~ ‘Ussi Raat’ … ~

~ ‘Ussi Raat’ … ~

Jaane kyon,

Umar ke iss shafaq padav pe,

Pakk chuke baal,

Jhuriyon main panah pa chuki khaal,

Larazti, sahare ki chah rakhti, chaal,

Aur, yeh kamzor nazar sa, bebas haal,

Inn main, tumhare na hone ki kami,

Zyada khalne lagi hai …

Raaten, zyada siah lagtin hain ab…

Roz soti hoon,

Thakaan ko dhaankti,

Jabran muskurahat liye,

Sirhaane umeed ko thapkiyan de kar,

Ki yeh aakhri hogi …

Par khawaab main, har roz ke jaise, tum aa jate ho,

Raat ke do’ baje, chhat pe le jate ho,

Machine ki maheen binaawat wali chatayi pe litate ho,

Mera barf sa haath, naram haathon main le kar,

Nam payshaani ko, jawaan hothon se sehlakar,

Meri bechaeniyon ko garam tasalliyan odhate ho,

Yaad dilate ho,

Kaise humne barbas hazar koshishen ki thin,

Taaron ko gin’ne ki,

Phir haar kar, unke jagmag wajood ko nihaar kar,

Maine tumhare seene pe sir rakh diya tha,

Tab tumne badi sanjeed’gi O muhabbat se,

Mere uljhe gesuon main, ungliyan pherte hue,

Yeh kaha tha,

“Jaan, jo main na rahun kabhi,

Inn taaron main mujhe talaash karna,

Aise hi bas tum, qayamat tak, mujhe har raat gin’na,

Ki hum milenge,

Dobara milenge …”

Aur … yeh raat bhi shuao’n se pighal jaati hai,

Ek sondhi subah … khilti hui … mere liye …

Phir ‘Ussi Raat’ ka int’zaar le aati hai …..

Jab hum milenge … zaroor milenge ………..