Good for nothing

It was my first flight after retirement. As I was taking the aisle seat next to a lady, she smiled and scooped a little towards the window. After pleasantry,
She asked, "So, what do you do?"
"Nothing" I said
"Great" she responded
"My husband does the same thing."
She added with a sigh.

अलविदा

पहले तो वो मेरे पास आया
मुझे तो मालुम भी न पड़ा
लोगों ने बताया
बड़े क़िस्मत वाले हो
तुम पर तो वो महेर्बां
हो गया
छोड़कर चला गया
जैसे कि आया ही नहीं

जब जाना कि वो कीसका
ज़िक्र कर रहे थे
तो मैंने सबसे कहा
ठीक बात है
आख़ीर जीते जी कीसीको तो
मुझ पर महेर्बां होना ही था
जैसे ही उम्र बढ़ती चली
उसकी महेरबानीका बोझ
मेहसुस होने लगा
दर्दसे दबने लगा
मायूसीसे चूरचूर होने लगा
जो पराये थे
दुआ करने लगे
अपने भी
वही करने लगे
कोई जींदगीकी
कोई मौतकी
मै ने भी आवाज़ दी
उसको कहा
साथ ले जाना अबकी बार
खाली हाथ न जाना
सबको ख़ुश रखनेकी
कोशिश करते करते
अब मैं थक गया हुँ
तूट गया हुँ
वैसे भी अलविदा
सब  कहने
बेक़रार है

BIKERS FOR HILLARY?......

Women's March in Washington
January 21, 2017
No wonder she did not win
I told her to wear tight jeans and fuzzy hair
And she told me to tatto my arms with Clintons' faces
Obviously, like Hillary, we failed to communicate😀
Can't get anywhere without communication...

સોયદોરો

અડધી સદી પહેલાં મારા દાદીમા એ મને કહ્યું હતું,
"સોયદોરાથી કાંઈક સાંધતાં કે ટાંકતાં શીખ. એક દિ' ખરે ટાણે કામ લાગશે"
"ઈ તો બાયડીયુંનું કામ" મારી ભાગી તૂટી કાઠિયાવાડી ગુજરાતીમાં મેં એમને કહ્યું હતું એવું મને આજે યાદ આવી ગયું.
આજે, મારા ટક્ષિડો ભેળા જતા ખમીશમાં બટન ટાંક્યા વિના મારી વાઈફ ધુંઆફુંઆ થતી, મને એકલો મૂકી, એની કારમાં પાર્ટી ભેળી થઇ ગઈ.
મારા દાદુ મેટલના રીમુવેબલ બટન ઝભ્ભા કે ખમીસમાં કેમ નાખતા એનો ભેદ આટલા વર્ષે ખુલ્યો. એવડા ઈ જાણે કે બાયડીયુનું ગમે તે ટાણે છટકે

Only one and one for all

Nature we come from and in nature we blend in the end. We come without a religion and we are laid in rest for the eternity without one at the end. In between, we wish ill of or kill our fellow humans in the name of religion.

We are the only species in the nature who practice such evil trait. By doing this, we hope to reserve a place for ourselves in the heaven. We want to be where there is nothing but pleasure; Everyone is free of misery and sufferings. 

In such false hope and belief, we make our life hell on this earth. We do so not just for us but for every one else around us. Only fools will seek salvation after death. If there is anything to be redeemed, it is here and now....or never.

We have filled the pages of history with the stories of how goodness lying within us was plundered to please God. God that most of us would never find or see. God that is planted in our conscious by the powerful persuasion of those who are masters in manipulating and controlling the weaknesses of human mind.

Yes, he does exist. Exists in the purest of the pure form. In the innocence of a child's laughter. In the sparkle of his eyes. In his cries of help that melts our heart. He manifests in everything we see around us in nature. He talks to us if we listen to a stream meandering through rocky terrain shattering boulders to tiny pebbles. He makes us feel his presence amidst silently standing tall mountains covered with snow from their peaks and down. He whispers and whistles through the cold breeze of wind. He is light. He is darkness. He is thunder. He is hurricane.....

Amongst all, he is divine.. Only one and one for all. We just have to feel him in our heart and blend him in our intelligence.
- Bharat Shah

The Bicycle
Inspired by a father

It truly had a look of an equipment that belonged in a farm. Dirty, dusty, worn out. It's tires were bald and the tube patched up all over to seal numerous punctures- cause of frequent inconvenience. Silver plated rims and spokes of the wheels had lost their luster years ago. The frame was never repainted to give it a fresh look.The model and make logo, so proudly affixed at the strategic front and back by the manufacturer was illegible. It was impossible to read the year it was made in. A plastic basket was attached to the front handle. It's original color was not recognizable. The back fender was fitted with a goods or passenger carrier that wobbled. The seat was cushion less. It perhaps was the oldest bicycle in the town.

The last mile to our farm was deeply rutted, narrow dirt lane flanked by bushes and tress. A rough ride even for a newer bike. The front and back fenders would rattle constantly. The chain covered with grease and dirt would some times come off the big toothed wheel. The bell on its handle did not ring, casualty of the vibrations caused by the rutted path. Sweet sound of the ring was replaced by the shrill of whistles or soft holler when necessary. The dynamo fitted on the back wheel was no longer reliable to light up the path. Fortunately, the brakes were still working.

Everyday, early in the morning, before we had hardly opened our eyes, our father would tuck his loose white shirt in to khaki short and ride that bike two and half miles to our farm. Sweating in the hot sun or dripping wet in the rain, he would labor hard the whole day on that land. Then at the setting of the sun behind silver gray clouds in the western skies, he would pedal back home carrying milk and load of farm produce on his bicycle. Even after a dinner, his work would continue. He would update the accounts in the books of the family business minded by his younger brother. It would be close to midnight before he turned in to the bed.

He would break this routine only to attend the family emergencies. I caused such break once. Playing Cricket as a senior on the high school team, I twisted my ankle badly. it was swollen and quite painful. Unable to carry my own body weight on it I had to stay away from the school for couple of days for healing.

On my return to school I was advised to use crutches. I tried them but did not have upper body strength to use them effectively. I felt very awkward and uncomfortable with them. So, he offered to drop me at the school carrying me on the back carrier of his bicycle till I get back on my feet. "No" was my instant response. I was horrified by the idea.

I was ashamed of his bike and his work clothes. I did not want to be seen with him or his bike. None of my classmate's dad rode such ugly and unsightly bike. They wore traditional attire suitable to their business with gold buttons and cuff links. White shirt made of coarse material tucked in to Khaki shorts? I thought it was so gross and embarrassing.

I just could not come to the understanding why he had to be such a penny pincher and stingy ! It was not that we were poor. I had a sister and brothers who had gone away to the college. They had lived in the dorms through their college years. And he had paid for all their expenses in full.

"I will drop you a block away from your school a little early before the bell. That would give you a head start to walk on the crutches prior to the arrival of other kids." He modified his offer of help without seeking any explanation for my rudeness.

The rest of the final year was uneventful except I began applying for the colleges of my choice. To everyone's pride and joy I got accepted at my favorite technological school.

Unfortunately, the dorm was four miles away from the faculty of engineering and Technology. I began to research the bus routes and schedules that would correspond with my classes. I knew it will be inconvenient without personal transportation. But thought that school was worth little inconvenience If I can manage my time efficiently.

Finally, that day to leave the comforts and security of home arrived. Another boy from the family was heading to the college. As usual, my younger sisters were very happy, my mother misty and father as stoic as ever. Engulfed in the bitter sweet moments of the occasion, we anxiously awaited the arrival of the taxi.

It rolled in the front of our home just in time. Tied behind it was a brand new bicycle. It's body was shining. It's rims and spokes were sparkling over fully treaded tires. It was the best brand available in the market at the time. I looked at my father. Could not stop tears of joy that welled up in my eyes. I hugged him as tightly as I could. "Be good and do well in the the college" his soft voice echoed in to my ears.

This February 2, It will be 25 years since your passing father! Pranam, Namaste. We miss you. Miss you dearly!

I know he is keeping you busy up there too. And we know you are watching us from up there as always. I see you everyday too:

Riding that junky bicycle in your khaki short and white shirt.
-Bharat Shah

પ્રતિબિંબ

મંદીરની સામે ખુલ્લી જગામાં મજીદે ગાડી ઉભી રાખી.
બા અને મંગૂએ ભેગા મળી મને નીચે ઉતાર્યો.
ઘણા દિવસ પછી ઘરની બહાર નીકળ્યો હતો.
ઠંડી હતી અને સાથે થોડો વાયરો પણ.
મને ખુલ્લો રેશમી સદરો અને સુંવાળો સુતરાઉ લેંઘો પહેરાવ્યા હતા.
પગમાં ચપ્પલ પણ કાપડના જ હતા
શરીરમાં ધ્રુજારી પ્રસરી ગઈ. પણ ગમી. 
છેલ્લા ત્રણેક અઠવાડીયાની ઓરડાની એકલતા પળભરમાં વિસરાઈ ગઈ.
ખુલ્લી મોકળાશની ઉષ્મા મારા નબળા પડી ગયેલા ગાત્રોને વીંટળાઈ.
મંગૂ મારો હાથ પકડી ચાલતી હતી. ધીમે ધીમે, મારાં ડગલે ડગલે.
બા અમારાથી આગળ નીકળી ગઈ હતી
મંદીરનાં પ્રાંગણના દરવાજે પહોંચતા એ અટકી .
બંને હાથ જોડી, આંખ બંધ કરી થોડીક ક્ષણ ઉભી રહી.
ને જમીન પર ઢળી.
"બા" મારા મોંઢામાથી નબળી ચીસ સરી.
મારા પગમાં ના જાણે ક્યાંથી જોમ આવ્યું!
મંગૂના હાથમાંથી હાથ છીનવી બા તરફ ઝડપથી જવા મેં પ્રયાસ આદર્યો.
ભઈ, તમે પડશો, કહી મંગૂ તરત જ મારી પાછળ આવી.
ઝડપથી હાથ પકડતા, મારા હાથ પર સુકાઈ ગયેલું ભીંગડું ઉખડયું.
મેં ચીસ પાડી. લોહીની નજીવી ટસર એ ભીંગડામાં થી નીસરી.
ઓ માવડી મારી, મેં આ શું કર્યું! મંગૂ એ નીશાશો નાખી મને અટકાવ્યો.
ભઈ, બહુ દુખાડયું તો નથી ને? એમ પૂછી ઝડપથી એણે મારા શરીર પર નજર ફેરવી.
મારી નજર બા તરફ હતી.
એ આળોટતી આળોટતી મંદીર તરફ આગળ વધતી હતી.
મંગૂ, બા આ શું કરે છે? એને શું થઇ ગયું છે?  તું  પહેલાં એને અટકાવ. મને કઈ નથી થવાનું.
ભઈ, હું એવા પાપમાં ના પડું.
પાપ? એમાં શેનું પાપ? એને કંઈક થઇ જશે. એનું શરીર છોલાશે. હું ક્રોધથી થથરતો હતો.
એની બાધા મારાથી ન તોડાય.
શેની બાધા ?
તમારું શરીર તમે દરપણમાં જોયું છે?
ના, રૂમમાં દર્પણ જ નથી.
તમને આખા શરીરે અને મ્હોમાં ભારે શીતળા માતા નીકળ્યા છે.
જાણું છું. 
ત્યારથી બા એ ભાત ને મીઠું છોડી એકાસણા કરી બાધા લીધી હતી.
કે????? 
તમને સારું થઇ જશે, શરીર પર એક ડાઘ નહીં રહે તો એ આળોટતી આળોટતી શીતળા માતાને શરણે આવી, એની પૂજા કરી, બાધા પૂરી કરશે.
મેં મંદીરના પ્રાંગણમાં ફરી નજર નાખી
અર્ધભુખી બા જમીન પર આળોટતી આળોટતી હજુ અડધે પહોંચી હતી.
મન તો ઘણું થયું દોડીને એ અંધશ્રધ્ધાનો અંત લાવું.
એ ગાંડપણ અટકાવું.
પણ દોડી ના શક્યો.
ત્યાં જ થીજી ગયો.
એની મમતાને પડકારી ના શક્યો. 
ભઈ, ધીમા ધીમા ચાલો.. તમારે પણ માના આશિર્વાદ લેવાના છે.
મંગૂ મને કહેતી હતી.

વર્ષો થઇ ગયા.
મંગૂ ના શબ્દો આજે ય સંભળાય છે.
જ્યારે જયારે બાના આશિર્વાદનું પ્રતિબિંબ
મને દર્પણમાં દેખાય છે.