wo chaalis raaton se soya na tha
wo khwabon ko unton pe lade hue
raat ke regzaron mein chalta raha
chandni ki chitaon mein jalta raha
mez par
kanch ke ek pyale mein rakkhe hue
dant hanste rahe
kali ainak ke shishon ke pichhe se phir
motiye ki kali sar uthane lagi
aankh mein tirgi muskurane lagi
ruh ka hath
chhalni hua sui ki nok se
khwahishon ke diye
jism mein bujh gae
sabz pani ki sayyal parchhaiyan
lamha lamha band mein utarne lagin
ghar ki chhat mein jade
das sitaron ke sayon tale
aks dhundla gae
aks murjha gae

bap ki ungli thame
ek nanha sa bachcha
pahle-pahal mele mein gaya to
apni bholi-bhaali
kanchon jaisi aankhon se
ek duniya dekhi
ye kya hai aur wo kya hai
sab us ne puchha
bap ne jhuk kar
kitni sari chizon aur khelon ka
us ko nam bataya
nat ka
bazigar ka
jadugar ka
us ko kaam bataya
phir wo ghar ki jaanib laute
god ke jhule mein
bachche ne bap ke kandhe par sar rakkha
bap ne puchha
nind aati hai
waqt bhi ek parinda hai
udta rahta hai
ganw mein phir ek mela aaya
budhe bap ne kanpte hathon se
bete ki banh ko thama
aur bete ne
ye kya hai aur wo kya hai
jitna bhi ban paya
samjhaya
bap ne bete ke kandhe par sar rakkha
bete ne puchha
nind aati hai
bap ne mud ke
yaad ki pagdandi par chalte
bite hue
sab achchhe bure
aur kadwe mithe
lamhon ke pairon se udti
dhul ko dekha
phir
apne bete ko dekha
honton par
ek halki si muskan aai
haule se bola
han!
mujh ko ab nind aati hai

ye jiwan ek rah nahin
ek doraha hai
pahla rasta
bahut sahal hai
is mein koi mod nahin hai
ye rasta
is duniya se bejod nahin hai
is raste par milte hain
reton ke aangan
is raste par milte hain
rishton ke bandhan
is raste par chalne wale
kahne ko sab sukh pate hain
lekin
tukde tukde ho kar
sab rishton mein bat jate hain
apne palle kuchh nahin bachta
bachti hai
be-nam si uljhan
bachta hai
sanson ka indhan
jis mein un ki apni har pahchan
aur un ke sare sapne
jal bujhte hain
is raste par chalne wale
khud ko kho kar jag pate hain
upar upar to jite hain
andar andar mar jate hain
dusra rasta
bahut kathin hai
is raste mein
koi kisi ke sath nahin hai
koi sahaara dene wala nahin hai
is raste mein
dhup hai
koi chhanw nahin hai
jahan tasalli bhik mein de de koi kisi ko
is raste mein
aisa koi ganw nahin hai
ye un logon ka rasta hai
jo khud apne tak jate hain
apne aap ko jo pate hain
tum is raste par hi chalna
mujhe pata hai
ye rasta aasan nahin hai
lekin mujh ko ye gham bhi hai
tum ko ab tak
kyun apni pahchan nahin hai

mujh ko thakne nahin deta ye zarurat ka pahad
mere bachche mujhe budha nahin hone dete
the mountain of my needs prevents me from being tired
my children don't permit me to be old and retired