(khel mein magn bachchon ko ghar kee sudh nahin rahatee)
maata pita se mila jab usako prem na,
to baade se bhaag liya nanha sa memana.
bina ruke badhata gaya, badhata gaya bhoo par,
pahaad par chadhata gaya, chadhata gaya oopar.
bahut door jaake dikha, use ek bachhada,
bachhada bhee akad gaya, memana bhee akada.
donon ne banae apane chehare bhayaanak,
khade rahe kaaphee der, aur phir achaanak—
paas aae, paas aae aur paas aae,
itane paas aae ki chehare pe saans aae.
aankhon mein dekha to lage muskuraane,
phir mile to aise, jaise dost hon puraane.
uchhale koode naache donon, gaane gae dil ke,
haree-haree ghaas charee, donon ne mil ke.
bachhada bola- “mere saath dhakkaamukkee kheloge?
main tumhen dhakeloonga, tum mujhe dhakeloge.”
kabhee memana dhakiyae, kabhee bachhada dhakele,
subah se shaam talak, kaee gem khele.
memane ko tabhee ek aavaaz aaee,
bachhada bola— “ye to meree maiya rambhaee.
lekin koee baat nahin, abhee aur khelo,
meree baaree khatm huee, apanee baaree le lo.”
sudh-budh see khokar ve phir se lage khelane,
din ko dhank diya poora, sandhya kee bel ne.
par donon alhad the, chanchal alabele,
khoob khel khele aur khoob der khele.
tabhee vahaan gaiya aaee bachhade se bolee—
“maaloom hai tere lie kitanee main ro lee.
dam mera nikal gaya, jaane too kahaan hai,
jangal jangal bhatakee hoon, aur too yahaan hai!
kya toone, sunee nahin thee meree ter?”
bachhada bola— “kheloonga aur thodee der!”
memane ne dekhe jab gaiya ke aansoo,
usaka man hua ek pal ko jigyaasoo.
jaise gaiya rotee hai le lekar sisakee,
aise hee rotee hogee, bakaree maan usakee.
phir to jee usane khela koee bhee gem na,
jaldee se ghar ko lauta nanha sa memana.