Never really unpacked...

A Keyrun Rao original

It was a new chapter for me
Few years back, may be three
All unknown faces & a new city
Where I could just happily be
But I am stupid, my mind jacked
That's why I never really unpacked

She moved on & happily got married
While I dealt with burdens I carried
As she settled in her new house & car
I was pining for her, so damn afar
Trying to figure out what I so lacked
Truth is that I never really unpacked

Folks back home wanted me to settle down
Probably hoping I would like this new town
Never ever I really liked anything here
But for that awesome chilled KF beer
Healing my soul that seemed so cracked
May be that's why I never really unpacked

Made some friends, never had an affair
Sometimes I think that was totally unfair
The girls her are pretty, some very hot
But I still love you, that I never forgot
They tried getting closer, I back tracked
Sometimes I wonder, I should've unpacked

Life is changing again, turning a new leaf
Will it bring tension or much needed relief
Don't know about that, am coming to Bombay
What I dream at night, got to chase in day
Things will be different, I will be relaxed
Guess it's high time, time to get unpacked

[Special thanks to Arati, for making
an Aslam Bhai outta me HAHAHA]

Here I come closer home

A Keyrun Rao original

After what seemed like a lifetime or more
After knocking on heavens' & hells' doors
Never felt so alive with the heart throbbing
Dreams waiting to burst through the eyes
Thoughts pacing fast not letting me be alone
It's a crazy feeling, here I come closer home.

Could it be the stupidest thing I ever did
or the smartest I'll do, for all that we know
All the insecurities & butterflies unnerving me
Get the hell outta here & quit bothering me
I have a long way to go, sun, storm or snow
It's a nice feeling, here I come closer home.

Will I make a place for myself time will tell
But my stories & skills I will try hard sell
Will someone put money where my ink is
I don't know but that's the only way there is
The tomorrow looks full of challenges galore
It's a cool feeling, here I come closer home.

An unforgiving & unforgettable city that I love
Will it help me quickly raise over & up above
Or will I end up just another Johny in the race
With shame and remorse written across my face
The outcome of this risk doesn't bother me
It's a warm feeling, here I come closer home.

The rains would have washed away the grime
Thus would begin my life anew one more time
Have never been so enthusiastic & energetic
Something about Bombay that's so fantastic
Like a joyful son running towards his mother
It's a great feeling, here I come closer home.

Thoda faasla

A Keyrun Rao original

Yun lagta hai ki jaanta hoon tumhein
Tumhaari kami mehsoos bhi karta hoon
Sab kuchh luta doon tumhaari muskaan pe
Khud se ye wada bhi aksar karta hoon
Zindagi se ye shiqayat rahegi hamesha ki
Thoda sa faasla reh gaya humare darmiyaan

Saath hote jo hum agar to jannatein hoti
Shaam savere bepanaah mohabbatein hoti
Tumhaari pyari hansi mein pal guzarte
Humari baaton mein bhi shayari si hoti
Bura to lagega hamesha ae dost mere
Thoda faasla reh gaya humare darmiyaan

Kya ye chaahat hai, ye jaante nahin hai
Kyon meri dhadkan pehchaante nahin hai
Duniya poori alag hai humari tumhaari
Khud se juda tumhein maante nahin hain
Kaash kuchh pehle miley hote hum tumse
Thoda sa faasla reh gaya humare darmiyaan

Khud hi ki talaash mein hoon main aaj bhi
Tumhaare khudi ki kya baat karoon main
Apne aap mein raahat dhoondh raha hoon
Ab kaise aayega tanhaa is mere dil ko sukoon
Sochta hoon kabhi dil-o-rooh mein ye ki
Kyon thoda faasla reh gaya humare darmiyaan

Kaash mujhse karti baatein thodi aur...
Kuchh pal aur likh dete mere naam
Zindagi banti badi khoobsurat si apni
Subah rangeen, madhoshi bhari shaam
Mita do ye faasle, ab aao mere kareeb
Itna achcha bhi nahin hota sabka naseeb.

Still with me...

Beyond darkness, late in the night,
when the stars & clouds make love
I stay awake, gaping at the roof
Thinking how can you be so aloof?
I re-read those letters you wrote
Was it all a lie? every single note?

I refuse to believe you moved on
Sometimes I feel like a demon
Want to hurt you for scarring me
Want to love you for loving me
Can't believe after all these years
Dear, some bits of you still with me

Though apart, I have never felt alone
As if time has stood still like a stone
Your smile is what I really miss
And how can i forget our first kiss
I wish you good & pray for you I do
Remember, you are still with me...

Wherever you are, whatever you do
I will truly madly deeply love you
You are mine forever and that's true
Hopeless romantics like me are few
Take care my darling you be nice
Without you around my soul cries...

Drops of blood...

A Keyrun Rao Original

The world works in strange ways
Sunshine & darkness all in a day
Love to hate how emotions sway
Like a city drowned in a bad flood
I cry your tears... drops of blood...

I know you're lying girl when you say
No dear, I swear am really not crying
You don't have to tell, though miles away
I can feel all of your sadness & ache
Like ripples a pebble makes in a dead lake

I am just a contact in your phone book
But when I try & imagine your sad look
I feel like dying a thousand deaths
Helpless & full of prayers for you my dear
Longing for you to smile without any fear

Though I can't reach where you are now
I send you all my love & best wishes
Hope you get back at life stronger & harder
Be the girl that I know you have always been
Not a speck of gloom on you I have ever seen

Do remember this for sure my dear friend
You never cry alone... someone somewhere
With tremendous pain in his heart
Cries your tears... little drops of blood
Like a city drowned in a very bad flood...

Don't hang up on me...

A Keyrun Rao Original

[Dedicated to all my friends who let me be me, who celebrate me, love me so much and give me enough reasons to hang around here, head held high, without feeling like a worthless pile of bile. Love you all to bits. Thanks for being.]

Don't you please hang up on me
Without you how would I even be
Like a guitar without any strings
Like the darkness the night brings

Like a doomed kid who lost the race
My world would be an empty space
Like a father bereaving his dead kids
Like dumped rotting bunch of orchids

The sun would never shine this side
It would be an eternal downward slide
Days would come & away silently go
Like the routine of a newly wed widow

I am brimming with hope because of you
I am smiling gleefully all thanks to you
I look forward to 'morrow to connect with you
My yesterday was blessed only cuz of you

Don't you dare ever hang up on me
As then the world will never see me
Your life will go on & I'ill wish you good
But I would die happier a soul my dear
If by my side you would have just stood.

For Manu Akhouri? No, for us all.

Just one look at the photo above and you could pass it off as your brother, friend, classmate, the flirt, the son or any other individual, whom you met or connected with at some point of your life. Would you believe that this dude, Manu Akhouri is no more? Would you in your wildest dreams believe that he sacrificed his life to save a whole village in Punjab from the fatal MiG-21 crash. Flt. Lt. Manu Akhouri would have celebrated his 26th birthday with family & friends on 21st February, had he chosen to be just another bloke, auditioning for MTV Roadies & other such.

He made a choice to fly. Better still, to fly for his country. His passion for flying since childhood brought him face to face with a situation where he could choose to jump out of the 'flying coffin' and save his skin or maneuver it to a place where no lives would be lost. He made a choice of saving a village full of people and not many of us have even heard of him. Not even me.

A brother of mine is in the Indian Navy & from him I learnt about this braveheart. The more I found out, the more I bonded with this departed soul. I could see myself, my brother, my friend, all of us, in Manu. Like us, he chose to chase his passion. He chose to live his dream. Best part is that he made it, while he was still alive. It's very sad that now he will be missed & mourned by his family & close friends, while the rest of us lead our lives, entirely oblivious to the countless sacrifices made by thousands of jawans, brave soldiers who also had that option to be just another face in the crowd & die like one.

I write this post, deeply moved, by the sacrifices made by all the Manus who forego their own lives for the larger good of the country. As a writer & an aspiring filmmaker, I pledge to bring to light some of the stories (if not all) of those who are now no more, while they were ensuring our nation's security in adverse situations. Let these martyrs be remembered, let us show some respect, shed some tears, light some candles, pray for their souls' peace. Not just for Manu Akhouri, but for us all, as we are alive because of them.

Bro, Manu Akhouri, may your soul rest in peace. Amen.