The Fallen Angel

The following is a hypothetical account of an Atheist addressing God, confronting Him and defying all He stands for. Many references have been made to Satan, the Biblical representation of Lucifer.

Death is not what hath brought me here,
To thy Heavenly Gate.
I may have once been very dear,
But that was just my fate.

Remorse is not what hath brought me here,
Nor reason to confess,
Nor belief nor want nor faith nor fear,
Nor the need to be bless'd.

Now I stand and challenge thee,

Thy myths and all thy fiction.

I shall no longer let my life

Be run by blind conviction.

I will not be illusion'd by
Speeches by priests and pastors.
Holy prayers will only make the
Distance 'twixt us vaster.

I am a maverick, rebelling
Against all convention.
Abiding not by sacred rules
Which holy texts mention.

I stand proud in all my glory,
Never shall I cower.
In reverence at thy holy feet,
Never shall I bow.

My self-respect and sense of worth
Have leadeth me to question,
'Righteousness' and 'Obedience'
As define'd by convention.

I will not let thy tenets guide
My motives and mine actions.
My interest lies in Satanic cults
And demon-worshipping factions.

Thou may sayest that I trespass
The norms laid down by thee.
To thy worshippers it may seemeth
Sacrilege and Blasphemy.

I always was and am an atheist,
Both in death and life.
I always strove to hold mine own
Amidst turmoil and strife.

I always held my head up high;
Though Heaven may be thine,
Decisions to do as I please
Shall eternally be mine.

Thy restricions do maketh the
Forbidden fruit tasteth sour.
Thou expell'd Eve and Adam from
Eden by thy power.

Thou expell'd the Archangels that
Did with mortals breed.
But Greed and Lust are part of me;
To thee I shan't pay heed.

Thy omniscience, omnipotence
And sacrosanctity,
May take o'er the realm of Earth,
But thou canst ruleth me.

Though thou art God and callest this
An aberration of religion,
In mine eyes thy holy visage
Is nothing but a vision.

Since Pride opposes Loyalty and
Faith opposes Reason,
'The Accuser' himself was accuse'd of
Sinning and committing treason.

The Grigori were madeth of fire
And us mortals clay,
Yet we all are damn'd on Earth
Ere dawn of Judgement Day.

If thou dost not permit me to
Enter this celestial abode,
I will not plead nor beg for I
Oppose thy rules and codes.

Though thou mayest banish me to
The dark caverns of Hell,
Like 'The Wanderer' I shall roam
The Earth and stars as well.

If mankind doth witness Satan's Resurrection
Hopefully ere morrow,
Then agnostics and pagans will be
Spare'd despair and sorrow.

'The Morning Star' who dwelleth in
Dark Hades shall avenge
Thy justice that outcasteth him;
He burneth for revenge.

'Tis with great conviction that I
Say this unto thee,
In my view things holy and devout
Will remaineth mystery.

Whither dost thou leadest us?
Thou shalt not lead us further.
The rational mind doth murther faith,
And faith the mind doth murther.

Whether or not I change my ways
That time will only tell.
O ye Lord, knowest thou that even
The brightest Angel fell.

The Kite Runner

Amidst the topaz seamless skies,
The lofty mountains and intricate vales
Of Afghanistan, has novelist Khalid Hosseini
Set this powerful and poignant tale.

A tale of loyalty and fateful betrayal,
Overwhelming joy and profound sorrow,
Sins impulsively committed and atoned,
To provide for a better tomorrow.

A tale of mirth, of fatherly love,
Of haunting guilt and repentance.
A tale of passion, hope and despair,
Denial and responsible acceptance.

A tale of the blood that inextricably binds
Two companions, two brothers together.
A tale of unrequited friendship,
And memories to be cherished forever.

A tale spanning countries and different cultures,
Binding one’s present to his past.
A tale of humanity, compassion and kindness,
Of relationships that matter and last.

Amir and Hassan – ‘The Sultans of Kabul’
Are best friends in every way.
Socially and ethnically apart from birth,
They don’t let it stand in their way.

Hassan, a Hazara, and Amir, a Pashtun,
Are restrained by society’s confines.
Yet they make the most of their camaraderie
Within those hierarchical lines.

Fed from the same breast, sharing their childhood,
Together they spend wonderful years.
A childhood infused with learning and growing
And trying to overcome fears.

They skipped stones, they played marbles,
They visited the Ghargha Lake,
Unaware that circumstances would eventually cause
Their age-old bond to break.

From playing panjpar to running kites,
And reading to each other on the hill,
They entertained each other and were inseparable
Till the moment when Time stood still.

This was the moment of weakness and cowardice,
Amir, his loyalty did shun.
He failed to stand up for his life long friend,
In spite of all Hassan had done.

A moment which changed the fate of these boys
And played on Amir’s insecurity and fears,
Leading him to further lie and deceive
The boy who to him was so dear.

Jealous of Hassan, ashamed of himself,
And craving his Baba’s affection,
Amir, trying to suppress his conscience,
Commits further acts of deception.

After experiencing decades of remorse,
Realization dawns upon him.
That being an escapist can’t solve one’s problems;
One must account for his sins.

This realization causes to open
A new chapter in Amir’s life.
Which takes him back to his beloved homeland,
Away from his country and wife.

He endeavors to fulfill Rahim Khan’s last wish,
And through that undo his wrongs.
That his past would soon catch up with his present,
Amir was aware all along.

He witnesses Afghanistan in turmoil and strife,
Very unlike the land he had known.
The land where on winters the skies were speckled
With red, yellow, green kites he had flown.

The land he relates with fresh fruits and kabobs,
And years of unbounded joy.
The land which reminds him of Baba and Ali
And the faithful young hare-lipped boy.

Amir’s destiny brings him a full circle
To the point where he had begun.
It taught him that it is never too late
To redress all the wrongs one has done.

It taught him to overcome his failings and fears,
Be selfless, empathetic and giving.
He learned to stand up for himself and what’s right
And it taught him the right way of living.

In spite of dangers and difficult tasks,
His efforts were not in vain.
By rescuing Sohrab he rescues himself
From the grip of compunction and pain.

Zendagi migzara, Life goes on,
Unmindful of beginning and end.
One can’t be worthy of genuine friendship
If one cannot value a friend.

Life goes on, not owing to destiny
But for the actions of men.
Mistakes do happen, but there is always
A way to be good again.

How People Get Kissed, Get Wild, And Try To Get A Life

When I think about how Opal Mehta got kissed, got wild, and got a life, I try to picture myself as one trying to secure admission in one of the reputed Ivy Leagues universities in the States (however absurd it may seem!). It is true that I can never picture myself in her shoes, for she was an achiever, both in academics, and extracurricular activities, whereas I . . . ahem . . . sort of lagged behind. There was only one department where I excelled, that of parties and boyfriends, where I probably wouldn’t need to work as hard as Opal did. I could attempt joining a Science Club in school, just as she transformed her wardrobe and metamorphosed into Paris Hilton. Well, trust me, it’s easier to get straight As in your report card, than to date the hottest jock in school. So, does that make me a prospective Harvard student? We’ll wait and watch!
When Kavya Vishwanathan was criticized left, right and centre for plagiarism, and I sat back and watched the fun, it struck me that atleast the publicity proved beneficial for the book. I would have never read the book, had it not been for all the hype. Looking at it optimistically, it is better to be known, than not to be known at all. And Kavya probably ‘plagiarized’ because the story left an indelible mark on her. I’m not trying to justify her cause; I’m just saying that even plagiarizing requires talent. Take for example all the ‘chadti jawani’ type remixes which distort and trash our Hindi classic songs, or ‘Train’, the latest Emraan movie which sort of got ‘derailed’! My, now aren’t these directors talented (sarcasm intended)!
If we can have a screen to screen copy of a movie, we can also have a page to page copy of a book. But why do we let them go unpunished for their heinous crimes of copyright infringement? Why do we overlook the semi-clad females displaying their ‘talents’ in ‘item songs’ on our small screen, scandalizing our grandparents and perverting our children? Why do we vent our pent up anger against Kavya Vishwanathan, who has to bear the brunt of plagiarism?
Coming back to Opal Mehta (I think I got sort of derailed myself!), she reminded me a lot of Lindsay Lohan in Mean Girls, though the only difference was that Opal didn’t hail from Africa. Or that she didn’t regurgitate on her boyfriend, though probably that was because Kavya Vishwanathan forgot to make her do so. When I compare my class hierarchy to that of the one existing in the Mean Girls, I see variety of categories of females.
We have the studious geeks, with their trademark glasses, deep in conversation about astrophysics, as if the world depended on that particular numerical they’re trying to crack. With their IIT and JE books in their arms, they’re really aiming for the sky, or should I say ‘Akash’! They are the intellectual geniuses bordering on the brink of insanity, and standing next to them makes me feel a little, well, lousy! If it wasn’t for them, people like me would be working for NASA, crashing rockets and upsetting the balance of the universe.
Then we have the outcasts, poor souls, sitting alone in the classroom corners, preoccupied by their own thoughts, in a world of their own. They aren’t shunned by everyone, so calling them ‘outcasts’ would probably be a harsh exaggeration, but they’re definitely unnoticed and insignificant to all. So I think we’d better call them the ‘introverts’.
Then we have the snobs! How can we leave them out, or even dream of it for that matter (though I would have liked to). The stuck-up plastics! Their world is but a façade. They’re choosy about what they wear, what they eat, who they mix with, who they sleep with . . . I could go on! They catwalk into assembly as though it’s a ramp! They’re sometimes flashy, sometimes sober, but always brand conscious. Probably not Gucci and Prada, but definitely Converse and Levis. They don’t converse much with the masses, but on that rare occasion when they do mouth their opinion, they suppose it’s more important than the President's speech on alleviation of the country’s poverty. What would the world be without them?! Amen to them; may their souls always rest in peace!

And last but not the least, there are those unfortunate ordinary souls like me, who get kissed, get wild, and try to get a life!

Stairway To Heaven

Your arms around me felt so strong,
They made me feel secure.
Each loving word you said to me,
Was meaningful and pure.

Your body beside mine felt so warm,
Arousing my sensations.
Bringing to surface all my wants,
Enkindling my temptations.

I loved you with a passion burning
Stronger than all fire.
You were the cause and reason for
Each deep and dark desire.

Your breadth, your smell, your voice, your touch,
Have left me craving still.
The hollow void you’ve left in me,
None can ever fill.

Your promises of being with me,
Always and forever,
Were illusions, making me believe
We were to be together.

The bond of love was growing stronger
Each and every day.
Falsely deluding me to think
The bond was there to stay.

Each moment spent with you is cherished,
And will always be.
Each time you held my hands in yours,
Seemed Heaven to me.


Heaven – Where’s there’s joy and mirth,
There’s love and there’s elation.
Heaven – gleaming in its glory,
God’s wondrous creation.

Heaven – You were the Angel sent
To me from God above.
To guide me, show me, help me, hold me,
Care for me and love.

Heaven – I felt as light as though
God had given me wings.
You gave me all and even more
Than Paradise can bring.

Heaven – My soul resided among clouds
And golden gleaming sunshine.
Exuberant in my mirth I felt
I lived on Cloud Nine.

Now that you’ve left me standing here,
Heaven has turned to hell.
Whether or not I’ll see you again,
That time will only tell.

Your absence makes the heart grow fonder,
You’ve left me all alone.
I’ll learn to carry on in life,
Be happy on my own.

I’ll love you and I’ll miss you and
I’ll always feel that way.
My love for you, it seems, grows stronger
Each and every day.

I wish I could feel the comfort of
Your presence ever near.
I wish I could hear you whisper once
For the last time in my ear.

I wish I could feel your touch again,
For which each day I yearn.
I wish you could put out the passion which
Till now in me does burn.

You’ve left impressions in my life,
I hope you understand.
You may have come and gone but you’ve
Left footprints in the sand.

I wish that time can blur the space
Between you and me
This vast distance, miles apart,
Has finally made me see.

That God has made each you and me
A separate entity.
That you and me as one not two,
Was never meant to be.

The Angel God had sent to me,
God once more has taken.
Leaving me yearning, pining, craving,
Leaving me forsaken.

So wishing that you strive in life,
Succeed in all you do.
Learn great lessons like the ones
Which I have learnt from you.

Attain great heights, achieve your goals,
Take care and hope you’re fine.
May God bless you, in your happiness
Always does lie mine.

Remember, when you need my help,
I’ll always be around
I hope we meet again for I
Believe the earth is round.

Well, if we don’t, we’ll die the day,
Our deeds on earth are done.
Maybe that day we’ll meet once more,
On the Stairway To Heaven.

The Meadows

A shade of pastel green stretched on,
Below the azure horizon,
As I stopped to ponder,
And take a more leisurely look,
At the verdant fields by the brook,
And the meadows yonder.

The pastures and the grazing lands,
The haystacks tinted shades of sand,
On which the cattle fed.
The merry maiden was picking corn,
Humming a tune, she seemed forlorn,
As she picked, beside the shed.

The sky that morn was crystal clear,
As I strolled along, and stopped to peer,
At the carriage on the path.
Which passed the naked sun baked boys,
Exuberant in their mirth and joy,
Having their midday bath.

Calm and peaceful, I ambled along,
And whistled the tuneful pleasant song
The maiden had hummed to me.
She had given me a lovely smile,
Which had lingered on, and lasted a while,
Remaining etched in my memory.

After all these years, even today,
I still cherish that peaceful day;
Beautiful in every way.
The acres of lustrous grass so fine,
And the honey coloured sunshine,
That led the cattle astray.

Life

Life is like a river, it flows on,
Halting at precious moments, it goes on.
Meandering from beginning to end,
And here and there you see a bend.
Passing lush meadows and bountiful woods,
Which you may not notice though you should.
The beautiful trees swayed by the wind,
The azure sky above the rivers brink,
The golden sunlight making the waters gleam,
The countryside crisscrossed by numerous streams.
Yet sometimes the river gets stormy and wild,
And rocks you like a cradle rocks a child.
Now and then it changes coarse,
And takes you along with its currents force.
At times when the river is tidal and rough,
Going against the flow may be tough.
So flow with the river, wherever it takes you.
Overcome the storms, though there are few.
And when the river is smooth and mild,
Enjoy the experience till the end of the ride.

Two Sides To A Coin

Enveloped in darkness, I often wonder,
What is the use of this darkness yonder,
The hollow blackness of the night?
On reflecting further it comes to me,
When darkness goes it helps me see,
And makes me appreciate light.

When in despair I often wonder,
After making a mistake or creating a blunder,
Why does one fail in life?
Then I understand, by failing less,
We wouldn’t be able to value success,
And would fail to overcome strife.

When life is burdened with gloom and sorrow,
And I am craving for a better tomorrow,
I tell myself, shouldn’t sadness be less?
It is only after experiencing pain and tears,
When the phase is over and the good times are near,
That one truly enjoys happiness.

Huddled in a corner, forlorn, I’d agree,
Anyone would feel left out and lonely,
Then why do people be on their own?
It is because one can enjoy company,
Interacting with friends and family,
Only after experiencing being alone.

There are times when I am shivering in the cold,
My senses numbing, yet trying to be bold,
I ask, why should one tolerate chill?
It is after experiencing cold can one feel,
Comfort and warmth which soothe and heal,
Tolerance in ourselves we must instill.

Sometimes when hunger overcomes me,
I figure what hungers purpose could be,
I understand, abstinence is a feat.
Through experience I learn, it is when one craves,
That they do not waste food and learn to save,
And cherish every mouthful they eat.

When on the road the blind child stumbles,
Totters and trips, gropes and fumbles,
I wonder, why can’t he see light?
God is teaching us that if we take
Life’s gifts for granted, we make a mistake,
We should value our gift of sight.

During the times my actions are restrained,
When I’m given no freedom and told to refrain,
I ask, why can’t one be free?
After analyzing it comes to my mind,
Only after one is bound and confined,
Does he understand the worth of liberty.

When around me I see animosity and hate,
Hoping the wars and terror abate,
I ask, why doesn’t enmity cease?
It is only after hatred will people cherish love,
And join hands thanking the God above,
For granting brotherhood and peace.

God has made bad so we value what’s good,
God has made hunger so we value food,
Every coin has two sides.
God has made lies so we value what’s true,
God has made old so we value what’s new,
In the bad, the good we must find.

God has made wrong, so we value what’s right,
God has made weakness so we value might,
There’s a calm which follows a tide.
Each obstacle which we are made to face,
Moulding our life’s direction and pace,
Comes with its flipside.