First Puff

It was the day me and my brother decided
its time to grow big, its time to prove to the world
That we are ready to move on
That we are ready to take our first puff

We got hold of a couple of cigarettes
from a new packet
Went to a secluded place
where no one will ever know

We watched Rajni do it
and so was every other star
So why not we also join the
elite group of individuals

We lighted a match
and watched in anxiety
as the cigarette lighted up
and taking the big step

A deep puff from the unlightened end
A feeling of joy and excitement
A feeling of burning and then dying
Coughing and coughing badly

My brother was worried looking at me
And we ran home.....where our mother was waiting
at the doorstep to check on us.....
I was totally white faced and didn't know what to say

I fumbled out something
That I saw a ghost and got scared
And she believed me
Maybe because I was just seven years old

-rAVI

First love letter

HIM:

10.....9........8........7..........6...........5.............4................3.....................2......................1...........................HAPPY NEW YEAR

Its another year to live,

another year to age

another year of disappointments

another year of happiness

............................basically another year of life

We planned to go to a temple .............

to invite god to accompany us ......

through joy and sadness.....

in this year of madness.......

The premises was pleasant...

aloof of everyday pressures....

with a lot of beautiful girls....

and their laughter made of pearls....

There was a lone candle ........

strugling to spread light.....

holding against the wind...

flickering all the while...

I ran to hold it....

and two hands accompanied me....

in keeping the light alive...

and each other to see.....

I smiled....she smiled.....

"Do you hear any Temple bells ringing in the background"

'No'

"Oho.....Looks like I am watching a lot of movies now a days"

'looks like it'......She smiled and walked away

We spent the next two hours in the temple

I don't know whether I was watching her or she was watching me

But we were looking at each other

Finally I mustered my courage
and followed her while she was leaving

"Excuse me.....I need to give you this" ......I was holding a letter

'What is it'

"Letter"

'You start giving a love letter within two hours of meeting a girl?'

"Do you watch movies a lot??"

'Why'

"Open the letter"

'One kilo sugar.......litre milk.....turmeric........what is this'

"The priest wanted to give you a list of items for a pooja you were asking him about......If it looks like a love letter to you then fine ........"

She was feeling embarassed

and flashing her beautiful smile

Though I wanted to stay........

I do not want to be belittled

and so I said Thanks and

left the premises................

I could see

she was dissappointed............

But I was not going to stay back......

Not untill she realizes.....

HER:

The days ran away but not his thoughts

He was a stranger whom I want to talk

I should'nt have scolded him on that day

When he walked and came my way

I used to read the pooja list daily

And laugh within myself silly

But it used to remind me

How I am alone and lonely

Finally Pooja day came

I reached the temple early

No other devotees were there

Nor was the priest

But He was there

kneeling down in front of God

Asking for forgiveness

with hands in unison like deep prayer

Now I understood

why the date was written in bold

I opened the list one more time

to read my First Love Letter.........