Shehar

Jab bhi mayoos hue

ek meherban ma ki baahon ki tarah 

sambhala tha iss shehar ne mujhe

gudaz daman se

apne sab raste phela diye the

Jahan chaho chale jao

Apni manzil chun lo...

Ab Ma boodhi ho gayi hai

zimmedari zyada lagti hai

iski nayi imaaraten bhi khandhar lagti hain

aur iske khandharo se

sab bad-roohen aur jinn 

Is cement ke jungle ko chhod gaye hain 

Jinno ko logo ke paigham aane band ho gaye the

Na jaane log sayane ho gaye the ya Jinn

Suna hai unse veerani bardasht na hui!

Shehar ki sadko pe daudte bhagte bashinde

ankhon me bechaini basaye phirte hain  

yeh shehar ke pollution ka dhuaan hai

ya qatal hue armano ka! 

khwaishon ke jungle me

hamari bhi qismat aisi nikli

ke in rasto pe

dil ki vahshat kam na hui

aur paon ke nishan

chunte chunte 

peechha karte rahe

tumhari yaadon ka

un sookhe patto ka

jinko kabhi hara 

daali par laga dekha tha

jinse ose ki boondein 

amrit ki tarah hum ne pee thi

ab daali se gir kar 

be-jaan hawa me udte phirte hain

kuch hamari hi tarah 

awara se be-misraf* se!

Dariya ko ufaan* par dekhne

hum kitni duur tak gaye the

ab woh dariya utar gaya hai..

uska paani gadla hai

aur suna hai iss baar bada sakht sookha pada hai!

woh phalwala jiske aam khatte the

aur tumne sab ke sab

apne hath se mujhe khila diye the

ab chappal seeta mila tha

phalo ka mausam chala gaya hai..

Omlette wala to 

abhi tak intezar me hai

ke kab tum usko milne phir jaoge

usko pata nahi tumhari aadat ka

tum yunhi logo ko aas de diya karte ho

ummeed baant diya karte ho
iss shehar ki tarah

wohi kam aqal tha jo aetbaar kar baitha! 

(be-misraf - purposeless)(*ufaan- river in spate)