The sky above me

Exploding with colors

Eyes filled with awe

The ground shaking beneath my feet




But when you close your eyes

and hear the exploding bombs

it reminds me of

the war

they fought

for our country







A document signed

on the fourth of July

A pen gliding

across such

an important piece

of our history

our lives







A birthday celebrated

across the states

does anyone

stop

to think




How did we get here?

A very dear brother, you are
Warm and friendly by nature
Also, are you quite street smart
You would make Ravenclaw proud, with your quick wit
So happy am I, to have you in my life
Greatly dependable are you, in times of strife!

A very dear brother, you are
For me, a lot do you care
Fun to talk with, all the time
I can remember not, when we had not a splendid time!!

A very dear brother, you are
Almost nothing, do you fear
From kid to teenager to adult
Always, have you been difficult to beat
In many a debate
Irrespective of the topic
Trains, Harry Potter, music
Animals, food, cricket, politics
The list is endless!!

A very dear brother, you are
A fantastic bond, do we share
Your patience and fortitude, I can forget not
When we once missed a flight
Owing mainly to my behaviour
Really, are you quite the saviour!!

A very dear brother, you are
And will be forever
May you have a **** exciting future
Come true, may all your deepest desires
Have fun, take care and soon I'll meet you
Forevermore, may the Almighty bless you!!

Dear Shruti, wish you a very Happy New Year
On your side will I be, forever
God could not have given me a better friend
You are so very kind
Though strict at times
All in all, however, always do I enjoy our chats!

Dear Shruti, wish you a very Happy New Year
Often, can I be a bore
However, deeply do I care for you always
Many a time, do you help me find inner peace!!

Dear Shruti, wish you a very Happy New Year
With me, so many things do you share
Forever, will I take your secrets to the grave
A throughly beautiful relationship, do we have!!

Dear Shruti, wish you a very Happy New Year
You judge me never
Even after having seen me at my worst
For sure, will I do my best
To ensure you have a constant smile on your beautiful face
Every single test of life, I am sure you will ace!!

Dear Shruti, wish you a very Happy New Year
For me, 2024 was not an easy year
But you ensured there was a lot for me to smile about
Thanks to your constant support and encouragement
In the form of calls and voice notes
As well as sharing numerous pictures and videos!!

Dear Shruti, wish you a very Happy New Year
May 2025 be a glorious year
May all your hard work pay off handsomely
May you and your family forever be happy
May the Lord satisfy all your deepest desires
May you have a year nearly free of stress
And may we meet again soon, you wonderful human being
Till then, please do keep smiling
Love you loads, have fun and take care
And again, wishing you a very Happy New Year!!

Dear Namrata, wish you in advance, the happiest New Year
As a colleague, were you quite dear
And as a friend, we share a lovely bond
By nature, are you exceedingly kind
Always, have you been on my side
Through many a rollercoaster ride!

Dear Namrata, wish you in advance, the happiest New Year
I miss you more and more
As the days pass by
Indeed, was it hard to say goodbye
However, shall our relationship last for life
And firmly shall we support each other, in times of strife!!

Dear Namrata, wish you in advance, the happiest New Year
You are a fantabulous wife and mother
Almost godlike, are your children
Your home nearly feels like heaven
You too are welcome at my house, any time
Your mere presence would make my family members beam!!

Dear Namrata, wish you in advance, the happiest New Year
May 2025 bring you infinite cheer
May you have a life almost free of stress
Come true, may all your dreams
Have fun, take care and see you soon
And till then, may you shine as brightly as the Sun!!

You, I will forget never
Because, are you my friend forever
Of course, we are colleagues still
And as a teammate, are you absolutely swell
Very dedicated and a go-getter
Indeed, few can do better
Also, are you newly married
But to me, will you always be a friend
The Tamanna I know remains the same
Often, does she make me beam!

You, I will forget never
In your blood is it, to bring a lot of cheer
Whenever you are around
We share a delightful bond
I am going to miss your breakfast treats
As well as the late-night parties
Really, have we had some amazing times
Rarely, does your bell fail to chime!!

You, I will forget never
Seldom, do you put on airs
Humble and down-to-earth, to the last degree
Often, do you end up filling us with glee
Seriously, Riddham could not have asked for a better spouse
Truly, are you the goods!!

You, I will forget never
Your wedding was easily the highlight of the year
The best I have attended
As a host, were you too good
And your family was so gracious
I felt I had finally achieved inner peace!!

You, I will forget never
To me, will you forever remain dear
So, enjoy your married life
Keep Riddham and yourself free of strife
Take care and keep smiling
And May Jesus shower you with many a blessing!!

the mistakes i've made
have made me question -
the boy who wrote
his plan, as a freshman,
on piece of paper
so fragile, and brief -
it drifted away,
somewhere down the cliff.

sounded like the truth,  
but it’s not for me to say;
i better hold my tongue -
the lies are close; too grave -
to utter in vain with
but a forked tongue;
i must wipe the poison
off my plate.

there’s not enough blood
to quench the thirst -
of the beast that feeds
on the power of my lust;
i hope it finds
it’s peace, when i lay:
ashes to ashes,
dust to dust.

i better take my place:  
stand guard for the day -
at the palace of my mind,
where once, i would play;
a child of destiny -
fumbling to say the grace;
reading into his mistakes;

seemed the better way.

shall i compare myself to others every day?
they are more charming, and more talented:
tough luck does take its toll; often too hefty to pay,
and the bill of regrets is way past its due date;
sometimes too hot the baton of pride burns inside,
and often in a sea of mediocrity naked, i swim;
and every ball from ball sometimes drops,
by a poet in his underpants, and *****, untrimm’d;
but my eternal hard-on shall not fade,
nor lose faith inside the hole i bore’st;
nor shall spite keep me from dues unpaid,
when that eternal hard-on in time so grow’st:
so long as i can sing, profoundly and care-free,
so long lives this - it’s a fun read, won’t you agree?

Lucky am I, to have you as a friend
To me, always have you been kind
A very supportive colleague, you were
And an even better friend, you are!

Lucky am I, to have you as a friend
A relationship with you, has absolutely no end
True are you, to the tee
Around you, is almost everyone happy
You call a ***** a *****
And yet, to all are you unfailingly good!!

Lucky am I, to have you as a friend
You possess a heart of gold
Hence, did you give me a chance
Even when I probably deserved it not
In fact, that's when we became friends
Never in my life, shall I forget this golden moment!!

Lucky am I, to have you as a friend
Forget you I will not, even after we both grow old
You are a gem of a wife and a mother
May your lovely children have a fantastic future
Blessed am I, to have been at your home thrice
A haven for love, happiness and peace
So proud am I, to have you and Vivek as friends
Your entire family, may Jesus bless
Now and always!!

What a wonderful sister, you are
For you, a lot do I care
Not all the time, may we talk
However, when it gets really dark
You are the light I badly need
Your words of advice, are always to be heeded
And interacting with you is so much fun
That it makes me forget all my pain!

What a wonderful sister, you are
With you around, is there nothing to fear
Indeed, do you have a very calming presence
And gifted are you, with oodles of common sense
No wonder, are you such a fine lawyer
A lot of trouble, do you often have to bear
However, every test do you end up clearing with flying colours
For you, are no circumstances too adverse!!

What a wonderful sister, you are
Grinning was I, from ear to ear
When you arrived a few weeks back
Brought me some respite from work
So thoughtful, was your gift
Truly, do you possess a golden heart!!

What a wonderful sister, you are
And will be, now and forever
Keep smiling and take care
And may you be blessed with a glorious future!!

A very close friend, have you become
Somehow, do you always manage to beam
Irrespective of the situation
Whenever I experience tension
It is you, who ensures calm
Thanks to you, a better person have I become!

A very close friend, have you become
Twice, have I been to your home
Never, have I not been treated like a family member
Your children, I really adore
You yourself are a wonderful wife and mother
Not to mention, a colleague to die for!!

A very close friend, have you become
Forever, are you welcome at my home
Always, have you supported me till the very end
We share an unbeatable bond
A very sweet and caring person, you are
A truckload of difficulties, do you bear
But you possess an indomitable spirit
Hence, are you able to ace every single test
Which life throws at you
As a friend, I love you!!

A very close friend, have you become
I know you will forever be with me
To be associated with such a lovely person
Is something I consider a great fortune
May you be blessed with loads of love, success, happiness and peace
And may the force be with you, now and always!!