ek kaabulee vaale kee kahate hain log kahaanee,
laal mirch ko dekh gaya bhar usake munh mein paanee.
socha, kya achchhe daane hain, khaane se bal hoga,
yah jaroor is mausam ka koee meetha phal hoga.
ek chavannee phenk aur jholee apanee phailaakar,
kunjadin se bola bechaara jyon-tyon kuchh samajhaakar!
‘‘laal-laal patalee chheemee ho cheej agar khaane kee,
to hamako do tol chheemiyaan phakat chaar aane kee.’’
‘‘haan, yah to sab khaate hain’’-kunjadin bechaaree bolee,
aur ser bhar laal mirch se bhar dee usakee jholee!
magan hua kaabulee, phalee ka sauda sasta paake,
laga chabaane mirch baithakar nadee-kinaare jaake!
magar, mirch ne turat jeebh par apana jor dikhaaya,
munh saara jal utha aur aankhon mein paanee aaya.
par, kaabul ka mard laal chheemee se kyon munh mode?
kharch hua jis par usako kyon bina sadhae chhode?
aankh ponchhate, daant peesate, rote au risiyaate,
vah khaata hee raha mirch kee chheemee ko sisiyaate!
itane mein aa gaya udhar se koee ek sipaahee,
bola, ‘‘bevakooph! kya khaakar yon kar raha tabaahee?’’
kaha kaabulee ne-‘‘main hoon aadamee na aisa-vaisa!
ja too apanee raah sipaahee, main khaata hoon paisa.’’