naqab-posh

ai mere bad-nasīb baap

chīḳh chīḳh kar ronā

kuchh bhī sābit nahīñ kartā

vaqt

kuchh bhī nahīñ hai

aur hairat-zada darvāze

ye to roz kā mo.āmla hai

engine ke ko.ele kī tarah

jal na uThnā

varna

raakh kī tarah uñDel diye jāoge

ai mere bad-nasīb baap

zindagī kī chhoTī bandar-gāhoñ par

baḌe jahāz lañgar-andāz nahīñ hote

kuchh ajiib nahīñ ki tum

hamesha sāhil par khaḌe rahe

ye tumhārā apnā mas.ala thā

ki tum ne

maujoñ ko vāpas lauTne ke liye chhoḌ diyā

tum un par savār na ho sake

aur jahāz apne bādbān lahrāte hue

guzarte ga.e

aur ham

jo tā-umr ek hī tarah kī zindagī jiine par majbūr the

apnī apnī jagah ḳhud-farāmoshī kī dāstān likhte rahe

intizār karte rahe ek na.e din kā

ek na.ī mauj kā

ek na.e bādbān ke phuul uThne kā

ham ne vaqt ko apnā javāz banāyā

ubalte dariyā

ātish-ḳhor peḌ

ek be-intihā zamīn

ek be-barg āsmān

ai mere bad-nasīb baap

merā mālik ġhulāmī ke liye nahīñ banā

magar tum jo ham logoñ se bilkul alag the

tum tā-umr naqāb-posh rahe

jab ki ham

apnī tamām koshishoñ ke bāvajūd

apne chehroñ tak pahuñch na paa.e

ai mere bad-nasib bap

chiKH chiKH kar rona

kuchh bhi sabit nahin karta

waqt

kuchh bhi nahin hai

aur hairat-zada darwaze

ye to roz ka moamla hai

engine ke koele ki tarah

jal na uThna

warna

rakh ki tarah unDel diye jaoge

ai mere bad-nasib bap

zindagi ki chhoTi bandar-gahon par

baDe jahaz langar-andaz nahin hote

kuchh ajib nahin ki tum

hamesha sahil par khaDe rahe

ye tumhaara apna masala tha

ki tum ne

maujon ko wapas lauTne ke liye chhoD diya

tum un par sawar na ho sake

aur jahaz apne baadban lahraate hue

guzarte gae

aur hum

jo ta-umr ek hi tarah ki zindagi jine par majbur the

apni apni jagah KHud-faramoshi ki dastan likhte rahe

intizar karte rahe ek nae din ka

ek nai mauj ka

ek nae baadban ke phul uThne ka

hum ne waqt ko apna jawaz banaya

ubalte dariya

aatish-KHor peD

ek be-intiha zamin

ek be-barg aasman

ai mere bad-nasib bap

mera malik ghulami ke liye nahin bana

magar tum jo hum logon se bilkul alag the

tum ta-umr naqab-posh rahe

jab ki hum

apni tamam koshishon ke bawajud

apne chehron tak pahunch na pae