जो मेरे घर कभी नहीं आएँगे

मैं उनसे मिलने

उनके पास चला जाऊँगा।

एक उफनती नदी कभी नहीं आएगी मेरे घर

नदी जैसे लोगों से मिलने

नदी किनारे जाऊँगा

कुछ तैरूँगा और डूब जाऊँगा

पहाड़, टीले, चट्टानें, तालाब

असंख्य पेड़ खेत

कभी नहीं आएँगे मेरे घर

खेत-खलिहानों जैसे लोगों से मिलने

गाँव-गाँव, जंगल-गलियाँ जाऊँगा।

जो लगातार काम में लगे हैं

मैं फ़ुरसत से नहीं

उनसे एक ज़रूरी काम की तरह

मिलता रहूँगा—

इसे मैं अकेली आख़िरी इच्छा की तरह

सबसे पहली इच्छा रखना चाहूँगा।

Poem by Vinod Kumar Shukla

Source: (https://www.hindwi.org/kavita/jo-mere-ghar-kabhi-nahin-ayenge-vinod-kumar-shukla-kavita)

I was introduced to this beautiful poem by Mr. Saurabh Dwivedi of Lallantop. He shared this poem during a long chat with the stunning & supremely talented Girija Oak Godbole. If you have not yet watched this (Ghar Jaisi Baatein) on youtube, you must – if you enjoy long chats and deep conversations. 

This poem struck a chord immediately as it fell on my ears as though my ears and brain had been parched and waiting for these words since eons. The simplicity of the words bring out the complexity of the thought beautifully while maintaining the sincerity of the poet and his efforts that he will take in meeting all those that he lists down. The poem made me think about whom do I go out to meet and spend time with. Believe me – this thought started the day I watched the episode and I am still thinking about the answer. 

So far, my answer includes – oceans, seas, lakes, rivers, hills, mountains, clouds, trees, grass, farmlands. 

I am deliberately leaving out all my loved ones who for whatever reason cannot come to me from this list. 

Let me dwell on members of my list.

Big water bodies like seas and oceans – my office used to be a minute from the gorgeous Worli Seaface. Many lunchtimes were spent walking across this promenade soaking in the breeze and the vast expanse of the Arabian Sea. Each time the sea showed a different side of her immense personality to me. The waves crashed onto the shore with might, at times very gently. The varied colours, hues were enough to enchant anyone who was there even for a minute.
In later years this daily darshan of the Sea was replaced with beach holidays. During these holidays I made a new friend – sand. My love for beaches made me fall in love with the soft sand – that offered me gentle yet strong support as I stood there digging my feet into them while my eyes looked far, wide and further towards the horizon. 

When I flew across the mighty Pacific Ocean, it was only on the flight information screen that I witnessed the vastness of this huge water body. Of course the number of hours it took to cross it did serve as the major factor to experience the vastness. I wanted to meet this mighty guy. I didn’t know when and how. One evening we got that chance as we made our way to the La Jolla, the seaside neighborhood in San Diego. Here we sat down and witnessed one of the most stunning sunsets against the canvas of the grand Pacific Ocean. The sheer vastness, uninterrupted view coupled with the dance show put up by the surging waves were a delight. Meeting the Pacific  has created a lifelong memory which will always hold a very special place in my heart. Like every sea, I had a one-on-one with the Pacific and shared some thoughts and feelings with him. I am sure he will keep them safe deep down within him. 

As a child whose father had a transferable job, I have stayed in a lot of places, visited a lot of places, met a lot of rivers, crossed over them in a railway journey or flown over them. My very first meeting with a river as an adult happened when I met the Holy river Ganga at Prayagraj during the Mahakumbh of 2025. 

This was a meeting that was planned in a way that I spend as much time as possible with Ganga Ma. I am sure I have seen her as a child, but this purposeful meeting was so much more fulfilling and has left a lasting impact on my life. Again I’ve shared things with her that only we both will ever know. Meeting her felt like meeting someone you know, trust and have a deep connect with. Even to this day I still think about those couple of days with her. I do want to visit her again some day. I know she will welcome me with the same love and affection. 

People often ask – are you a beach person or a mountain person? Well I am a “both” person, why choose one when you can love both? 

My love for mountains, hills is the same as that for seas and oceans. 

Each hill and mountains have so many stories that they hold within their stoic, sturdy reassuring structure. They have a distinct facade from every angle that we look at them from. I enjoy sitting and looking at them, watching as the tiny slivers of clouds emerge from some random mountain fold, eagerly drifting off to meet other slivers and then rising up to form huge clouds. 

I do and continue to go out and meet them again and again. Each time bringing them some new thoughts and feelings to share. 
The seas and oceans remind me to stomach and keep all not so nice things people say, secrets that friends and family share with me. Holding these need strength that I draw from these water bodies. Mountains teach me to be strong, commited in resolve. I want to be that mountain that my family and friends can stand on, rely on, look for support and strength.

There is so much that nature teaches us without saying a single word. Each encounter more giving, deeper & stronger that the earlier one. In nature’s lap we can dwell and get nurtured without giving anything in return. Its our best bargain and it is available to all – all it takes is a step in the direction of nature.

Who will you go out to meet?