Khuwab tu khuwab hain

Was reading Saba’s blog, her entry here reminded me of this stupid old nazam.

Khuwab tu khuwab hain.

jab eik masoom bacha
apna chota sa nazuk qadam
nujawani ki dahleez pe rakhta hai
tu apnay masoom khuwab…
apnay daman mein,
chupa ker lay ata hai
akhir bachpan se, saloon ka saath tha
aur nojawani tu, us ke liye..
ik undekhay shahar ki manind hai..
jahan la taidad ajnabi log miltay hain
sochain milti hain,
khuwab miltay hain
phir wo khuwab najanay kesay hon?
ye kion na apnay yar lay chalay?..
apnay khuwab lay chalay
“eik se tu, phir do bhalay”
wo khuwab…jo issay..
is ki azmat samjhatay hain
is ka mustakbil, isey aisay dikhlatay hain..
jesay Nadeem ki koi film
jo is ki ‘ik hi hasti’ ko
kai ropon mein batlatay hain..
kahin ik doctor,
kahin engineer
kahin Iqbal, kahin Ghalib..
kahin ye Javed ka chakka..
apnay naam se munsalik dekhta hai
hun…hmmm..
kitna hansatay hain
kitnay tu pyaray hain
is ke ye masoom khuwab
phir ye, is undekhay shahar ki bhi janib..
ik nazar dorata hai
aur nojawani mein..
dosra qadam bhi jamata hai
magar ye kia?..
yahan tu koi bhi nahi?
Ummeed aur aasain tu door..
yahan tu koi khuwab bhi nahi..
ye heart se apnay daman mein jhankta hai
magar yahan tu iskay apnay khuwab bhi nahi
tab ye jaan pata hai…. ke..
Khuwab tu khuwab hain

(12th June 1997)