padhte padhte thak jata hun,
khidki se kuchh dur gagan ko,

chhu ke wapas aa jata hun
nazron ka andaz hai yaro!

padhne mein ji lag jata hai!
yun bhi jina aa jata hai!

samne mere ek kamra hai
kamre ki chhoti si chhat par,

ek bahut mamuli ladka,
jab dekho tahla karta hai!

umr agar puchho, to aisi
jis mein sare man ka zor,

ye gahra sagar pi jae,
thokar de parbat ko mar,

kaisi adchan kaisi mushkil,
apni marzi apni manzil,

lekin wo mamuli ladka,
nali us ko pi sakti hai,

tinka us ko reza kar de,
us ki pyasi pyasi aankhen,

us ke sukhe sukhe hont
sapnon se begana jaise,

giton se anjaane se,
bhuk ne apni lori di hai,

chalte phirte so jata hai,
subah sawere sham, ki bela,

nagri mein jab laga ho mela,
ek akeli chhat par tanha,

ek wahi ladka phirta hai!
purab jaanib niche koi,

chhota sa ek aangan hoga,
sham ko aangan sajta hoga,

mezon par kya kuchh na hoga,
aalu, puri phulki chhole,

barfi, khoya laddu, pede,
aur maze ke khane honge,

bijli, khushbu, baadal, maujen,
insani paikar mein dhal kar,

hanste gate mauj udate,
mezon par gir jate honge!

kyun ki main ne aksar dekha,
apni chhat ki aad mein rah kar

chupke chupke, pahron pahron,