varsha

is jhulasti dhup mein
gahare andhere koop¹ mein
sakht² garm bejaan chattaano mein
khandar viraan pade makano mein

nadiya ke bichhude pade kinaron par
sadion se ujade in bazaaron mein
tute hue (makadi ke) jaalon mein
dararon³ se bhare taalon⁴ mein

kyun tum baar-baar aa jati ho
kyun tum bhul jati ho ki tumhara aana
us varsha ki yaad dilata hai
jo ek preyasi⁵ ban mujh se ruth gayi hai

tumhare daaman ki shitalta, mujhe is sahara mein
mrigtrishna⁶ ka aabhas karati hai

main paani par laharaate uske aksh⁷ ka pichha karte karte thak chuka hun
is-se pahle ki, is tapte surya ki parchand dhup se pinghal, mein is ret mein ret kho jaaun

tum use bula kar
mere is bujhate anjaan shahar ko bacha lo

agar meri fariyaad na bula paaye use
agar vrikshon⁸ ke badan se chuta lahu na rula paaye use
aur is se pahale ki ret mujhe apne mein mila le

tum is gare⁹ mein padi katra katra jindgi ko khud hi sukha do
uski yaad mein marne se, tumhari baahon mein dum todana achchha hoga

usne to kabhi palat ke dekha hi nahi
tum kam se kam aa to jaati thi
bawari¹⁰ na sahi, aankhe to bhigo hi jaati thi

1 --> well
2 --> hard
3 --> cracks
4 --> natural water pools
5 --> female lover
6 --> mirage
7 --> reflection
8 --> trees
9 --> earthen pot used to fill water
10 --> a big (man made) structure used to store rain water