na-gahan aur be-nihayat

''nā-gahāñ'' aur ''be-nihāyat'' se agar pīchhe haTogī to tujhe ma.alūm hogā

nā-gahāñ to maiñ huuñ lekin kaun thā vo be-nihāyat

koī pichhlā jis ne tujh ko mujh se pahle

terī kachchī umr meñ

yuuñ chiir kar zaḳhmī kiyā thā tū taḌaptī rah ga.ī thī aur ye kaḌvā-kasīlā zahr

sote jāgte ḳhvāboñ meñ amrit jaan kar piitī rahī hai

kyuuñ bhalā? kyuuñ ''nūr'' ''naġhme'' yā kisī ''harf-e-tasallī'' se

tarah naars ḳhalā ḳhālī rahā itne dinoñ tak?

aur ab phir tū aaj agar ik nā-gahānī hādse meñ

nā-gahāñ se aa milī hai apnī pakkī umr meñ to yuuñ samajh

jaise ki kachchī aur pakkī donoñ umroñ meñ koī nisbat nahīñ hai

pūchh ḳhud se

ek chauthā.ī sadī ke ba.ad phir kyuuñ

justujū hai tujh ko us zālim darinda-sifat kii, jis ko ye kah kar

chhoḌ aa.ī thī jhaTak kar, ''ek vahshī jānvar ho be-nihāyat

tum se nafrat hai mujhe''

''nā-gahāñ'' kyā ''be-nihāyat'' kī tarah vahshī nahīñ thaa?

haañ, magar vo jānvar shāyad nahīñ thā

(jānvar, tum jāntī ho, chīrte haiñ, phāḌte haiñ!)

is liye ab tajraba vo apnī pakkī umr meñ dohrā ke ḳhud

''harf-e-tasallī'' kā sahārā chāhtī ho?

ḳhud se pūchho, kyā ye sachchā.ī nahīñ hai?

na-gahan aur be-nihayat se agar pichhe haTogi to tujhe malum hoga

na-gahan to main hun lekin kaun tha wo be-nihayat

koi pichhla jis ne tujh ko mujh se pahle

teri kachchi umr mein

yun chir kar zaKHmi kiya tha tu taDapti rah gai thi aur ye kaDwa-kasila zahr

sote jagte KHwabon mein amrit jaan kar piti rahi hai

kyun bhala? kyun nur naghme ya kisi harf-e-tasalli se

tarah nars KHala KHali raha itne dinon tak?

aur ab phir tu aaj agar ek na-gahani hadse mein

na-gahan se aa mili hai apni pakki umr mein to yun samajh

jaise ki kachchi aur pakki donon umron mein koi nisbat nahin hai

puchh KHud se

ek chauthai sadi ke baad phir kyun

justuju hai tujh ko us zalim darinda-sifat ki, jis ko ye kah kar

chhoD aai thi jhaTak kar, ek wahshi jaanwar ho be-nihayat

tum se nafrat hai mujhe

na-gahan kya be-nihayat ki tarah wahshi nahin tha?

han, magar wo jaanwar shayad nahin tha

(jaanwar, tum jaanti ho, chirte hain, phaDte hain!)

is liye ab tajraba wo apni pakki umr mein dohra ke KHud

harf-e-tasalli ka sahaara chahti ho?

KHud se puchho, kya ye sachchai nahin hai?