hum kyun likhte hain?

zehn kī zamīnoñ meñ jaḌeñ phailātā ye savāl

ki ham kyuuñ likhte haiñ...?

be-kār meñ apne vaqt kī daulat luTā kar

taḳhlīqī karb ke na.e zā.ichoñ meñ

ḳhud ko kyuuñ qaid karte haiñ...?

maiñ sochtā huuñ...

ki adālat meñ jab mujrim pesh hotā hai

ye jānte hue bhī ki vahī mujrim hai

us kā bayān kyuuñ likhā jaatā haiñ...?

gavāhoñ kī shahādat kyuuñ tahrīr kī jaatī hai...?

magar steno se koī nahīñ pūchhtā

ki tum ye sab kyuuñ likhte ho...?

shāyad is liye ki sab jānte haiñ...

in bayānāt ke andar hī

mujrim kī sazā-jazā ke sabhī naqshe tartīb paate haiñ

ham is liye likhte haiñ...

ki vīrāniyoñ kī bārish meñ

jazbe jab diloñ se hijrat kar jaate haiñ

jab surḳh chehre vaale jismoñ ke andar kahīñ

safed bārish hone lagtī hai

jab ūñchī dīvāroñ ke biich

kisī kuTiyā meñ chupke se

roz an-ginat ḳhvāhisheñ dafnā.ī jaatī haiñ

aur kitne hī lāġhar badanoñ ke andar

bhuuk chhup kar unheñ khātī rahtī hai

jab chīḳhoñ ke hazāroñ lashkar

āñganoñ par chaḌhā.ī karte haiñ

to vaqt udāsī ke sahīfe liye

in hādsoñ kā chashm-dīd gavāh ban kar

ahl-e-qalam ke paas apnī gavāhī likhvāne aatā hai

ham vaqt kī sachchī shahādat likh kar

ma.āshre kī sazā-jazā ke

rāstoñ kī nishān-dahī karte haiñ

magar hairān huuñ...

phir bhī pūchhā jaatā hai

ki ham kyuuñ likhte haiñ...

zehn ki zaminon mein jaDen phailata ye sawal

ki hum kyun likhte hain?

be-kar mein apne waqt ki daulat luTa kar

taKHliqi karb ke nae zaichon mein

KHud ko kyun qaid karte hain?

main sochta hun

ki adalat mein jab mujrim pesh hota hai

ye jaante hue bhi ki wahi mujrim hai

us ka bayan kyun likha jata hain?

gawahon ki shahadat kyun tahrir ki jati hai?

magar steno se koi nahin puchhta

ki tum ye sab kyun likhte ho?

shayad is liye ki sab jaante hain

in bayanat ke andar hi

mujrim ki saza-jaza ke sabhi naqshe tartib pate hain

hum is liye likhte hain

ki viraniyon ki barish mein

jazbe jab dilon se hijrat kar jate hain

jab surKH chehre wale jismon ke andar kahin

safed barish hone lagti hai

jab unchi diwaron ke bich

kisi kuTiya mein chupke se

roz an-ginat KHwahishen dafnai jati hain

aur kitne hi laghar badanon ke andar

bhuk chhup kar unhen khati rahti hai

jab chiKHon ke hazaron lashkar

aanganon par chaDhai karte hain

to waqt udasi ke sahife liye

in hadson ka chashm-did gawah ban kar

ahl-e-qalam ke pas apni gawahi likhwane aata hai

hum waqt ki sachchi shahadat likh kar

maashre ki saza-jaza ke

raston ki nishan-dahi karte hain

magar hairan hun

phir bhi puchha jata hai

ki hum kyun likhte hain