... Aaj-Kal ...

Jhaankey mere absaar^ me; garr koi ek pal

Ishtiyaaq^ milega, mere usee qaatil ka aaj kal...

Jis daaman ko woh chookar bhi thaam na saka –

Humney aab-e-chashm^ se, usko bheegoya aajkal...

Usee befikra ka taalib^ bann chuka yeh dill

Jisne isi bebas ko wahshat^ mey dhakela aajkal…

Uski judaai par, usssey gila kar na sakey

Toh apni hi qazaa^ ko gunehgaar kahaa aajkal…

Dhadkane tez karkey, woh thukra gaya humey

Usei thokar ko talkh^ dawaa banayaa aajkal...

Khaak ho jaaye hasti, 'usiki' muraad me

Kabhi maut ki, kabhi “Uski” talab^ hai aajkal….

~ Rups ~ 7th November 2006, Bangalore

Meanings of a few Urdu words in this Ghazal:

^Absaar: Eyes
^Ishtiyaaq: Longing/Craving/Desire
^Aab-e-chashm: Tears
^Taalib: seeker/enquirer/lover/candidate
^Wahshat: solitude/grief/fear/sadness/loneliness
^Qazaa: fate/destiny/jurisdiction/judgement
^Talkh: Bitter
^Talab: Search/Wish/Demand