VOICE OF SOUL

At Howrah’s rush, beneath iron breath and steam, I saw her first—my future, clear as dream. Time froze once, then shattered in a run, I reached her breathless, two hearts beating one. Her glasses caught the station’s yellow glow, My arms found home before my mind said so. Crowds dissolved, the platform slipped away, When I hugged her like I’d waited every day. From Howrah Ghat we crossed the river wide, The ferry hummed while Kolkata sighed. I took her bag, too heavy for her frame, Gave her mine—love learns sharing before its name. I held her close the whole slow-moving ride, Cold breeze kissed us, city lights replied. My lips met her forehead, soft and still, Hands entwined—time bent to our will. The Ganga shimmered, silver, deep, and true, “I love you” floated—me to her, her to me too. She fed me momos, laughter in her eyes, Simple food, holy hands, sweetest prize. At Bagbazar Ghat, a lone lamp stood, Witness to lips that finally understood. One kiss—gentle, shaking, perfectly right,...

মেঘের ভাঁজে ভাঁজে আটকে থাকে তোমার নামের নীল রোদ, দিনগুলো ধীরে হাঁটে চায়ের ধোঁয়ার ভেতর দিয়ে— যেখানে দু’জনের নীরবতা একসময় কথা বলতে শিখেছিল। ফেলে আসা স্পর্শগুলো এখনো জানালার ধারে বসে, মলিন নয়— শুধু সময়ের ধুলো লেগে আছে। হিসেব কষলে আজও গরমিল হয়, কে কাকে বেশি চেয়েছিল। যদি হঠাৎ আবার দেখা হয়ে যায়, ভুলে যেও না সেই অসমাপ্ত বিকেল, যেখানে অভিমান ছিল কিন্তু বিদায় লেখা হয়নি। আমি আজও দাঁড়িয়ে আছি একই প্রশ্নের পাশে— তুমি কি আমাকে চিনতে পারবে? জানি, তুমি এখন অন্য কারো স্বপ্নে, আর আমি দিশাহীন এক সুর— যার ঠিকানা নেই, তবু বাতাসে ভেসে বেড়ায়। মনখারাপের সুর মিশে গেছে দূরের ট্রেনের শব্দে, শুনতে পাও কি না জানি না, কিন্তু কবিতাটা এখনো তোমার জন্যই। শীতের কুয়াশায় লুকিয়ে রাখি ভেজা দু’চোখ, মুছে যাওয়া গল্পগুলো শিশির হয়ে ঝরে পড়ে রাতে। জমে থাকা কষ্টেরা আজ আর ভারী নয়— প্রেম হয়ে ধীরে ধীরে ফিরে যেতে চায়। যদি আবার দেখা হয় তোমার আর আমার, মনে রেখো— ভাঙা গল্পের মধ্যেও কিছু কবিতা  চিরকাল বেঁচে থাকে। © NILOY SHOUVIC ROY

In ashes of the love I knew,  a darker purpose took its hold,  betrayed by vows that weren't true,  I'd claim the hearts, both brave and bold. Each cheating woman brought to me,  would learn the price of their deceit,  in darkness they would come to see,  the pleasure found in my complete defeat. The first, a banker's polished wife,  who seduced her broker for the trade,  now knelt before me, stripped of life,  as my sadistic plans were made. "Your spreadsheets mean nothing here,"  I snarled, forcing her to bend,  "I'll chart your pain, your fear, your tear,"  as I my dark revenge would send. Her arse, so tight, so unprepared,  I took without a single care,  as she bent over, legs quite bared,  her screams of anguish filled the air. My hands, like claws, dug in her scalp,  as I forced deeper, claimed her whole,  her expensive haircut now a mess,  her dignity lost to my control. Her tits, I slapped ...

The blindfold was my canvas, her fear, my art. I tied the silk, a promise from the start. No past, no name, just skin and trembling breath, A soul to conquer, walking close to death. "Zara Zara" sighed, a lover's soft lament, A perfect irony for the night I'd rent Her body out to pleasure and to pain, To wash her clean in decadent, warm rain. I watched her shiver, every nerve alight, A perfect sacrifice on velvet night. Her skin, a map of unexplored desire, I was the flame to set her soul on fire. I poured the wine, a river, dark and deep, Above her throat, a secret I would keep. It flowed like blood, a sacramental stain, As her soft whimpers washed away her pain. I followed it, my tongue a slow, wet trace, The salt of her, the vintage's sweet embrace. She arched her back, a silent, pleading bow, And offered me her body, here and now. But that was just a prelude, just a taste, Of all the dark and dirty things I faced. I poured again, a lower, bolder stream, To vio...

I didn’t know we’d drift so far, Two souls once close, now shattered stars. I never saw the silence come, Till love grew cold, and we grew numb. We built so much, but walls stood tall, And in the end, they watched us fall. Our final fight, no swords, no cries— Just broken dreams and last goodbyes. I thought that storms could never part The way you curled into my heart. Whatever came, I'd hold your hand, Together still—was all I planned. But fate, it seems, just played pretend, And love ran dry before the end. The words you said still haunt my head, Like echoes from a life now dead: “The universe is false,” you said, “It never meant the paths we tread. The fate rope lied, and love’s not true— It wasn't real, not me, not you.” You broke me then, without a scream, Shattered the last of every dream. But still I smiled, I wore the pain— Like dancing in a downpour rain. It’s okay, my love. I’ll be just fine, I'll bleed in prose and drown in rhyme. No more to beg, no more to say, ...

  Raat ke andhere mein dil ko jalata hoon, tera naam le kar khud ko sambhalta hoon. Par tu hai door, itni door ke saans bhi taane, aur main teri yaadon ke saaye mein hi kaanpta hoon. Chhoone ki tamanna ab zehr si lagti hai, teri khamoshi meri rooh ko dagti hai. Har baar keh deti ho— “Ghar wale nahi maanenge,” aur main toot kar sochta hoon, kya mohabbat bhi ab thagti hai? Main aa raha hoon teri mitti tak, teri zameen tak, aur tu bhaag rahi hai mujhse kisi ajeeb si hameen tak. Kehte ho, “Mulaqat mushkil hai, waqt sahi nahi,” par mere dil ko lagta hai ke tu ab mere qareeb bhi nahi. Main necha dil kar har bahaana maanta jaa raha hoon, tumhari doori ka zehr roz peeta, muskurata jaa raha hoon. Lagta hai tumhari baaton mein sach se zyada faraar hai, jaise mere pyaar ka na koi mol, na izhaar hai. Kabhi tum mere haathon mein kho jaati thi, aaj ek call mein bhi tum toot kar nahi aati ho. Woh pal jo kabhi hamara tha, ab khaali sa lagta hai, jaise mohabbat ka chirag hi aaj bujh jaata ho. Mujhe...