footpath ke log

shahr mein kuchh bhi ho jae
ye log kahin nahin jate
ya shayad hum
gharon mein rahne walon ko


aisa hi lagta hai
jab subh subh hamein kahin jaana padta hai
to unhen footpath par
be-khabari ke aalam mein sota dekh kar


hum un ki zindagi ke bare mein
sochte hain
magar wapsi tak bhul jate hain
hamari gadi ko traffic-jam mein


phansa dekh kar
ye hanste hain to hamein
apne-ap par rona aata hai
har roz ek hi jagah unhen dekh ke


hamein hairat hoti hai
tez dhup mein unhen jalta dekh kar
hamein afsos hota hai
unhen barish mein bhigta dekh kar


hum khub hanste hain
har raat jab ye soe hue hote hain
andhere footpath par se
guzarte hue


hum unhen thokaren marte hain
aur kabhi muafi nahin mangte