Apnon ke' shehar mein

Apnon ke' shehar mein,
Apno ke' beech,
Ek ajnabi ki tarah hain hum.

Kisi apne' ki talaash mein,
Apno ke' beech,
Ek kashmakash mein hain hum.

Kya ajeeb dastaan hai yeh?
Har koi apna sa lagta hai.

Magar phir bhi,
Koi apnapan lagta nahi.

Shayad aaj ke' iss daur mein,
Zameen toh kya, 
Aasman mein bhi hukumat karne' ke' junoon mein,
Kuch apno ne' apnepan ki kurbani di hai.

Shayad isi liye',
Apnon ke' shehar mein,
Apno ke' beech,
Ek ajnabi ki tarah hain hum.

Hai yeh baat kuch aisi hi ke' hum khamosh hain

Hai yeh baat kuch aisi hi ke' hum khamosh hain,
Varna kya hamein baat karni nahi aati?

Aur hai yeh shaam kuch aisi hi,
Ke' bin piye' hi hum madhosh hain,
Varna kya humein jaam peeni nahi aati?

Humein shikayat thi apne' naseeb se'

Humein shikayat thi apne' naseeb se',
Ke' unhe' humse' juda kar diya.

Humne' paee thi zindagi ki haar khushi unmein,
Magar naa jaane' kyon,
Unhe' humse' juda kar diya.

Apne' iss naseeb ko koste' rahe' the' hum ab tak,
Jo humari khushiyan cheen le' gai thi.

Barson baad humne' unhe' phir dekha hai,
Kahin aur hi sahi,
Magar zindagi ki har khushi ke' saath.

Yeh saari khushiyan mere' taqdeer mein nahi the',
Magar ab maine' apne' iss naseeb ko sahi pehchana hai.

Mere naseeb ne' meri uss chahat ko,
Kahin aur hi sahi,
Magar kitna khush rakha hai.

Kya main khudgarz nahi,
Agar ab bhi apne' naseeb se' shikaayat karoon?  

Hazaar khwaishon ke' baad

Hazaar khwaishon ke' baad,
Humne' aapko paa liya,
Naa jaane' kitne' armaanon ke' baad,
Humein aapka saath mila.

Kabhi kabhi yeh sochta hoon,
Ke' inn tamaam khwaishon aur armaanon ki keemat kya hai?

Magar jab bhi aapko dekhta hoon,
Toh kuch aisa lagta hai.
Ke' meri hi toh kya,
Iss saare' jahaan ki khwaishein aur armaan bhi,
Aapke' inn nazar-e-inaayat ke saamne',
Hain kuch pheeke' pheeke' se'.

Humne' dekhe' hain iss zindagi ke ajeeb rang

Humne' dekhe' hain iss zindagi ke ajeeb rang,
Jahan apne' hain dooor aur ajnabi hain sungh (together).

Kehte' hain, ek chatt (roof) ke' neeche' aur ek biradiri mein,
Rehte' hain kuch ek doosre' ko jananae' waale',
Ek doosre' ko chahane' waale'.

Magar kahani ghar ghar ki dekh,
Humne' socha hai,
Akhir kahan gaye' woh ek doosre' ko janane' waale',
Aur ek doosre' ko chahane' waale'?

Hairat hoti hai yeh dehkar,
Ke' jo kabhi ajnabi the' ,
Woh ek doosre' ko samajhkar aur ek doosre' ko chahkar,
Ab ho gaye' apno se' bhi kuch badhkar.

Kaun kehta hai ke',
Ek chatt ya biradiri hi zaroori hai apnepan ke' liye'?

Aaj ke' iss daur ko toh dekhiye',
Kai jagah par dikhenge' zindagi ke' yeh ajeeb rang,
Jahan apne' hain dooor aur ajnabi hain sungh.
  

Chal pade' the' hum uss shaam ko

Chal pade' the' hum uss shaam ko,
Kisi khaas jashn mein shaamil hone' ko.

Mahaul tha uss saal ko alvida karne' ka,
Kuch mauj masti, kuch jaam, aur kuch khaas daawat ke maje' lene' ka.

Uss mehfil ki taraf jaate' waqt,
Sadak par uss shaam aur thand ke' waqt,
Humne kuch aur hi nazara dekha.

Ek phati purani kambal orre,
Humne ek bhookhe' pyaase' gareeb ko dekha.

Uski bebus aur lachaar nazrein,
Humse kuch keh rahi thi.

Uss thand aur bhookh pyaas se',
Mujhse' kuch rahat ki umeed kar rahi thi.

Magar dekhte' hue' bhi main uski inn umeedon ko dekh nahi saka,
Aakhir woh bhi meri tarah ek insaan hai,
Samanjhdaar hote' hue' bhi, main yeh samajh nahi saka.

Aur uss khaas jashn-e-andaaz mein khokar,
Main aage' hi aage' chalta gaya.

Naye' saal ke' pehle' teen peher tak,
Main jaam mein doobta chala gaya.

Kaan cheerne' waale' dhunon mein khota chala gaya,
Aur naa jaane' kitne' anjaan logon ko,
Iss naye' saal ki mubarakbad deta chala gaya.

Par naa jaane kyon har waqt mere' mann mein,
Ek kashmakash chalta gaya,
Kya yeh saara jaam, shor sharaba, aur dikhawa zaroori tha?

Din, mahine', aur saal toh yoonhi guzarte' chale' jaayeinge',
Kai bebus aur behasra log shayad sadak par hi,
Yoonhi dum torhte' chale' jaayeinge'.

Par kya hum apni yeh zindagi sirf apne' liye' hi,
Yoon jeekar ek din sabko lavida keh jaayeinge'? 

Kaash! Uss shaam mein uss gareeb ko,
Zindagi ke' kuch haseen pal de' deta.

Sukh ka woh saagar toh naa sahi magar,
Uss saagar ki kuch boondein uski dard bhari pyas ke liye' de' deta.

Aur iss tarah, iss naye saal ki shuruaat,
Uski bebus chehre' par ek muskurahat laakar kar deta.

Main jeena chahata hoon

Composed the following while empathizing with a dear friend who was suffering from terminal illness:

Main jeena chahata hoon,
Abhi maine dekha hi kya hai?
Kyon yeh bimari meri zindagi se' yoon khafa hai?

Socha tha kabhi ke' zindagi mein kai manzilein haasil kareinge',
Apni hi nahi magar saare' kaum ki zindagi mein kai phool bhareinge'.

Magar kyon mere' muqaddar ko yeh manzoor nahi tha?
Aur kyon iss bimari ke' zariye' maut mujhe' pukaar rahi hai?

Apni kaum ke' iss baagiche' mein itne' dard bhare' kisse' dekhkar mera dil tadap uthta hai,
Mera zameer mujhko lakaarta hai:

"Ban jaa woh maali jo bhar de' iss baagiche' ko rang bhare' aur mehakte' phoolon se',
Iss tarah laut aaye' woh bahaar har ek ki zindagi mein,
Jo phansa huya hai naa jaane' kin kin mushkilon mein".

Shayad iss liye main abhi jeena chahata hoon,
Kyonke' abhi maine' dekha hi kya hai. 

I really missed someone yesterday

This was composed on the basis of revelations of a dear friend:

I really missed someone yesterday,
It was her birthday.

We parted ways years ago,
But it appears as if it wasn't long ago.

She is blessed with everything in life,
A loving husband to whom she is a dutiful wife.

Two kids, a son and a daughter,
To whom she is a caring mother.

They have everything one could aspire for,
Which anyone could even perspire for.

I still crave for some of those possessions,
But perhaps, I am not destined for such aspirations.

How I wish I could at least wish her personally yesterday,
And tell her how happy I am today.

Not because I have achieved anything in life,
But because she has everything in life.

I wished her in my thoughts and in my feelings,
In which, perhaps there might be some hidden meanings.

Of yes! I really missed someone yesterday,
It was her birthday.

Apni din raat ki mushakkat mein

Apni din raat ki mushakkat mein,
Apne' taqdeer ko dhoondta hoon.

Jise' dekhkar har koi phir se' dekhna chaahe',
Main apne' aap mein aise' tasveer ko dhoondta hoon.

Kehte' hain, mushakkat mein hi har kisi ki taqdeer chupi hai,
Naa jaane kabse' main uss chupe' hue' rustom ko dhoondta hoon.

Dekar ek Gulaab

Composed the following on Valentine's Day some years back:

Dekar ek gulaab unhone' apni mohabbat ka izhaar kiya,
Magar humne' toh naa jaane' kabse' apni inn nazron se' mohabbat ka izhaar kiya.

Jo baat ek gulaab mein hai, woh shayad meri inn nazron mein nahi,
Magar yeh toh meri woh mohabbat hai jo kisi gulaab ki mohtaaz nahi.

Woh yoon aakar humare' saamne' kuch iss tarah muskurate' chale' gaye'

Woh yoon aakar humare' saamne' kuch iss tarah muskurate' chale' gaye',
Kabhi hum unse' toh kabhi hum khud se' hi sharmate' chale' gaye'.

Naa jaane' kya jaadu chal gaya unke' iss andaaz se',
Kabhi hum unse' toh kabhi hum khud se' hi ghabrate' chale' gaye'.

Kaun kehta hai ki mohabbat ke' liye' umar ki zaroorat hoti hai,
Zara poochiye' toh iss gulistan se',
Ke' sau saal baad bhi yahan kya kya gul khil rahe' hain? 

Dharam aur jaat par matbhed kya karein

Dharam aur jaat par matbhed kya karein,
Sabse' pehle' toh hum insaan hain.

Uss Bhagwan ya Khuda ko kaise yaad karein,
Sabse' pehle' toh hum sab unke' bande' hain.

Hum kisi mandir mein jayein ya kisi masjid mein,
Wahan par ibaadat karne' ki jazbaat toh pehle' hamare' dil mein hai.

Eid ki sewai ka ya Diwali ki mithai ka intezaar kaun kaun kare',
Uska paani toh hum sab ke' mooh mein hai.

Zindagi ke' iss haseen safar ka

Zindagi ke' iss haseen safar ka,
Ab ek aur saal beet gaya.

Naa jaane' kitne' yaadgaar lamhon ke' iss khazane' ko lekar,
Hamein chalte' hi rehna hai.

Aap sabne' humare' iss saalgirah par,
Humein beintaha muhabbat di,
Jiski kaamna humne' aaj tak nahi ki.

Zindagi ke' iss haseen safar ko ab kya naam doon?
Shayad itna, ke yeh kabhi sirf ek karvan tha,
Magar aap sab ki badaulat, 
Ab ek haseen mehfil hai.

Umeed liye baitha hoon, shayad kal bhi,
Aapki yeh beintaha muhabbat mujhe naseeb ho.
Woh kal jo shayad sunsaan ho, anjaan ho, ya gumnaam ho.

Aur mera yeh wajood,
Shayad kuch bhi nahi ho. 

Kal ki shaam ka mujhe' besabri se' intezaar hai

Composed the following a day before a get-together of my close relatives at a cousin's place:

Kal ki shaam ka mujhe' besabri se' intezaar hai,
Mauka kuch khaas nahi hai,
Sirf kuch azeezon ki mehfil hai.

Iss waqt soch mein dooba hoon,
kal ki uss mehfil ko apne' zehen mein sama raha hoon.

Kya kya baatein hongi?
Kya kya armaan jageinge'?

Kis kis se' dil-e-jazbaat chedoonga?
Aur kis kis se' milte' rehne' ke' woh saaz chedoonga?

Jaam toh ek se' ek zaroor honge',
Pyale bhi takrate' rahenge'.

Magar nashe' shayad aate' rahenge',
Aur pal hi pal mein jaate' bhi rahenge'.

Kal ke' jashn ke' baad koi ek doosre' ko alvida na kahe',
Kyonke' kal ke' baad unn beete' hue' lamhon ki kasak saath toh hogi,
Aur khwabon mein hi ho chahe',
Magar ek doosre' se' mulakaat toh hogi.  

Aasman ki bulandiyon ko fateh karne' ki aarzoo liye' baitha tha

Aasman ki bulandiyon ko fateh karne' ki aarzoo liye' baitha tha,
Ek din kuch kamaal kar dikhane' ki junoon liye' baitha tha.

Woh din the' mere' talim ke',
School ke' aur college ke'.

Apni iss aarzoo ko izhaar karne' ki himmat ki maine',
Apne' apno ko apna samajh,
Unse' kuch dil -e-afzaahi ki maine'.

Woh din the' mere talim ke',
School ke' aur college ke'.

Kya bataoon aur ab kya sunaoon,
Ek mazaak bankar reh gaya tha main,
Apno ke' beech ek ajnabi bankar reh gaya tha main.

Kaun hai apna aur kaun paraya?
Yeh sochne' par majboor ho gaya tha main.

Hosla afzahi ki khuraak naa milne' par,
Mere iss aarzoo ne' ghut ghut kar dum torh hi diya.
Aur aasman ki taraf maine' dekhna bhi chorh diya.

Magar aaj barson baad, mujhme' ek naya junoon jaaga hai,
Aasman ki taraf dekhne' ka phir ek naya andaaz jaaga hai.

Ab yeh din talim ke' nahin hain,
School ke' nahin hain aur college ke' bhi nahin hain.

Apno ko ab kya karna?
Ab apne' andar hi maine' ek khubsoorat apne'  ko paaya hai.
Jisne' mujhe' aage' badhte' rehne' ka himmat dilaya hai.

Haan, ab phir aasman ki bulandiyon ko fateh karne' ki aarzoo liye' baitha hoon,
Aur ek din kuch kamaal kar hi dikhane' ki junoon liye' baitha hoon.

Ghum bhulane' ke' liye' kuch log maikhane' ki taraf chale' jaa rahe' hain

Ghum bhulane' ke' liye' kuch log maikhane' ki taraf chale' jaa rahe' hain,
Toota dil, khaak armaan, aur tabah zindagi lekar chale' jaa rahe' hain.

Agar yeh diwanepan ki pehchaan hai, toh woh pehchaan hi sahi,
Aur agar koi unhe' diwaana kahe', toh shayad unhe' koi gila nahi.

Apne' apne' ghumon ko doobane' ke' liye' jaam mein doobne' chale' jaa rahe' hain,
Aur khud ko nashe' ke' hawale' karne' jaa rahe' hain.

Agar yeh jaam badnaam hai, toh badnaam hi sahi,
Unke' liye' toh shayad yeh ek dua hai, baddua nahi.

Maana ae' dost, ke' jaam ne' achche' achchon ko apna diwana banaya hai,
Magar apni wafa ko bhi toh bahut khoob nibhaya hai.

Woh sab ghum bhulane' ke' liye' maikhane' ki taraf chale' jaa rahe' hain,
Iss ghum ki garmi se' kuch sukoon paane' ke' liye,
Jaam ki yaad faramae' chale' jaa rahe' hain.

Bas, sirf jaam ki yaad farmae' chale' jaa rahe' hain.  

Aapko alvida kehte' waqt

Composed this for farewell of a dear colleague:

Aapko alvida kehte' waqt,
Hum khud ko sambhalne' ki koshish karte' hain.

Zindagi toh aane' jaane' ka doosra naam hai,
Yeh aaj khud ko samjhane' ki koshish karte' hain.

Humari nazron se' dooor gaye' toh kya gaye',
Humare' khyalon mein aapka ashiyana hai.

Jahaan aake' ab tak naa gaya koi,
Wahin aapka ab ek thikana hai.

Phir milenge' kabhi, 
Iss umeed se' hum aaj aapse' vida lete' hain.

Magar tabtak aapko hum aapne' khayalon mein dhoondte' rahenge',
Yeh aapse' aaj vaada karte' hain. 

Aaj ke' iss mehfil mein,

Composed this for farewell of a dear colleague:

Aaj iss mehfil mein,

Hum aapse' ijaazat lena chahate' hain.

Shayad, aakhri baar, 
Apki iss masoom aur bemisaal shaksiyat ko sarahana chahate' hain.

Unn tamaam beete' hue' palon ka,
Aapke' unn tamam kamaal bhare' karnamon ka,
Ek baar phir kadar karna chahate' hain.

Kehte' hain, ke' aaj aap aur hum,
Apni apni zindagi ki rahein badal lenge'.

Magar, zara rukiye,
Hum aapke' unn badalte' hue' raahon mein,
Apni duaein sajaana chahate' hain.

Kya pata aur kya khabar,
Zindagi ke kis kis morh par humari rahein phir mil jaayein.

Magar uss waqt hum aapke iss masoom chehre' par,
Wahi muskurahat aur raunaq dekhna chahate' hain. 

I have an admirer who really admires me

I have an admirer who really admires me,
Her very charm amazes me,
I never knew she was inspired by me,
But her repeated insistence surprises me.

Those who are just polite and flattering are plentiful,
They can't be taken seriously,
Else one would look like a fool.

But there are some whose words, thoughts, and acts are truly meaningful,
Such as Ms.X who is also bubbly, jovial, and simply wonderful.

I wonder what would I miss without such a lovely personality?
Perhaps nothing, just a gem with such an amazing quality.

But that would mean a real void,
Big enough, to make me crave for some steroid.

Oh no! That's not what I want,
It's just some genuineness,
Which Ms. X anyway loves to grant!