faqat khali pinjra badan ka pada tha
aur nim-wa in kiwadon ki har charcharahat mein

hairaniyan bolti thin
zamin ki faza se

mujhe kis ne bahar dhakela
falak tak meri dastaras kyun nahin thi

na jaane main kab tak khala mein bhatakti rahi thi
wahin par

munaqqash darichon mein
sarsabz belen sutunon se lipti hui thin

chamakte hue chhat ke fanus ki raushni mein
belon ke patton ki aankhon mein thahri nami

jhilmilane lagi thi!
magar sab ki nazren

saji tabalon par jami thin
kisi ko khabar kab hui thi

wahan mein nahin thi