Imtihaa

Kaarvaa jo chal pade khayaaloan ke safar ke sang,
   Sawaal leke raahoan mein jo dhoondhtein nayee umang,
Jo bhaavnaaoan ke bhavar mein bhi rahe thoda judaa,
   Seemaayein jiski khatam na ho, imtihaa ye kaisa hai khuda?

Beeta jo bachpan saaye se maa ke woh kitna door tha,
   Parwaah na ki shikayat ne jiski, duniya ka woh dastoor  tha
Bhartey rahe hum siskiyaa magar, khaamoshiyoan ki chaadar tale,
   Aur chhord kar jazbaat saare, manzil ki raahoan par chale.

Guzre thhey lamhey kuch magar maa ke aanchal ki chhaon mein,
Kehtey huey “amma amma”, aatey thhey jab hum gaaon mein,
Bheegey thhey jab baarish mein hum, saawan bhi woh kuch khaas hai,
   Aur aangan mein hoti thi jo baatein , anokha woh ehsaas hai.

Kaarvaa jo chal pade khayaaloan ke safar ke sang,
   Sawaal leke raahoan mein jo dhoondhtein nayee umang,
Jo bhaavnaaoan ke bhavar mein bhi rahe thoda judaa,
   Seemaayein jiski khatam na ho, imtihaa ye kaisa hai khuda?

Karvat jo li kismet ne toh, kyun aayi bichhardney ki ghardi,
   Nasoor ban gayi zindagi, mushkil ye kaisi aa pardi?
Dard ki gehraaiyoan mein dooba jo maa ka hausla,
   Til til ke marne se kabhi, liya jab zindagi ne faisla.

Saath jo chhoota woh maa ka, soona lage kyun raat din,
   Aahat bhi deti hai jo dastak, khaamosh hoake ishaaroan ke bin,
Yaadoan ki kashti mein magar, ummeed ka woh dera hai,
   Kat jaati hai jis se raat poos ki, aur aata phir ek naya savera hai.

Kaarvaa jo chal pade khayaaloan ke safar ke sang,
   Sawaal leke raahoan mein jo dhoondhtein nayee umang,
Jo bhaavnaaoan ke bhavar mein bhi rahe thoda judaa,
   Seemaayein jiski khatam na ho, imtihaa ye kaisa hai khuda?