chhote chhote qasbon ke dukh ajib hote hain sukh ajib hote hain aansuon ki basti mein rasne-basne walon ko kab koi gharaz is se karobar-e-hasti mein nafa kya khasara kya umr ke khazane mein besh-o-kam ka yara kya un ka apna maslak hai un ki apni duniya hai in gharon ki chaukhat par waqt bang deta hai munh andhere chakki mein khwab pise jate hain chand si rasoi mein bartanon ke aaine dukh ko munh chidhate hain in gharon ke aangan mein din tulua hota hai khwab kate jaane se zindagi ki dori mein sukh piroe jaane se aankh ke katoron mein gham samoe jaane se mehrban mashaqqat ke bojh dhoe jaane se din tulua hota hai kyariyon ki mitti mein git jab nahate hain rang chahchahate hain sath ki munderon par khwab par sukhate hain bachchiyan khayalon mein apne ghar basati hain mom ke gharondon mein zindagi ki hand-kulhiya dhup se pakati hain be-zaban gudiyon se jin ki aankh dhage ki jin ke hont resham ke apne dil ki sab baaten barha batati hain aur waqt se pahle sab rumuz jine ke aap sikh jati hain in gharon ke aangan mein dopahar utarti hai ek nannhi sui ki aankh ke jharoke se ek kiran ke mokhe se dhup ke hinai hath tashtari badhate hain chahaton ke mithe rang zaiqon ke nadida lams chhod jate hain chudiyan khanakti hain hath baat karte hain ang ang hansta hai por por ke andar dil dhadakne lagta hai por por roti hai odhni bhigoti hai khwab wo padosi hai jis ke ujle kurte ka roz ek button tute dil ki wo mohalla hai jis ke basne walon se roz ek khushi ruthe jaane kitne jismon ko be-riya mohabbat ki aag chat jati hai jaane kitne nau-maulud khwab dafn hote hain dil ke sard-khane mein jaane kitne rishton ko dafn karke chupke se waqt ke gunahon par khak dali jati hai in udas galiyon mein sardiyon ki raaton mein dur par se aate dil-nawaz giton ke sanwle salone bol chand ko rulate hain chand bhola-bhaala hai chand ko ye kya malum zindagi ki nautanki yunhi chalti rahti hai muflisi ki raqqasa tal par zamane ki jaane kitni sadiyon se ek jaise bolon par raqs karti rahti hai subh se zara pahle bebasi ke bistar par wo jo aa ke dhahti hai bistaraon ke sab paiwand us ko gudgudate hain be-sabab hansate hain be-sabab rulate hain un gali mohallon mein raat jab utarti hai maen apne bachchon ko loriyan sunati hain apni sard banhon ka palna hilati hain khwab wo dikhati hain afsari ke shahi ke khwab kaj-kulahi ke chand aur gulab un ke madrase jo jate hain qamchiyon se hota hai bachpane ka istiqbaal phul jaise jismon par bed jab barasti hai dur tak chatai par ek qatar mein baithe lafz thartharaate hain sab waraq kitabon ke aise phadphadate hain jaise jaan khinchti ho un ki dars-gahon mein qamchiyan moallim hain qamchiyan mudarris hain qamchiyan ratati hain sabr achchhi aadat hai sabr aur qanaat se zindagi sanwarti hai un gali mohallon ka husn kam-sukhan bhi hai aur bhola-bhaala bhi han ye kam-sukhan ladka bhigti mason ke sath ghar se jab nikalta hai umr ki haden sari yun phalang jata hai muflisi hawas-pesha phul jaise galon ka rang chus leti hai bholi-bhaali baaton se ras nichod leti hai aur phir zamane ke bich chhod deti hai pet be-haya dallal dar-ba-dar phiraata hai sau jatan sikhata hai chhote chhote qasbon mein ghar ke samne baithi sidhi-sadi ummiden rah takti rahti hain umr bit jati hai kuchh khabar nahin milti dakiya jab aata hai chahaton ki punji mein ek raqam badhata hai aur laut jata hai sidhi sadi ummiden ghar se jaane walon ko ek jaise lafzon ki bhejti hain saughaten waqt budha munshi hai jis ko khat ka sab mazmun lafz lafz azbar hai phir bhi puchh leta hai aur kya likhun bolo phir se ab ke sawan mein saeban tapakta hai tan ki or ek diwar dhe gai hai ab ke bar sidhi-sadi ummiden roz-o-shab ki chaukhat par umr kat deti hain jism khak ho jae jaan rakh ho jae pet to jahannum hai ye jawan rahta hai un ki aankh ka sawan chahe koi mausam ho mehrban rahta hai chhote chhote qasbon ke dukh ajib hote hain sukh ajib hote hain