lab-e-ju-e-bare

ek hī pal ke liye baiTh ke phir uTh baiThī

aañkh ne sirf ye dekhā ki nashista but hai

ye basārat ko na thī taab ki vo dekh sake

kaise talvār chalī, kaise zamīñ kā siina

ek lamhe ke liye chashme kī mānind banā

pech khāte hue ye lahr uThī dil meñ mire

kāsh! ye jhāḌiyāñ ik silsila-e-koh baneñ

dāman-e-koh meñ maiñ jā ke sitāda ho jā.ūñ

aisī anhonī jo ho jaa.e to kyuuñ ye bhī na ho

ḳhushk pattoñ kā zamīñ par jo bichhā hai bistar

vo bhī ik saaz bane saaz to hai saaz to hai

naġhma bedār huā thā jo abhī kaan tire

kyuuñ use sun na sake sunñe se majbūr rahe

parda-e-chashm ne sirf ek nashista but ko

zehn ke dā.era-e-ḳhās meñ markūz kiyā

yaad aatā hai mujhe kaan hue the bedār

ḳhushk pattoñ se jab aa.ī thī taḌapne kī sadā

aur dāman kī har ik lahar chamak uTThī thī

paḌ rahā thā usī talvār kā saaya shāyad

jo nikal aa.ī thī ik pal meñ nihāñ-ḳhāne se

jaise be-sāḳhta andāz meñ bijlī chamke

lekin is dāman-e-ālūda kī har lahar miTī

jal-parī dekhte hī dekhte rū-posh huī

maiñ sitāda hī rahā maiñ ne na dekhā (afsos!)

kaise talvār chalī kaise zamīñ kā siina

ek lamhe ke liye chashme kī mānind banā

dāman-e-koh meñ istāda nahīñ huuñ is vaqt

jhāḌiyāñ silsila-e-koh nahīñ parda haiñ

jis ke us paar jhalaktā nazar aatā hai mujhe

manzar anjān, achhūtī sī dulhan kī sūrat

haañ tasavvur ko maiñ ab apne banā kar dūlhā

isī parde ke nihāñ-ḳhāne meñ le jā.ūñgā

kaise talvār chalī kaise zamīñ kā siina

dil-e-be-tāb kī mānind taḌap uTThā thā

ek be-sāḳhta andāz meñ bijlī kī tarah

jal-parī gosha-e-ḳhalvat se nikal aa.ī thii!

zindagī garm thī har buuñd meñ aabī pā.ūñ

ḳhushk pattoñ pe phisalte hue jā pahuñche the!

maiñ bhī maujūd thā ik kirmak-e-be-nām-o-nishāñ

maiñ ne dekhā ki ghaTā shaq huī dhārā niklī

barq-raftārī se ik tiir kamāñ ne chhoḌā

aur vo ḳham khā ke lachaktā huā tharrā ke girā

qulla-e-koh se girte hue patthar kī tarah

koī bhī rok na thī us ke liye us ke liye

ḳhushk pattoñ kā zamīñ par hī bichhā thā bistar

usī bistar pe vo anjān parī leT ga.ii!

aur maiñ kirmak-e-be-nām, ghaTā kī sūrat

isī ummīd meñ taktā rahā taktā hī rahā

ab isī vaqt koī jal kī parī aa jaa.e

bāñsurī haath meñ le kar maiñ gvālā ban jā.ūñ

jal-parī aa.e kahāñ se? vo isī bistar par

maiñ ne dekhā abhī āsūda huī leT ga.ī

lekin afsos ki maiñ ab bhī khaḌā huuñ tanhā

haath ālūda hai, nam-dār hai, dhundlī hai nazar,

haath se āñkhoñ ke aañsū to nahīñ poñchhe the!

ek hi pal ke liye baiTh ke phir uTh baiThi

aankh ne sirf ye dekha ki nashista but hai

ye basarat ko na thi tab ki wo dekh sake

kaise talwar chali, kaise zamin ka sina

ek lamhe ke liye chashme ki manind bana

pech khate hue ye lahr uThi dil mein mere

kash! ye jhaDiyan ek silsila-e-koh banen

daman-e-koh mein main ja ke sitada ho jaun

aisi anhoni jo ho jae to kyun ye bhi na ho

KHushk patton ka zamin par jo bichha hai bistar

wo bhi ek saz bane saz to hai saz to hai

naghma bedar hua tha jo abhi kan tere

kyun use sun na sake sunne se majbur rahe

parda-e-chashm ne sirf ek nashista but ko

zehn ke daera-e-KHas mein markuz kiya

yaad aata hai mujhe kan hue the bedar

KHushk patton se jab aai thi taDapne ki sada

aur daman ki har ek lahar chamak uTThi thi

paD raha tha usi talwar ka saya shayad

jo nikal aai thi ek pal mein nihan-KHane se

jaise be-saKHta andaz mein bijli chamke

lekin is daman-e-aluda ki har lahar miTi

jal-pari dekhte hi dekhte ru-posh hui

main sitada hi raha main ne na dekha (afsos!)

kaise talwar chali kaise zamin ka sina

ek lamhe ke liye chashme ki manind bana

daman-e-koh mein istada nahin hun is waqt

jhaDiyan silsila-e-koh nahin parda hain

jis ke us par jhalakta nazar aata hai mujhe

manzar anjaan, achhuti si dulhan ki surat

han tasawwur ko main ab apne bana kar dulha

isi parde ke nihan-KHane mein le jaunga

kaise talwar chali kaise zamin ka sina

dil-e-be-tab ki manind taDap uTTha tha

ek be-saKHta andaz mein bijli ki tarah

jal-pari gosha-e-KHalwat se nikal aai thi!

zindagi garm thi har bund mein aabi paun

KHushk patton pe phisalte hue ja pahunche the!

main bhi maujud tha ek kirmak-e-be-nam-o-nishan

main ne dekha ki ghaTa shaq hui dhaara nikli

barq-raftari se ek tir kaman ne chhoDa

aur wo KHam kha ke lachakta hua tharra ke gira

qulla-e-koh se girte hue patthar ki tarah

koi bhi rok na thi us ke liye us ke liye

KHushk patton ka zamin par hi bichha tha bistar

usi bistar pe wo anjaan pari leT gai!

aur main kirmak-e-be-nam, ghaTa ki surat

isi ummid mein takta raha takta hi raha

ab isi waqt koi jal ki pari aa jae

bansuri hath mein le kar main gwala ban jaun

jal-pari aae kahan se? wo isi bistar par

main ne dekha abhi aasuda hui leT gai

lekin afsos ki main ab bhi khaDa hun tanha

hath aaluda hai, nam-dar hai, dhundli hai nazar,

hath se aankhon ke aansu to nahin ponchhe the!