Haazir Jawaabi: Repartee
NS Rajan
This post is a warm tribute and expression of thanks to a tweep I have never had the opportunity to meet. Every day a phrase or a line in Urdu is posted as a challenge and I have attempted the privilege of completing the couplet, a literary riposte any lover of Urdu would delight in, that keeps the language alive within.The first line of the verses below , in italics, is the challenge posed and the line following that has been my response. Thank you, my friend 🙂
Kya bataayen tumhen dushmanon ka pata
Jis shahr mein kaun hai dost yeh to nahin pata
Nek niyati ab bojh ho gayi hai
Ulfat hai dil mein aur woh hai rubaroo
Neend se kah do intezaar kare
Raat aur baat baaki hai chaahat aur mannat bhi
Tere iraade tere lafzon se mel nahin khaate
Khaate ya na khaate hum tere se fida hai huzoor
Shabd bolne ke liye hote hain huzoor
Jo keh diye amal karna hai zaroor
Yun ghere rahti hai kisi ki yaad
Rooh bhi sunaati hai uski faryaad
Raah chalte logon se bhi yarana karo
Yahan ghar baite dushman yoon mil jaate hain
Raaz khulne lage hai ab saare
Mano dil ki baat ab pyaare
Mukhtasar hai ye wasl ki shab
Dekho doobne lage hai taare
क्या बताएं तुम्हें दुश्मनों का पता
जिस शहर में कौन है दोस्त यह तो नहीं पता
नेक नियति अब बोझ हो गयी है
उल्फत है दिल में और वोह है रूबरू
नींद से कह दो इंतज़ार करे
रात और बात बाकी है चाहत और मन्नत भी
तेरे इरादे तेरे लफ़्ज़ों से मेल नहीं खाटे
खाटे या न खाटे हम तेरे से फ़िदा है हुज़ूर
शब्द बोलने के लिए होते हैं हुज़ूर
जो कह दिए अमल करना है ज़रूर
यूँ घेरे रहती है किसी की याद
रूह भी सुनाती है उसकी फरयाद
राह चलते लोगों से भी याराना करो
यहाँ घर बैटे दुश्मन यूं मिल जाते हैं
राज़ खुलने लगे है अब सारे
मनो दिल की बात अब प्यारे
मुख़्तसर है ये वस्ल की शब्
देखो डूबने लगे है तारे
How can I warn you where enemies lurk around
Have yet to figure out who are friends in this city
Good manners have become burdensome indeed
Desires spring in my heart and she is close by too
Kindly ask sleep to wait a little longer
Young is the night, sweet nothings and desires too
Your intent surely matches not your words
Doesn’t really matter, dear, for I am besotted still
Words are meant to be spoken
Having spoken actions must follow
Her memory continues to linger
Even the soul complains about her
On your journey do make friends
Here you meet enemies as we stay home
Our secrets may cease to be
Do listen to my heart’s plea, dear
Time is short in this night of union
Can’t you see the stars descend?
( Ophelia: The lovely picture above was painted by the inimitable Pierre Auguste Cot, 1837 – 1883, a French painter belonging to the genre of Academic Classicism. A student of William Adolphe Bouguereau, he was much awarded during his lifetime for his renowned portraits. I had the privilege of seeing his work, large oil canvases which were truly a visual delight, at the Met Museum at New York )
NN
Kuchh alfas yun hi kahe thhe, samjhayen kaise
kamaan se nikla teer vapas layen kaise
Though ‘Impressario’ was a perfect word, loaded with connotation of showmanship over content, it can be used as a testament and survive till the end of time.
http://www.worldhrdcongress.com/The_Great_HR.html#about2
Anyways, thanks a lot Sir, for restoring faith that some folks are still beyond cronyism.