Letters .....

Happen to see a card lying down …. We have not been getting cards in recent past … so I was sure it an old card …. And I have kept few cards and letters with me ,….. everytime I saw them while cleaning up I just didn’t feel like disposing them … so many memories and emotions attached with these cards/letters … I have misplaced many , many gave away to heat and humidity and many I had to dispose... ( 5-6 yrs back )when we shifted from Bangalore … This particular card – I saw Ezekiel playing with it in the morning … I was busy with something and by the time I came Eze had torn it … I looked at it … It was a card Danny my brother had sent me from Delhi in 1998 on New Year – I was in my final year graduation .. .Card had inspiring words -- “GOALS – No one can predict to what heights you can soar. Even you will not know until you spread your wings” …….

14 years have gone by ,life has changed, equations in terms of attachment, relationships , closeness everything has changed … but I still have that card and when I look at that card I realize that my brother had confidence in me .. makes me feel better ... I look at other cards which I have kept with me .. Cards my dad and mom had sent me when I was away from them … one of my friends 2 page b’day wish , some cards which I had bought but somehow never posted .. … now e-mail e- cards , don’t think will ever get to post them also … though I wish I can start that habit again, habit of sending letters (island, envelopes, stamps, posts ) ,,, so much more personal and full of emotions and feelings … and the best part is what ever we say of being in touch through call/sms/email but we all get excited and happy to get a letter or card by post I saw it when esther got her first Christmas card by post last year and when she sent a card to her cousin , writing everything herself, sticking stickers ……. My dad still has a letter which I wrote to him (yr 1984-1985) when he had gone away for month computer training in Pune and now he complains that I don’t have time to call him and talk to him ..:) how time changes … I am thinking of getting back to writing letters … not sure if I will ever post … but let me write …. I know some of my friends are smiling there reading this .. …. Wish I had kept all those letters ..:)

Let me now go and stick the torn card:)

Tere khushboo mei basey qat mai jalata kaise

Pyar mei dubey hue qat mei jalata kaise

Tere haathon ke likhe qat mai jalata kaise

Jinko dunia ki nigahon se chhupaye rakha

Jinko ek umr kaleje se lagaye rakha

Deen jinko, jinhe imaan banaye rakha

Jinka har lafz mujhe yaad pani ki tarah

Yaad the mujhko jo paigam-e-zubani ki tarah

Mujhko pyare the jo anmol nishani ki tarah

Tune dunia ki nigahon se jo bachkar likhe

Saal-ha-saal mere naam barabar likhe

Kabhi din mei to kabhi raat ko uthkar likhe

Tere qat aaj mai ganga mei baha doon

Tere qat aaj mai ganga mei baha doon

Aag behte hue pani mei laga doon.