hawa

aznabi ban main es anzaan shahar mein kaise aa gaya
main to chala tha dhool batorane
apne se sapno ki, jo yanha se gujarte waqt vo
apne pichhe chhod gaye honge

abhi aatur hi hua tha mera haath
es dhool ko daaman mein bhar lene ko ki
ek parichit sa hawa ka jhoka aaya aur
use mujhse duur kar gaya

tanik bhi krodh na tha mere man mein
us hawa ke jhoke ke liye
jis-mein khusbu hain apanepan kee
jis-mein thandak hai us aam ki chhanv kee
jiske niche hum sara din khela karte the

vo laga mujhe us hawa ke jhoke samaan
jis-mein gaharaai hai gaanv ke puraane talab kee
jis-mein chanchalta hai us titalee kee
jisko pakadane ke liye hum ghanto but¹ bane rahte the

tum vo hawa ho, jiska nikat se nikalna maatr²
mastisk³ ke chitr-patal⁴ par anginat⁵
smritiyon⁶ kee punawarti⁷ kara deta hai

vo hawa ho tum, jo jab gaanv kee gori ke chehare se
pallu hatati hai to uski abodh, nischhal, hiranyamayee aankhe
anzaan bhay⁸ se jhuk jati hain

vo purvai ho tum jiske liye gaanv ke log
tak-taki laga kar dekhate the ki
kab tum unke khalihaano mein khushi lekar aaogee

sab baalak wanha apni patang⁹ udaane ke liye
tumhari raah dekhate honge
tum es aznabi shahar mein kya karne aa gayi?

tumne to kai aznabiyon ko dekha hoga
kya tum es raah-bhatake musafir ko bhi rasta dikhaogee?
kya tum es aznabi ka es
aznabi shahar mein saath dogi?

1 --> statue
2 --> only
3 --> mind
4 --> canvas
5 --> innumerous
6 --> memories
7 --> recapitulation
8 --> fear
9 --> kite