आए नहीं, जिनके थे वादे,
शायद भूल गए वो रास्ते,
या कोई नक्शा मिला ही नहीं।
आए नहीं, जिनके थे वादे,
कंकड़ों पर चल नहीं सके,
या चल दिए कहीं और।
रास्ते भी अब देते नहीं जवाब,
जब पूछते हैं ये सवाल।
आए नहीं वो, जिनके थे वादे।
भूल गए वो अफ़साने,
या मिटा दी गईं हमारी यादें।
आए नहीं वो, जिनके थे वादे।
वादे तो शायद टूटने के लिए ही होते हैं,
पर हमने उन यादों पर यक़ीन किया था,
जिन्होंने हर वादे को सच बना दिया था।
आए नहीं वो, जिनके थे वादे।
—
Promises
They never came, the ones who had made promises.
Perhaps they forgot the roads,
or perhaps they never found a map at all.
They never came, the ones who had made promises.
Perhaps they could not walk upon the stones,
or perhaps they simply chose another path.
Even the roads no longer give answers,
when these questions are asked.
They never came, the ones who had made promises.
Perhaps they forgot those stories,
or perhaps our memories were erased.
They never came, the ones who had made promises.
Maybe promises are meant to be broken,
yet we believed in the memories
that had made every promise feel true.
They never came, the ones who had made promises.
