Sunday, September 22, 2013

परदेसी

हवा का झोंका मध्यम-२,
अपने संग ले कुछ उड़ा,
एक गुलाबी पंखुड़ी सा,
फूल नहीं वो ख़त था तेरा।
खिड़की थी खुली हुई ऐसे,
बंद भी न मैं कर पाया,
फुर्ती से तो लपका मैं,
पर कम्बख्त उड़ता ही गया।
पढने को खोला भी न था,
देख-२ ही आहें भर पाया,
थोड़ी देर तो पीछे दौड़ा मैं,
पड़ा खुला मैदान भारी पर।
इतने दिन की आँख मिचोली,
एक चुरायी हुई हसीं,
दिया अचानक मुझको ख़त,
तूने जाने के आखरी दिन।
ख़त के साथ पता भी गया,
ढूंढूंगा तुझको कैसे अब,
किसी पराये शहर मैं,
यही सोच-२ के बैठा हूँ।
पर शायद अच्छा ही हुआ,
परदेसी से प्यार नहीं टिकता,
इस बात से ही खुश हो लूँगा,
आखिर तूने ख़त तो लिखा॥

Friday, September 20, 2013

औ मैं सो जाऊं

निकला था मंजिल की ओर,
अच्छा हो रास्ता खो जाऊं,
एक चाह अधूरी हो पूरी,
हो अँधेरा औ मैं सो जाऊं॥
हैं थकी थकी आँखें मेरी,
औ फटी फटी सी बातें हैं,
पूछ-२ पता मैं त्रस्त हुआ,
न ही मिले, अब यही दुआ॥
जब खाने को हो फ़क्त हवा,
औ पीने को आंसूं न कम हौं,
थर-२ कर काँपे देह मेरी,
चाहे भट्टी सी गरमाई हो॥
नाम ख़ाक, काहे की साख,
झुका के सर, औ कटा नाक,
केशों में रेंगती जूं भी अब,
मेरा लहू पीने से बचती है॥
देखा था सपना जो कभी,
बस धुंधला सा याद आता है,
ताश के पत्तों से बने महल,
क्या हवा का झोंका सह पाए?
जन्नत हैं जाना सब चाहते,
ऐसा हो जहन्नुम मैं जाऊं,
एक चाह अधूरी हो पूरी,
हो अँधेरा औ मैं सो जाऊं॥

Saturday, September 7, 2013

BCCI and SA: Friendship Gone Wrong

Media reports concerning the divide between India and South Africa cricket boards have left me to wonder a thing of two about friendship. Ever since Gandhi happened, the two countries have remained close. Be it politics or cricket. What happened? How did things go sour?
Friendship is based on mutual trust and affection. I expect my friend to stand by me through thick and thin. I don’t expect my friend to judge me and side with the world to throw bricks at me. I expect my friend to be by my side, protecting me from those bricks. If my friend betrays me, the vengefulness is extreme.
I am not justifying either BCCI or SA cricket board. I am trying to find a reason what went wrong and how? It’s a known fact that Mr. Lorgat is not very much liked by BCCI. Just as SA board has every right to appoint him as its head, BCCI has every right not to like him. Once SA board sided with BCCI’s enemy, there was no going back. Would I like if my friend sides with the one who I share mistrust with? Wouldn’t I feel hurt?
As to the reasons for the mistrust between Mr. Lorgat and BCCI, I am no insider. But what has followed is the retribution. “Now you pay my friend for choosing my enemy over me”, seems to be the tone. Personally, I am not the one to hit back. I would simply severe all relations with this so called friend and move on with my life. But with cricket boards it’s not that simple. They have to deal with each other. So the best way is to confirm to the mandatory commitments and no go overboard.
BCCI is smart enough to know that. By shortening the time period of the tour, it is inching towards the minimum requirement of FTP (Future Tours Program) of the ICC, which I read is 2 Tests and 3 ODIs. Anything above that is for a friend. SA cricket board has to bear it for now. It too can reciprocate the same mandatory commitment when time comes.
Sad part is that a friendship of 20 years is in trouble and that my friend is not good.