Ghazal

"dard ki daulat-e-naayaab ko rusvaa na karo vo nazar raaz hai us raaz kaa charchaa na karo vusat-e-dasht mein divaane bhaTak jaate hain dosto aahu-e-ram-khurda kaa pichhaa na karo tum muqaddar kaa sitaara ho mire paas raho tum jabin-e-shab-e-namnaak pe ubhraa na karo pas-e-divaar bhi divaar kaa aalam hogaa tum yunhi rauzan-e-divaar se jhaankaa na karo ghar palaT aane mein aafiyat-e-jaan hai yaaro jab havaa tez chale raah mein Thahraa na karo yaa dil-o-dida ko tanvir-e-mohabbat bakhsho yaa dam-e-subh zamaane mein ujaalaa na karo ye jahaan-e-guzaraan haath kise aayaa hai pichhe muD muD ke kisi shakhs ko dekhaa na karo bhaagte lamhe ko kab rok sakaa hai koi vo to ik saaya hai saae ki tamannaa na karo sar salaamat nahin rahte hain zabaan kaTti hai pattharon ko kabhi bhule se bhi sajda na karo pyaas bujhti hai kahaan tapte bayaabaanon ki miri aankhon miri aankho yunhi barsaa na karo ziist hai tez-qadam aage nikal jaaegi tum kisi moD pe rukne kaa iraada na karo kuchh idhar saae hain jo baDh ke lipaT jaate hain 'akhtar' is raah se ho kar kabhi guzraa na karo"

"har chand siine mein dil-e-kufr-aashnaa nahin main us ko pujtaa huun jo meraa khudaa nahin vo meri zindagi hai magar zindagi ki tarah mujh se khafaa nahin hai ki vo bevafaa nahin kyaa kyaa na apne saath zamaanon ko laai hai vo ik nigaah jis se koi aashnaa nahin shaayad main khaak-daan ke dhuein ki lakir huun vo mujh ko dekhtaa hai magar puchhtaa nahin guunj us ki aaj bhi mire khalvat-kade mein hai vo naghma jis ko tu ne dobaara sunaa nahin un raaston ki gard miri zindagi pe hai jin raaston pe main kabhi 'akhtar' chalaa nahin"

"khvaab-mahal mein kaun sar-e-shaam aa kar patthar maartaa hai roz ik taaza kaanch kaa bartan haath se gir kar TuTtaa hai makDi ne darvaaze pe jaale duur talak bun rakkhe hain phir bhi koi guzre dinon ki oT se andar jhaanktaa hai shor saa uThtaa rahtaa hai divaarein bolti rahti hain shaam abhi tak aa nahin paati koi khilaune toDtaa hai avval-e-shab ki lori bhi kab kaam kisi ke aati hai dil vo bachcha apni sadaa par kachchi niind se jaagtaa hai andar baahar ki aavaazein ik nuqte par simTi hain hotaa hai galiyon mein vaavailaa meraa lahu jab boltaa hai meri saanson ki larzish manzar kaa hissa banti hai dekhtaa huun main khiDki se jab shaakh pe pattaa kaanptaa hai mere sirhaane koi baiThaa Dhaaras detaa rahtaa hai nabz pe haath bhi rakhtaa hai TuuTe dhaage bhi joDtaa hai baadal uTThe yaa ki na uTThe baarish bhi ho yaa ki na ho main jab bhigne lagtaa huun vo sar par chhatri taantaa hai vaqt guzarne ke ham-raah bahut kuchh sikhaa 'akhtar' ne nange badan ko kirnon ke pairaahan se ab Dhaanptaa hai"

"khvaahishein itni baDhin insaan aadhaa rah gayaa khvaab jo dekhaa nahin vo bhi adhuraa rah gayaa main to us ke saath hi ghar se nikal kar aa gayaa aur pichhe ek dastak ek saayaa rah gayaa us ko to pairaahanon se koi dilchaspi na thi dukh to ye hai rafta rafta main bhi nangaa rah gayaa rang tasviron kaa utraa to kahin Thahraa nahin ab ke vo baarish hui har naqsh phikaa rah gayaa 'umr bhar manzar-nigaari khuun mein utri rahi phir bhi aankhon ke muqaabil ek dariyaa rah gayaa raunaqein jitni thiin dahlizon se baahar aa gaiin shaam hi se ghar kaa darvaaza khulaa kyaa rah gayaa ab ke shahr-e-zindagi mein saaneha aisaa huaa main sadaa detaa use vo mujh ko taktaa rah gayaa titliyon ke par kitaabon mein kahin gum ho gae muTThiyon ke aaine mein ek chehra rah gayaa rail ki gaaDi chali to ik musaafir ne kahaa dekhnaa vo koi station pe baiThaa rah gayaa main na kahtaa thaa ki ujlat is qadar achchhi nahin ek paT khiDki kaa aa kar dekh lo vaa rah gayaa log apni kirchiyaan chun chun ke aage baDh gae main magar saamaan ikaTThaa kartaa tanhaa rah gayaa aaj tak mauj-e-havaa to lauT kar aai nahin kyaa kisi ujDe nagar mein diip jaltaa rah gayaa ungliyon ke naqsh gul-daanon pe aate hain nazar aao dekhein apne andar aur kyaa kyaa rah gayaa dhuup ki garmi se inTein pak gaiin phal pak gae ik hamaaraa jism thaa 'akhtar' jo kachchaa rah gayaa"

"apne qadmon hi ki aavaaz se chaunkaa hotaa yuun mire paas se ho kar koi guzraa hotaa chaandni se bhi sulag uThtaa hai viraana-e-jaan ye agar jaante suraj hi ko chaahaa hotaa zindagi khvaab-e-pareshaan hai bahaar ek khayaal in ko milne se bahut pahle ye sochaa hotaa dopahar guzri magar dhuup kaa aalam hai vahi koi saaya kisi divaar se utraa hotaa ret uD uD ke havaaon mein chali aati hai shahr-e-armaan sar-e-sahraa na basaayaa hotaa aarzu umr-e-gurezaan to nahin tum to nahin ye saraktaa huaa lamha kahin Thahraa hotaa pichhe pichhe koi saaya saa chalaa aataa thaa haae vo kaun thaa muD kar use dekhaa hotaa tujh se yak go na taalluq mujhe ik umr se thaa zindagi tu ne hi baDh kar mujhe rokaa hotaa jaane kyaa soch ke logon ne bujhaae hain charaagh raat kaTti to sahar hoti ujaalaa hotaa apne daaman ko jalaa kar main charaaghaan kartaa agar is raakh mein 'akhtar' koi shoala hotaa"

"thi titliyon ke taaaqub mein zindagi meri vo shahr kyaa huaa jis ki thi har gali meri main apni zaat ki tashrih kartaa phirtaa thaa na jaane phir kahaan aavaaz kho gai meri ye sarguzisht-e-zamaana ye daastaan-e-hayaat adhuri baat mein bhi rah gai kami meri havaa-e-koh-e-nidaa ik zaraa Thahar ki abhi zamaana ghaur se suntaa hai an-kahi meri main itne zor se chikhaa chaTakh gayaa hai badan phir is ke baad kisi ne nahin suni meri ye darmiyaan kaa khalaa hi miraa nahin varna ye aasmaan bhi meraa zamin bhi meri kise khabar ki guhar kaise haath aate hain samundaron se bhi gahri hai khaamushi meri koi to aae mire paas do ghaDi baiThe ki kar gai mujhe tanhaa khud-aagahi meri kabhi kabhi to zamaana rahaa nigaahon mein kabhi kabhi nazar aai na shakl bhi meri mujhe khabar hai kahaan huun main kaun huun 'akhtar' ki mere naam se surat giri hui meri"

"miri nigaah kaa paighaam be-sadaa jo huaa vo meri baat sune kyuun main be-navaa jo huaa savaad-e-shahr mein milte hain log sang-ba-dast savaad-e-shahr se sahraa ko raasta jo huaa milaa na tu to gham-e-zindagi ke divaane idhar hi lauT paDe main teraa pataa jo huaa tamaam raat main suntaa rahaa tiri aavaaz tiraa khayaal hi mujh ko tiri sadaa jo huaa havaa-e-gul bhi pareshaan qabaa-e-gul bhi chaak junun kaa fasl-e-bahaaraan se raabta jo huaa"

"ik nuur thaa ki pichhle pahar ham-safar huaa mujh ko qabaa kaa chaak hi chaak-e-sahar huaa sailaab umanD ke shahar ki galiyon mein aa gae lekin gharib-e-shahr kaa daaman na tar huaa zindaan-e-aarzu mein nazar be-basar rahi divaar dar hui to kiran kaa guzar huaa vo aandhiyaan chali hain ki ashjaar ukhaD gae dukkaan-e-shishagar pe na phir bhi asar huaa ab kaun dekhtaa phire kyuun baam-o-dar jale jo kuchh huaa hai fasl-e-chaman se udhar huaa"

"harf-e-be-aavaaz se dahkaa huaa ik diyaa huun taaq mein jaltaa huaa is taraf divaar ke bhi main hi thaa us taraf bhi main hi thaa baiThaa huaa aanganon mein phuul the mahke hue khiDkiyon mein chaand thaa Thahraa huaa kore kaaghaz par ajab tahrir thi paDhte paDhte main jise andhaa huaa kyaa kahun dast-e-havaa ke shobade ret par ik naam thaa likkhaa huaa mere khuun ki gardishein bhi baDh gaiin us qabaa kaa rang bhi gahraa huaa ungliyon mein us badan kaa loch hai rang-o-khushbu kaa safar taazaa huaa raat bhar jis ki sadaa aati rahi sochtaa huun vo parinda kyaa huaa jaagti aankhon mein 'akhtar' aks kyaa main ne dekhaa qaafilaa jaataa huaa"

"honTon pe qarz-e-harf-e-vafaa umr bhar rahaa maqruz thaa so chup ki sadaa umr bhar rahaa kuchh darguzar ki un ko bhi aadat na thi kabhi kuchh main bhi apni zid pe uDaa umr bhar rahaa vo tajrabe hue ki mire khuun ki khair ho yaaro main apne ghar se judaa umr bhar rahaa mausam kaa habs shab ki siyaahi fasil-e-shahr mujrim thaa sar jhukaae khaDaa umr bhar rahaa subh o masaa ki gardish-e-paiham ke baavajud main darmiyaan-e-subh-o-masaa umr bhar rahaa in baarishon mein kaun bahe khaar-o-khas ke saath suraj ki le ke sar pe ridaa umr bhar rahaa haathon se oT ki to sabhi ungliyaan jalin phir bhi havaa ki zad pe diyaa umr bhar rahaa ik khuun ki khalij mire saamne rahi aur mere pichhe saaya miraa umr bhar rahaa 'akhtar' ye jangalon mein usi ke nishaan hain jo khaar khaar aabla-paa umr bhar rahaa"

"na jab koi sharik-e-zaat hogaa miraa ham-zaad mere saath hogaa gharon ke band darvaazon mein raushan vahi ik zakhm-e-ehsaasaat hogaa na yuun dahliz tak aao ki baahar gali mein fitna-e-zarraat hogaa kurede jaao yuun hi raakh dil ki kahin to shoala-e-jazbaat hogaa dariche yuun to khul sakte nahin the havaaon mein kisi kaa haat hogaa kitaabon mein mileinge sher mere miraa gham raunaq-e-safhaat hogaa yahi din mein Dhalegi raat 'akhtar' yahi din kaa ujaalaa raat hogaa"

"shaayaan-e-zindagi na the ham mo'atabar na the haan kam-nazar the itne magar kam-nazar na the ab ke baras jo phuul khilaa kaaghzi hi thaa ab ke to duur duur kahin barg-e-tar na the har phuul ek zakhm thaa har shaakh ek laash goyaa ki raah mein thiin salibein shajar na the baadal uThe to ret ke zarre baras paDe ham ko bhigo gae hain vo daaman jo tar na the kahte the ek ju-e-ravaan hai chaman chaman dekhaa to bastiyon ke kinaare bhi tar na the Takraa ke sar ko apnaa lahu aap chaaTte achchhaa huaa ki dasht mein divaar-o-dar na the dariyaa kaa siina chiir ke ubhre jo sath par daaman mein sang-reze the 'akhtar' guhar na the"

"main us kaa naam ghule paaniyon pe likhtaa kyaa vo ek mauj-e-ravaan hai kahin pe ruktaa kyaa tamaam harf mire lab pe aa ke jam se gae na jaane main ne kahaa kyaa aur us ne samjhaa kyaa sabhon ko apni gharaz thi sabhon ko apni baqaa mire liye mire nazdik koi aataa kyaa ubhartaa chaand miraa ham-safar thaa dariyaa mein main Dubte hue suraj ko muD ke taktaa kyaa parinde ghar ki munDeron pe aa ke baiTh gae main ajnabi thaa ishaara koi samajhtaa kyaa firaaq o vasl to tasvirein un ke naam ki hain main in mein rang kisi ke lahu se bhartaa kyaa main apne ghar mein nahin thaa magar kahin bhi na thaa udhar se mujh ko guzarte kisi ne dekhaa kyaa tamaam shahr ravaan hai mire taaaqub mein main aap kyaa mire ghar ki taraf ko rastaa kyaa ye raushni kabhi pahle na thi yahaan 'akhtar' sitaara raat ki palkon pe koi chamkaa kyaa"

"dasht-dar-dasht aks-e-dar hai yahaan tum bhi aao ki meraa ghar hai yahaan phailti jaa rahi hai surkh lakir jaise koi lahu mein tar hai yahaan dhuup se bach ke jaaein aur kahaan apni zaat ik ghanaa shajar hai yahaan vahi miTTi hai sab ke chehron par aaina sab se baa-khabar hai yahaan shaakh-dar-shaakh ek saaya hai chaand jo hai pas-e-shajar hai yahaan Duub kar jis mein apni thaah mili lamha lamha vahi bhanvar hai yahaan pattharon mein hazaar chehre hain haan magar koi tisha-gar hai yahaan kuchh mujhe bhi yahaan qaraar nahin kuchh tiraa gham bhi dar-ba-dar hai yahaan zahr ki kaaT kis se ho 'akhtar' vaqt kaa marg-e-neshtar hai yahaan"

"manzilon ke faasle divaar-o-dar mein rah gae kyaa safar thaa mere saare khvaab ghar mein rah gae ab koi tasvir bhi apni jagah qaaem nahin ab havaa ke rang hi meri nazar mein rah gae jitne manzar the mire ham-raah ghar tak aae hain aur pas-e-manzar savaad-e-rah-guzar mein rah gae apne qadmon ke nishaan bhi band kamron mein rahe taaqchon par bhi diye khaali nagar mein rah gae kar gai hai naam se ghaafil hamein apni shanaakht sirf aavaazon ke saae hi khabar mein rah gae naa-khudaaon ne palaT kar jaane kyuun dekhaa nahin kashtiyon ke to kai takhte bhanvar mein rah gae kaisi kaisi aahaTein alfaaz kaa paikar banin kaise kaise aks meri chashm-e-tar mein rah gae haath ki saari lakirein paanv ke talvon mein thiin aur mere ham-safar gard-e-safar mein rah gae kyaa hujum-e-rang 'akhtar' kyaa farogh-e-bu-e-gul mausamon ke zaaiqe buDhe shajar mein rah gae"

"aag chulhe ki bujhi jaati hai chaandni hai ki khili jaati hai jis qadar niche utartaa huun main jhiil bhi gahri hui jaati hai gard uThi hai jo miri Thokar se ek divaar bani jaati hai pahre honTon pe biThaane vaale baat aankhon se bhi ki jaati hai log saahil pe khaDe dekhte hain naav kaaghaz ki bahi jaati hai"

"kuchh naqsh huvaidaa hain khayaalon ki Dagar se shaayad kabhi guzraa huun main is raah-guzar se galiyaan bhi hain sunsaan dariche bhi hain khaamosh qadmon ki ye aavaaz dar aai hai kidhar se taaqon mein charaaghon kaa dhuaan jam saa gayaa hai ab ham bhi nikalte nahin ujDe hue ghar se kyuun kaaghzi phulon se sajaataa nahin ghar ko is daur ko shikva hai mire zauq-e-hunar se saae ki tarah koi taaaqub mein ravaan hai ab bach ke kahaan jaaeinge ik shoabda-gar se 'akhtar' ye ghane abr baDe tang-nazar hain uTThe hain jo dariyaa se to dariyaa pe hi barse"

"vo zindagi hai us ko khafaa kyaa kare koi paani ko saahilon se judaa kyaa kare koi baarish kaa pahlaa qatra hi basti Dubo gayaa ab apni jaan kaa qarz adaa kyaa kare koi jab gard uD rahi ho harim-e-khayaal mein aaina dekhne ke sivaa kyaa gire koi vo kyaa gae ki shahr hi viraan ho gayaa ab jangalon mein rah ke sadaa kyaa kare koi apne badan ki aag se shamein jalaaiye kachche gharon mein jashn-e-hinaa kyaa kare koi zahraab-e-zindagi to ragon mein utar gayaa ab ai gham-e-firaaq bataa kyaa kare koi miTTi se kheltaa huaa rizq-e-havaa huaa 'akhtar' ab aur sharh-e-vafaa kyaa kare koi"

"kise khabar jab main shahr-e-jaan se guzar rahaa thaa zamin thi pahlu mein suraj ik kos par rahaa thaa havaa mein khushbuein meri pahchaan ban gai thiin main apni miTTi se phuul ban kar ubhar rahaa thaa ajiib sargoshiyon kaa aalam thaa anjuman mein main sun rahaa thaa zamaana tanqid kar rahaa thaa vo kaisi chhat thi jo mujh ko aavaaz de rahi thi vo kyaa nagar thaa jahaan main chup-chaap utar rahaa thaa main dekhtaa thaa ki ungliyon mein diye ki lau hai main jaagtaa thaa ki rang khvaabon mein bhar rahaa thaa ye baat alag hai ki main ne jhaankaa nahin gali mein ye sach hai koi sadaaein detaa guzar rahaa thaa ye chand be-harf-o-saut khaake miraa asaasa main jin ko ghazlon kaa naam de kar sanvar rahaa thaa zamaana shabnam ke bhes mein aayaa aur duaa di main zard-rut mein jab apni baahon mein mar rahaa thaa mujhe kisi se naqab-zani kaa khatar nahin thaa main 'akhtar' apne hi jasad-e-khaaki se Dar rahaa thaa"

"ham aksar tirgi mein apne pichhe chhup gae hain magar jab raaston mein chaand ubhraa chal paDe hain zamaana apni 'uryaani pe khuun roegaa kab tak hamein dekho ki apne aap ko oDhe hue hain miraa bistar kisi fōtpath par jaa kar lagaa do mire bachche abhi se mujh se tarka maangte hain buland aavaaz de kar dekh lo koi to hogaa jo galiyaan so gai hain to parinde jaagte hain koi tafsil ham se puchhnaa ho puchh liije ki ham bhi aaine ke saamne barson rahe hain abhi ai daastaan-go daastaan kahtaa chalaa jaa abhi ham jaagte hain jumbish-e-lab dekhte hain havaa apne hi jhonkon kaa ta'aaqub kar rahi hai ki uDte patte phir aankhon se ojhal ho rahe hain hamein bhi is kahaani kaa koi kirdaar samjho ki jis mein lab pe mohrein hain dariche bolte hain idhar se paaniyon kaa relaa kab kaa jaa chukaa hai magar bachche darakhton se abhi chimTe hue hain mujhe to chalte rahnaa hai kisi jaanib bhi jaaun ki 'akhtar' mere qadmon mein abhi tak raaste hain"

"apnaa saaya bhi na ham-raah safar mein rakhnaa pukhta saDkein hi faqat raahguzar mein rakhnaa ghair-mahfuz samajh kar na ghanim aa jaae dosto! main na sahi khud ko nazar mein rakhnaa kahin aisaa na ho main hadd-e-khabar se guzrun koi aalam ho mujhe apni khabar mein rakhnaa aaina TuuT ke bikhre to kai aks mile ab hathauDaa hi kaf-e-aaina-gar mein rakhnaa mashghale kibr-sini mein vahi bachpan vaale kabhi tasvirein kabhi aaine ghar mein rakhnaa bahte dariyaaon ko saahil hi se takte rahnaa aur jalte hue ghar dida-e-tar mein rakhnaa koi to aisaa ho jo tum ko bachaae tum se koi to apnaa bahi-khvaah safar mein rakhnaa koi bhi chiiz na rakhnaa ki taaaqub mein hain log apni miTTi hi magar dast-e-hunar mein rakhnaa jangalon mein bhi havaa se vahi rishta 'akhtar' shahr mein bhi yahi saudaa mujhe sar mein rakhnaa"

"shikaari raat bhar baiThe rahe unchi machaanon par musaafir phir bhi lauT aane ko jaa pahunche Thikaanon par kisi ne jhaank kar dekhaa na baahar hi koi aayaa havaa ne umr bhar kyaa kyaa na dastak di makaanon par khud apnaa aks-e-rukh hai jo kisi ko rok le baDh kar vagarna aadmi kab mustaqil Thahraa chaTaanon par uThaae aasmaan ke dukh bhi kis mein itni himmat hai zamin hi ek bhaari hai hamein to apni jaanon par darichon ne ye manzar aaj pahli baar dekhaa hai ki tum jaane kahaan the aur suraj thaa makaanon par gharon se jab nikal aae to sab ne raah li apni magar duniyaa ki nazrein hain parindon ki uDaanon par havaa yuun hi to ham ko le ke peDon tak nahin aai hamaaraa naam thaa likkhaa huaa gandum ke daanon par ye maanaa aandhiyon kaa haq hai sab par yurishein karnaa magar ye main ki meri aankh hai khasta makaanon par kuchh itne ho gae maanus sannaaTon se ham 'akhtar' guzarti hai giraan apni sadaa bhi ab to kaanon par"

"zamin par hi rahe aasmaan ke hote hue kahin na ghar se gae kaarvaan ke hote hue main kis kaa naam na luun aur naam luun kis kaa hazaaron phuul khile the khizaan ke hote hue badan ki jaise havaaon ki zad mein koi charaagh ye apnaa haal thaa ik mehrbaan ke hote hue hamein khabar hai koi ham-safar na thaa phir bhi yaqin ki manzilein tai kiin gumaan ke hote hue vo be-niyaaz hain ham mustaqil kahin na ruke kisi ke naqsh-e-qadam aastaan ke hote hue har ek rakht-e-safar ko uThaae phirtaa thaa koi makin na kahin thaa makaan ke hote hue ye saaneha bhi mire aansuon pe guzraa hai nigaah bolti thi tarjumaan ke hote hue hidaayaton kaa hai mohtaaj naama-bar ki tarah faqih-e-shahr tilism-e-bayaan ke hote hue ajiib nuur se rishta thaa nuur kaa akhtar kai charaagh jale kahkashaan ke hote hue"

"bajaa ki dushman-e-jaan shahr-e-jaan ke baahar hai magar main us ko kahun kyaa jo ghar ke andar hai tamaam naqsh parindon ki tarah utre hain ki kaaghazon pe khile paaniyon kaa manzar hai main ek shakhs jo kumbon mein rah gayaa baT kar main musht-e-khaak jo taqsim ho ke be-ghar hai shajar kaTaa to koi ghonsla kahin na rahaa magar ik uDtaa parinda fazaa kaa zevar hai vo khauf hai ki makin apne apne kamron mein hain vo haal hai ki bayaabaan mein vusat-e-dar hai kahin bhi peD nahin phir bhi patthar aae hain gali mein koi nahin phir bhi shor-e-mahshar hai main is vasia jazire mein vaahid insaan huun ki mere chaaron taraf dasht kaa samundar hai koi bhi khvaab na unchi fasil se utraa magar kiran ke guzarne ko rauzan-e-dar hai tamaam raushaniyaan bujh gai hain basti mein magar vo diip ki jis kaa havaaon mein ghar hai kisi se mujh ko gila kyaa ki kuchh kahun 'akhtar' ki meri zaat hi khud raaste kaa patthar hai"