bees saal pahale
hamane koshish kee
hamen bhee mile
koee naukaree achchhee-see
isee aasha mein de dee
darakhvaast
empalaayament eksachenj mein
bees saal kee ej mein
guzar gae aath saal
koee javaab nahin aaya
aur ek din praat:kaal
empalaayament eksachenj vaalon ka
patr aaya
intaravyoo ke lie
gaya tha bulaaya
ham ban-than kar
raajakumaaron kee tarah tanakar
pahunche rozagaar daftar
batalaaya gaya-
“jagah ek khaalee hai
sarkas mein bandar kee.”
bhaagate bhoot kee langotee bhalee
sochakar haan kar dee
hamaaree daaktaree jaanch kee gaee
koodane phaandane kee
saat din baad
sho mein laaya gaya
uchak-uchak kar
dikha rahe the kalaabaajiyaan
darshak-gan buddhoo bane
baja rahe the taaliyaan
tabhee akasmaat
chhoot gaya haath
ja gire
kataghare mein sher ke
girate hee chillae-
“bachao-bachao.”
tabhee sher bola-“shor mat machao
pet ka savaal hai
hamaare upar bhee
sher kee khaal hai
ham bhee hai tumhaaree tarah sikhae hue
empalaayament eksachenj ke laagae hue.”