Inspired by Khushi's blogpost dated 15 June,2006.....Tanhai


Registaan ke beech mein khwaahishon ke kaarwaan
sanwartey toot-tey khwaabon ki bhool bhullayyaan
neend ki dushman aankhen, aur kaanton ki shayya
hanstey huey zakhmon se tadapta bezaar dard-e-dil
bhatakti hui bepanah rooh ki ruswaai -
in sab ki bus ek panaah hai to yeh tanhai.

Ummeed ke aasre ek aashiyaan banaaye
voh dil-azeez chehra aankhon mein basaaye
jhilmil sitaaron ki paalki sajaaye
kaise kaise armaanon ki baaraat jagmagaaye
chaahat ke rangeen phoolon ki sej sajaaye -
saath bus ek humsaaya hai to yeh tanhai.

Baithey hain muddat se nazren bichhaaye
intehaa ho gayee, kab khatm ho shab-e-intezaar
ki kab rukh ho yahaan ka, aur ho deedar-e-yaar
khil uthe yeh gulshan, laut aaye bahaar
ek baar phir, zindagi muskuraaye, aur
hum rukhsat karein, yeh sauten tanhai.