The leftover rose: Kal ka gulab

Kal ka gulab

Woh gulab ka chehra ab kyon itna be-rang lagta hai
Jaise bistar par lete hue kisine masal diya
Kitne honthon ne usey choom liya hoga
Kitne haathon ne usey chhoo liya hoga
Khushboo phailee hogee kis-kis ki zulfon mein
Shabnam khilee hogi kitne palkon mein

Jab aaya tha mere ghar par
Lagta to naya tha
Eik pakeezgi thi uski nazar mein
Eik muqaddas jazbaat tha
Halki si muskurahat se maine usey apnaya
Apne hi aaghosh mein sulaaya

Seh’r hote hi woh ghayab tha
Hansee ki awaaz aayi guldaan se
Jo paani maine pilaya tha
Usko hi thook diya meri zameen pe
Uske chehre par ungliyon ke nishan dikhne lage
Ab yakeen hua ki woh to bohat puraana tha

Purane makaanon mein jaise paththaron ki goonj sunaayi deti hai
Iss gulab se bhi lafzon ki khatkhatahat aane lagee
Agar todna mumkin tha to mera darwaaza bhi toot jaata
Magar maine hi to khol kar usey mehman bana diya
Qadmon par aakar gir pada tha
Maasoom lawaaris ki tarah meri aankon ko dhoondh raha tha

Mujhe laga ke usey panaah chahiye
Meri nigaah se kuchch raushni chahiye
Magar usko to apni kahani sunani thi
Mujhe apni ruswaai yaad dilani thi
Gulabon se baatein karna koi asaan kaam nahin
Phir bhi maine poochch liya kyon aaya tha mere paas

Usne apne paaon uthaye aur kuchal diya har ehsaas
Phir haath badha kar sahara dene laga
Hans ke maine keh diya ki door se hi khushboo ko mehsoos kijiye
Agar kuchch chubhega to khud ka khoon dijiye
Aapne phoolon se itni pehchan karva di hai jab
Kaanton ki zubaan achhi tarah samajhne lage hai ab

~FV

The image: Another of my small attempts at photo-art.