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Date: 24-Sep-99
Poet: Aal Ahmed Saroor

Kal Aur Aaj

vo bhii kya log the aasaan thii raahe.n jin kii
ba.nd aa.Nkhe.n kiye ik simt chale jaate the
aql-o-dil Khvaab-o-haqiiqat kii na ulajhan na Khalish
muKhtalif jalve nigaaho.n ko na bahalaate the

[Khalish = pain/prick; muKhtalif = different types]

ishq saadaa bhii thaa, beKhud bhii, junuu.N-peshaa bhii
husn ko apanii adaao.n pe hijaab aataa thaa
phuul khilate the to phuulo.n me.n nashaa hotaa thaa
raat Dhalatii thii to shiisho.n pe shabaab aataa thaa

[hijaab = coyness]

chaa.Ndanii kaif-asar ruuh-afazaa hotii thii
abr aataa thaa to badamast bhii ho jaate the
din me.n shorish bhii huaa karatii thii, ha.ngaame bhii
raat kii god me.n muu.Nh Dhaa.Np ke so jaate the

[kaif-asar = inducing intoxication; ruuh-afazaa = soul refreshing]
[abr = cloud; badamast = intoxicated; shorish = tumult]

narm rau vaqt ke dhaare pe safiine the ravaa.N
saahil-o-bahr ke aa_iin na badalate the kabhii
naaKhudaao.n pe bharosaa thaa muqaddar pe yaqii.n
chaadar-e-aab se tuufaan na ubalate the kabhii

[narm rau = gentle water current; safiinaa = boat]
[saahil = shore; bahr = sea; aa_iin = law/natural way]
[naaKhudaa = oarsman; muqaddar = fate; aab = water]

ham ke tuufaano.n ke paale bhii sataaye bhii hai.n
barq-o-baaraa.N me.n vo hii shame.n jalaaye.n kaise
ye jo aatish-kadaa duniyaa me.n bha.Dak uTThaa hai
aa.Nsuuo.n se use har baar bujhaaye.n kaise

[barq = lightning; baaraa.N = storm; aatish-kadaa = conflagration]

kar diyaa barq-o-buKhaaraat ne mahashar barpaa
apane daftar me.n litaafat ke sivaa kuchh bhii nahii.n
ghir gaye vaqt kii be-raham kashaakash me.n magar
paas tahaziib kii daulat ke sivaa kuchh bhii nahii.n

[bukhaaraat = fevers/great heat; mahashar = day of judgement]
[lataafat = elegance/pleasantness; be-raham = merciless]
[kashaakash = struggle; tahaziib = civilization/politeness]

ye a.ndheraa ye talaatum ye havaao.n kaa Kharosh
is me.n taaro.n kii subak narm ziyaa kyaa karatii
talKhii-e-ziist se ka.Davaa huaa aashiq kaa mizaaj
nigaah-e-yaar kii maasuum adaa kyaa karatii

[talaatum = upheaval; Kharosh = loud noice/cry]
[subuk = delicate (here it means dim); ziyaa = brilliance/shine]
[talKhii-e-ziist = bitterness of reality/life; ka.Davaa = sour taste]

safar aasaan thaa to ma.nzil bhii ba.Dii raushan thii
aaj kis darjaa pur-asaraar hai.n raahe.n apanii
kitanii parachhaa_iiyaa.N aatii hai.n tajalii ban kar
kitane jalavo.n se ulajhatii hai.n nigaahe.n apanii

[darjaa = grade/level; pur-asaraar = full of secrets/intricate/complex]
[tajallii = bright light]