Shayad Ek Short Story

Kal puraane purzay padh raha tha,
Aur saath bahut kuch kar raha tha
Phir us khat par nazar gayee
Bheege lafaaz par jaa kar ruk gayee
Waqt jaise thehar gayaa
Yaad un dinon ki aane lagi

Main kuch sher likh kar
apne saath le chalta
Aur pulia par tumhaari rah takta
Phir bade dheere se chalta hua
Tumhara rickshaw dikhayee deta
Rickshevaan dubla patla
Pehle ek pedal par khada hota
Phir doosre pedal par
Isi tarah uski savaari aage badti

Besabri se nazdeek aane ka intezaar
Main karta rehta lekin
Kabhi aage badh kar nahin mila
Jaise hi mere barabar aa jaata
Main apni cycle chalane lagta
Phir sadak par bheed kam dekh kar apna purza tumhaare haath mein deta
Tum leti bhi aur nahin bhi
Phir thodi der baad khol kar padhti

Bachpan ki shaayri mein
armaan zyaada aur wazan kam
Padhte hue nikal jaati thi tum
Na kabhi palat kar dekha
Na ruke na salaam dua
Mera bhi department aa jaata
Aur tumhein aage jaana rehta

Kitne din chalaa ye silsila
Sirf chuttiyon mein rukta
Main bhi tumhaare
jaane ke baad ghar jaata tha
aur aane ke pehle aa jaata
Kabhi baat nahin hui
Bas classes ke timing
dekh kar pataa lagta
Ki kab lautna hai

Bade bechain din thhe wo
Jab main laut aata tha aur tum nahin
Phir ek din aisa bhi aaya
Exams khatam hue aur hum sab
Hamesha ke liye campus chhod kar
Duniya mein utar rahe thhey

Ek ajeeb mahaul chha gaya dil mein
Ek khaalipan jo aaj bhi barf ke andar
Phanse havaa ke bulbule jaisa hai
Jo us waqt bana jab main
Tumhaare rickshe ke saath
Jisme tumhaara samaan bhi tha
Station jaa raha thha
Tumhein chhodne
Iraada phir milne ka thha
Darr judaai ka

Phir tumne mere haath mein
Ek purza rakh diya
Maine badi mushkil se use jeb mein rakha
Mann keh raha tha ki usi waqt
Padh daalun lekin
Gaadi ka waqt ho gaya thha

Tumhaare hostel ki doosri ladkiyan
Platform par thi
aur mujhe khayaal aaya
Ki tum unke saath station nahin aayi
Alag se taaki main saath chal sakun
Aur tum mujhe ye chiththi de sako

Gaadi chali gayee
Bahot der tak station ke bahar
main ruka raha
Dil ko behlaane lagaa
Ye to dosti thi pyaar nahin
Pyaar hota to baat aur hoti
Main uska haath thaamta
Rukne ko kehta

Lekin yeh dil ne kuch nahin suna
Bas apne andar ek jagah khaali chhod di
Jahaan kuch gaya us din ke baad

Maine kabhi usse nahin poocha ki
Mere purzon ka kya hota tha
Phaadey jaate ya sahej ke
kitaab ke warq ke beech dhare jaate
Sher to maine kitaab mein bhi likhe thhey

Na jaane kab station se campus pahunch gayaa
Bada ajanabiyon sa mehsoos ho raha tha
Mann hua jhat se main bhi
is jagah se door chala jaaoon
Ab waise bhi rakha kya hai
Ek imtihaan khatam ho gaya
Aur doosre mein fail ho gaye

Kamre pahunchaa aur laet gayaa
Uska diya khat nikaala
pet par rakh kar sochne laga
Kya hai isme?
Uska pata? Uska number?
Itne din ke benaam saath ka alvidaai iqraar?
Padhne laga

'Aap shayar hain, jo sher aapne mujhe diye
Ummeed hai aapke paas bhi likhe hain
Kyun ki main saare khat apne saath le jaa rahi hoon.
Koi pooche ki kitne bade shayar hain
To yeh keh dijiye ki
Deewane lakhon baar aapke sher padh chuke hain
Aur baat sahi hai, is diwaani ne lakh se zyaada baar padh liya hai. Aur meri janib se aap ke liye kuch alfaaz hain Ghalib ke....aur bhi gham hain zamaane mein muhabbat ke siva... Ab aap ise wajah samjhein ya bahaana'


Yaad khatam ho gayee
Aur bete ne poochha
'Kya aap sachmuch ke shayar hain?'
Main hansa aur keh diya.... 'Nahin beta zehni taur par kangaal hain jo apni yaadon ki tijarat alfaaz ke lifaafon mein karte hain.'

'To phir yeh kya hai' puraane khat ko dikhaate hue poocha.
Maine kaha
'birth certificate'

Gaye

Ranj o fiqr mein mah o saal gaye
shab e vasl mein saare janjaal gaye

Iqraar teri aankhon mein aate hi
Duniya se adaavat ke khayal gaye

teri zulf ka saaya mila jo mujhko
saare khayal e zeest e lamuhal gaye

Mera naseeb nahin to tum kya ho
tumhaare lams se tanhaaiyon ke sawaal gaye

Jabse meri ragon mein ravaa tum ho
chehre se saare nishaan e zavaal gaye

Jaate

Mere neend se uthne tak to ruk jaate
kuchh baatein sunte kuch keh jaate

Din ke guzar ka bahana toh mil jaata
rumaal apna tum jo pass rakh jaate

Tanhaiyee ne raat bechain banaayii hai
Andhere ki baahon mein armaan simat jaate

Koi jagah uske liye mehfooz nahin
Aasteen main jiske saanp hai pal jaate

Itna jhooth bolte ho ki ravaani mein
Mere sar ki kasam bhi ho khaa jaate

Kisi shayar par aitbaar kyun ho
Ishq kya hai aur wo kya bataa jaate

Apni fitrat bhi hamein maloom nahin
Kab tadapte hain kab sataa jaate

Mile

Jaise phoolon se pehli phuhaar milay,
Mujhko bhi koi ghamgusaar milay

Ajzi ab dil ki duaaon mein ja basii
Wo nahin uska intezaar milay

Dekh le duniya ko ji bhar ke shaayad
mujhse zyaada koi beqaraar milay

Keh rahe hain mujhse fiqr o adab ke paymane
kisi mehfil ko naa tujh sa bezaar milay

Ek vaar mein khatm ho ye gumnaami
Kya karun ki aisa koi auzaar milay

Keh raha hai junoon sarfaroshon ka
Raqs e sharrar ko zameen behisaar mile

 

Buu e gul paaband hai havaaon ki ‘Quateel’
Tujhko bhi ek jhonka talabgaar mile

Kyun rahe

Jab dil nahin raha to dhadkan kyun rahe
Aankhon mein wo nahin kyun roshni rahe

Aage uske ye hua kayee baar
Faryaadi bhi rahe bezubaan rahe

Jab bhi guzray hum us kuu e yaar se
Jo waswase uthe wohi marhale rahe

inteha e shiddat aur pardadaari bhi
Doston ke beech hum jaise vali rahe

Khaamoshi ki kismat ka jab tarjuma hua
Sagar mein doobe hauslay jo multavi rahe

Kya kar gaya koi

Ajnabiyat ka mausam kar gaya koi,
Mujhko tumse udhayd gaya koi

wo itrbez fiza jo tumhari shinaakht hai,
dum ghutne laga usme, kya kar gaya koi

mere na thhey kabhi ehsaas ho chala,
loota hai tumhi se tumhe koi

Bedard dil bhi khaamosh rehta hai
Shor o gul iska ab kya sune koi

zapt ka hai waqt mashwara mila
aas paas maiqada bhi to mile koi

Hai Kashish

Hai kashish phir bhi dooriyan rehti hain
Mohabbaton ke beech majboorian rehti hain

Har kali ki khushboo lena zaroori toh nahin
Bhanwaron ki apni bedaariyan rehti hain

Use dekha bhi socha bhi samjha bhi jaana bhi
Jaise sehraaon ke khaabon mein haryaalian rehti hain

Ek zamaane se rehta hoon saath jiske
Usko leke aaj bhi betaabiyan rehti hain

kya ye Inquilaab hai?

Har gali mein jo goonj raha hai
Inquilaab nahin to kaho kya hai

Tareekh mein peeche reh jaane ke dar se
Har koi nikal pada hai ghar se

Har masale ko kya yeh suljha dega
Inquilab kya humko naya hausla dega

Yakin nahin ummeed hi sahi
Gandhi nahin to munh bola murid sahi

Jis swaal ka jawab nahin wo kahaan mil jaayega
Badhta kadam ab soch ke kya paayega

sawaal durust hain lekin kya karein
ilzaamon ko har jagah dharein?

Aur yeh baat uski samajh ke baahar hai
jinn uska tha ab chiraag ke baahar hai

Kami si hai

Khamoshi hi lab par thami si hai,
Bistar par silvaton ki kami si hai,

Hairat mein hai aaj saara maikhana
hosh aur nashe mein thani si hai

Koi shajar dikhaayi kyun nahin deta
Bas dhoop hi dhoop ghani si hai

Roya tha koi raat bhar kya yahaan
Phoolon par kyun nami si hai

Kya dhoondhte ho mere chehre par
Hansi hai bas haalat mein sanii si hai

Khamoshi se uski bewafai sehte hain
Ab wo soorat hum par bani si hai

Kavita ka Bhaar

Shabdon ki upaj, sahitya ki lalak hoon main
Soye hue jag mein dhamakk hoon main

Itihaas ka marmik chhand hoon main
Kalpana komal swachhand hoon main

Darshak aur drishya ka samavesh hoon main
Trast jeevan ka tadapta aavesh hoon main

Satya ke charitra ka chitrankan hoon main
Samaaj ki thekedaari ka laanchhan hoon main

Vichalit mann, tan bechain hoon main
Ashru, muskaan, bolte nain hoon main

Soch ka margdarshak, pehredaar hoon main
Sukh dukh ke anubhav ka satkaar hoon main

Sabhyata ka prachalan, vistaar hoon main
Kavi par kavita ka bhaar hoon main

Note: Itvaar Ki Baarish

ITVAAR KI BAARISH. Aaj phir baarish hui, aaj phir naabdaanon ko kabz hua. Itna sinch jaane ke baad to registaan bhi behte hain, mere shehar ke naale kisi aur marz se simte hain

Baadalon se abr barasta hai, shehar usme apna gubaar milata hai. Beh kar laata hai kayee aise marz. Jo naaliyon ki raftaar rok dete hain

Aur jab inki raftaar rukti hai to shehar ki beparvaah abaadi ko inke hone ka ehsaas hota hai. Koste hain gaaliyaan dete hain inki zaat ko. Jinko humne apni galaazat ka godaam bana rakha hai. Chips ke packet, plastic ki botalein, thailiyaan aur naa jaane kya kya chala jaata hai inme. Aur jo nahin karna chahiye wo karne ke baad hum kehte hain ki 'gutter kuch theek kaam nahin kar rahe'.

Ab jab paani beh nahin paa raha unme Sadkon par jama hue log aur unme jamaa ho raha hai gussa. Rickshewalon par, traffic police par, shehar ke zimmedaaron par.

Main bhi pichle itwaar apni family ke saath (urdu mein iske liye shayad koi chota lafz nahin, kumbe se chhota khandaan, usse chota kya hai...mujhe pata nahin ki hai ya yaad nahinaa raha) bahar gaya shopping ke liye. Linking road par shopping center se nikalte waqt barsaat jhamajham hone lagi. Waise mujhe barsaat achchi lagti hai. Par is baar ghabra gaya. Chhata bhi nahin tha. Bheege to sardi ho jayegi. Phir school ka naagha. Yahi soch rahe thhey ki gaadi kyun nahin li. Achchi tarah jaanta tha ki gaadi kabhi le hi nahin jaate hain itwaar ko. Driver ki chutti hoti hai. Aur itne nazdeek ke liye gaadi kya leni. Aaj saari baatein yaad aa rahin thi.

Itni bheed ki shopping center ka gate jaam tha. Log na bahar jaa rahe they na andar. Bas darwaaze par khade soch rahe they ki driver gaadi le aaye. Ya baghair beege rickshaw mil jaaye. Isi firaaq mein baarish ko aise dekh rahe thhey jaise pooch rahe hon? 'Tum kyun aayee, mere ghar pahunchne ke baad bhi to aa saktin thie?... Arre shayad wo rickshaw khaali ho raha hai...bheegte hue wahan jaaon poochne usse?'

Isi mahaul mein meri ghabrahat badh rahi thi. 'Chotu ko kal bukhaar tha. Agar beeg gaya to phir?... Kyun aaye bheed mein hum? Us cashier ne itni der kyun lagayee? Ab kya karun?' Bas kuch zaroor karna tha. Jitni jaldi ho ghar pahunchna tha. Bag biwi ko thama kar nikal gaye bheegte hue, main road ki ore. Meri tarah kuch aur bhi thhey. Ek sahab chhattri liye hue bhi. Rickshe thhey ki ya to khaali nahin yaa bhi rukne ka naam nahin. Us zaat ko us din bahut duaaein di! Man hi man unke license cancel karvaaye, unke gaanv jaa kar unke ghar mein ghus ke unhe bahut peeta. Ab tak mere kapde tarr ho gaye thhey. Jeb mein note they jinhe bheeg kar naram hote hue mehsoos kar raha tha. Dheeli jeans ab paani pee kar sikud rahi thi. Bhaari bhi ho gayee thi. Ek do rickshe ruke to fauran saat aath aadmi rok lete thhey. Lambe kiraye waale chune jaate. Jaise kisi swayamwar mein bahut bade maharathi ko chuna jaata hai. Baithte hi...chehre ke haav bhaav badal jaate... Ab hum savaari waale hain aur tum be savaar.

Ghabrahat badhne lagi...'Bachchon ko bhook lagi hogi. Aur shopping center ka iklauta restaurant bhi ab tak bhara hoga. Taxi aa rahi hai...Taxi! Taxi!....' Lekin koi fayda nahin.

Thodi der mein kanpkapi aane lagi. Main hansne laga. Aisa to jaadon ki barsaat mein bhi nahin hua tha. Upar dekha aasman ki ore... Jaise ki uparwale ki marzi tatol raha hoon....Sirf streetlight thi jiske ird-gird se moti moti boondein gir rahi thien.

Roshani se main bhool gaya ki ab tak paani ke jamaa hone se main sadak ke beech aa gaya hoon... Horn baja to ek scorpio wala gusse se sdekh raha tha...soch raha tha ki 'barsaat mein iska bheja beeg gaya hai...itni busy sdak ke beech mein pagal khada hai'. ' Maine sorry kaha aur peeche hat gaya...lekin uske peeche ek auto dikha. Khali. Bade miyan se kaha...isse pehle ki wo sochein main baith gaya. Itne mein chhatri waale bhai sahab aa gaaye. Aur ik dukaan ke saamne khade apni biwi ki ore ishara kiya. Mujhse kehne lage ki bachche ke saath door jaana hai. Maine aadhi bheegi maa aur uske bachche ko dekha... Aisa nahin tha ki wo mujh se pooch raha tha. Keh raha tha. Lekin maine yaad kiya ki merewaale to kam as kam shopping center mein sookhe to hain...bhale main bheeg raha hoon. Main utar kar rickshaw se hat gaya. Bade miya ne bina koi aitraaz auto start kar unhe bitha liya. Door ki savaari kise buri lagti hai. Aur jab main khud hat gaya.

Uske baad main aur bheegta raha. Masroof sadak. Kinaare dukaanon ke chajjon ke neeche logon ki bheed. Kuch chhattri waale chal rahe they, kuch bina chhatri daud rahe thhey. Par maib akela khada bheeg raha tha. Itne mein fone baja. Call loon ya nahin. Barsaat mein fone bheeg jayega to lene ke dene pad jaayenge.... Ek dukaan ke chajje ke neeche pahuncha to fone nikala. Biwi ka tha. Tabhi chand ring ke baad kat gaya. Maine kiya to keh rahi thien ki 'Majhle ko bhook lag rahi hai. Hum log KFC jaayein. Aap bhi aa jaao'. Badawala mere saath hi tha ek showrrom ke chajje ke neeche. Wo bhi achcha khasa bheeg gaya tha. Apni amma ko center mein chhotu aur majhle ke saath rehne diya aur zid kar ke mere paas aa gaya. Gussa bhi aaya. Do log kyun bheegein. Kya main hum sab ke liye bheeg nahin raha tha?

Tabhi Bade ne apni amma aur bhaiyon ko KFC mein dakhil hote hue dekha. Hum log bhi andar chal diye. Bheed, umas, garmi neeche aur jaise hum log upar baithne gaaye to sirf AC ke saamne wali jagah khali thi. Chhotu so gaya tha. Hum logon ne thoda sukoon mein khana khaya. Lekin meri kanpkapi badh gayee. Beech mein hi main hat gaya aur deewar se lag ke khaane laga.

Aur bhi log thhey wahan par meri tavajjo mein teen jode aaye. Sabhi logon ne t shirt aur jeans pehni hui thi. Adhed umr ke thhey, par javaani ke saaye abhi bhi unke chehron par bache thhey. Jaise antiwrinkle creams ki ad mein hota hai. Par yahaan to ek aurat zor zor se foreign holidays ke baare mein sabko keh rahi thi. Italy mein kahaan jaayein aur kya khaayein. Kuch baatein sunne ke baad samajh mein aa raha tha ki mohtarma ki maaloomaat kitni kam thi. Aisa kyun hota hai ki hum jin baaton ke baare mein kam jaante hain unhi ka lecture aksar dete hain.

khaana khatam karte karte baarish zara is kam lagi. Lekin itni bhaari barsaat ke zara sa kam hone se logon ko himmat mili ki shayad ab khatam honewaali hai. Jab shuru hui to utni barsaat mein nahin nikle. Lekin ab shayaad oob ke nikal pade. Biwi ka chappal ain mauke par jawaab de gaya aur wo apna pair ghaseet kar chal rahein thien. Bahar to aa gaye aur bheegte rahe. mere kapdon se paani tapakna band hus tha ki phir usi jagah aur usi tarah. Bada lachaar mehsoos kar raha tha. Achanak ek rickshaw aa kar ruka. Hum baith gaye. Balke, Biwi aur bachche baith gaye. Main baithne hi waala tha ki ruk gayaa. Unse kahaa ki aap log chalo. Main aata hoon thodi der mein. Auto chalaa gayaa.

Maine sar uthaaya aur muskuraa diya. Main chalta raha aur paani barasta raha. Chalte chalte barsaat ke is lambe mausam ki saari yaadein ek ek kar aati rahin. Kitni baar bachchon ko school se lene jana pada. Kitni baar musladhaar baarish mein traffic jam mein phanse rahe. Kitni raaton ko paani balcony ke darwaaze ke neeche se hall mein aa gaya. Saari baatein ek ek kar yaad karta raha, chalta raha. Ab kuch pet mein tha to kanpkapi bhi nahin ho rahi thi. June se october tak main baarish mein kayee baar bheega. Kayee baar jaan boojh ke. Gaadi mein chhaata rehta hai. Use wahin chhod kar utarta tha. Maze liye, takleefein jhelien, lekin kabhi yeh nahin kaha 'Ab bas karo!'. Shayad isi liye ik baat adhoori thi jo aaj akele chalte chalte baarish mujhse keh rahi hai.

Ghar pahunchte hi bachchon ne poocha 'Abba.... Aap kyun hamare saath nahin aaye?'

'Beta, mujhe ek dost ko bye kehna tha'

Faryaad

Aur kareeb aao to kuch baat bane
Kuch sunaao to kuch baat bane

Apni kaho duniya ki ya meri jaan meri
Haath mein haath dharo to kuch baat bane

Aanchal ke kone ko ungliyon mein lapete hue
Ishaaron mein bulaao to kuch baat bane

Surme ko palkon mein sajaakar apni
Meri neendein udaao to kuch baat bane

Khwaabon mein bhi kyun ho aate jate
Kuch der thehar jaao to kuch baat bane

Seene se dil churaya liya hai tumne
Saanson ko bhi apnaao to kuch baat bane

Apni armaanon ko kisi roz ginte ginte
Mujh tak pahunch jaao to kuch baat bane

aage

Sabab ka hona anjaam ke aage
Tujhko rakhna jaan ke aage

Bandagi ka meri kya bhalaa hoga
shartein jaa harf e dua ke aage

vaade par mere hai use aitabaar
kotaah gar hoon khuda ke aage

Haq askhon ke namak ka hua adaa
Farz dataa raha jazbaat ke aage

Panapte nahin saaye andheron mein
Hui maut kamzarf khauff ke aage

Kya Tum Ho

Dil ki har khalish mein tum ho
ankhon ki har nami mein tum ho
har unsuni dua mein tum ho
pyaase labon ki tapish mein tum ho
har maskin ki chatton mein tum ho
bedaaron ki thokaron mein tum ho
benoor duniya ka pata tum ho
har mausam ki fiza tum ho
jiska koi nahin uske tum ho
koi ho zariya sarmayedaar tum ho
sajjaadon ka nishaan tum ho
Kufr ki wajah tum ho
malik e do jahaan tum ho
har zarre me lapataa tum ho
mere kehne se nahin tum ho
maine likha jo tum ho

Conference Cruelty

Amid the polite applause and
pompous falsely self effacing speeches
strut people with naked desire
to be seen and heard by the herd
award after award for fleeting successes
Handed out into salivating arms

Around tables the bored herd awaits
Mouthing fancy hard boiled candy
sipping water stolen from a mountain brook
music thunders, the chief guest smiles
and no one notices
on each table a burning pyre

Sweet roses innocently burning
consigned to the mad dervish flames
of candles framing exqusite bouquets
fanned by a hell freezing ac on song
the smell sickly sweet acridy
no one smells

noses clogged with stench of money and pride
Surely peerless beauty roasted
is a tragedy but all are blind
Is the achivement of the corporate
that of human cruelty over beauty divine?

Pehli Baarish

Meri ummeedon par badal baras pade
Lekin baarish ne khwaahishon ko seencha bhi

Teri yaad phir nami ban ke chehre par hai
Gham ko dil ke bahar kheencha bhi

Ab ke baarish muhabbat se tar kar degi mujhko
Mujhe qaid mein milega dareecha bhi

Bayaan

Ab tere husn ka zikr kya karun
Gulabon ki main guftagoo kya karun

Zubaan mein itni lachak hi nahin
Reshami ehsaas bayaan kya karun

Surahi dekhi hi nahin maine kabhi
teri gardan ko misaal iski kya karun

Nal mein hi dekha hai paani jheel ka
Hai itni hi bisaat apni main kya karun

Tokrion mein hi naagin dekhi maine
Teri chaal ki main baat kya karun

Olympic ke hi dekhe maine teer kamaan
Bhavon ko teri unke barabar kya karun

Ab aa meri baahon mein seene se lag
Tanhayi mein tujhse baatein kya karun

Urdu

Like poetry in a bookstore's shelf
Urdu's forlorn today shorn of power and pelf

The raging river is now a simpering stream
Evaporating faster than a poor man's dream

Some posey admirers both canine and asinine
Pick and place its words so their verse can shine

In this age of venal jingoistic pride
Given the status of an unwed bride

'I love Urdu' they almost always say
'I want to learn it sometime' when they are going gray

Merrily lapping up those who cheaply dish it out,
Full on make up lashes and Miss India pout

The pusher gets his momentary accolades
Like this she's mauled in many poetry charades

And the ignominy of identity theft
Suffer the sisters Hindi to the right and Urdu to the left

Where's Urdu's new prose, speeches, volumes of thought and imagination
In such a short while such complete subjugation

What was once the language of the native and elite
now homeless in free India's streets

Like all treasures she has been betrayed by its own
India has left her to die all alone

Her children who she educated so well
Have sent their children to english medium with church bell

Left to languish in madarsas and maulvis tuition
For a female she had zero intuition

She did not know even when she was not so young
She would be tied to a religion and properly strung

I know she has no religious bend or line
But like a spirit is both sublime divine

She did not know that she will be cast aside
And now gone the last shred of pride

I know she's welcome on the border's other side but
Does that absolve my linguistic matricide?

Dil mein

Teri baatein ab khanjar si hain meri jaan dil mein
Har baar sun kar hota hoon budgumaan dil mein

Muhabbat ki ravaani mein muhaaide kiye they buton se
duaa lab per yahaan aur shikwa wahaan dil mein

Humsafari ki aadat hi hai jo saath chale jaate hain
Na wo narmi hai un nigaahon mein na tamanna dil mein

Badlaav hai mizaaj ka ya halaat ka asar,
iska makien tha jo kahbi jhaankta nahin dil mein

Izhaar kar rahaa hoon ilzaam ho to behter
Ek arsa hua kisiko bithaaya nahin dil mein

Its always you

Its always you
from the beginning and since
solemn, comforting, unquestioning,
In punctures of lost rhyme
in the folds of stolen time.

Remember it like yesterday
moments that beckoned softly
the quivering heart steady lay
in the flight of a stolen glance
fire longs to escape
a rebel to disobedience
willing perpetual slave
love of tender broken wills,
unopened books, heavy hearts
very sweet the young pain
That went straight through
it ends where it began

sawaal inquilab se

Har gali mein jo goonj raha hai
Inquilaab nahin to kaho kya hai

Tareekh mein peeche reh jaane ke dar se
Har koi nikal pada hai ghar se

Har masale ko kya yeh suljha dega
Inquilab kya humko naya hausla dega

Yakin nahin ummeed hi sahi
Gandhi nahin to munh bola murid sahi

Jis swaal ka jawab nahin wo kahaan mil jaayega
Badhta kadam ab soch ke kya paayega

sawaal durust hain lekin kya karein
ilzaamon ko har jagah dharein?

Aur yeh baat uski samajh ke baahar hai
jinn uska tha ab chiraag ke baahar hai

Jhuki Nazar

Jhuki nazar ko pyar ka paigham samjhun,,
ya uska inkar sare aam samjhun,

haal e dil haath to aa jaaye mere,
main iska jhukaav, rujahaan samjhun,

batein nigahon mein karni thi so ho chunki,
wo kya meri bolein, main kya unki samjhun,

sabr ke damsaaz aur honge zamane mein
aashiq hun, sukun ko main kya samjhun

dil mein tasveer sajee rakkhi hai,
main kya hasrat-e- deedar samjhun

RAIDERS OF TROY

Raiders of Troy is an attempt to examine the characters and players in the Trojan War. The story made famous by the Illiad has many background scenes and histories that are exciting, depressing,happy and sad; that were not examined by Homers epic in my view. More of an accompaniment than a substitute to 'The Illiad'.Raiders of Troy may not have the classical form Homer and many views may be tainted with my own. but thousands of years after the event these things should be considered natural. If even one person shows an interest and reads the Illiad because of  Raiders of Troy, the job is done.



1.Odysseus

Petulantly, the lipless one broods by the shore
staring into the beaks of a thousand ships
Myrmidons surround him, respectfully restless
but his gaze fixed on the horizon that birthed them,
the sea that tested them, churned them and
spat them on the cursed shores of Troy
while the battles rage, he waits
all know the foretold, and none rush it
Die here Achilles will,
gloriously, in youth,
on these shores,
in the city made by gods
the Last Hero will die,
they dont know how,
they dont know when,
none want to be reminded,
destiny can wait,
while the lipless one broods
the priestess was his,
the blasphemous reward
earning the wrath of Apollo
then unjustly, publicly
taken away by a lesser man
of higher rank
who deserves to
suffer Hector's marauding rage.

The righteous Hector the lion of a man
how kingly a demeanour
but son loving Priam is Troy's king
Hector wants Helen gone I know,
but the host could not ask

Lovely fickle Helen
wicked Aphrodite incarnate
soothing Paris this moment
pining for Menelaus the other
her beauty corrputs realms
beauty that blinds the mind
brings destruction to the towers of impregnable cities
a thousand ships clamour in her name
she must be thrilled
o why couldn't you be like Penelope
unsure tentative yet steadfast.

Is it our pride, is it the oath we took
to aid Helen's husband as one
to right a wrong, with a greater one?

I wonder how our leader feels,
wise, cunning, capricious, avaricious
the only one who could lead us
his lying got us to the ships
kings some warriors all
rotten his leading is
the titular status taken seriously
makes slight an easy offence
happy he must be, though
chosen to follow Heracles' footsteps
happier to die here outside the gates of Illium
than return to Athens empty, but he's no Hero

I wonder how my son looks now
Telemachus would have grown so
ten years my heart's dull thudding yearning
for the rocky outcrops of Ithaca's shore

Soon it will be time, not mine, not Achilles's,
Not Hector's, not Agamemnon's,
Not Helen's not Menelaus's,
not Paris's,
it will soon be time,
to have a story end,
so that others can begin,
heroes end, so men can begin

I just lay back at the end of this summers finest day
fighting for the day is done
and these thoughts seep from me
like blood from my wounds





2.Paris

Am i to grieve for the city at war
everyday my countrymen and allies die
in my name, on my blame
their blood flows
curse me all
little they know
but my fate is theirs
the gods have willed it
branded without a chance
you Helen hear my tale
and then judge who is wronged

They would have killed me before i was born
but Priam loved Hecuba's womb
i was to come to this world
but when i did, it was in silence
no pomp greeted this prince of Troy
no herald sounded my name
ignominy was laid on my head at birth

The seer said 'kill him, he is the ruin of Troy'
Priam the father, the king scared, gutless he agreed
but charged his shepherd to slay me
Troy was gutless from king to shepherd,
and no one could kill a baby
so a beast's meal i was made
placed at the mouth of a bear's cave
but the bear became my mother
she-bear was my first nurse
fed me her beast's milk
and i took it all in
ran it through my heart and veins
the shepherd when he returned
astounded, repentant ,
made me his own son
reared me to fatten sheep
and lead bulls to jousts

here too i won easily
but just and fair is me
more then Zeus,
more than Athene
i corwned Ares with gold
when he bested my bull but
it took a god to beat Paris's bull

Zues the Olympian had more plans
for me a shepherd of the Trojan hills
he sends Hermes with Athene,
Hera and Aphrodite. Why?
i tried to hide in vain, they found me
I the shepherd was to judge between them
O you paragon of deceit, you coward Zeus
your godhead built on mortal pains
you send three immortals to tempt and rage
the prize they sought, made mine to give.
but just to one among three
many a gift was promised me.
But I choose one and the other two
will destroy me and all dear to me
Vengance is the nature of gods
Hera promised me Asia
Athene wisdom promised to give
Aphrodite promised me you
with each promise came a dire threat
fool was i to think the one i chose
would refuge me from the others wrath

i know now the plans Zeus laid that day
its the plague Troy suffers today
prince am i, wiser than most
but first a lover, mortal in body
I chose you Helen,
and gave the apple to Aphrodite,
the apple that bore 'to the fairest of all'
such a wicked game Eries played, Zeus played
i the mortal fool was the harp
they played to break.

Aphrodite, the most beautiful wretch
she promised me a woman already married
and when the shepherd presented
the King with his son
again a prince of Troy was i
she made me dream of you
sailed me to Sparta to lay with you
guiled me and you into eloping
bringing this terror to Troy

I would have died in the duel
and the matter settled
had Menelaus run his sword through me
Troy would be peaceful,
the raiders returned to their ships
sailing home, their shame washed away
by the blood of a prince
but he was yet goading me with taunts
and Wretched Aphrodite spirited me away
robbed me of an honourable death
forced me to lie with you again
i could feel her hand pound me then
this is a God I've sacrificed to
so I am better a mortal

so, tell me Helen of Troy
am I the careless carefree man
who lives this mountain of blame
or a plaything of the gods
Oneone loathes me now,
the plains and mountains of Troy loathe me
Hector loathes me,

feeble, forced and quivering Priam
never did anyone loathe a father so
if it was i, the baby would be dead
as he was born

but fair Helen, stay your judgement
in your hearts innermost chamber
i cannot bear to hear it
and on this summers finest day
there is more i have to say
Should i in some battle fall
grieve me but then get another husband else
Troy's women will tear you apart
but Hector worships Andromache
so Deiphobus it must be
No, don't say a word
its how it must be

come now lay with me wife
my city is paying the price





3.Agamemnon
When will you fall fabled Troy?
When will I be heralded as the greatest of Achean kings?
Hear it from me that fall you will
Poseidon the Earth Shaker himself cannot prevent it
Such is the promise Zues has made to me

But that dawn is yet far away
Woe is my companion
Strife is my lot
I am no stranger to either
They are not rid of me or I of them
From birth they are my burden
And they force me on when I tire

And what do I say to the face that haunts me, warns me in Mycenae
and here outside Illium's very walls
In my sleep and wake she whispers
Cassandra has already told me
what she will tell Priam
That Troy must fall and then she will be with me
And when she is mine she will fortell
That what I am fated for

What does it take to be king of kings?
To be born in a cursed line
Without a fate besides what I make
There's no bed that can rest me well

No its not the Furies for I have done less
than many that sleep well at nights
My father he did sleep after feeding the children to their father, his brother Thyestes
Atreus a great king a greater monster
That father of mine he slept well at nights
He took the throne from Thyestes
And yet the Furies did not bother him
For retribution was swifter.

Thyestes fulfilling sired Aegisthius with his own daughter,
Who with his father grandfather
did Atreus away and usurped my throne
Forced to flee it was Sparta that gave us refuge and wives
Clytmenestra for me and Helen for Menaleus
Princesses of great beauty and wives of fickle fidelty
One hides behind your walls and the other sleeps alone in my bed perhaps

Yet worth it or not
Why do I not get the respect that others
Lessers in every way
Get without demand without effort

Did I and Menelaus not take back Mycaenae
Did I not expand its realm till it became the largest in Argos
Brave Menelaus powerful Agamemnon, the best of mortals
My brother is king of Sparta
The land of the most ferocious warriors and the most beautiful women

I do not dwell my sight on Helen for if I do my heart will want and a brother will die
Menelaus or me it doesn't matter
If either dies both of us will
So my dream is bigger than my lust and I dream of Troy not Helen

Troy Troy Troy Troy!
In my dreams I see you before me
With you I see the east before me
Kneeling supplicant broken bowed
But what price will you extract?

From the princes of Greece
All or some
Maimed or disfigured
Sons never to see fathers
Or fathers never to know sons

A princess already felled by your lust
She comes to me in the cold nights
Asking why? Father why?
Did your daughter mean so little to you?
Or was I Iphignea just an animal
another white bull to appease Artemis

Her mother did not speak to me
Orestes her brother my son
Fury in his eyes
Fists clenched said nothing and yet
The ultimate sacrifice was made
For you Troy
And I will not go back I have vowed

Give us victory Zues
And make it speedy
The death of an old man
I do not want

One who is mocked jeered
'There he goes Agmemnon
the failure!'
Let me die here instead
But in a fight with my friends and captains around me
While I still have respect

Except Achilles who knows
Nothing of what the word means
Of what is due to a king
Even from a prince
Swift runner and killer he may be

He will join battle
A fighter cannot sit by forever
Stubborn he may be
But Zues make it sooner!

I am just and fair
Brisies is of royal blood
And such captives are the leaders by right
And I cannot capitulate
A matter of right and fair
Now neither will go back
I know this

So how will you make him join us again and when
Tell me O Zues tell me this
And tell me what Orestes will be like
when I meet him
If I return

Tell me Zues what does a king do
When his army is tiring and wives
Back home getting restive

And as I lay down in this finest summers night
I cannot sleep
It is better that I stay awake
Aegisthius, Thyestes, Cassandra and Iphignea
Take turns to twist the torments in my head when I sleep

Ajeeb haal!

Ajeeb haal hai is mehfil ka
musalsal kahe koi
musalsal daad day koi
Ya khuda saans to le koi!

Ajeeb baat hai duniya ki
zulm sahe koi
aah bhare koi
is fareb ko bund kare koi!

Ajeeb hai rivayatein gharon ki
hauslaa kare koi
maslaa bane koi
Seedhi baat bhi to kare koi!

Ajeeb raste hain ishq ke
ishaare kare koi
Bechaara mare koi
Is dhongg ko khatm kare koi!

Gaaon ki yaad

Chuk chuk karti rail gaadi chali gayee
Puk puk karti chakki bhi chali gayee

Jhar jhar gehun ki danvaai chali gayee
Thak thak chawal ki kutaai chali gayee

Band hua miljul kar gudadi ka silna
Chaar aane ki mithai chali gayee

Bhor ki wo datuan todaai chali gayee
Saanjh ki chara-chunii bhi chali gayee

Hukke ki chiilum chadhai chali gayee
Aangan ki gobar lipai chali gayee

Bartan ki wo raakh majaai chalii gayee
Bhoonje dana wo bharsaiin chali gayee

Jaadon mein wo ras peraai chali gayee
Saath uske rasiyaav ki handia chali gayee

Sikahar ki wo dahi malai chali gayee
Palang ki nivaad kasaii chali gayee

Debari ki tel bharaai chali gayi
Aandhi mein baagh rakhaii chali gayee

Ek alag duniya hi thi jo chali gayee
Ab uski yaad bhi jaise chali gayee