pipe ke gahre lambe kash khinchta
wo apni barahnagi ke ehsas ko

dhuwen ki shakl mein
khala mein tahlil hote dekh kar

muskurane ki koshish karta tha
us ki naf ke aas-pas

chipke hue
shikasta andhere ke chhote chhote tukde

meindak ki aaankhon mein
mare hue khwabon ki silan mein

dub rahe the
wo

mujh ko
gautam ke nam se yaad kiya jae

aisa
diwaron par rengti

chiyuntiyon se
bar bar kah raha tha