unhonne kaha- ‘hands ap!’
ek-ek ang phodakar mera
unhonne talaashee lee
meree talaashee mein mila kya unhen?
thode-se sapane mile aur chaand mila,
sigaret kee pannee-bhar,
maachis-bhar ummeed, ek adhooree chitthee
jo ve deekod nahin kar pae
kyonki vah sindhughaatee sabhyata ke samay
mainne likhee thee
ek abhedy lipi mein
apanee dharatee ko
“halo dharatee, kaheen chalo dharatee,
kolhoo ka bail bane gol-gol ghoomen ham kab tak?
aao, kaheen aaj ghoorate hain tirachha
ek aginabaan banakar
is grah-path se door…”
unhonne chitthee marodee
aur mujhe konch diya kaal-kotharee mein
apanee qalam se main lagaataar
khod rahee hoon tab se
kaal-kotharee mein surang
kaan lagaakar suno
dharatee kee chhaatee mein kya baj raha hai!
kya koee chhupa hua sota hai?
aur door udhar, paar surang ke, vahaan
dikh rahee hai ki nahin dikhatee
ek patalee roshanee
aur khula-khila ghaas ka maidaan!
kaisee khushanuma kanakanee hai!
ho sakata hai – ek lokageet guzara ho
kal raat is raah se,
nanhen-nanhen paanv udate hue se gae hain
os nahaayee ghaas par
filahaal, bas ek parachhaeen
os ke honthon par
tharatharaatee-see bachee hai
pahala ehasaas kisee srshti ka
dekho to-
tap-tap
tapakata hai kaise!