Andheron Mein Tapakta Ujala

Arz kiya hai…

Ye sach hai, aaj-kal mai zara mushkilon me hu,
Bas zindagi guzaarne ke koshisho me hu…
Is darja-e-chur kar diya hai ab thakaan ne,
Khud ko khabar nahi, ke kin raaston me hu…

Kabhi sochta hoon, ruk jaaun zara sa saans lene ke liye,
Par har kadam par zimmedariyon ka bojh saath hai…
Muskurata hoon, par wo purani chamak kahan,
Aajkal sirf andheron me ek kamzor sa ujala jhilmilata hai…

Kabhi khud se hi poochta hoon, ke main itna thak kyu gaya,
Zindagi ke sang chalte-chalte jaise kahin gum sa ho gaya…
Har raat ek naya bojh dil pe utar aata hai,
Subah lagta hai jaise phir wahi purana safar dobara ho gaya…

Rishte bhi ajkal ajeeb khamoshiyon me dhal gaye,
Jo apne the woh bhi jaise be-raabta sa chal gaye…
Main har muskurahat me apne dard ko bandhta hoon,
Aur zakham be-aawaaz tarah tarah se nikal gaye…

Kabhi kabhi lagta hai ke main khud se hi door ho gaya,
Aaine me dekhkar sochta hoon — yeh chehra kab itna majboor ho gaya?
Waqt ne sabr sikha diya kuch is andaaz se,
Ke rooh ka dard bhi ab bin shor ke mashhoor ho gaya…

Raat ki tanhai me kuch khwaab toot kar girte hain,
Aankhon ke noor me thodi si zard si virani bharte hain…
Kal tak jo lamhe roshan the mere saaye tak,
Aaj woh yaadon ke qasiiddo me dheere dheere murjhate phirte hain…

Hawaon se baatein karta hoon andheron ki gudgudahat me,
Ke shayad koi sun le dil ki iss dard-bhari saans ki aahat me…
Par awaaz bhi ab dheemi si be-tarkeeb pad gayi hai,
Jaise umar beet rahi ho khud apni hi khaamoshi ki raahatein dekhte hue…

Phir bhi rukta nahi hoon, kyunki himmat abhi zinda hai,
Chaahe dil kitna bhaari ho, umeed ka diya abhi zinda hai…
Main andheron me bhi roshni ban kar rukta nahi,
Gir kar uthne ka fasana abhi zinda hai…

Zindagi ne chahe jitne imtehaan rakhe raaste me,
Par main har dard ko khud ki mazbooti bana kar chala hoon…
Haalat chahe kitne sakht ho jaayein,
Lekin main andheron me bhi tapakta hua ek ujala hoon…

Aur ye safar bhi ek din aasani se guzrega,
Jab Rab apni rehmat se baadal bhi utaar dega…
Aaj thoda thaka hoon, par kal phir chamakunga,
Main waqt ke zulm me bhi apni rooh ka ujala sambhal rakhunga…