aawaz ke sae

ajab pāgal sī laḌkī thī

ajab sī ḳhvāhisheñ us kī

vo haft-aflāk kī dhun meñ havā ke dosh par raqsāñ

lagan meñ faash karne kī

zamīn-o-āsmāñ ke rāz-e-sar-basta

zamīñ ke saath zid bāñdhe

ki

gird-e-mehr-e-ālam-tāb kyoñ ye raqs-e-paiham

mujhe is kulliye ko toḌ kar

zamīn-o-āsmāñ se aage jaanā hai

vahī pāgal sī laḌkī

achānak aan Takrā.ī thī mujh se

alif lailā ke safhoñ se nikal kar

kisī rūmānvī afsāne ke kirdār kī sūrat

kabhī likh bhejtī thī lafz kuchh aise ki maiñ hairān hotā thā

kabhī kahtī ki

maiñ jibrīl huuñ us kī hirā kā

kabhī likh bhejtī ai kūza-gar mere

tumhāre raqs karte chaak kā me.arāj huuñ maiñ

tumhāre fan kī huuñ takmīl maiñ

kabhī hañste hue ik naam detī thī

mujhe ham-zād kahtī thī

ajiib pāgal sī laḌkī thī

ajab sī ḳhvāhishoñ ko lafz detī thī

ajab farmā.isheñ kartī

kabhī kahtī suno ham-zād merī baat

bahut hī munfarid ho tum

nahīñ lagte tum is kurre ke bāshinde

ki is duniyā meñ koī ajnabī ho tum

tumheñ kun kahne vaale ne faqat mere liye bhejā

ajab pāgal sī laḌkī thī

vo mere iltifāt-e-chashm par nāzāñ

kabhī kahtī tumhārā mujh se yuuñ milnā

mirī ḳhush-baḳhtī kā zāmin

achānak

guftugū ke darmiyāñ u-turn letī thī

mujhe hairān hone kī bhī vo mohlat na detī thī

vo kah uThtī

suno ik baat kahnī hai

ijāzat ho tumhārī gar

to bas ik tiin lafzī kalima kahnā hai mujhe tum se

suno alfāz kī duniyā se kaisī chashm-poshī ye

maiñ ḳhud meñ muskurātā aur phir mauzūa badal detā

laboñ se us ke ik jharne kī qulqul jaarī hotī thī

maiñ us jumle se jitnā hī gurezāñ

vo utnī hī kamar-basta

vo har din muskurātī āñkheñ apnī

tasavvur kī nigāhoñ se

mirī āñkhoñ meñ Daale

sharārat se bhare jumle yuuñ merī nazr kartī thī

ijāzat hai mire hamdam

kaho ab kah bhī duuñ

ye karb-e-jān-levā kab talak

rihā.ī kab milegī is ummīd-o-nā-umīdī se

maiñ kah uThtā agar isbāt meñ radd-e-amal zāhir kiyā maiñ ne

to phir tum chār-harfī lafz kī pāgal sī ḳhvāhish paal baiThogī

ajab pāgal sī laḌkī thī

magar

jab aaj is lamhe

ijāzat māñgte alfāz us ke

ridā-e-ḳhāmushī ko oḌh kar chup-chāp baiThe haiñ

to dil merā

ajab sargoshiyāñ karne ko pāgal

suno ham-zād merī

vahī sah-lafzī jumla

maiñ tum se aaj kahtā huuñ

magar āvāz ke an-dekhe saa.e

kisī ifrīt kī sūrat

mujhe hī jakḌe rahte haiñ

ye pachhtāve kā barzaḳh aur maiñ huuñ

ki ab

anāsir muntashir aur gum-shuda nabzeñ

fazā meñ bāzgasht ik aarzū kī gūñjtī har pal

ajab pagal si laDki thi

ajab si KHwahishen us ki

wo haft-aflak ki dhun mein hawa ke dosh par raqsan

lagan mein fash karne ki

zamin-o-asman ke raaz-e-sar-basta

zamin ke sath zid bandhe

ki

gird-e-mehr-e-alam-tab kyon ye raqs-e-paiham

mujhe is kulliye ko toD kar

zamin-o-asman se aage jaana hai

wahi pagal si laDki

achanak aan Takrai thi mujh se

alif laila ke safhon se nikal kar

kisi rumanwi afsane ke kirdar ki surat

kabhi likh bhejti thi lafz kuchh aise ki main hairan hota tha

kabhi kahti ki

main jibril hun us ki hira ka

kabhi likh bhejti ai kuza-gar mere

tumhaare raqs karte chaak ka mearaj hun main

tumhaare fan ki hun takmil main

kabhi hanste hue ek nam deti thi

mujhe ham-zad kahti thi

ajib pagal si laDki thi

ajab si KHwahishon ko lafz deti thi

ajab farmaishen karti

kabhi kahti suno ham-zad meri baat

bahut hi munfarid ho tum

nahin lagte tum is kurre ke bashinde

ki is duniya mein koi ajnabi ho tum

tumhein kun kahne wale ne faqat mere liye bheja

ajab pagal si laDki thi

wo mere iltifat-e-chashm par nazan

kabhi kahti tumhaara mujh se yun milna

meri KHush-baKHti ka zamin

achanak

guftugu ke darmiyan u-turn leti thi

mujhe hairan hone ki bhi wo mohlat na deti thi

wo kah uThti

suno ek baat kahni hai

ijazat ho tumhaari gar

to bas ek tin lafzi kalima kahna hai mujhe tum se

suno alfaz ki duniya se kaisi chashm-poshi ye

main KHud mein muskuraata aur phir mauzua badal deta

labon se us ke ek jharne ki qulqul jari hoti thi

main us jumle se jitna hi gurezan

wo utni hi kamar-basta

wo har din muskuraati aankhen apni

tasawwur ki nigahon se

meri aankhon mein Dale

shararat se bhare jumle yun meri nazr karti thi

ijazat hai mere hamdam

kaho ab kah bhi dun

ye karb-e-jaan-lewa kab talak

rihai kab milegi is ummid-o-na-umidi se

main kah uThta agar isbaat mein radd-e-amal zahir kiya main ne

to phir tum chaar-harfi lafz ki pagal si KHwahish pal baiThogi

ajab pagal si laDki thi

magar

jab aaj is lamhe

ijazat mangte alfaz us ke

rida-e-KHamushi ko oDh kar chup-chap baiThe hain

to dil mera

ajab sargoshiyan karne ko pagal

suno ham-zad meri

wahi sah-lafzi jumla

main tum se aaj kahta hun

magar aawaz ke an-dekhe sae

kisi ifrit ki surat

mujhe hi jakDe rahte hain

ye pachhtawe ka barzaKH aur main hun

ki ab

anasir muntashir aur gum-shuda nabzen

faza mein bazgasht ek aarzu ki gunjti har pal