Qissa Mukhtasar

To all the love stories that didnt happen

hameñ bhī ro le hujūm-e-girya ki phir na ā.eñge ġham ke mausam

hameñ bhī ro le ki ham vahī haiñ

jo āftāboñ kī bastiyoñ se surāġh laa.e the un saveroñ kā jin ko shabnam ke pahle qatroñ ne ġhusl baḳhshā

safed rañgoñ se nūr-e-ma.anī nikāl lete the aur chāñdī ujālte the

shafaq pe Thahre sunahre bādal se zard sone ko Dhālte the

ḳhunuk havāoñ meñ ḳhushbuoñ ko milā ke un ko uḌāne vaale

sabā kī partoñ pe sher likh kar adam kī shakleñ banāne vaale

dimāġh rakhte the lafz o ma.anī kā aur dast-e-hunar ke mālik

vaqār-e-nūr-e-charāġh ham the

hameñ bhī ro le hujūm-e-girya

hameñ bhī ro le ki ham vahī haiñ

jo tez āñdhī meñ saaf chehroñ ko dekh lete the aur sāñsoñ ko bhāñpte the

falak-nashīnoñ se guftugūeñ thiiñ aur pariyoñ se khelte the

karīm logoñ kī sohbatoñ meñ kushāda kū-e-saḳhā ko dekhā

kabhī na rokā thā ham ko sūraj ke chobdāroñ ne qasr-e-baizā ke dāḳhle se

vahī to ham haiñ

vahī to ham haiñ jo luT chuke haiñ hafīz rāhoñ pe luTne vaale

usī falak kī siyah-zamīñ par jahāñ pe larzāñ haiñ shor-e-nāla se ādiloñ kī sunahrī kaḌiyāñ

hameñ bhī ro le hujūm-e-girya

hameñ bhī ro le ki in dinoñ meñ hamārī pushtoñ pe baar hotā hai zaḳhm-e-tāza ke surḳh phūloñ kā aur gardan meñ sard aahan kī kohna laḌiyāñ

hamārī zid meñ safed nāḳhun qalam banāne meñ dast-e-qātil kā saath dete haiñ aur neze uchhālte haiñ

havā kī lahroñ ne reg-e-sahrā kī tez dhāroñ se rishte joḌe

sharīr hāthoñ se kañkaroñ kī siyāh bārish ke rābte haiñ

hamārī zid meñ hī mulkoñ mulkoñ ke shahryāroñ ne ahd bāñdhe

yahī ki ham ko dhueñ se bāñdheñ aur ab dhueñ se bañdhe hue haiñ

so ham pe rone ke nauha karne ke din yahī haiñ hujūm-e-girya

ki musta.id haiñ hamāre mātam ko gahre sāyoñ kī sard shāmeñ

ḳhizāñ-rasīda tavīl shāmeñ

hameñ bhī ro le hujūm-e-girya ki phir na ā.eñge ġham ke mausam

havā bhī ḳhush-gavār hai

guloñ pe bhī nikhār hai

(Flowers are bright and fresh)

tarannum-e-hazār hai

(Thousand rhymes)

bahār pur-bahār hai

(Abundant blooms)

kahāñ chalā hai sāqiyā (bartender)

idhar to lauT idhar to aa

are ye dekhtā hai kyā

uThā subū subū uThā

(Pick the goblet)

subū uThā pyāla(cup) bhar

pyāla bhar ke de idhar

chaman kī samt kar nazar

(Look at Gardens direction)

samāñ to dekh be-ḳhabar

vo kaalī kaalī badliyāñ

ufuq pe ho ga.iiñ ayaañ

(Horizon is so clear)

vo ik hujūm-e-mai-kashāñ

(That Crowd of drinker)

hai sū-e-mai-kada ravāñ

(Towards tavern, flowing)

ye kyā gumāñ hai bad-gumāñ

(Whats the doubt and suspicion)

samajh na mujh ko nā-tavāñ (weak)

ḳhayāl-e-zohd abhī kahāñ

(Thoughts of pity)

abhī to maiñ javān huuñ

ibādatoñ kā zikr hai

(Prayers are mentioned)

najāt (salvation) kī bhī fikr hai

junūn hai savāb(reward of good deeds) kā

ḳhayāl hai azaab(agony) kā

magar suno to shaiḳh jī

ajiib shai(thing) haiñ aap bhī

bhalā shabāb(youth) o āshiqī

alag hue bhī haiñ kabhī

hasīn jalva-rez hoñ

(Manifestation in glory)

adā.eñ fitna-ḳhez hoñ

(Style seditious)

havā.eñ itr-bez(spreading fragrance) hoñ

to shauq kyuuñ na tez hoñ

nigār-hā-e-fitnagar

(Temptation of the sweetheart)

koī idhar koī udhar

ubhārte hoñ aish par

to kyā kare koī bashar (man)

chalo jī qissa-muḳhtasar (long story short)

tumhārā nuqta-e-nazar (point of view)

durust hai to ho magar

abhī to maiñ javān huuñ

ye gasht kohsār kī

(Patrolling of mountains)

ye sair jū-e-bār(dividing stream of liquid)

ye bulbuloñ ke chahchahe

ye gul-ruḳhoñ ke qahqahe (beautiful exclusive laughter)

kisī se mel ho gayā

to rañj (sorrow) o fikr kho gayā

kabhī jo baḳht (luck) so gayā

ye hañs gayā vo ro gayā

ye ishq kī kahāniyāñ

ye ras bharī javāniyāñ

udhar se mehrbāniyāñ

idhar se lan-tarāniyāñ (tall tales)

ye āsmān ye zamīñ

nazāra-hā-e-dil-nashīñ

(Beautiful sightings)

inheñ hayāt-āfrīñ

(Praiseworthy life)

bhalā maiñ chhoḌ duuñ yahīñ

hai maut is qadar qarīñ (close)

mujhe na aa.egā yaqīñ

nahīñ nahīñ abhī nahīñ

abhī to maiñ javān huuñ

na ġham kushūd(openness) o bast(close-knit) kā

buland kā na past kā

(Neither high or low)

na buud kā na hast kā

(Neither past nor existing)

na vāda-e-alast kā

(Promise of the day of creation)

ummīd aur yaas(despair) gum

havās gum qayās gum

(The senses and presumptions are lost)

nazar se aas paas gum

hama-bajuz gilās gum

(Everything but the glass is lost)

na mai(liquor) meñ kuchh kamī rahe

qadah se hamdamī rahe

(Bowl keeps friendships alive)

nashist (gathering) ye jamī rahe

yahī hamā-hamī(bragging boasting) rahe

vo raag chheḌ mutribā (female singer)

tarab-fazā, alam-rubā

(Joyful or sorrowful)

asar sadā-e-sāz(music of intruments) kā

jigar meñ aag de lagā

har ek lab pe ho sadā (voice)

na haath rok sāqiyā

pilā.e jā pilā.e jā

abhī to maiñ javān huuñ

sabza sabza suukh rahī hai phīkī zard dopahar

dīvāroñ ko chaaT rahā hai tanhā.ī kā zahr

duur ufuq tak ghaTtī baḌhtī uThtī rahtī hai

kohr kī sūrat be-raunaq dardoñ kī gadlī lahr

bastā hai is kohr ke pīchhe raushniyoñ kā shahr

ai raushniyoñ ke shahr

kaun kahe kis samt hai terī raushniyoñ kī raah

har jānib be-nūr khaḌī hai hijr kī shahr-panāh

thak kar har sū baiTh rahī hai shauq kī maand sipāh

aaj mirā dil fikr meñ hai

ai raushniyoñ ke shahr

shab-ḳhūñ se muñh pher na jaa.e armānoñ kī rau

ḳhair ho terī lailāoñ kī un sab se kah do

aaj kī shab jab diye jalā.eñ ūñchī rakkheñ lau City of Lights

On each patch of green, from one shade to the next,

the noon is erasing itself by wiping out all color,

becoming pale, desolation everywhere,

the poison of exile painted on the walls.

In the distance,

there are terrible sorrows, like tides:

they draw back, swell, become full, subside.

They've turned the horizon to mist.

And behind that mist is the city of lights,

my city of many lights.

How will I return to you, my city,

where is the road to your lights? My hopes

are in retreat, exhausted by these unlit, broken walls,

and my heart, their leader, is in terrible doubt.

But let all be well, my city, if under

cover of darkness, in a final attack,

my heart leads its reserves of longings

and storms you tonight. Just tell all your lovers

to turn the wicks of their lamps high

so that I may find you, Oh city,

my city of many lights.

tum na aa.e the to har ik chiiz vahī thī ki jo hai

āsmāñ hadd-e-nazar rāhguzar rāhguzar (path) shīsha-e-mai shīsha-e-mai (glass of wine)

aur ab shīsha-e-mai rāhguzar rañg-e-falak

rañg hai dil kā mire ḳhūn-e-jigar (bloody heart) hone tak

champa.ī(purple)rañg kabhī rāhat-e-dīdār(pleasant/comfort) kā rañg

surma.ī(dark grey) rañg ki hai sā.at-e-bezār (disturbing/disgust) kā rañg

zard (pale) pattoñ kā ḳhas-o-ḳhār(fragrance of dried leaves) kā rañg

surḳh (red) phūloñ kā dahakte hue gulzār kā rañg

zahr kā rañg lahū rañg shab-e-tār(dark night) kā rañg

āsmāñ rāhguzar shīsha-e-mai

koī bhīgā huā dāman koī dukhtī huī rag

koī har lahza badaltā huā ā.īna hai

ab jo aa.e ho to Thahro ki koī rañg koī rut koī shai

ek jagah par Thahre

phir se ik baar har ik chiiz vahī ho ki jo hai

āsmāñ hadd-e-nazar rāhguzar rāhguzar shīsha-e-mai shīsha-e-mai

Baat phoolon ki suna karte the

Hum kabhi sheer kaha karte the

Mashalein le ke tumhare gham ki

Hum andheron mein chala karte the

Ab kaha aisi tabiyat vale

Chot kha kar jo dua karte the

Tark-e-ehsaas-e-mohabbat mushkil

Haan magar ahl-e-wafa karte the

Bikhri bikhri zulfon wale

Qafilein rok liya karte the

Aaj gulshan mein shagoofe saaghar

Shikwah baad e saba karte the

be-ḳhayālī meñ yūñhī bas ik irāda kar liyā

apne dil ke shauq ko had se ziyāda kar liyā

jānte the donoñ ham us ko nibhā sakte nahīñ

us ne va.ada kar liyā maiñ ne bhī va.ada kar liyā

ġhair se nafrat jo pā lī ḳharch ḳhud par ho ga.ī

jitne ham the ham ne ḳhud ko us se aadhā kar liyā

shaam ke rañgoñ meñ rakh kar saaf paanī kā gilās

āb-e-sāda(plain water) ko harīf-e-rañg-e-bāda(against the colours of wine) kar liyā

hijratoñ(separation/migration) kā ḳhauf thā yā pur-kashish kohna maqām

(Ancient dwelling) kyā thā jis ko ham ne ḳhud dīvār-e-jāda(wall of path) kar liyā

ek aisā shaḳhs bantā jā rahā huuñ maiñ 'munīr'

jis ne ḳhud par band husn o jaam o baada (wine) kar liyā

chāñdī vāle, shīshe vāle, āñkhoñ vaale shahr meñ

kho gayā ik shaḳhs mujh se, dekhe-bhāle shahr meñ

sard rātoñ kī havā meñ uḌte pattoñ ke masīl

kaun tere shab-navardoñ ko sambhāle shahr meñ

kāñch kī shāḳhoñ pe laTke terī vahshat ke samar

terī vahshat ke samar bhī ham ne paale shahr meñ

dil ke reshoñ se ridā-e-nūr bunte miT ga.e

shab kī fasloñ meñ nahīñ āsāñ ujāle shahr meñ

sitāroñ se aage jahāñ aur bhī haiñ

abhī ishq ke imtihāñ aur bhī haiñ

tahī zindagī se nahīñ ye fazā.eñ

yahāñ saikḌoñ kārvāñ aur bhī haiñ

qanā.at na kar ālam-e-rañg-o-bū par

chaman aur bhī āshiyāñ aur bhī haiñ

agar kho gayā ik nasheman to kyā ġham

maqāmāt-e-āh-o-fuġhāñ aur bhī haiñ

tū shāhīñ hai parvāz hai kaam terā

tire sāmne āsmāñ aur bhī haiñ

isī roz o shab meñ ulajh kar na rah jā

ki tere zamān o makāñ aur bhī haiñ

ga.e din ki tanhā thā maiñ anjuman meñ

yahāñ ab mire rāz-dāñ aur bhī haiñ

do chaar gaam raah ko hamvār dekhnā

phir har qadam pe ik na.ī dīvār dekhnā

āñkhoñ kī raushnī se hai har sañg ā.īna

har aa.ine meñ ḳhud ko gunahgār dekhnā

har aadmī meñ hote haiñ das biis aadmī

jis ko bhī dekhnā ho ka.ī baar dekhnā

maidāñ kī haar jiit to qismat kī baat hai

TuuTī hai kis ke haath meñ talvār dekhnā

dariyā ke is kināre sitāre bhī phuul bhī

dariyā chaḌhā huā ho to us paar dekhnā

achchhī nahīñ hai shahr ke rastoñ se dostī

āñgan meñ phail jaa.e na bāzār dekhnā