maitrik ke imtihaan ke baad
seekhee thee dulhan ne phulakaaree!
dahej kee chaadaron par
maan ne kadhavae the
tarah-tarah ke bel-boote,
takie ke kholon par ‘gudalak’ kadhavaaya tha!
kaun maan nahin jaanatee, jee, zaroorat
duniya mein ‘gudalak’ kee!
aur usake baad?
ek tha raaja, ek thee raanee
aur ek thee odhanee-
laal odhanee phooladaar!
aur usake baad?
ek tha raaja, ek thee raanee
aur ek khatam kahaanee!
dulhan kee katee-phatee peshaanee
aur odhanee khoonam-khoon!
apane vajood kee maatee se
dhotee thee roz ise dulhan
aur godee mein bichhaakar sukhaatee thee
sochatee-see yah chupachaap-
taar-taar is odhanee se
kya vah kabhee ponchh paegee
khoonkhaar cheharon kee khoonkhaarita
aur mail dilon ka?
ghar ka na ghaat ka-
usaka dupatta
laharaata tha aasamaanon par-
‘gagan mein gaib nisaan udai’ kee dhun par-
aahista-aahista!