Aaseb

Ishrat Afreen

mujhe daraya gaya tha

bachpan men ek aaseb se

vo aseb!

jis ka phulon ke biich ghar tha

vo shokh phulon ki chhanv men palne vaali khushbu ka ham-safar tha

mujhe daraya gaya tha lekin

tavil garmi ki har suhani si dopahar ko

main apni maan ki nazar bacha kar

gulabi nindon ki reshmi ungliyan chhuda kar

dahakte phulon ke darmiyan khelti thi pahron

ajiib din the

ki un dinon men

dahakte phulon ke biich khushbu ke ham-safar se

miri mulaqat jab hui thi

main dar gai thi

ki mujh men bachpan se ajnabi khauf pal raha tha

mujhe bhi aaseb ho gaya tha

magar ye aseb!

ab to mujh men utar raha hai

hasin phulon ke biich khvabon ke sabz mausam men

us ke hathon men haath daale

main khushbuon ki tarah havaon men ud rahi huun