Barren Land

Another blast from the past, something I found hiding in a remote corner of my old inbox, buried under spam.

The pain in my heart will never go away,
as long as those thoughts hold sway.
Whatever I say, whatever I do,
I can't shake it off, and you?
You want to talk about the mental block!
Just some memories that came back,
looking at those weathered walls, and barren land.
It is the place we used to play, and laugh,
looks so alien and lifeless,
it pains even to look back.

Contagious

Sweet and sour, passes by hour and hour,
Walking and sprinting, so near so far.
Waiting for the dawn, trying to wry sun out of night's shadow,
Hoping that light will shine for a few moments,
Before clouds obscure it and night devours it.

Catharsis

.. and the glass shatters, breaking into a million pieces, as the first ray of light, hits his make believe world. This moment was bound to come, he tried to avert it by weaving more fantasies, like a pigeon closing his eyes to a cat. But the real master likes to weave his own yarn, shredding his Kevlar into pieces, without a care in world. Just when he thought it was all about to end, it just stopped millimeters away from his heart. Everything froze in that moment, literally froze, he could see his defenses blown to smithereens. Still, yes still is the right word or might be not, it was so still. The cow webs were disintegrating, floating like snow flakes in the air around him, this was the catharsis. He was feeling so light, so free, he felt he could fly ...

When you got nothing, you got nothing to lose
You're invisible now, you got no secrets to conceal
-Bob Dylan

Chuck 2

A big explosion shatters his sleep, he crawls out of his tent, flames all around. Grabbing his AK 56, and backpack, he climbing up the hill, trying to avoid fire. There is a big shadow moving in front of him, just when a barrage from a light machine gun blows the person into smithereens. "Aslam Bhai" he shouts, as he dodges the bullet riddled body lunging towards him. Running up the hill, the only though "Run away, if you want to survive", he feels something metallic under his left foot. His mind zaps back to reality, as he realized, what is under his foot. He had planted those, to prevent the army from attacking them from back and now. Screams loudly ....

"Hey, what happened? Are you OK" someone was gently nudging his arm.

"There is something under my foot, run please run, if you want to survive" sweat dripping from his body, was making the already sultry weather, seem more tense.

"Hey, there is nothing, calm down you are with me" as he felt someone scratching his feet and wrapping her arms around him. Her familiar scent engulfed his senses calming him.

"I am fine, i am fine" he muttered slowly, rubbing her back as she hugged him.

"Please never leave me, don't ever you go "

"I won't. never ever"

"Even if I am being an idiot, never ever let me go"

"Yes, honey, never ever"

Slowly they drifted into sleep, like the night was never going' to come again.

Chuck 1

After a long time, they got to spend some time alone. It was always people rushing in and out of their lives, like buses on a busy inter-state bus terminal. Suddenly the phone starts ringing tring tring . Ah, the retro touch, if it was possible he would have bought a cell phone with a rotary dial.

"Hello.."

"Who .. no i am not able to .. "

"hey shahid, wazzup mate,.."

"I am doin great, what, who, .."

"Marcus, how'z he coming into picture,.."

"Last thing i heard he was in Ukraine,.. "

"nae, don't get into this, .. "

"okie, i 'll try to find out, .. "

He end the call, eyes glance towards her, she is looking with wide eye curiosity at him. Probably just like you guys are wondering who called, who is Marcus? He does not say anything, just sits near her, placing his head on her shoulders, closing his droopy eyes.

Life has never been more peaceful than this, he never found someone to lean after his short childhood till now. And he does not want to let go of this. He dozes off to a peaceful sleep as her hands ruffle his hair gently.

To be continued ....