karachhul…
batalohee se batiyaatee hai aur chimata
tave se machalata hai
choolha kuchh nahin bolata
chupachaap jalata hai aur jalata rahata hai
aurat…
gaven gaven uthatee hai…gagaree mein
haath daalatee hai
phir ek potalee kholatee hai.
use kathavat mein jhaadatee hai
lekin kathavat ka pet bharata hee nahin
pataramuhee (paithan tak nahin chhodatee)
sarar pharar bolatee hai aur bolatee rahatee hai
bachche aangan mein…
aangad-baangad khelate hain
ghoda-haathee khelate hain
chor-saav khelate hain
raaja-raanee khelate hain aur khelate rahate hain
chauke mein khoee huee aurat ke haath
kuchh nahin dekhate
ve keval rotee belate hain aur belate rahate hain
ek chhota-sa jod-bhaag
gash khaatee huee aag ke saath
chalata hai aur chalata rahata hai
badakoo ko ek
chhotakoo ko aadha
parabatee… baalakishun aadhe mein aadha
kuchh rotee chhai
aur tabhee munh dubbar
darabe mein aata hai… khaana taiyaar hai?
usake aage thaalee aatee hai
kul rotee teen
khaane se pahale munh dubbar
petabhar
paanee peeta hai aur lajaata hai
kul rotee teen
pahale use thaalee khaatee hai
phir vah rotee khaata hai
aur ab…
paune das baje hain…
kamare mein har cheez
ek ratee huee rozamarra dhun
duharaane lagatee hai
vaqt ghadee se nikalakar
angulee par aa jaata hai aur joota
pairon mein, ek dant tootee kanghee
baalon mein gaane lagatee hai
do aankhen daravaaza kholatee hain
do bachche ta ta kahate hain
ek phatehaal klaph kaalar…
taangon mein akad bharata hai
aur khatar patar ek dhaddha saikil
lagabhag bhaagate hue chehare ke saath
daftar jaane lagatee hai
sahasa chauraste par jalee laal battee jab
ek dard haule se hiradai ko hool gaya
aisee kya hadabadee ki jaldee mein patnee ko choomana…
dekho, phir bhool gaya.’
qissa e janatantr