Mrs. Ashfaque Munir’s Resentment

9:30 p.m.

Resentment played
like the lights aimed at Niagara’s Falls
upon the smooth face of Mrs. Ashfaque Munir
and Mr. Ashfaque Munir
wriggled and settled
in the self created halo
of his recliner.


During Commercial Break

His intense gaze
would circle the room ...
the house plant in the corner
sketches on the walls
half filled ashtray beside his feet
yesterday’s news on the side table
once sigh-ingly hot now cool tea
and the Missus.....
Missus who in this break
would pick up the TV Guide
and stare intently at its words
reading it Qur’an like
understanding meaning
nor intent.


Routine

Since over a score plus ten years
the same carrotussle
Monday to Friday - nine to five
wake up, shower, breakfast,
pick up brief case and mumble good-byes
and from the office at eleven and three
mandatory phone calls ...

And on the way back
occasionally some chores ---
milk, eggs, Tylenol,
laundry, detergent etc.....
then a quite dinner
scanning the evening news
and nonchalantly enquiring
‘how was your day’ and
‘any news?’


9:45 p.m.

And then
wriggling himself in the recliner
in front of the TV....
but today
Mrs. Ashfaque Munir
appeared more resentful
then past days, months, years.

Commercial breaks came and went
and Mr. Ashfaque Munir
ensconced in his halo in the recliner
wondered over her resentment.

His thoughts
like the lights beamed from a high tower
fell here and there on the ground.
But her resentment
tattooed on her facial skin
was unlike an escaped prisoner
to be frozen in its glare.


11:00 p.m.

TV viewing ended
they brushed their teeth
exchanged inaudible good-nights
turned off lights
and back to back
they laid themselves down.

___________________________________________________ _


Begum Ashfaque Munir Ki B’rhami


9:30 p.m.

B’rahmi
Aabshaar-e-Niagara pur girti roshniouN ki maanind
Begum Ashfaque Munir kay shafaaf chehray pur
girti, mit’ti rahi
aur Janab Ashfaque Munir
apni aaramdah koorsi pur
apnay hee halay maiN
dhaltay rahay.


Saat-e-waq’fa-e-ishitihaar

Nigha-haiN Janab ki
kartiN tawaaf kamray ka ...
konay maiN rakha ghareyloo pouda
deewar pur aaweezaaN khaakay
ad’h bhari khaakdaan
zair-e-paa guzray lamhouN ki khabraiN
paas rakhi sard
aah bharti chai ki piyali
aur Begum is waqfay maiN
TV Guide kay rosh’naiee aalooda
lafzouN ko Qur’aan ki tarah paRhtiiN
hijjay aur ta’laffooz d’roost
ma’anay aur mafhoom na’aashna.


Maa’mool

Bees jama dus saal hu’aye
wohi maa’mool
pir-juma gardish-e-nau-paanch
oothay, naha’aye, naashta kya, bag saNbhali
aur jaa’tay jaa’tay
ooper walay ki amaan maaNgi
kabhi zabaani, kabhi eesharay say
aur daftar say giyara aur teen bajay
phoni istifsaar .....

...aur waapsi pur
hasb-e-zaroorat, ya hasb-e-farmaish
doodh, anday, aspro, sa’boon,
laundry waghera
laytay hu’aye ghar lotna
khaamooshi say khana khana
shaam ka akhbar paRhna
phir ik shaan-e-bay-nayazi say pooch’naa
‘tum theek ho naa’ aur
‘koi khabar?’


9:45 p.m.

Aur phir
apni aaramdah koorsi par
TV kay samnay....
Laikin aaj
Begum Ashfaq Munir
pichlay dinouN, maheenouN, saalouN
say kuch ziyadah hi b’rhum
nazar aati theeN.

Waqfay aatay rahay
aur hala-zun Janab Ashfaq Munir
joos’tu’joo-e-asbaab-e-br’humi-e-Be gum
maiN rahay ghota-zun.

Fik’r oonhouN nay
kisi oonchay minar say
naachti hu’ee tez roshniouN ki maanind
idhar oodhar doRRai.
Laikin Begum ki munjamid br’hami ka raaz
koiee faraari qaidi tou na thaa
jo oonki fikri roshnioN ki zud maiN aajata.


11:00 p.m.


TV prograam khat’m hu’a
donouN nay daaNt maaNjhay
aur shub khair say guzarnay ki
thaki thaki khaahishoiuN ka
dabay dabay andaaz maiN izhar kiya
aur peeth say peeth mila kar
lait ga’aye.