

on same menu

of samosas and

mint chutney and

cup of Adrak Wali Chai.

Netflix and prime videos

have replaced cable network,

radio FM keeps the silence away,

Endless podcast,

instalives,

zoom on, google meets,

turn the needles of my wall clock

I find no time to read,

words overflow from pages of book

begging for attention

Did you get Vaccine?

Are you still alive?

Next building is sealed with 13-15 new cases,

the most intelligent talk of the town

are conversation on taking precautions,

as if you don't know.

Time passes by

I have learnt to sit inside four walls of my house

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All Days Seem The Same

 All days seems the same

Morning wake up, 

Night for sleep, 

Hours between, 

Home activities tweaked

Helper walks in 

To wash the dishes, 

Clean the floor, 

Dust the room. 

There is nothing much 

Left for me to do

Except press keys 

On my phone to chat, 

To inquire 

If there will be some adventures 

To explore,

Or just watch 

Visual, 

Virtual, 

Colorful images

Endless shows

Is this new normal life?

Lost appetite,

There is no taste

No more, 

All food tastes just the same..

Sweet is sweet, 

Sour is sour and

Bitter is oh so bitter

I long for travel

To distant land

Capture the images of

Wind and sand

Meet new people

Shop new designs

But no incentive 

For such pleasures

Just black and white

 Is new normal

Those who say 

Their life is good

 are big liars

Too proud to admit 

That they are bored.

Big Mamma Never Listens

All dey people walking this way that way
Shaking their heads, mumbling happy Lohri
Dey drummer beating dey drums loudly
I closing ma ears so I hear it softly
Women dey dressed in ethnic shiny clothes
Dancing with their friends in muddy naked toes
Me I dey ask aunty will she tango with me
Uh uh..
But bIg mamma, she never listen O

Friend pulling my arm, asking me to stand beside her
Long queue look like centiped rope
Everybody in queue holding paper plates
Hungry people waiting patiently for dey turn
There is pulao, bread, bhajiya and mix vegetables stew
Big mamma telling me
It is free food
fill your plate, eat till you drop dead
Me I dey ask aunty who paid the bill
Uh uh
But big mamma she never listen O

In the centre of the compound is the burning flame
With red orange tongue wagging as in a game
People going round, round, round the flame
throwing popcorn, til laddoos on the ground
Too much food stuff on the floor
More people come with more popcorn, laddoo
Me I dey ask aunty why people wasting so much food
Big mamma say that they are praying to dey God of flames
Me I dey ask again why they wasting food
Uh uh
But big mamma dey never listen O

Everybody pouting and clicking selfie
Everybody busy on their phone
Nobody hearing the phone conversation
But people l chatting on the line
Texting is better than talking aloud
Me I dey ask aunty why people use their phone
They should be praying and praying to God alone
Uh uh
But big mamma dey never listen O

Big mamma she dey want to sit by herself now
Me I dey ask aunty can we go home
Big mamma say fun has just begun
Uh uh
Me I dey no answer nothing O

My Friends And I

A scar on my leg
A raw scraped skin,
I limp to answer the doorbell
Friends walk in with cooked meals
There is fried rice, some spring rolls
And veggies in sour sauce
Food, always an excuse
For us to meet
We eat, we chat
Pain goes to sleep
Its chilly, windy, Mumbai freeze

Some days are dull
When pain puts you off to deep sleep,
the moon waits
Shining behind the window pane
Till strength come back
Unknown to the world
U lay on bed, uncaring
Too weak to move
To breathe in the fresh air
Although its chilly, windy, Mumbai freeze

There is chatter of kids
Out in the lane below
Loud sound of Azaan
From mosque close by
Calling
its time for prayers
Some beeps of cars
A moving traffic
A crazy motorcyclist
Zooming by
We sit by window
My friends and I
Love is in the air
Its chilly, windy, Mumbai freeze

Beaded Canvas

Two weeks ago
She didn't exists
There was no song
Nor piano with music

I created this
Goddess of canvas
Crystal by crystal
Pasted each piece
Twenty-two shades of love
Shaping this form
With my mind still
No cluster of thoughts
Nor any Distractions
Eyes strained
Finding each crystal
Behind magnifying glass
As in meditative moods

It has finally
Revealed itself
With a life of its own
Has a story to tell
From beginning to the end
Will one day shine
Adorn the walls
Of my living room

But not now
Not yet
It still waits
Incomplete

Virus in my Phone

Virus walked into my phone
Caused sore throat, silent chat
It lay helplessly by my side
Too weak to make a stand

Fifteen days more to go
Me, my phone in lockdown
I looked for a book to read
Or a spiritual hymn to chant

But hardly had an hour passed
Missed I my virtual cloud
What s new in my social land
Craved I to understand

Reviewed the days of no cyber net
Survive I did for years
Honing on my other interests
Hobbies, travel, writing on pads

Well stocked I was in my house
With needles threads and hooks
Paint brushes, canvas, pencils , paints
These all were my best friends

Everything had faded away
Since media filled those gaps
Addiction is hard to avoid
When you are on virtual stands

Online I read everything, Newspaper, recipes, pranks
Inspired by work, interests, goals
That are posted by my friends

With phone in lockdown mode
No cough, sneeze just flu
Cut off I am, from outer world
Know not what do.I do

There has to be some solution
Cannot stay alone by me self
Great are people who march for retreats
Meditate to find themselves

I find myself in my links
My family my groups, my friends
They send me messages night and day
To cheer me when I am clanked

I walk toward my desktop screen
To consult my Google friend
With trials and errors, clicks here and there
For some medication research

There is a remedy for every illness
I only need to understand
And lo behold , after few hours
I finally find a snap

My head is heavy
My eyes are strained
At staring on the screen too long
But learnt I did, to reboot my sick machine
It's healthy once again...

My neighbours in Lockdown

Day was spent Talking to my neigbours
Over a phone call
On regular days
I would just open the door to ask if they are well.

Lockdown has trapped me
Chained me inside my house
I see the birds
Happily fly
Under the blue sky
But here I am
Quaranteened
The distance between the neighbors grows wider

"How are you?" I ask I can hear the happiness in her voice
She tell me how lonely she has been,
With aches and pain crushing her all day To get a listening ear is a treat.

I tell her
"This too shall pass.
Just keep faith in God"
She says
"Its her God
Who is talking to her through me."

Most lonely are the senior people
Who live all alone
With no live-in helper at home
They struggle with daily chores.

They wont take favors from nobody But are too weak to do it themselves.
Out of compulsion,
At my conviction They finally ask for help

To fetch for them some medicines
And buy a loaf of bread...

There Is Virus in the Air

I cant keep my Hands.
All to myself
They don't obey me
They swing beyond my control
I Follow their every move
But still they touch my face
Look they go up again
Checking if I need a shave

There is virus in the air
All germs scattered on floor
If sweeping could help
I would throw them out doors

I keep my hands on sides
Every hour I sanitize
How can I relax
My nose itches so bad
Look they go up again
Crawling on my face
They dont obey me
They swing beyond control

There is virus in the air
All germs scattered on floor
If sweeping could help
I would throw them out doors

What do I do with Hands
that never follow
Any rules
Have quaranteened them
Tied them to the stool

Wont let them touch that pole
Wont let them turn the bolt
Wont let them ring the bell
I keep them behind my back
Have cross my hands across my chest
So I never lose control
But still these hands
They play with my hair

There's virus in the air
All scattered on the floor
If sweeping could help
I would throw them out doors

I am walking carelessly
With hand in pocket hole
For greeting my friends I
Simply join my hands
Or raise my hands to head
to say soft salaam
Wont let them shake the hands
Just say a simple hello.

There is virus in the air
All scattered on the floor
If sweeping could help
I would throw them out doors

A2Z April Challenge Z is for Zeal

Z is for Zeal

I stopped counting the moons
Outside my window
Terror spreads
Millions of people choked to death
People mourn alone in grief
Around the world
Economy dips
Money, status, position mingled in dust
Life comes to stand still

Or does it?

Prayers
The only scope
I stretch my arms till they reach the sky
To grab the clouds of
courage and patience
To work with renewed
zeal and energy

Hoping
Life returns to normalcy.
Soon.

@Pushpz

Z is for 'Zeal"

A2Z April Challenge Y is For Yellow

Y is for Yellow

Days have transformed from yellow to grey
Routine is a distant dream

We ran like an athlete
To reach 9:10am fast train
Had friendly chat with familiar faces everyday
For strangers we had smiles
On our return trip at 5pm
We saw them peeling peas,
Or scaling garlic in the train compartment
Some of them knitted booties
Some sang Bollywood songs
Some simply dozed throughout their train ride.

Life has changed its course
Work comes home
Through cyber space
At any odd hours
You juggle with household chores before you can finish your office assignment of the day.

Always angry is the boss
Who makes too many demands
Understands not the woes of family members
Clustered together all hours of the day
And night
Everybody seeking their own space.
Always hungry
Mobile phones click notifications
Work schedules confused
Day and night is the same
Nobody watches the clock anymore

Miss those moments when dawn shafts pierced steam.
The day would start with musical note of happiness.
The sun appeared at horizon
Its warm yellow rays filtered through tinted glass windows
Bringing sunshine and vibrancy in moods

Working from home and working at workplace is not the same.
It never was.

@Pushpz

Y is for 'Yellow"

A2Z April Challenge X is for Xerox

X is for Xerox

They came back today
Both father and son
Cured at last
Of Covid19
But in isolation for fifteen days
At home they would be
Lockdown

Shilpa, the neighbor
She sees
Under the vitamin D sun
Tranquil whirlwind
Breezy lashes of the trees
None went out to greet.

No warm reception
On their return from death
Or so it seemed
Silence in the air
Except the sound
Of footsteps on wooden floor
Shilpa locked her door
First concern was safety

She sat to type
Words don't come easy
When mind is in despair
Zealous praises stretched to heaven
Thanking God
That it was not she
Nor her loved ones

No neighbors called for updates
It wasn't a juicy gossip
Everyone with xerox copy of significance collected in the photo studio of mind
Same expression of fear
Same queries
Was the treatment complete?
Will the normalcy return?

'Breaking News'
She types.

@Pushpz

X is for 'Xerox"

A2Z April Challenge W is for We

W is for We

During lockdown
Behind the closed doors
Relationship plays the game

We
My lit friends and I
Churn out poems everyday
Playing with words
Juggling with phrases
Spinning an emotional yarn
Behind the closed doors
On our work tables
We share our literary treats

We
My foodie friends and I
Chop onion till we cry
Cook, bake, roast the veggies
Plate it well, then click
A foto to share and to stare
Behind the close doors
Alone
We drool

We
My close friends and I
Meet regularly on video chat
Share the happy hours
Sometimes high, at times low
Precious is our time together
Belly laugh, play or sing
Behind the closed doors,
Far apart but never alone

We
My neighbors and I
Just a doorbell away
Social distancing
Pulled us apart
During this pandemic
We are afraid to meet
With or without mask
Behind the close doors
We are strangers now

We
My family and I
All of us in lockdown under a common roof
Blessed that we are together
Share a common fear
Stay indoor and pray that
Each one of us
Open the door and our hearts
To be free again

@Pushpz

W is for 'We"

A2Z April Challenge V is For Visionary

V is for Visionary

Rich are safe at home
Surrounded by luxuries of life.
Food drinks hours of leisure
But still complain
About being indoors.
About missing their carefree life

Heart weeps for poor who live in a hut six by four.
Social distancing
An impossible dream
Summer heat
Not enough to eat
Out on streets doing odd jobs.

Sad lot work
so that rich are comfy
Cops nurses watchmen drivers vendors sweepers
The list goes on

These are the people
Dressed in mask
Much at risk
They go home
But not close to children
No show of affection
No physical touch
Everyday is red day
They may
Or may not return home
Sad lot
They have no hope

To be realist today is to be visionary or else there is only fear

So dream we must
This too shall pass
Sister advocates
Evil has ruled for too long
Crime, treachery, greed
All must dissolve
Stay at home in self realisation
This is the period of redemption
Satyuga is soon to arrive
An age of truth
Where humanity will be governed by Gods
Goodness will rule
Every manifestation will be close to purest ideals

Its just the matter of time.

@Pushpz

V is for Visionary

A2Z April Challenge U for For Utopia

U is for Utopia

We chat online everyday
My friends and I
Talk about many things
Tips on recipes
"What did you cook today?"
Some Bollywood gupshup
Some news about how they spent their hours during lockdown days

Close knit family content at having all members eating the home cooked food togather.
No parties, no outings
Main gate quarantined
Days spent
Strengthening the bonds with family members at home

Cops out there on the streets
Monitoring the movement of thugs on the road
Need not be afraid
Crime has changed its graph
To lower incline.
No continuous beeping of speeding cars
No squabble at roads

The silence in air is soothing to ears.
Meditation needs no special hour of the day
Plants and trees blooming with life
Flowers and fruits in abundance
Happiest are the birds chirping from branch to branch
Friend says "I saw purple colour bird with red beak today."

Streets clear of garbage and dirt
Pavements sanitised
No hawkers on the road
No beggars at the curb
Don't see red stained designs on the ground

Greatest surprise was in the headlines today
"The waters at the Ganges is sparkling clean
Its finally fit enough to drink"

The utopia that we craved for is visible now
Everywhere.

@Pushpz

U is for Utopia

A2Z April Challenge T is for Tomorrow

T is for Tomorrow

Corona was just a drink
We enjoyed with a lime
Now it has different meaning
A virus of deadly brand

Black and white is my life
with little tones of grey
The colors red blue green
Are missing nowadays

Nobody knocks on door
No reason to visit a friend
Money tucked away in the depth of lockers
No reason to spend
Except
On daily butter and bread

I look at my 2020 planner
Zero entry for passing days
Normally
Days were alert
From Sundays to Saturdays

Plans for each day checked
Lunch parties with friends
Exploring new restaurants
A visit to a work stations
To give a helping hand
A random movie outing with Popcorn and Samosa for first day first show
An instant plan to go for a weekend to an resort out of town
Random visits to
Book- reading club
Book launches
Read-meets
Culinary club
Laughing club
Poetry club
A visit to an art gallery
Or enjoy a music show
A ride in a local train
Or Ola
Or Uber
or even in red bus
On lazy days, I would Paint
Sing
Or simply walk by the beach

Now there is just internet
Social distancing
The norm of the day
The life I had
Fades in fear
My world is crashing down
In the chaos
In silence

Busy I am
In new routine
Enclosed in matchbox
Telling that I am safe inside
Death toll grows
Outside my home
I stay awake all hours
Fighting dreams and sleep

Corona
You have messed up my life
Never can I take life for granted again
Today is the day
I live each day
For tomorrow
I cannot plan

@Pushpz

T is for Tomorrow

A2Z April Challenge S is for Serendipity

S is for Serendipity

Daily chores of washing cooking
Never ending job of pleasing all
What's this life, trapped at home
Just eat, sleep, work in between

Friends ask me if i am well
I say I am fit as can be
Thousand messages in my phone
Couldn't care less if there were none

Greatest desire is to soothe my soles
Walk through my closed doors
Hopping jumping happy mind
Care free down empty streets

I pluck the book off the shelf
Not a word did I read
Restlessly walked I hither thither
When at a glance a miracle did see
Green fresh leaves on basil tree
Fluttering and dancing in gust of breeze

Serendipity
Upon a chance
A stroke of luck it seems

The air is clean
No humidity, no dirt
Population pollution in retreat
City paused to eternity

Visible everywhere are colorful flowers
Fragrance risen from the earth
Red green purple yellow buds
Healthy, ripe fruit bearing trees

Bored no more, cross legged I sit
Gazed at beauty around me

@Pushpz

S is for Serendipity

A2Z April Challenge R is for Rumors

R is for Rumor

Dust the floor I walk on
Sanitise the walls I touch
I am the dragon lady
Stung by Covid19

That what you believed
When you walked by my closed door
You heard me cough
That didn't seem right

Clicking fiercely on mobile screen
You spread message shamelessly
Warning the residents of danger
Of living next door to me

Lies, lies
You believe in lies
Plain rumour in black skies

Silently you watch me from afar
Did you see me swallow my grief at frozen stares
Did you see my heart bleed in state of perpetual disrepair
Alone I walk down corridors
Searching for warm smiles

Rumor and lies
Rumor and lies
In times of lockdown
How do I tell the truth to world
Who believe in lies.

I am no dragon lady
Stung by Covid19
Its a prank of an idle mind

@Pushpz

R is for Rumor

A2Z April Challenge G is for Generosity

Lockdown
In the midst of nine days period called Navaratri
Shyamlala
like other women
is confined to home

Temples are shut during the twenty one days lockdown
God idol covered in silk
Bells that worshippers ring when they enter the temple
Are silent

"This is the time of crisis, people should realize that prayers from home are acceptable as prayers offered at temples" said the priest

But pray
She must
Be it at the alter of her home
Shyamlala lights the lamp
Cooks the satvic meals with holy hymn on her lips.

Carefully wraps puris
Sooji halwa, a banana in a small paperbag and sits behind the wheels

There is no restriction on driving out of necessity.
On her ride toward medical store
she stops the car

A stray dog wags his tail

You have to show generosity to practice dasoha
The act of sharing what one has
Be it knowledge, art or wit
Or food for hungry soul.

@Pushpz

G is for 'Generosity"

A2Z April Challenge Q is for Quarantine

Q is for Quarantine

The night falls

Inside
on a soft bed
Behind the plasma is a fake world

Outside
A siren shrills and cuts through the silence of the night leaving a trail of fear

Darling
These are the days of anxiety.
Its the times we live in

Ambulance
One transport you will travel alone to freezing grounds
Quarantined for fourteen days of
Uncertainty

@Pushpz

Q is for Quarantine

A2Z April Challenge P is for Patience

A runny nose, constricted throat
Tears clouding eyes
Its common cold
She washes hands every two seconds
Water boiling in kettle endlessly

She knows
Its not easy to stay calm
There is too much stress
In everyone life

Fear gripped the city
Everybody cooped at home
Neighbors don't ring the doorbell
Watchman calls on intercom
Announcing the arrival of vegetable vendor
She snaps at him
Scolding him for calling up at odd hours
She changes into formal dress
Walks downstairs
Greets the man
Asking him to be patient with her
Apologises for harsh words
Grief reflects the inner pain.

She knows
Its hard
But practise she must
Find something for distraction
Music song dance
To soothe her nerves
Maybe she could create
A delicious recipe
Taking a tip from a cookbook

She knows
Its matter of time
Tolerance conquers all
Patience is companion of wisdom
The fear will melt gradually
Sunshine comes back at dawn
Nature does not hurry
Yet everything is accomplished with time

Scientist working night and day
Research cure of Covid19
To bring life back on tracks
When everybody can breathe free

Till then
Patience is the best virtue of all.

@Pushpz

P is for 'Patience'