aur tumne taras bhi nahin khaya shama bujhane mein

sham.a bujhānī thī

to jalāyā kyoñ thā

yuuñ be-ruḳhī se

muñh moḌnā thā

to anjuman meñ biThāyā hī kyoñ thā

vo dekho

falak pe chāñd

kaisā udaas dikh rahā hai

dekho

zarā dekho to us kī āñkheñ

kaisī DabDabā aa.ī haiñ

chāñd se merā kyā rishta hai

sirf itnā hī na

ki har raat

maiñ use ek baar dekhtā thā

aur use dekh kar haath hilā diyā kartā thā

chāñd

kahīñ bhī hotā thā

bādaloñ kī oT meñ

kisī baḌe daraḳht ke

sabz pattoñ ke pīchhe

yā ūñchī imāratoñ ke

chhajjoñ ke pīchhe

vo dauḌ kar

bāhar nikal aatā thā

shafqat se labrez muskān

bikher detā thā

aur maiñ

maiñ use dekh kar

haath hilā diyā kartā thā

tum se to behtar hai

vo chāñd

jo mujhe tanhā dekh kar

udaas ho uThā

aur tum

tum ne taras bhī nahīñ khāyā

sham.a bujhāne meñ

sham.a bujhānī thī

to jalāyā kyoñ thā

yuuñ be-ruḳhī se muñh moḌnā thā

to anjuman meñ biThāyā hī kyoñ thā

shama bujhani thi

to jalaya kyon tha

yun be-ruKHi se

munh moDna tha

to anjuman mein biThaya hi kyon tha

wo dekho

falak pe chand

kaisa udas dikh raha hai

dekho

zara dekho to us ki aankhen

kaisi DabDaba aai hain

chand se mera kya rishta hai

sirf itna hi na

ki har raat

main use ek bar dekhta tha

aur use dekh kar hath hila diya karta tha

chand

kahin bhi hota tha

baadalon ki oT mein

kisi baDe daraKHt ke

sabz patton ke pichhe

ya unchi imaraton ke

chhajjon ke pichhe

wo dauD kar

bahar nikal aata tha

shafqat se labrez muskan

bikher deta tha

aur main

main use dekh kar

hath hila diya karta tha

tum se to behtar hai

wo chand

jo mujhe tanha dekh kar

udas ho uTha

aur tum

tum ne taras bhi nahin khaya

shama bujhane mein

shama bujhani thi

to jalaya kyon tha

yun be-ruKHi se munh moDna tha

to anjuman mein biThaya hi kyon tha