sunahri machhli

baat hai to kuchh aib sī

lekin phir bhī hai

ho ga.ī thī mohabbat

ek mard ko

ek sunahrī machhlī se

lahroñ se aTkheliyāñ kartī

bal khātī chamchamātī machhlī

bhā ga.ī thī mard ko

TukTukī bāñdhe pahroñ

dekhtā rahtā vo

us shoḳh kī aThkheliyāñ

machhlī ko bhī achchhā lagtā thā

mard kā is tarah se nihārnā

bañdh ga.e donoñ pyaar ke bandhan meñ

milan kī ḳhvāhish fitrī thī

mard ne machhlī se iltijā kī

ek baar sirf ek baar

paanī se bāhar aane kī koshish karo

mohabbat kā junūn

itnā shadīd thā ki

baġhair kuchh soche-samjhe

machhlī paanī se bāhar aa ga.ī

chhaT-paTā ga.ī

bahut barī tarah se chhaT-paTā ga.ī

lekin ab

vo apne mahbūb kī bāñhoñ meñ thī

mohabbat kī kaifiyat meñ

kuchh pal ko

saarī taḌap saarī chhaT-paTāhaT jaatī rahī

do badan ik jaan ho ga.e

sairāb ho kar mahbūb ne

mahbūba ko paanī ke supurd kar diyā

baḌā anokhā baḌā masarrat-añgez

aur baḌā dardnāk thā ye mel

har baar puurī tāqat baTor kar

chal paḌtī mahbūba

mahbūb se milne

taḌphaḌātī chhaT-paTātī

pyaar detī pyaar paatī

sairāb kartī sairāb hotī

aur phir lauT aatī paanī meñ

ek din

machhlī ko jaane kyā sūjhī

us ne mard se kahā

aaj tum aao

maiñ paanī meñ kaise aa.uuñ

kuchh pal apne sāñseñ rok lo

machhlī ne kahā

saañs rok luuñ

ya.anī jiinā rok luuñ

kuchh pal jiine ke liye hī to aatā huuñ maiñ

tumhāre paas

saañs rok lūñgā to jiyūñgā kaise

mard ne kahā

machhlī sakte meñ thī

ek hī pal meñ:

mard kī fitrat aur mohabbat ke

bāhamī rishte kī sachchā.ī

us ke sāmne thī

ab

kuchh jānñe paane aur chāhne ko

baaqī nahīñ bachā thā

machhlī ne be-kaif nigāhoñ se

mard ko dekhā

aur Duub ga.ī

be-panāh gahrā.iyoñ meñ

udhar ḳhud se be-ḳhabar mard

jiine kī ḳhvāhish liye abhī tak vahīñ baiThā hai

aur soch rahā hai merā qusūr kyā hai

baat hai to kuchh aib si

lekin phir bhi hai

ho gai thi mohabbat

ek mard ko

ek sunahri machhli se

lahron se aTkheliyan karti

bal khati chamchamati machhli

bha gai thi mard ko

TukTuki bandhe pahron

dekhta rahta wo

us shoKH ki aThkheliyan

machhli ko bhi achchha lagta tha

mard ka is tarah se nihaarna

bandh gae donon pyar ke bandhan mein

milan ki KHwahish fitri thi

mard ne machhli se iltija ki

ek bar sirf ek bar

pani se bahar aane ki koshish karo

mohabbat ka junun

itna shadid tha ki

baghair kuchh soche-samjhe

machhli pani se bahar aa gai

chhaT-paTa gai

bahut bari tarah se chhaT-paTa gai

lekin ab

wo apne mahbub ki banhon mein thi

mohabbat ki kaifiyat mein

kuchh pal ko

sari taDap sari chhaT-paTahaT jati rahi

do badan ek jaan ho gae

sairab ho kar mahbub ne

mahbuba ko pani ke supurd kar diya

baDa anokha baDa masarrat-angez

aur baDa dardnak tha ye mel

har bar puri taqat baTor kar

chal paDti mahbuba

mahbub se milne

taDphaDati chhaT-paTati

pyar deti pyar pati

sairab karti sairab hoti

aur phir lauT aati pani mein

ek din

machhli ko jaane kya sujhi

us ne mard se kaha

aaj tum aao

main pani mein kaise aaun

kuchh pal apne sansen rok lo

machhli ne kaha

sans rok lun

yani jina rok lun

kuchh pal jine ke liye hi to aata hun main

tumhaare pas

sans rok lunga to jiyunga kaise

mard ne kaha

machhli sakte mein thi

ek hi pal mein:

mard ki fitrat aur mohabbat ke

bahami rishte ki sachchai

us ke samne thi

ab

kuchh jaanne pane aur chahne ko

baqi nahin bacha tha

machhli ne be-kaif nigahon se

mard ko dekha

aur Dub gai

be-panah gahraiyon mein

udhar KHud se be-KHabar mard

jine ki KHwahish liye abhi tak wahin baiTha hai

aur soch raha hai mera qusur kya hai