chautha quarter

sub.h sūraj

raat kī tīra-salāḳhoñ se nikal aayā

aur us ne shahar kī nañgī hathelī meñ

shuā-e-harkat-e-be-sūd kī ik kiil gaaḌī

aur saare shahr kī maḳhlūq

jaise apne apne

halqa-e-marg-e-musalsal kī taraf bhāgī

udhar chauthe quarter se vo niklī

pople muñh aur pichke gaal

make-up ke plastar meñ chhupā.e

fasionī kapḌoñ meñ kafnāyā buḌhāpā

jis tarah qabroñ pe koī shaḳhs

shahnā.ī bajā.e

aur hamesha kī tarah hamrāh thī

us kī javāñ beTī

ki jis kī sāñvlī sūrat

mohalle ke javāñ laḌkoñ meñ rozāna

laḌā.ī kā bahāna hai

vo din bhar yūñhī bāzāroñ meñ

apnī javāñ beTī ko uñglī se lagā.e

ghūmtī rahtī hai

jis par log kahte haiñ

ki ye buḌhiyā koī mashkūk aurat hai

isī baa.is mohalle meñ

kabhī chauthe quarter ko kisī ne

achchhī nazroñ se nahīñ dekhā

maiñ akasr sochtā huuñ

gar koī us ke quarter se gine

merā quarter bhī to chauthā hai

bas itnā farq

maiñ shā.ir huuñ

jab koī ġhazal yā nazm likhtā huuñ

to aḳhbāroñ meñ chhapvātā huuñ

yāroñ ko sunātā huuñ

jahāñ-bhar ko batātā huuñ

ki maiñ ne nazm likkhī hai

subh suraj

raat ki tira-salaKHon se nikal aaya

aur us ne shahar ki nangi hatheli mein

shua-e-harkat-e-be-sud ki ek kil gaDi

aur sare shahr ki maKHluq

jaise apne apne

halqa-e-marg-e-musalsal ki taraf bhagi

udhar chauthe quarter se wo nikli

pople munh aur pichke gal

make-up ke plastar mein chhupae

fasioni kapDon mein kafnaya buDhapa

jis tarah qabron pe koi shaKHs

shahnai bajae

aur hamesha ki tarah hamrah thi

us ki jawan beTi

ki jis ki sanwli surat

mohalle ke jawan laDkon mein rozana

laDai ka bahana hai

wo din bhar yunhi bazaron mein

apni jawan beTi ko ungli se lagae

ghumti rahti hai

jis par log kahte hain

ki ye buDhiya koi mashkuk aurat hai

isi bais mohalle mein

kabhi chauthe quarter ko kisi ne

achchhi nazron se nahin dekha

main akasr sochta hun

gar koi us ke quarter se gine

mera quarter bhi to chautha hai

bas itna farq

main shair hun

jab koi ghazal ya nazm likhta hun

to aKHbaron mein chhapwata hun

yaron ko sunata hun

jahan-bhar ko batata hun

ki main ne nazm likkhi hai