Chauk – a poem by Alok Dhanwa

un striyon ka vaibhav mere saath raha
jin‍honne mujhe chauk paar karana sikhaaya.

mere mohal‍le kee theen ve
har subah kaam par jaatee theen
mera s‍kool unake raas‍te mein padata tha
maan mujhe unake havaale kar detee theen
chhuttee hone par main unaka in‍tazaar karata tha
un‍honne mujhe in‍tazaar karana sikhaaya

kas‍be ke s‍kool mein
mainne pahalee baar hee daakhila liya tha
kuchh dinon baad main
khud hee jaane laga
aur usake bhee kuchh dinon baad
kaee ladake mere dos‍ta ban gae
tab ham saath-saath kaee doosare raas‍ton
se bhee s‍kool aane-jaane lage

lekin ab bhee
un thode se dinon ke kaee dashakon baad bhee
jab kabhee main kisee bade shahar ke
betarateeb chauk se guzarata hoon
un striyon kee yaad aatee hai
aur main apana daayaan haath unakee or
badha deta hoon
baayen haath se s‍let ko sambhaalata hoon
jise main chhod aaya tha
bees varshon ke akhabaaron ke peechhe.