A walk down the memory lane

After years, I don’t know why, but that day my steps turned on their own toward the college.

The gate was the same.
The walls were the same.
Only the colors had faded a little.

As I walked down the corridor, the sound of my shoes echoed too clearly, as if the silence was amplifying every footstep.
I stopped at the door of my old classroom.I stood there for a moment. Then I pushed the door open. It creaked softly—and inside, an empty room seemed to be waiting for me.
The benches were neatly arranged. Chalk dust clung to the blackboard. Sunlight from the window lay quietly across the floor.
Everything was still… calm…
as though no voice had lived here for years.
Yet strangely—there was noise inside me.
The same old noise.
Laughter. Whispers. Requests for notes. The rustle of turning pages…
All of it seemed to come alive again.
I stepped in quietly and sat on the last bench.
And then, from within that noise—you emerged.
Like an old photograph suddenly glowing in sunlight, you became clear before me. 

Your laughter. 

The way you lowered your head while speaking. 

The habit of brushing your hair behind your ear…... Everything just the same.

From the ceiling fan, the moving air carried that familiar fragrance of your perfume. For a moment, it felt as if time had paused somewhere and carefully preserved your presence.
Memories stretched and awakened.
You were sitting on the bench in front of me. Saying something. I was listening. Smiling. The whole class had filled up again—only for us.
Slowly, everything else began to blur.
Walls. Windows. Door…
All fading away.
There was only you...
And me.
A small world suspended between two heartbeats.
Then suddenly, the sound of the fan grew louder.
I blinked.
Everything vanished.
No you.
No laughter.
No noise.
Only empty benches, sunlight, and silence.
I was alone—
in an old classroom, with old memories.
And then I understood…
Some places are never truly empty.
We are simply late in returning.
And the truth was this—
there was no one there.
Just me… and my memories.
That was reality.
I sat there for a while longer,
warming my heart in the warmth of those memories,like a small patch of winter sunlight.
Slowly, time returned.
The sound of the fan, the breeze from the window, footsteps somewhere outside—
everything began to feel real again.
I stood up.
Took one last look at the benches,
at the blackboard,
and walked toward the door—
as if nothing had ever happened.
Outside, I gently closed it.
The same creak echoed again—
this time, emptier.
I turned and walked away.
But something stayed with me…
a faint feeling— that some emotions never die.
They simply breathe quietly behind old closed doors.
My steps slowed in the corridor.
And for no reason, an old ghazal(song) rose to my lips.
Softly, I hummed—
"Ages passed, yet your memory never really came to me,
But it’s not true that I ever forgot You._
I never had the courage to forget You,_
Even in distance, I was never really apart from You…"
And then I understood—
Some relationships do not walk beside us;
they walk with us forever ...... as memories.

Saturday, 7/2/26, 03:45 PM
Ajay Sardesai – Megh

Footprints left upon the shore

The ceaseless riddles of eternal questions

Unfold—slowly, one by one.

 

At times, time itself comes to rest

In the mirror’s unblinking gaze;

For a brief instant,

The question stands—quietly—

Shaped like an answer.

 

However carefully it is held,

It still slips away;

Yet the mind remains

Forever fastened to it.

 

Behind every smile

A familiar hush endures—

Even old sorrow now

Feels gently known.

 

Memories lift their silken canopies,

And the mind lies down

Upon their warm, velvet stillness.

 

They speak without words,

These memories,

Settling softly

Into the inward chambers of the heart.

 

The self I once was

And the self I am today

Stand far apart in form and time;

Our inner worlds differ—

Yet we remain, unmistakably, one.

 

Though much has altered

In the long passage of years,

Somewhere within

That same childhood is carefully saved.

 

Even now, a fragrance, an evening,

Carries me backwards—

Without warning.

 

Footprints left upon the shore

Remain behind;

I move forward,

Leaving the wet sand to itself.

 

And without quite realizing when,

Standing fully in the present,

I still reach back—

And quietly take the past by the hand.

 

Saturday, 17/1/26 ,10:30 PM

Ajay Sardesai (Megh)

Relationship - The Bond Between Us

 

The words were mine, yet meanings slipped away,

You chose silence—arguments faded away.

 

So much I wished to say, but lips refused their part,

I searched your eyes, then words returned back to my heart.

 

Within your gaze I looked for who I used to be,

One fleeting glance—and all questions fell away, set me free.

 

In time’s strong current, everything was swept along,

Even the paths my footprints traced were changed and gone.

 

In quiet ways you taught how vast true silence can be,

Burning words, so sharp once, died out slowly, silently.

 

Megh says—our relation was like a shadow’s gentle play,

In light, we stood apart; the bond withered away.

 

 

— Ajay Sardesai (Megh)

Friday, 16/01/26, 02:45 PM

Reflections Change

The meaning is the same — only the words change,
In every heart’s mirror, the reflections change.
 
All roses hold fragrance, their beauty is the same,
But look how the colors of each petal change.
 
The spokes of life’s wheel keep turning in time,
Yet, in the joys and griefs of each story there's change.
 
The sky is one, and the stars shine the same,
But their courses across the heavens change.
 
Dharma is respect — its essence never fades,
Though its forms of practice do change.
 
‘Megh’ knows the Truth is One, eternal and bright,
Yet in every vision, its face seems to change.

 

 

Saturday, 6/9/25, 07:59 PM

Ajay Sardesai -Megh

The Forest’s Lullaby

 

The river shimmered, cool and green,
Its song was heard, though never seen.

A soft hush of gold lay on the air,
Where dawn and dream knelt down in prayer.

The thrush began the waking hymn,
The bees droned low as light grew slim.

A stag stood still where shadows played,
While squirrels leapt through beams of shade.

The dragonflies in silence flew,
Where lilies cupped the drops of dew.

The air grew warm with noon’s embrace,
As sunlight stitched the forest’s face.

Then slowly fell the amber light,
The doves took wing in fading sight.

A fox slipped by with secret glee,
Its laugh as soft as rustling tree.

Cicadas sang as day grew thin,
And dusk let dusky dreams begin.

The moss lay deep where secrets keep,
The roots held fast their ancient sleep.

Till forest, wind, and silver stream
Sang earth to rest within its dream.

Through night the owls in vigil flew,
The stars awoke where darkness grew.

A hush returned, the world stood still,
As moonlight crowned the sleeping hill.

And when the first pale light was born,
The forest stirred to greet the morn.

The sky breathed gold, the breeze grew mild,
And day arose, serene and wild.

And still the forest keeps its tune,
Through glowing sun and careless moon.

Its ageless hymn, both wild and mild,
Forever rocks the earth’s own child.

Thursday, 4/9/25 , 12:21 AM
Ajay Sardesai -Megh

Twilight's Hush

Flocks of cranes still bloom in the amber sky,

Your gentle song through my soul drifts by.

The sunset’s colours have slipped from view,

Yet your fragrant memories softly grew.

 At twilight’s hush, the heavens spread wide,

Blue velvet skies where my dreams abide.

Upon that velvet my dreams took flight,

Vivid thrills awoke in my soul that night.

 

Golden footsteps grace the edge of the west,

Where day fades away into leisurely rest.

In the moon’s soft, silvery embrace,

The night curls warm in its starry place.

 

The moon in fullness stitched beams of light,

Silver threads through the still of night.

My heart’s peacock spread its plume,

Swaying gently in scented bloom.

 

Thursday, 14/8/25 , 12:37 AM
Ajay Sardesai - Megh

 

Swoop the falcons of day light

How many times have I pleaded in vain,

How many excuses I’ve woven in chain,

How many times, in the silence long,

I’ve sung to myself your only song.

 

You came not then, nor now you appear,

Yet softly I hum when no one is near—

The tune that binds my heart to you,

A melody old, yet ever new.

 

The feeling within my heart beats true,

The same deep current flows in you,

One single flame—yet still apart,

Why must it burn in a broken heart?

 

I see you lean where horizons gleam,

So close in sight, yet still a dream,

Life has turned and closed the door,

Our paths shall meet, perhaps no more.

 

The moonlit night lies still and deep,

The dream-filled night has gone to sleep,

And upon my eyes, with sudden might,

Swoop the falcons of day light.

 

Wednesday, 13 August 2025 – 7:27 PM

Ajay Sardesai – Megh

Ruins -The City of Silence

 

In the cloak of silence, lies a lost world,

No alley, no ally, not even a bud found.

The dreams once chased have all slipped away,

Now every map of life is mute, has nothing to say.

The lamps that once glowed have all burned out,

A silent carnival, my friend, where old memories rot.

Where footsteps once echoed, now just desolation remains,

The ground is silent,The roads erased, like forgotten refrains.

O City of Silence, no grudge do I bear,

No sorrow to find, no burden to wear.

No voice breaks the stillness, no sound here stirs,

Just one realisation envelopes,This emptiness whispers.

Come, let’s sit by these ruins, while the air is still,

For who knows what story each stone wants to tell, In this chill.

Friday , 29/11/2024   , 11:25 AM

Ajay Sardesai (Megh)

Peace

Gazing into the mirror, he always averted his own reflection, 

His delusion was that he was a messenger of peace. 

The oasis he transformed into a vast desert, 

For his reflection in its waters always spoke the truth.

 

In the desert, there exists no stream of water, 

It is said that a river of blood has dried up all the water.

Once, the breezes were fragrant, and life was filled with joy, 

Then came a messenger of peace, and autumn fell upon the land.

 

Once, flowers bloomed abundantly in the garden, 

But upon his mere sniff, all wilted away. 

Loudly,he proclaimed that he was The angel of peace, 

Yet people trembled in fear, as he slaughtered all around him.

 

As his power grew, he made a declaration, 

"If there shall be peace, it shall be mine alone, else there shall be none." 

He believed his faith to be the only true one, spreading peace, 

While all others were infidels, for they did not accept his peace.

 

One day, all came to know the truth; they recognized the falsehood, 

They realized he had no wings; he was but juat a man, not an angel. 

Then their fear dissipated, and they encircled him, 

Slowly they advanced forward, as they encircled him.

 

Now fear resided in his eyes, while hope of peace shone in theirs, 

Then someone drew a sword, and the body of the angel fell to the ground. 

Where the body lay, a tempest arose, a flood emerged from the earth, 

From those waters, a river was formed, and the desert blossomed anew.

 

From the earth wafted a fragrance; the breezes became pleasant once more, 

Life regained its joy, and blossoms bloomed in the garden once more, 

Thus began the renewal of peace. 

This peace was not that of the angel, nor was it forged by swords, 

This peace stemmed from concern, not born of fear, but from love.

 

Thursday, 04/10/2024  , 18:00 PM

Ajay Sardesai (Megh)

"Bella Vita" (Happy Life) , Until Then

In realms beyond this earthly place,

Where souls unite in endless grace,

We meet, we part, and meet once more,

In life's eternal dance, we do restore.

 

Relatives, friends, and strangers too,

Are bound by threads both old and new.

Eternal spirits, bound by fate,

In other worlds, we congregate.

 

Our bodies wither, and do fade away,

Into five elements, they do decay.

Yet bodies rise back, and forms take flight,

In life cycles spun through day and night.

 

To Aai and Baba, blessings true,

Wish you happy lives, In other worlds too. 

In next life’s realm, we’ll meet again,

Until then, joy and peace sustain.

 

Bella Vita, till we again reunite,

In another life, in endless light.

Our souls are in constant flight

From one world to another in Delight

Monday , 29/07/2024   07:00 PM 

Ajay Sardesai (Megh)

The Ballad of Tiger Hill

 

"""""""""""""""""""""""""
The Ballad of Tiger Hill
"""""""""""""""""""""""""

In the high Dras sector, where the winds do chill,
There rose the mighty Tiger Hill, silent and still.
Its peaks kissed the sky, Twas a sentinel so grand,
Guarding the land where the brave make their stand.

In the summer of '99, when war drums beat loud,
Pakistani intruders, shrouded in cloud,
Seized the heights with a treacherous hand,
Challenging the valour of the Indian land.

Operation Vijay called into play,
To recapture the peaks and hold the foes at bay.
With hearts full of courage and spirits undaunted,
Indian soldiers marched up, by duty enchanted.

On July 4th, in the dead of the night,
The troops began to go, for the battle was ripe.
With 18 Grenadiers in the van of the fight,
8 Sikh and 2 Naga, the brave so bright.

Artillery thundered, the earth did quake,
As they climbed the hill for their homeland's sake.
Steep, icy slopes under fire they climbed,
With a will and strength by none undermined.

Captain Vikram Batra, lion-hearted knight,
His valour a beacon, his spirit alight.
Though with Point 4875 was he known to fame,
His valour on Tiger Hill forever shall remain.

Major Ravinder Singh, leader so brave,
His tale did slowly the heat of war engrave.
With Maha Vir Chakra, his honour did wax
The foe he slew by his great leadership.

Major Digendra Kumar, Also India’s bright hero,
Forward he led his men to the front in the night glow.
With tactical acumen and bravery clear,
Major led his men without an iota of fear.

Yogendra,a lion most fearless of all,
Even in pain and gore, he didn’t fall.
Single-handedly he stormed enemy bunkers with might,
That hair-raising battle into Param Vir Chakra they fight.

In close combat, through that terrible terrain,
Indian soldiers ripped through the enemy causing pain.
From well-fortified positions did they dislodge the foe,
Valour, with determination, and grit did they show.

In early light of dawn, the hill was captured back,
The tricolour fluttered in full bloom glory on track.
The Tiger hill was free, under the sky of India,
A mark of Pride above everything for India.

The victory at Tiger Hill, a beacon so bright
Changed the course of the war, shone with light white.
4th and 5th of July, days like gold embedded,
Of valour and sacrifice, of our heroes splendid.

Sing along the ballad of Tiger Hill,
Let Fear of India in enemy hearts instill.
Of soldiers who gave their all with will
Kept India free, Indian flag atop Tiger Hill.

Saturday , 27/07/2024 02:10 PM
Ajay Sardesai (Megh)

Oh, Those were the days

Oh, those were the days,
When we were young and bright,
Life was filled with joy,
Everything felt so right.
Unaware of any sorrow,
In our parents' embrace,
We were their precious gems,
In their love's warm grace.

Every wish was granted,
No dream left unseen,
When youth came swiftly,
How the times did lean.
Suddenly, life changed,
We faced it all alone,
With struggles at each corner,
Our strength was our own.

Parents' shelter gone,
Enemies around us crept,
We fought without retreat,
In our hearts their lessons kept.
From our parents, this legacy,
Of courage and truth,
With this precious wealth,
We walked the paths of youth.

Now we've become parents,
And our children are our light,
Life's journey unknown,
Yet we cherish every sight.
That childhood time returns,
In our memories so clear,
That tender, sweet love,
Of parents we hold dear.

When we were their darlings,
When their eyes shone so bright,
When life was full of joy,
When everything was so right.
Oh, those were the days,
When we were young and bright.

Saturday, 20/07/2024, 06:55 PM

Ajay Sardesai (Megh)

This bouquet of words in form of a poem is dedicated to the sweet memory of my parents.

 

About You ,Me & Love

How oft, seeing thee, in my heart there's a sweet ache,

When will my soul's secret thou partake?

Why do my lips always remain sealed tight,

Why do no words escape my lips when You’re in my sight?

Why do love's blooms between us fail, Why do they wither before the tale? As in dreams thou softly appear,

Why not in life dost thou draw near? When memories of thee fill my eyes, Why do they overflow with tearful sighs?

In thy love, only sorrow, I found,

Yet to this pain, I'm forever bound.

 

Thursday, 18/7/2024, 11:06 PM Ajay Sardesai (Megh)

Yearnings, Desires, Aspirations, Hopes

Yearnings of the heart, a spark that lifelong never dies,

Are unfulfilled desires, from depths of heart they arise.

Desires arise every morning, with the sun they shine so bright,

In the depths of the heart, colourful dreams take flight.

Each morning of aspirations wakes up anew,

Showing new paths, new dreams every day to pursue.

Aspirations are the destinations, on the road of wishes they stand,

Guiding life’s new directions, as life’s changing aspirations demand.

Hopes are like beacons, burning bright on the mountain,

They keep one motivated, when they burn brighter with gay abandon .

This blend of these four, is beautiful life’s precious game,

They light up every path, and everyone’s claim to fame.

 

 

Thursday , 11/07/2024   - 13:30 hrs.

Ajay Sardesai (Megh)

Like Love in The Moonlight

🌹🌹🌹🌹 🌹🌹🌹🌹 🌹🌹🌹🌹

🌹             Like Love in The Moonlight              🌹

🌹🌹🌹🌹 🌹🌹🌹🌹 🌹🌹🌹🌹

I’ve come in this world, a guest for a while,

I will live my life and then bid good bye in style.

I've come to spread joy, to brighten each heart,

I'll spread like fragrance of musk; I’ll play my part.

As the breeze scatters pearls, so gently does the dew fall,

I’ll sing through the branches; Love is my melody’s call.

In the monsoon’s embrace, play the shadows and sunlight,

When the storm’s done, like a rainbow, I’ll manifest.

If life is a pearl in an oyster's deep sea,

I’ll dive to its depths, and bring it to thee.

As the moon, sun, and stars in the heavens take flight,

I’ll reside in each heart, like love, in the moonlight.

Friday     14/06/2024       06:40 PM

Ajay Sardesai (Megh)

 

 

 

Thoughts about You

 

Every time I dream and think about you,

I don't know what I'd do without you.

 

My life goes on in this block of time & space,

It's you who has brought it melody and grace.

 

The wind whispers your song in the night's cold play,

I heartily listen to it and dance my loneliness away.

 

You are the sunshine in my life my dear, wherever I go,

Your face comes in my dreams and I want you so much more.

 

I look at the night sky and the stars are burning bright

Then I look at the full moon, it's your face shining in the night 

Friday   17/05/2024   08:33 PM

Ajay Sardesai (Megh)