be-rabt

aañkh bojhal huī

zard patte havā meñ bikharne lage

maiñ tirī samt aage baḌhā aur phir

yuuñ lagā jaise yak-dam añdherā sā chhāne lagā chaar sū

dekhte dekhte ghup añdherā huā

maiñ tujhe dekhtā rah gayā

terī tasvīr jab dekhte dekhte

ghup añdhere meñ khone lagī to binā vaqt zaa.e.a kiye

ehtiyātan tujhe maiñ bhī apne tasavvur kī qirtās par

ik purāne brush jo ki ḳhud bhī tasavvur kī me.arāj thā ko ajab be-qarārī meñ

ujlat zada haath meñ le ke māhir musavvir kī mānind malne lagā

phir kuchh aisā huā

sab badalne lagā

dekhte dekhte ghup añdherā chhaTā

aur har sū ujālā huā

phir tirī samt nazreñ uThīñ

ek lamha to ma.akūs qirtās par tere chehre pe Thahrī rahīñ aur phir

terī peshānī ke Thiik uupar tirī maañg sīdhī saḌak ke mushābah tire gesuoñ se guzartī dikhī

aur phir ek muflis ġharīb-ul-vatan kī tarah

raushnī se muzayyan saḌak par ḳhirāmāñ ḳhirāmāñ chalā

aur phir yuuñ huā ki musāfir ghane gesuoñ meñ kahīñ kho gayā

aankh bojhal hui

zard patte hawa mein bikharne lage

main teri samt aage baDha aur phir

yun laga jaise yak-dam andhera sa chhane laga chaar su

dekhte dekhte ghup andhera hua

main tujhe dekhta rah gaya

teri taswir jab dekhte dekhte

ghup andhere mein khone lagi to bina waqt zaea kiye

ehtiyatan tujhe main bhi apne tasawwur ki qirtas par

ek purane brush jo ki KHud bhi tasawwur ki mearaj tha ko ajab be-qarari mein

ujlat zada hath mein le ke mahir musawwir ki manind malne laga

phir kuchh aisa hua

sab badalne laga

dekhte dekhte ghup andhera chhaTa

aur har su ujala hua

phir teri samt nazren uThin

ek lamha to makus qirtas par tere chehre pe Thahri rahin aur phir

teri peshani ke Thik upar teri mang sidhi saDak ke mushabah tere gesuon se guzarti dikhi

aur phir ek muflis gharib-ul-watan ki tarah

raushni se muzayyan saDak par KHiraman KHiraman chala

aur phir yun hua ki musafir ghane gesuon mein kahin kho gaya