Wo Lucknow ki haveli,
Jhilmil roshni ke beech khadi,
Sabko apni or kheechne par,
Majboor kar rahi thi
Andar jal rahi mombattiyan bhi ek ishaara thi
Ki dheere-dheere din dhal raha hai
Khaamosh deewarein bhi ab kuch kehna chaahti hain
Jo sadiyon se apni aawaaz ko
Dabaaye hui thi,
Us band haveli mein.
Us band haveli ki chhat
Jo jaanti thi ki ek faasla hai
Uske aur farsh ke beech
Jo unhein naam badalne par majboor karta hai
Wahi chhat, phir bhi aas lagaaye baithi hai
Ki kabhi to wo farsh se milegi
Haveli ki khidkiyan bhi kuch kam nahin hain
Khulte hi unka maqsad bhi
Ajeeb maaloom padta hai---baahar se aa rahi fizaaon ko
Apni haveli mein aane ke liye daawat dena...
Wo intezaar mein hain ki fizaaein kab aayengi
Us haveli ko dekhne, wahaan rehne ke liye
Apne saath wo lehraata aanchal
Kabhi kabhi le aati hai
Jo shaayad kisi ke pyar ki nishaani hai
Aur kabhi kabhi to
Kisi ka khat bhi usi raaste se udta hua
Aa jaata hai
Jismein kisi ka paighaam-e-mohabbat hai
Wo bistar bhi yaadgaar hua karta hai
Jab khud pe wo kisi ke khat ko paata hai
To sharmaane se nahin chookta
Aur phir chaadar par pada wo khat bhi
Hat jaata hai hichkiyon se
Us haveli ke darwaaze
Jaise khulte hi
Pukaarte hain mehmaano ko
Aur us haveli ke chhajje
Jaise baaki sate chhajjo se
Naata jodna chaahte ho
Aur phir
Is haveli ki daastaan sunaana chaahte ho
Yeh hai kissa us haveli ka
Us Lucknow ki haveli ka
Jo aaj bhi jhilmil roshni ke beech khadi
Kisi ka intezaar kar rahi hai
