faKHta ka rang zard tha

khaT baḌha.ī kī dastak par

tanāvar shajar ne

kañdhe jhaTak kar

apnī be-niyāzī kā iz.hār kiyā

havā kā tez jhoñkā

ghaḌī-bhar ke liye pattoñ se uljhā

phūlī huī saañs se kuchh kahnā chāhā

magar alfāz ne saath na diyā

shajar ne baḌī be-e'tinā.ī se

us kī taraf ek nazar dekhā

magar jhoñkā itnī der meñ duur jā chukā thā

abhī use aur bhī to paiġhām pahuñchāne the

yak-bārgī shajar khaḌe qad se Dagmagāyā

hālāñki fazā bilkul sākit thī

patte anjāne ḳhauf se

haule haule kaañp rahe the

khaT baḌha.ī kī dastak tez se tez-tar hotī jā rahī thī

havā kā jhoñkā

vāpsī meñ pal ke pal Thahrā

magar bahut der ho chukī thī

tanāvar daraḳht ek baar baḌī zor se kāñpā

aur ek taraf jhuktā chalā gayā

us kī apnī ġhaflat ne

dīmak kī tarah

us ke vajūd ko khokhlā kar diyā thā

khaT baḌha.ī kī dastak bhī dam toḌ chukī thī

aur fāḳhta

gire hue shajar ke uupar

musalsal chakkar kaaT rahī thī

khaT baDhai ki dastak par

tanawar shajar ne

kandhe jhaTak kar

apni be-niyazi ka izhaar kiya

hawa ka tez jhonka

ghaDi-bhar ke liye patton se uljha

phuli hui sans se kuchh kahna chaha

magar alfaz ne sath na diya

shajar ne baDi be-e'tinai se

us ki taraf ek nazar dekha

magar jhonka itni der mein dur ja chuka tha

abhi use aur bhi to paigham pahunchane the

yak-bargi shajar khaDe qad se Dagmagaya

haalanki faza bilkul sakit thi

patte anjaane KHauf se

haule haule kanp rahe the

khaT baDhai ki dastak tez se tez-tar hoti ja rahi thi

hawa ka jhonka

wapsi mein pal ke pal Thahra

magar bahut der ho chuki thi

tanawar daraKHt ek bar baDi zor se kanpa

aur ek taraf jhukta chala gaya

us ki apni ghaflat ne

dimak ki tarah

us ke wajud ko khokhla kar diya tha

khaT baDhai ki dastak bhi dam toD chuki thi

aur faKHta

gire hue shajar ke upar

musalsal chakkar kaT rahi thi