Showing posts with label Hindi-Urdu Poetry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hindi-Urdu Poetry. Show all posts

Friday, October 16, 2015

Aadat

Aadat ho
Haqeeqat bhi.

You think it false
When I say that all
I care for
Is you, and your pulse.
When I think to care
Means to be fair
To you and to me.
I'm used to you
To the idea of blues
Cherished sitting in your arms
Wooed by your charms
By the sweat on your palms
Which you run on my skin
Mixing salt with sin
Scarring salinity with the romance of ittar
To conjure a smell
Which I can tell,
Is yours, only.
You're a perfumed reality
Fast evaporating in fumes.
The scent, is on my skin
Even if you no longer are.

Aadat ho
Zaroorat bhi.

You're the rum in my coke
The haze in my smoke.
I need you, to go above
The ordinary scape of fizz
I need you, to attain
A state higher than black mist.
I want to linger on
As a bitter aftertaste,
On each tongue that sips,
The sips which scalds the throat.
And all that lies below
In my being
When seen
Staring at you
I am actually drinking through
The intoxicating fizz
I need you like rum
I need to drink you like a hum
Of that trickling elixir
Not off a goblet this time
But off that which rhymes
With lust, and convoluted, undivided, manly love.

Aadat ho
Qayamat bhi.

You can put me off alcohol
But can you put me off you?
You know you're the more potent
Of the two?
Your half open button
Second from top
Reeks of terrains unfulfilled
Of lustful glares
You'd not want to stop.
You're the terror
I abide by.
You're the disaster
I don't know why
I am giving in to
Losing in to
In a dim hope
Of finding a home
Which I know wouldn't last
You're the transitory glory
Of a love spell, now un-cast.
You'll destroy the derived
You'll unmask the perceived
You'll terrify the belief
And you'll break,
The porcelain idol
I had made
With all affection vital, and
Cherished for so long
In my heart,
Like a song,
Negating all wrongs
As if you were the only right
Right as only right can be right.

Aadat ho
Shikaayat bhi.

White faces
Sombre gazes
Tricky steps
Stable embraces
And then a distracted facade
A fragmented visage
A throbbing mirage
Pumps me out
For the want of a future
Who am I, after all,
but a present wound's suture?
Like you have her,
I have him
But you're the whim
To whose wishes
I dance, and prance, on a foot
By now you must've understood
How you're a complaint
Of derangement
Lodged in my head
But I lose sense of indignation
As you begin
Warming
My bed.

Aadat ho
Meethi se karwat bhi. 

The pretty you
The cunning you
The cute you
Then arches his back
With a shuddering climax
And turns away
Like it's a day
In his world
While I battle with dark
And stark
Contrasts
Between him
and Myself
The little elf
Of lust
Stifles the angels of love
As I count the blemishes
On your back
The spots black
Now my objects of affection
For your face eludes
And deludes
My overpowered mind
My powerless mind
Seeking one embrace
One gaze
Which tells me you are here to stay.


Aadat ho
Bagawat bhi. 

Each time I fight
For you
I fight for myself
Out of the haze
Out of the smoke
Of disenchantment
Which blows
On your pristine countenance
And my slurry speech
You're more precious than rum
Than a brook's hum
As it scales mad topographies
To pass out in the arms of an ocean
You're one
Of them
You're one
Of me
You're one
Of you
You're one
Of us
As I cower to the buzz
Of your disapprovals
I give in
To you. To a love true.
And to a lust truer
Than your and mine existence.
You've turned me a rebel
I listen, un-listen,
Pretend, apprehend,
Fade, descend,
I turn depression into a trend.

All for you,
For the idea of you,
For the habit of you.
I know not you
I know this habit, craving, longing
I know the pain in my heart
I know the belonging
I don't care who you are
As long as you are. 
You're a habit, once I cannot let go.

Photography - Shubhrangshu Chakravarty




Thursday, June 4, 2015

Badi Pagal Si Ladki Hai

Prelude - For my birthday this year, I got many gifts, in gestures, in words, in books, in love - in many other manifestations, but the gift I am sharing with you all here is the most special among them. To have had these words read out to me was an experience nothing short of magical and extremely humbling. Gratitude fills me as I post this -

Badi paagal si ladki hai..
Ajab khwaabon mein rehti hai..

Bikhre baal rakhti hai…
Alag sa haal rakhti hai…

Alag ek dhun mein rehti hai…
Hamesha hasti rehti hai…

Kabhi khamosh ho jaye…
Yun toh kam hi hota hai…
Ke jab khamosh hoti hai…
Fiza pe rang nahi chadhta..
Bahaarein laut jaati hain…
Ghatayein ghir bhi jaayein gar…
Boondein dam nahi bharti…

Aur jab muskuraati hai…
Gul bhi muskuraate hain…
Mausam khil ke aate hain…

Ajeeb ik zid si hai pakde…
Ke Gul sehraa mein khilaane hain
Sab kaante mehkaane hain..
Roton ko hasaana hai, roothon ko manaana hai..
Gham duniya ke mitaane hain..

Kabhi koi jo gham, uska..
Gar humsaaya ho jaye…

Gham se ru-ba-ru hokar..
Milaa kar aankh har ranj se…
Yun muskuraayegi..
Ke gham muskura dega

Dard ki baahon mein daal kar baahein …
Yun gungunaayegi…
Ke dard bhi gungunaayega…

Koi bhi dharm duniya ka…
Isko soojhta kab hai…
Mohabbat pooja karti hai..
Mohabbat socha karti hai…

Kabhi poochho sabab iska..
Toh hans ke itna kehti hai…
Ke tum dekhna jaana…
..Ke tum dekhna jaana…
Ik roz duniya ko…
Mohabbat Main sikha dungi..
Ik roz duniya ko…
Main ishq bana dungi…

Badi Deewani ladki hai…

Ke bas khwaabon mein rehti hai…


Picture credits - Mayank Austen Soofi

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Nasamajh

Shayari kya hai
Yeh likhne baithi
Toh tumhe likh baithi.

Khalipan par wafa ke naam
Ek khat shuru kiya hai
Is khat ki khata itni hai
Ki hosh ke daayre se ucchal
Sharaab ke sheeshe se takra
Guzre  waqt, jazbaat aur syahi ki
Ek naayab cocktail ijaat kardi isne.

Ab jahaan saansein tez hoti hain
Wahaan qalam bhaari ho jata hai
Dil ki dhadkane badhti hain
Toh mez se kaagaz ud jata hai

Ghulti ja rahi hoon
Us nasamajh cocktail mein
Mit-te ja rahe ho tum
Mera guroor
Toooti si reh gayi hai tumhaari yaad
Aur mere qalam ki chonch.

Mujhe safed kaagaz kabhi samajh nahi aaya
Main baithi hoon
Un peele-puraane panno mein
Dari aur sakpakaayi
Ki agli baar
Shayari kya hai
Yeh likhne baaithoon
Toh tumhe na likh baaithoon.

Aur 'gar tumhe likhne lag jaaoon
Toh khud ko na kho doon. 

Mujhe meri shayari dobara samjha do. 

PC - The Reading Room

It's April first today. What better than love, alcohol and blank diaries to make a fool of oneself?

Monday, November 24, 2014

Kitaabon Sa Rishta - Part III

Woh yaad hai,
Aur woh yaad bhi hai.
Yehi toh ruyon se jhagadta purana sweater bol raha hai
Woh kuchh toh afwaah hai
Aur kuchh raaz hai
Laut-ti sardiyaan aas-paas phusphusa rahi hain.
Sard raatein maano ki yaadon ka kaarvaan hai
Phir chai ke pheekepan ki bhi toh apni zubaan hai
Jo gehri-kaali pyali se jhaank kar
Subah ki kirno par ankhein moond leti hai
Kitaabon par gaadhi syahi bhi ab
Dhundhle lafzon mein yaad sikod leti hain
Aaya toh tha na?
Aake gaya bhi tha na?
Ya is aane jaane ke khel mein
Kuchh toote-bichhde se mel mein
Bas ik chhalava tha?
Pyaar ka dikhava tha?
Kuchh toota dil
Kuchh tooti main bhi
Ek raasta woh dhoondhne aage badh gaya
Ek raasta main takte peechhe chhoot gayi

Picture by Aaqib Raza Khan
PS - This is the third in the series of a 4 part poem. You may read the first and second part on the links mentioned below.

Thursday, November 20, 2014

Kitaabon Sa Rishta - Part II

Meri sard kahaani mein kahaani nahi
Chai ki chuski jaise aaya woh
Kitaabon par jo dhabbe chhod jaati hai
Mehekti adrak ki pyaali jaisa aaya woh
Barfeeli raaton mein rooh ko garmahat de jaaye
Behkaate, chuskiyaan lete lamho jaisa aaya woh
Har roz chai chadhaane ka hausla de jaaye
Subah ke zayke jaisa aaya woh
Dil kuchh khush hua, kuchh majboor
Uske paas ja baithi, khud se door
Ab usmein hi toh main rehne lagi thi na
Khushk haathon mein mehendi mehendi mehekne lagi thi na
Usne safed nahi, laal sehra bandh liya tha
Mujhe laal dupatte mein samete, saath dhaank liya tha
Uski athkeliyaan mann mein goonj uthi aise
Ki ris rahi ho uske hasi mein bachpan ki maasoomiyat jaise
Khayaal dar khayaal woh mere paas aata raha
Lamha dar lamha mujhse door hota raha
Aankhri saans tak saath nibhaana yaad raha usse
Woh saans mere aaghosh mein leke ka nata yaad raha usse. 



PS - This is part II of a four part poem. You can read the first part here - Kitaabon Sa Rishta - Part I

Monday, November 17, 2014

Kitaabon Sa Rishta - Part 1

Main kitaabon mein uljhat-ti
Kabhi kahaani ki parton mein sulajhti
Nazm si khoobsurat
Ghazal ki nazuk
Ashaar si daqeeq
Aur sher si bebak
Meri zindagi zard panne samete
Phalsapha ban chali thi
Gham ka sabab na thi woh
Khushnuma ho chali thi
Khayalon ka anjuman
Safed chaadar se dhaka tha
Sard fizaaon ka majma
Kitaabon ke oopar khada hai
Yeh kitaabein, mulaayam baatein
Kadak panno mein bolti hain
Sardiyaan hi toh sach hain
Yeh raaz kunkuni aankhon si kholti hain


Source - bookjunkiepromotion.com



P.S. - This is the first of a four part poem. Next part to come up in a few days. 

Saturday, December 28, 2013

Ab Bas Karo

Ab bas karo, in aankhon se sharaarat si behti hai
Yeh makhmali neend, humein so jaane ko kehti hai

Tharraatein labon ki chahat se waakif hain hum
Yeh muskaan tumhari adhoore armaan sehti hai

Chand se muhabbat, sunehri kirno se bair
Andhera tham jaaye, aankhon mein khwahish si rehti hai

Ek raat hi toh hai paas, jisse neend ne nishaane par rakha hai
Ehsaas badnaseeb, umeedein khaare paani si behti hai

Aur un aankhon se kehdo ishaare karna band kare
Yeh nasheeli zubaan, zaalim, bhoole armaan sulga deti hai

Ab khush ho, is nashe se baandh jo subah tak le aaye
Makhmal se ishq ki chubhan sone hi kahaan deti hai


Sunday, December 22, 2013

Hum Aapki Kyun Karein? - Guest post by Neelkamal Pandey

Hum aapki kyun karein?
Aapne humein paida kiya, toh kya?
Aapne kiya, hum hue! 
Hum humaari sehmati se toh nahi hue.


Hum aapki kyun karein?
Aapne humara laalan paalan kiya, toh kya?
Aapne kiya, humne liya!
Humein karke zimmedaar toh aap hue.
Hum humaari sehmati se toh nahi hue.


Hum aapki kyun karein?
Kehte ho bahut suvidhaayein di hain, toh kya?
Aapne di, humne li. 
Arre suvidhaayein thi tabhi toh di na. 
Ismein hum kahaan kasurvaar hue?
Hum humaari sehmati se toh nahi hue.


Hum aapki kaahe karein?
Doosre se tulna kyun karte ho?
Har race mein kyun bhagwana chahte ho?
Aur usmein bhi awwal number lavana chahte ho.
Ghode toh hum hain nahi, 
Kiya toh aapne manush hi hai. 
Aur who manush aaj niraash hai.


Tulna karna, race bhagwana hi hai
Toh bhai ghoda paalo na.
Manush par kaahe apna daav laga rahe ho?
Woh toh khud sansaarik jue mein vyast hai.
Us se kyun aas laga baithe ho?


Dekho, tulna karna band karo.
Ghadi, ghadi shikaayatein band karo.
Aapne kiya, ab hum ho gaye hain. 
Apne pairon par – ladkhada hi sahi – 
Par khade ho gaye hain.
Hum ab jad-buddhi nahi hue.
Hum humaari sehmati se toh nahi hue.


Vishwaas rakho, who bhi dridh.
Karenge hum kuchh adbhut, yeh kar liya hai pran. 
Parajay sweekar karenge nahi
Jeevan ki aapa-dhaapi mein ghoomenge nahi
Karenge, nishchit karenge
Vilamb hoga, samay lagega, nishchit woh bhi
Ban-na hai peepal ka ped,
Jhaad patte nahi.



Apne diye hue sanskaaron par vishwaas rakho
Thoda hi sahi, par dil ke paas rakho
Sanskaaron ke diye se bahut se aeb jalaane hain.
Atah sansaar ko apna loha manwana hai.
Aur phir,
Phir aapse wahi prashn poochhna hai.
Ki kyun kare hum aapki? 
Aaj tak nahi hare jeevan ke jue
Hum humaari sehmati se toh nahi hue. 

- Neelkamal Pandey


The poet

About the poet - Kamal, as he is known to me, is one very unique and talented kid. I have not known him for long, but in that brief period, I have seen him grow and mature - in manners difficult to put in words. He has overcome inhibitions - and the above poem is one big and priceless example of the same. Even though it begins with a strong statement, lets all understand, this poem seeks not to disrespect or subvert any established notions  - it merely is a plea, which reveals the heart which many of us felt heavy with while growing up. It is an expression, to let out that which is stifling and restricting. It is a request, a sensitive one, to be trusted for one's abilities. It is that which  most of us can relate with.

This kid is a beautiful addition to my life - and discovering him, and knowing about him has been a process I have enjoyed a lot. Among his many facets now known to me, another is that he is a prolific painter along with being a poet. Below is a painting he made as a dedication to Nirbhaya - the braveheart whose imprint will remain on our collective psyches. I only wish Kamal keeps exploring himself and the world around him, and is able to arrive at a destination which does justice to his talents. 

Ode to Nirbhaya by Neelkamal Pandey

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Chalo Ab So Jaao

Jab aankhein moondein let jaati hogi tum,
Toh pariyaan thoda kam mehsoos karti hongi khud ko, 
Pariyon ki duniya ki shehzaadi lagti hogi na tum,
Aankhein band kiye, ek muskaan chehre par liye,
Apna ana ko tumse bachaane ki koshish mein,
Yeh neend liye baithi hain tumhaari
Chhed rahi hain laakh khayaal
Tumhe dekh jal rahi hain baari baari


Par meri baat suno,
Inhe jeetne mat do,
Subah intezaar kar rahi hai tumhara
Aankhein moondo
Dil ko shaant karo

Aur chalo, ab so jaao...


Tuesday, November 26, 2013

That's Not The Point!

Baat yeh nahi hai ki tum sundar ho.
Kyunki tumhe tumhaare bare mein bataane baithe,
Toh yeh baat bahut chhoti hai
Kya dhang se tumhe shabdon mein bayaan kar paayenge
Is soch pe shanka bhi hoti hai
Par ab baat karne ki thaan li hai
Der se sahi, waqt ne bhi yeh khwaahish jaan li hai
Kuchh lakeeron ko andekha kardoon
Toh is bhool ko andekha tum kar dena
Kuchh sawaal main khade kar doon, 
Toh unhe jawaabon ki roshni se tum bhar dena


Ab baat yeh nahi nahi ki tum jawaab likh deti ho
Baat toh yeh hai phir bhi kitne sawaal
Hal kiye hain tumne
Kitne hi pareshaan, neeras kono mein
Rang bhare hain tumne
Yeh toh jeevan ke us pehlu jaisa hai
Jo khali bhi, aur dukhdaayi bhi tha
Par jiske bare mein main jaanti nahi thi
Jab tak tumne usko bhar na diya
Dekhi apni achchhai?
Mere jeevan mein ek dukh ko aane se pehle tok diya


Ab baat yeh bhi nahi hai ki tum achchhi ho
Par tum yeh zaroor sikha deti ho
Ki achchhai kya hoti hai
Koi aankhein padh paaye tumhari toh jaane
Ki sachchai kya hoti hai
Par yeh jo aankhein hain tumhari,
Yeh jheel ke khamosh paani jaisi hain
Jinki gehraai maapi nahi ja sakti
Jinki kahaani aanki nahi ja sakti
Kabhi kabhi, khud se hi bhar
Chhalak jaati hain, kuchh kehna ho jaise
Tab darr lagta hai, aur mann kehta hai
Yeh moti sab khud mein sametoon main kaise?


Baat yeh nahi hai ki tum ek kahaani ho
Baat toh yeh hai ki tum mein kisse baste hain
Jeevan ke jo mool hai, who unhi kisso mein toh sajte hain
Ek ek seekh, sabak, ek ek kissa, 
Kitni khubsurti se piroya tumne 
Us mala mein, jo kuchh bhaari zaroor hai
Par amulya bhi, anubhav aur gyaan ratn se
Jiski chamak adrishya zaroor hai
Par jo roshni phailaati hai seedhe antar man se
Kuchh roshni ke kan tumne mujhe bhi diye
Un pyaare palon mein jo tumhare saath jiye


Baat yeh nahi hai ki tum mujhe pyaari ho
Baat yeh hai ki shayad tum khud pyaar ho
Jiska pehla hissa jab mujhe mila tha
Toh samajhne mein thodi der lagi thi
Vishwaas nahi kar pa rahi thi na, 
Jisse dhoondha bhi nahi, woh apneaap dikhi thi
Par ab, tum jitna bhi do
Woh pyaar poora, par kam padta hai
Aur miloon, dekhoon, seekhoon aur jaanoo
Yeh lagaav (jo tumse hai), ab tang karta hai
Mujhe pata hai, tum aisi hi rahogi
Par mere aas paas se kabhi gaayab mat hona
Ek rishta mila hai maayoos sadiyon ke baad
Jaayaz se thoda darna, aur tumse yeh darkhwaast karna
Ki chahe jis raste zindagi le jaaye,
Theek lage, toh mujhe saath le chalna


Akhir mein, baat yeh nahi hai ki tum Aastha ho
Matlab, Aastha toh tum ho hi, 
Par us se kitni zyada ho, yeh batana ab mumkin nahi hoga
Kabhi aur uthayenge phir kalam
Yeh baatein khud tak rakh pana jab aasaan nahi hoga 





This poem came to me on one inspired morning, when I walked out of the warm quilt to tap away on the keyboard my understanding of perhaps the most precious, unexpected gift life sent my way, in her. I wish calling her beautiful, or good, or awesome, or amazing, or even phenomenal was enough. But it is not. Beauty resides so deep within her being, that it makes her glow with a kind of radiance I have not observed in men or women around me. She is different, and rich, and a personification of most manifestations of goodness one can perhaps conceive or conjure. But that's not really the point. I mean, anything I say about her will never be sufficient either to describe what she is like, or to describe what I feel for her. I only, time and again, wish that she, Aastha didi, remains around me always for those doses of inspiration, and those reassuring words of understanding which have come to mean so much to my daily existence. Loving her is a privilege I hope to keep for life. 

Wish you the warmest winters Aastha didi. You've learnt to give the perfect hugs at the perfect time! 

One of those rare times when she is not camera-shy :) 

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

"Ek Baar Phir" - Guest Post by Sidhant Mago

Ek bench.. park mein bench
Hari ghaans, khadi ghaans
Aage sadak..thodi kadak
Sakht sa waqt
Thandi hawa
Khayalon ki umas ki dawa
Kaise bhool gaya, kohra bhi tha
Ya nahi tha..
Ya mujhe laga ki..tha
Kyun main bench par
Paer ghaans par
Aur hawa ke sahaare
Us dhundhle kohre ke beech se
Meri or ek chehra...
NAHI aaya


Ek ghar..furnished ghar
Rocking chair...aage peechhe
Ek carbon paper
Khamoshiyon ke neeche
Chhapa bhi kya, ehsaas?
Ghadi theek thi, samay par
Khidki par os thi
Ya nahi thi
Ya mujhe laga ki...thi
Kyunki main chair par jhoolta
Chair ghadi ke pendulum si jhoolti
Aur us carbon paper ko hataane
Us khidki se os ko mitaane
Achanak se ek haath...
NAHI aaya


Sewaiyaan thi... mannatein thi
Jannatein thi... namaaz thi
Kuchh haath soch hi rahe thi
Aur kuchh already mil chuke the
Kuchh gale jhuk hi rahe the
Aur kuchh already mil chuke the
Ek masjid... jo door thi
Par yaad hai?
Woh rota hua bachcha?
Woh paas tha
Ya nahi tha
Ya tha
Ya mujhe laga ki...tha
Toh maine bhi wahi kiya
Hasa diya
Par phir un sewaiyon ke saath
Woh gala aur woh haath
Us bachche ko hasaate
Eid aayi... par mera yaar
NAHI aaya



About the author
Sidhant Mago is known to the world as Shanky, and to me, he is known as one of the best persons to
have ever stepped on this planet. And I mean it. He is one of those people whose company guarantees unlimited laughter, for humour is his forte. More often than not, you'll be taken by surprise at the kind of wit his very general comments contain. However, the thing about him which impresses me most are his perspectives - on life, on love, on friends, on society - and on every other conceivable thing. Within him is contained an inexhaustible reservoir of creativity, which has many, varied manifestations  - mostly funny, non-serious stuff, or what he proudly calls 'cheap humour'. But then, there is this side to Shanky's creativity too, reproduced here with his permission. And what better day than today to share this poem, which takes one to the melancholy behind a celebratory day.

To all reading this, Eid Mubarak!

And special wishes for Aaqib Raza Khan, whose beautiful photographs have adorned my blog-posts time and again. 
This one falls among my favourite of ARK clicks.


Thursday, October 3, 2013

Chhupana Seekh Liya

Kal raat, os giri thi mere aangan mein
Shabnam mein dubki  lagaaye maano gulaab jagmaga raha tha
Nange paaon baithi rahi, use takti rahi
Woh khush tha, ya boondon ke peechhe akelapan chhupa raha tha?
Kal subah uthte hi, tumhe nahi sataaoongi
Yeh khayaal jo adhpake se hain, tumhe nahi bataaoongi

Laal rang ko andhere se ladte jo dekh liya
Khush hoon, ki ab maine chhupana seekh liya


Phir kasa hua man aur aawara kadam
Bistar ki or nikal pade khud hi, narmi ki lalsa liye
Wahaan bikhre kambal ke jagah
Parchhai dikhi tumhari, aur ekaa-ek kadam rok diye
Jaao, kambal tumhara, tumhari neend bhi zaroori
Main simat jaati hoon zameen par, chhod baatein adhoori

Parchhai se na aankhon ko na baaton ko, bas ehsaas ko jod diya
Maun man, aankhein nam, aur maine chhupana seekh liya


Subah laga, baadal the shayad baahar
Akdi, pareshaan kamar ko sambhala, bhari ek sust angdaai
Kohra mila phir kamre ke hi andar
Dar toh laga tha meetha sa, par tumhe samjhaane se katraai
Ab subah ki kadvi coffee  mein apne raaz ghol deti hoon
Man khatta hai zara, yeh cheeni se bol deti hoon


 Raat ke khwab, subah ke khayal, din-din ghat-ti hichkiyaan,
Meri hain, tumhari kyun? Ab maine chhupanna jo seekh liya


Veeran nahi hai sheher mera
Yahaan gham aur khushi ke mele bunte hain kai kahaani
Palon ki ginti rukti hai kya bhala?
Baatein banti rehti hain, tum ehem samjho ya bemaani

Pichhle roz maine, bhoori chidiya ko sataya tha
Us-se pichhle din, kuchh gehnon pe dil aaya tha
Kisi bhoole-pehchaane shaqs se baazar mein takra gayi
Bachpan ke kisse chale, jinko sunke hasi aa gayi
Akela kala gulaab, do hazaar ka bikta hai
Aur ek mera laal hai, jo ab khaas nahi dikhta hai
Pados wali aunty ki hasi, daayan ko dara de
Par hathon mein swaad aisa, ki roothe ko mana de
Namak sahi nahi ho, toh khaane se kudh jaati hoon
Par ek dost hai meri, jis se namakdaani chhupaati hoon
Kaam mein kuchh uljhi aise, ki dino-din qalam nahi uthaya
Aur diary jab ainthi, toh use choom ke bagal mein sulaya


Yeh chhoti chhoti baatein, yeh toote se kisse
Chhupa bhi loon, par hain toh zindagi ke hisse
Tum bhi ab kisson mein ho, waqt ne yeh tohfa diya
Tumhare kisse tumse kya, ab khud se chhupana seekh liya
This gem by Afremov is called 'Expectations of Love' - now, how interesting! 
PS - 
Ankahe ehsaas laal os mein pighal gaye
Ik atki si soch hai, woh batana chahti hoon
Ki jo baat tumse na kahi
Ab khud bhi bhool jaati hoon. 

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Daastaan... Adhoori si

 Chand nikla nahi tha shayad us raat
Par sitaaron ki chamak saath chal rahi thi
Kya hum ja sakte hain wahaan dobara?
Woh baat sun-ne ko jab dhadkan machal rahi thi?
Chaand keh kar pukara tha tumne mujhe
Tab halki si muskaan mein sharm sama gayi thi
“Pagal” kehkar matha thapthapaya tha mera
Kyun? Kya main woh ehsaas tum mein jaga gayi thi?

Amavas ko dhang se na samajh paaoon
So tumne chand se muqabla kar diya mera
Khush thi ki roshni ban gayi hoon tumhari
Par yeh bhi yaad ki chaand samete hai andhera
Poori qaaynaat par noor chhalkata, phir chhupata
Woh ek raaz, ek aas, ek aarzu, ek gumshuda chehra
Tum padh nahi paaye mere khamosh andhere
Ab dushmani kar baitha hai zindagi se savera

Thake kandhe par sar, haath mein tumhara haath
Main chali ja rahi thi machalti chahat ko dabaye
Sard raat thi, laal shawl ke neeche dil thithur raha tha
Par yaad is kambakht ko tab bhi tumhari saanson ki garmaahat aaye
Tumne hi kaha tha, thandi hawa pyaar ko bhadkaati hai
“Paas raho, ab chhoti si doori bhi sataaye”
Tabse kitni sardiyaan, ya kahoon sadiyaan beet gayi hain
Thandak phir badan ko choom ke gayi, par tum toh na aaye

Saal bhar mein se bas sardiyaan yaad reh jaati hain ab
Aksar tumhari baaton ki chaadar ke peechhe chhup jaati hoon
Na bebas hoon, na badgumaan, na pyaar kam hua hai mera
Main toh mushkil yaadon ki bhi dhun bana, usse gungunaati hoon
Dua ki chaukhat pe baithe dekha hoga tumne mujhe
Andar jhaank ke, main waapas bhaag aati hoon
Sochti hoon ki pyaar maang, tumhe chheen kar le aaoongi
Par wahaan tumhara aks dekh, tumhari khushi ke liye lalchaati hoon

Meri baatein, meri kahaaniyaan yaad hain tumhe?
Sunte-sunte tum aksar thak jaate the
Kabhi hans padte, toh kabhi tok dete, kabhi na samajhte
Baaton ke matlab musalsal, sirf lafz badal jaate the
Suno, azeem lafzon ki riyaasaton ke beech dekhna
Wahin kuchh chhote gaaon hain jinme maayne samaate the
Saath chal rahi, tum kaise meri aankhein padh paate?
Un dono mein hi toh raat ke bewatan kisse timtimaate the.

Woh raat chali nahi wahaan se, waqt mein tham si gayi  hai
Woh daastaan bhi badhi nahi aage, kaali syahi mein jam gayi hai
Waqt jo kilkaariyaan marta, gudgudee karta
Waqt, woh aansu chhupata, siskiyaan dabata
Waqt jo waqt jaisa nahi tha
Waqt, jo par lagaaye khada tha
Jise yaad kar, muskuraate ho tum abhi 
Jise bhool aaye usi raaste, usi raat kahin


Postscript
Aansu behte hain kabhi kabhi
Par muskaan honthon pe tik gayi hai
Tum mujhe apni kahaani toh poori suna gaye
Humaari daastaan magar adhoori reh gayi hai

I could not have found a better artist than Afremov, yet again, to express in pictures what I have attempted to in words. When I recited the above poem in front of my classmates at college, one of them said in a tone of surprise, "Saumya, you are really romantic at heart!", and I was left scratching my head, wondering, how did she miss that! Another friend who heard it said that to have written all this, I MUST have felt an intense amount of love. I prevaricated, but smiled to myself. In my reckoning 'intense amount of love' is a euphemism of sorts. Adding figments of fiction to life is fun, but it also sometimes makes a spark into a conflagration. Building castles of love is not the most advisable thing to do, but hey, its a risk worth taking. I'll end the nonsense here. 

This is my first genuine attempt in Hindi. PACH made me do this. That same crazy, magical PACH.