pichhle janm kei ek nazm

mujhe lagtā hai

zamīn ke kisī gumnām mantaqe meñ

ham kabhī saath saath rahte the

mujhe ab tumhārā naam yaad nahīñ

tumhārī shakl bhī yaad nahīñ

magar ye lagtā hai

ki shāyad ka.ī sadiyāñ pahle

kisī pichhle janm kī sīḌhiyoñ par

ham saath saath baiThte the

vo sīḌhiyāñ kahāñ thiiñ

aur pichhlā janm kahāñ huā thā

mujhe to yaad nahīñ

shāyad tum ko bhī yaad na hogā

haañ bas itnā yaad hai

ek chhoTe se ghar meñ

ham sar-e-shām devtā ke liye diye jalāte the

aur diyoñ ke qarīb ek panchhī rahtā thā

jo bādal barkhā aur dhuup ke giit gaatā thā

giit sunte sunte

aur diye bujhne se pahle hī

ham namdoñ par so jaate the

aur phir ham donoñ mil kar

ek jaisā koī ḳhvāb dekhte the

bahut se tālāboñ jañgaloñ

aur bāġhoñ kā ḳhvāb

sub.h-dam añgnā.ī meñ sūraj utar aatā thā

panchhī peḌoñ par

aur ek bādal chhat par baiTh jaatā thā

phir ham chaukhaT par baiTh kar

rangoñ kī bāzgashteñ sunte hue

ek tālāb ko dekhte rahte the

mujhe lagtā hai ye ham hī the

jo tālāb kī taraf dekhte aur bāzgashteñ sunte the

haañ shāyad ham hī the

ab ye yaad nahīñ us samay hamāre naam kyā the

mujhe lagta hai

zamin ke kisi gumnam mantaqe mein

hum kabhi sath sath rahte the

mujhe ab tumhaara nam yaad nahin

tumhaari shakl bhi yaad nahin

magar ye lagta hai

ki shayad kai sadiyan pahle

kisi pichhle janm ki siDhiyon par

hum sath sath baiThte the

wo siDhiyan kahan thin

aur pichhla janm kahan hua tha

mujhe to yaad nahin

shayad tum ko bhi yaad na hoga

han bas itna yaad hai

ek chhoTe se ghar mein

hum sar-e-sham dewta ke liye diye jalate the

aur diyon ke qarib ek panchhi rahta tha

jo baadal barkha aur dhup ke git gata tha

git sunte sunte

aur diye bujhne se pahle hi

hum namdon par so jate the

aur phir hum donon mil kar

ek jaisa koi KHwab dekhte the

bahut se talabon jangalon

aur baghon ka KHwab

subh-dam angnai mein suraj utar aata tha

panchhi peDon par

aur ek baadal chhat par baiTh jata tha

phir hum chaukhaT par baiTh kar

rangon ki bazgashten sunte hue

ek talab ko dekhte rahte the

mujhe lagta hai ye hum hi the

jo talab ki taraf dekhte aur bazgashten sunte the

han shayad hum hi the

ab ye yaad nahin us samay hamare nam kya the