wo kahte hain
main kabhi zinda nahin tha

is liye na wo meri hansi ke bare mein kuchh bata sakte hain
na aansuon ke bare mein

ya ye ki jab main chalta tha
to mere panw zamin par thik tarah se

padte bhi the ya nahin
unhon ne hamesha mujhe be-jaan hi paya

aise
ki meri nabz ruki hui thi

dil sakit
aur jism siyah pad chuka tha

lekin meri aankhen puri tarah khuli hui thin
jin se unhen khauf aata tha

lekin rafta rafta
un ka khauf rafa hota gaya

un ka subut ye hai
ki wo apni bekar ashiya

meri taraf uchhaal dete the
kabhi wasli ka khali duba

ainak ki tuti hui kamani
ya be tale ki koi chabi

agarche is baat se wo puri tarah aagah the
ki aisa karte hue

wo ek lash ki be-hurmati kar rahe the
lekin ab wo is baat ke goya aadi ho gae the

aisa karte hue
unhen kisi qism ki jhijak

ya sharmindagi nahin hoti thi
shayad unhon ne kisi waqt meri lash ko

kahin thikane lagane ke bare mein bhi socha ho
par aisa kar na pae hon

shayad kisi ne unhen aisa karne se rok diya ho
shayad wo meri khuli hui aankhen dekh kar dar gae hon

shayad wo khud apni nabzen tatolne
apni dhadkanen sunne

aur apne jism mein runuma hone wali tabdiliyon se
buri tarah khaif hone lage hon

apne is khauf par qabu pane ke liye
shayad unhon ne apni be-kar ashiya

meri taraf uchhaalni shurua kar di hon
shayad yun wo apne liye

kisi nae mazhab ki buniyaad dal rahe hon
jis mein unhen

lashon ki be-hurmati ki khuli chhut de di gai ho
main in ki kisi ghalat fahmi ko dur karne ki koshish nahin karunga

ki mere maslak mein
lashon ki be-hurmati ki koi gunjaish nahin

zindon ki bhi nahin