The Radical Leap

Dear Readers,

It gives me immense pleasure to announce that the efforts of the last four years have finally paid off.
Today I share with you all the news that the book I was writing has finally been completed and published over Amazon. Ready for pre-order before its launch on a Kindle store on April 2nd, 2023.

The Radical LEAP

The art of winning (by failing up and failing forward) and becoming lucky (by applying consistency and increasing luck surface area) with what matters the most… i.e. Being your best self — Healthy, Happy, and Wealthy!

1. Are you making the most out of your natural talents and in-built skills?
2. Are you engaged in a kind of a work where work feels more like a play and fun rather than a chore or tedious activity?
3. Are you excited to wake up every day to do something creative and your dream is something that doesn’t let you sleep easily?

Read this book to know how to become the best answer to such questions and to make a LEAP (Learn, Engage, Act, and Progress) into the modern world.

Quick to implement strategies — Catapult yourself to the peak of Differentiation!

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What is this book about?

Self-Improvement, Personal Success, Mindset Transformation, Entrepreneurship and Financial Independence.

Who is this book for?

All wannabe entrepreneurs, young and happening teenagers, fresh grads, misfits, geeks, nerds, all those who are definitely stuck in life and are yet unable to unlock their full potential, those who haven’t been able to capitalize on their talents to become happy with their career, all those who want to become financially independent, and especially for those who think conventional advises haven’t been working for them at all. They need an unconventional path to success.

From where to get it?

• Available for Pre-Orders on Amazon
  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BWSKXSQ8
• Available on 50% Discount Now at Gumroad (Use Code: RL50)
  https://alisohani.gumroad.com/l/TheRadicalLeap

Note: The discount offer expires on 2nd of April.
Book is free for people who belong to Non-profits and Education Industry.
Please contact me or my team (at Optimizia) to receive a free e-copy.

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Wafa (Fealty)

Poem:

Tuj se kia teri be-rukhi se bhi
wafa karte…
Pyaar phir bhi karte,
fakht iktarfa karte…

Kahan fursut thi ulfat se
k kuch gila karte…
Tere hum-naam ajnabi se bhi
ashnaa mila karte…

Khud khaye huay thay thokar,
kia daga karte?
Ho do qadam tawaaf,
soch k jagmaga karte…

Waqt guzra istarah werna
har aah par ruka karte…
Khuli aankh hashr mein,
kia uthte, kia jhuka karte…

Na rakhta dil par woh haath,
na patjar mei uga karte…
Na sunne ko ik asar ki baat,
sahar tak ratjaga karte…

Baat kab pari fahham se
k kuch falsafa karte…
Sahi na sahi, ghalat sahi,
kehne ka difa karte…

Tere aadab se qabl, be-adab
mehfil alvida karte…
Jo bach gayi baaqi agar jaan,
kalme pe fida karte…

Bhujtay hein ki har shaam
hi koi ghum saha karte…
Jaltay hein ki hum bhi
thay uss dil mei raha karte…

Baazi ishq ki thi, to kia
nuqsaan ya nafaa karte…
Baat bhi dil ki thi werna
sab rafa-dafaa karte…

Mere ishq ki kia vez ab
Sohani sadaa karte…
Be-nafs azaan ka vird masjid
nahi maiqada karte…

— Dedicated to the beloved

— Credits: Base phrase of the poem: “Wafa karte” provided by Madam Sarah Awan.

Nadamat – 2 (The Shame)

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Poem:

Nadamat is par nahi woh mujhko na mila,
Nadamat is par hai phir mei kisiko na mila.
Itna waqt guzara mene ik darya k sirhanay,
Khud se kat-ta raha, par usmein na mila.

Dastak di to buhat aandhiyon k doraan,
Jab tak suna, khaki rait mei dhasa mila.
Kuch itna jaldi khil gaya teri taab mein,
K jab waqt-e-sahar hua to murjha mila.

Dhuundha usko kainaat mein ja-ba-ja,
Woh chilman mei chhup dharakta mila.
Senkron ushron tk nahi chala jis ka pata,
Woh gul kitab k aakhir mein chhuppa mila.

Manga nahi magar haal hogaya kuch aisa,
Kuch mila khairat mein, kuch sadqa mila.
Hum ko hai har ek ghoont ki ab qeemat,
Kia paimanay mei mila, kia phisalta mila.

Socha bach gaya khud kuch kawisho se,
Yahan aakhri tinka bhi tujh par fida mila.
Teri dosti mei koi kami thi shayad Sohani,
Uska to waqt tha, rukta dekha chalta mila.

— Dedicated to the beloved.

Credits: Base word of the poem: “Nadamat” was provided by Madam Sarah Awan.

Tell me a story…

Poem:

Tell me a story,
where a boy and girl greet…
Where eyes do stay… hooked,
for longer than a mere
split of a second!
Alas, they didn’t talk more…
Never wind up again
in the same circle…
Call it fate or
the world’s smallest love story.

Tell me a story
where two people meet,
and they talk, talk and talk…
But they never come to a pause,
where they would hold each other still.
Where the hand of one would be
in the hand of the other
to climb the bridge!
They talked about the world,
leaving one confession
of their true feelings!
Call it fate or
the world’s most distant love story.

Tell me a story
where two people meet,
and they talk, touch, and walk…
but they never kiss…
Even though sparks were flying,
and the whole world was collapsing
in between.
Like time itself was under
the wrench of the open lips.
But they never took a leap.
Call it fate or
the world’s touchiest love story.

Tell me a story where nights merge,
to skip the day in between…
Tell me a story where the worlds meet
not to end up broken.

Tell me a story
where you promise you would…
keep telling me the stories…
Those either with happy endings,
or the ones that are of course
not yet ended.
There’s more to it than we read…
more to it than we think…
There’s always more for you to say
for me to listen…

So here I am.
Why don’t you just go ahead…
Take me on a ride never-ending.
And whisper in my ears…
“You… You are my story…“

Tell me a story
where you do tell me in the hints,
it’s no longer a story…
That we are indeed…
living it.
That it’s one of those days
when I no longer am imagining.
What I am feeling is really happening.

Fate is what you and I are making…
Not a passage from a book where some secret is revealed,
or a plot-line from a fantasy novel…
Not a stanza of a beautifully crafted poem,
or a scene from a cleverly written film…
Just you and me walking…
at the seashore and watching…
How waves are overlapping…
How the sun is settling.

Though, we’re on each other’s nerves…
as usual.
Yet… it isn’t hurting
even where it’s burning.
It’s a flame of a different kind.
Like I did hear in…
what you once told me,
in one of those stories…!

So… Tell me a story, my love…
where two people meet
to keep meeting…
and not to end up flopping…
They talk, touch, walk, kiss,
and whirl in each other’s spirit…
Where they keep falling
but not failing.
Never afraid of those ruling,
only in arms of each other
they keep surrendering…
Let’s not call it just a fate then,
even if we call it
the world’s warmest love story!

Give me a rain check my love,
Is it real, or Am I just imagining?
Since, it takes a lot more to live
than to write or tell a story…

— Dedicated to the beloved.

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Jab lafz na milein… (When words can no longer be found…)

Poem:

Jab lafz na milein, to fakht muskuraa dena.
Band labon se apnay, khushbu uddaa dena.
Mein sun raha hun badi deir se apni dharkan.
Sunao khamoshi zara chehra dikhaa dena.

Dekha mene rukna, tawaaf is zameen ka,
Kam nahi ik nazar mein, lamhe churaa dena.
Buhat dier se chal rahay hein bechain sitare,
Ye thamay, ho jun hi, tera parda ghiraa dena.

Ik samnay, yaad na rehna, kuch bhi kehna…
Duja justuju, hatheli pe likhna – mitaa dena.
Aajaya karo waqtan puuchne dil ka khasara,
Bada mushkil hai dier se hisaab puraa dena.

Jin par guzri na rukne ko sirf woh janne ye,
Kia hota hai daryaa mei, suraj dubaa dena.
Jo kar aaye zyaarat un se puucha hum ne,
Kia hai ik mulaqaat mein taqdeer banaa dena.

Chilman ne kia hai daryaft raaz-e-hukumat,
Raaj karta tha kahin, palkon ko jhukaa dena.
Tujay yaad ho na ho humein yaad hai tera,
Bol bol kar ruuthna, khamosh sazaa dena.

Mil jaye tujay khaak mein bhi ho kar saabit,
Sohani mere haathon aisi lakeer banaa dena.

— Dedicated to the beloved not showing up.

Credits: Base phrase of the poem: “Jab lafz na milein” provided by Madam Sarah Awan.

Woh sitaray kab utrenge? (When will those stars descend?)

Poem:

Ajab k aasman se woh sitaray kab utrenge…
Tere mayaar pe hum puray kab utrenge…?
Hotay rahenge yahan hashr k faislay aur,
Mere libaas se tere angaray kab utrenge?

Dekhein kb tak chipkay rehtay hein suli se,
Haath thay jo sirf tujse juray kb utrenge?
Pohanchenge leke dua satway aasman tak,
Jo thamay nahi woh adhuray kb utrenge?

Waaday mei thay shamil teri Mohabbat ke,
Sadiyaan beet gayi, woh ashray kb utrenge?
Ashq jo pohanchay hein mere falak tak,
Najanay tuj pe badal saharay kb utrenge?

Maathay pe charay hein mere Suraj ki tarah,
Ye din jo tere gham mei guzaray kb utrenge?
Rokliya hai jis ne tujay mujay dubanay se?
Tere asar darya se woh kinaray kb utrenge?

Li mohabbat mein humnay jo uunchaiyaan,
Zikr-o-ghazal mein wo shumaray kb utrenge?
Guftar-e-waqt se chaun-o-dhuup ko hai pehr,
Aur hum muntazir, pehr tumharay kb utrenge?

Raat bar beth-ta hun ik khayal mein ghum,
Mujay ik raat k aagay, isharay kb utrenge?
Beth gaye hein Sohani tere mazaar par woh,
Gawah parinday ishq k hamaray kb utrenge?

— Dedicated to the inquisition of rewards that beloved bestows on the lovers for their devotion.

Tu hi bata kya karun…? (Why don’t you tell, what should I do…?)

Poem:

Bekhabar sa hun, tu hi bata kya karun…?
Muntazir sa hun, tu hi bata kya karun…?
Mei jazeera hun ek sookhay samandar ka…
Koi samjay sahra, to saniha kya karun?

Woh mujay paa-le yah mei usay mil jaun,
Bata konsa taveez aisa, aur dua kia karun?
Juuda hi sahi, tukra to huun mei bahaar ka…
Fizza na lejaye mujay konsa sajda kia karun?

Zakhmi hun par mei khata nahi mara gosht,
Mei Sher hun, lazim hai – taqwa kia karun.
Utaar le woh mujay apnay sheeshay mein,
Mei to raks hun, kia jhoomtay na kia karun?

Chaand, phuul, badal, barish, sab dediye.
Bata, ab aur kis cheez ka atia kia karun?
Woh to hai abad se ik mujisma-e-hayaat,
Konsi bachi hasrat us pe fida kia karun?

Kisi bad-dua se hui kia – lambi zindagi?
Bataa kis kis par mein fatiha kia karun?
Woh har taraf hai mere aur mein us mein.
Us noor ka kia zavia, kia zaicha kia karun.

Usne dekh lena hai Sohani khaab mein bhi,
Mei chhupnay ko us se kia parda kia karun?

— Dedicated to the beloved – who you inquire about the methods of devotion.

Credits: Base phrase of the poem (its title) is provided by Madam Sarah Awan.

Nadamat (The regret)

Poem:

Jo tera hua nahi, to khona kia hai?
Kuch chhua nahi, to tootna kia hai?
Hai kis baat par nadamat tujay aye dost?
Paicha laga hi nahi, to katna kia hai?

Wo pukarnay par bhi to nahi aaya baaz,
Jab kuch sunna nahi to kehna kia hai?
Kyu ho ek hi muqaam k chakar kaat-te,
Gar paap hua nahi, to dhona kia hai?

Hojaye bhakshish gar haath lag jaye,
Kabhi kia nahi, batado, darna kia hai?
Bethna mat sirf sar haath mein lekar,
Samaj lena, ab k ho to karna kia hai.

Jab woh meri duniya ka hai hi nahi,
To socha, koi haal ho pukarna kia hai?
Usko kese milti thi duaon mein tassali?
Haath uthata tha, bhul kar mangna kia hai.

Hath mei thaam k kab to bethoge aur?
Jab usne lia hi nahi to rakhna kia hai?
Pyasay se puuchtay ho suhbat-o-aadat?
Jab thaama hi nahi, to chhootna kia hai?

Kamaan liye bethun kyun chohrahay par?
Jab kheencha hi nahi to takna kia hai?
Darwaze tak laga hai saz-o-saaman,
Jab jaga hi nahi, to bharna kia hai?

Tu to har baazi jeetne ko hi khelta raha.
Jo tu ghira nahi kabhi, to uuthna kia hai?
Mat kaho ab ye k aarahi hai kam saans…
Woh jo jia nahi yahan to marna kia hai?

Dekhiye ab kis karwat beth-ta hai Suraj,
Gar tu jala hi nahi to phir lipatna kia hai?
Chhoro ye dillagi Sohani aur kaam karo.
Jab seekhna nahi to pachhtaana kia hai?

— Dedicated to the beloved.

Credits: Base word of the poem “Nadamat” was provided by Madam Sarah Awan.

Regrets – by Jasper Johns

Lehron Ki Aawaz – 2 (Confession of the Ocean)

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Poem:

Lehron ki aawaz se dil bahal jaata hai.
Un k aatay aatay waqt sahl jaata hai.
Aatay hein sahil pe mere toofan ki tarah,
Qadam padtay hi samandar nikal jata hai.

Un ki aamad par kyu na hon roshan samaat,
Jin ki sun k aawaz saya bhi chehel jaata hai.
Mansukh kia jisne kabhi pyaar ka peghaam,
Aaj us ka dil ik farmaan par tehel jata hai.

Mat puuch usay yaar ko dekhna kia hota hai.
Sang-dil roz deedar k liye taj mahal jata hai.
Jis ko mil gayi deed us ka hi to hai naseeb.
Mairaj mei kia k kaun kis se pehl jata hai.

Milta tha jo muj se khula chaak liye kabhi,
Woh mujay aata dekh ab rasta badal jata hai.
Kyun un se hon hum khafa is shehr mein to,
Kuch din saath dekar rasta bhi badal jata hai.

Dekh Suraj bhi badlon mein chhup jata hai,
Sirf dekh kar jisay yahan dia bhi jal jaata hai.
Unk paas aatay hi, zor-e-toofan tham jata hai.
Mom hai kia cheez, pathar bhi pighal jata hai.

Un k tabaq k samnay kia gully, kuucha, nehr…
Sohani tera har sher bahr se bahar nikal jata hai.

— Dedicated to the beloved.

— Trivia: Part 1 of the same topic is covered in another Ghazal with the same subject:
Lehron ki Aawaz (Song of the Ocean)…
https://alisohani.wordpress.com/2022/10/17/lehron-ki-aawaz-song-of-the-ocean/

Credits: Base phrase of the poem i.e. “Lehron ki Aawaz” provided by Madam Sarah Awan.

Jab tum nahi hoti… (When you are not here)

Poem:

Jab tum nahi hoti to kuch kam bhi nahi hota hai yahaan…
Hota mein bhi hun, bas mera aqs hi nahi hota hai yahan.

Aise kaun nahi aata yahan behlane din mein so baar…
Jis ka intezaar ho besabar bas wahi nahi hota hai yahan.

Tum jab hoti ho to shayari kia ik raks hota hai yahan…
Nahi hoti jb to saat kia ik sur bhi nahi hota hai yahan.

Ab kese rahun jalta hawa k gehre lapaito mein bhi mein?
Lipatne wali aag to hoti hai aatishi nahi hota hai yahan…

Teri kami mein hashr ka maidan hogaya dil mera kia?
Sirf haan ya aameen hota hai, nahi nahi hota hai yahan…

Samja samja kar kyun thak gaye hein ye waez mujay,
Koi wajah hoti hai kuch yunhi nahi hota hai yahan.

Sirf soch k hi tujay mere ishq ki ab mairaj hojaye…?
Sab hota hai yahan dost ik yahi nahi hota hai yahan.

Ab jaan gaye hein pata mere dost bhi aur raqeeb bhi,
Jo wo nahi hota idher, ye bhi tabhi nahi hota hai yahan.

Kuch karo kabu, koi karo tadbeer, kia majra hai bhala?
Sab kuch hota hai par kuch bhi sahi nahi hota hai yahan.

Batein kartay kartay teri mein phir se kahin kho na jaun…
Yahan sadiyaan hoti hein ik pal hi nahi hota hai yahan.

Kahan beech mein phas gaya hun mei umeed aur bemari k,
Dard bhi nahi hota sahi se, ilaj bhi sahi nahi hota hai yahan.

Chara sazon ko dedo tum yeh khabar ba-buland-ailaan-aam…
Sohani jo pehlay hota tha kabhi ab kahi nahi hota hai yahan.

— Dedicated to the poet beloved Juan Elia on his 20th Death Anniversary.

Credits: The base word of the poem: “Mera aqs” was provided by Madam Sarah Awan.