Mummy ki diary se...

"Ye ghazal humne Faizabad mein ek mushaire mein suni thi," said mom. I had caught hold of her music diary and was trying  to read the beautiful Urdu shayari, written in my mother's delicate handwriting.

Thanks to my mother's impeccable taste in music, I grew up listening to some amazing Hindustani classical music, mainly ghazals. As a kid, I didn't understand even a word but it didn't take me much time to learn the lyrics and tunes by heart. And whenever I was asked to sing something in gathering, I would invariably start off with one of those Urdu ghazals. People used to be impressed by not only my voice but the pronunciation too. At one such occasion, when I was about ten, I sang another yet another ghazal from my mom's diary. But this time, along with the applause, came a question from one of the uncles, "do you even know the meaning of the song you're singing." I was taken aback. I had never bothered with the meaning of those intricate words which I so simply sang. It's been 22 years since, but the lyrics of that soulful ghazal are still fresh in my mind.
I thought of sharing it with you all.

Teri yaad ka har pal vajhe shaadmaani hai...
subah bhi suhani hai, sham hi suhani hai,

shiqwa-e-jafa tasneem, apne lab pe aaye kyun...
kya yehi muhabbat ki aakhri nishani hai

bheeg to gaya daaman mere ashq-e-paihum se...
khud ki faisla karlo, khoon hai ke paani hai

zard zard patton ko shaakh hi pe rehne do...
laut ti bahaaron ki aakhri nishaani hai


After writing it down I've realized that I may have missed a few shers. Please let me know if you've heard this gem by Tasneem and if any word is wrongly spelt, do point out.

Happy reading and happy crooning :)