The Crust of Life

Birds! We are so fortunate to be birds! We can fly as high as we desire, as far as we want! Quench our thirst, at any pond, river, stream of our choice, at our time! Sit on any branch, of any tree, of our choice, and eat its fruits to our heart's content! Birds! I am so fortunate to be a bird! SO WHAT, if I am caged? This cage is so meticulously crafted, and so lovingly painted with different hues of my Master's choice, especially for me! My Master! Sure is very loving, very caring! He carefully plucks his choice of fruits and feeds them to me! To quench my thirst, he places clean water in a silver bowl, lest I catch that dreaded Bird Flu! My Master! Sure is very loving, very caring! Only one wish though, Oh My Master! To have a little bigger cage, to stretch my wings and fly a little, play a little, have a little bit taste of those free birds' life! - Musten Jiruwala As felt by the bird in me (unrevised)

Why you have to be so possesive and yearn to take away my freedom? I am a free bird, your world is my kingdom! Seeker, seeker seek something else. Love, that is not binding, will get plenty, not any less. I am generous don't need to woo me you already have me just open your eyes and see! - Musten Jiruwala

Morning mist with light breeze clinging dew on grass and leaves riot of saffron far away in the sky chirping birds just about to fly crickets at rest and the roosters at their best welcoming the rising ball of hot air in haste just then, wakes up this man... his heart filled with venom of hatred with virus of revenge, his blood infected weapons of mass destruction, in his hand churning out devilish schemes, from his brain the alarm goes off, wakes up the child far away somewhere, innocent. - Musten Jiruwala

The kid hit Qad(ir) for a huge six And Azhar thought it was best to fix Kapil and his men planted on World-cup a big kiss Ganguly, as usual, managed to give it a miss Sachin provided much needed pain to Shane As McGrath walked in proudly in the Hall-of-fame! - Musten Jiruwala

First time, when I saw her clapping, and patting my shoulders with that hint of joy in her eyes... I made up my mind that I want to experience this moment again and again... So I practiced well and succeeded to fail again and again! She never gave up. - Musten Jiruwala

why is it that my imagination is full of tragedy! I look into your eyes and my imagination triggers off... I walk along with you on the narrow trail, hand in hand. I climb up, I extend my hand and pull you up smiling, laughing, walking, talking, we keep climbing up this goes on for a while until we reach the pinnacle of a scenic mountain top you are in my arms. I can see clouds hugging the mountain below force of the wind is such that I am unable to keep my balance here is beauty along with fear I want to be here. I want to be near. Yet, I fear to be here I look away. Yet, I want to look into your eyes. why? - Musten Jiruwala

It is early morning. Once again, sun is hesitatingly making its appearance, guilty of disturbing peacefully sleeping beasts, birds and human beings. However, to its amazement, sun found most of the human beings awake and making their way to Janpath singing joyfully, waking up the sleeping dogs and the birds. Unlike every year, today there will be no army parades or display of might in weaponary. Today, the leaders of each country (except for one) from the entire world have gathered here to witness the historical announcement. The announcement, which will be remembered for thousands of years to come. Leaders of all countries (except for one) are present in their best regional attires. Large or small, every country is represented by its apex leaders, presidents and prime-ministers. Leaders of every religious body are here too. Media personnels from every nook and corner of the world, be it Television, Radio or Print Media, every one of them are setting up their equipments on the ...

Tears swell up in my eyes, when I cut the cake on my 75th Birthday! Friends, relatives and well wishers all gathered in throngs on this fateful Wednesday Sixty years have past since I experienced reality of life, for the first time, on that day The sky was lit up with fires of the enemies everyone were running helter-skelter in an effort to protect their offsprings and ponies in a few moments, life came to a complete halt with deathly silence and fading lights There I was, in the field sitting alone looking for the signs of life fearing that they are all gone Sixty years hence, Here I am lots of things changed around me, The buildings, the roads, the computers and the telephones I am looking for the small small clues to see whether they have changed... Same way, as I looked for the signs of life on that fateful day... - Musten Jiruwala

One day, I decided to play God for me because,I saw pandemonium and chaos Then, I decided to dry up the oil from the well, because,I saw you fight like hell for a small little oil well Some sanity restored, I felt encouraged to go on, I decided to destroy the weapons, because,I wanted to bring equality between you and the strong to stop you from any brawl However, I was again proved wrong by you, my own creation! You kept the fight going for pretty long I looked closer for some clue I searched every soul, black and blue because I desperately wanted to bring peace, that was true Finally,I decided to give you back the oil, because, that was not the cause for any spoil, I decided to give you back the weapons, becauseI wanted you to realize on your own Thatyou fight because you fear And if anyone can destroy that fear, it's not me, but the creator. You, Musten, you. - Musten Jiruwala

~~~ Courage ~~~ Sun was about to disappear far away in the ocean Birds were hurrying to their nests in an orderly fashion sky was preparing itself to change its colour from orange to purple to black cool breeze was blowing across her face blowing her hair ever so softly I kept looking at her, she kept looking at the sea as if waiting for that eternal moment to reappear this was perhaps the hundredth time in last one week,that I wanted to tell her... sun disappeared, time ran out, she left... this time forever. - Musten Jiruwala

Musten Jiruwala As Manoj in Kavyanjali...a tribute to Indian poetry. Kavyanjali was staged at CFD Nani Arena and was directed by Rahul George of Join-The-Dots theatre group.

Where is love? One fine day, in the winter I stepped out, in search of love. Hoping to find it everywhere, so, I looked here, there, everywhere I looked for it in my children, in my wife and my parent, in my brothers and my sisters in my friends and my well wishers all in vain, I returned with empty hand. I expanded my search, far and wide looking for the place, where love could hide searched the depth of the oceans and pinnacle of the mountains, Searched jungles and the cities villages and the towns, searched roaring seas, and the flowing rivers while the december chill gave me shivers all efforts down the drain, I returned empty handed, once again. Then, there is this last place am afraid to look, for the fear that, all hopes I would lose I need courage and strength to look for love in this last place, deep down at the bottom of my heart.