agle lamhe ka KHauf

is jangal ke chāroñ jānib

aag kī ūñchī dīvāreñ haiñ

is ke ghane ghane peḌoñ meñ

ik bahut purānā taal chhupā hai

jis kā paanī sadiyoñ ke raste jitnā gahrā hai

vo machhlī is meñ rahtī hai

jis ke peT meñ jaadū kā vo mankā hai

jo har jaadū kā toḌ banā hai

jangal ke sab chup chup raste

jhāḌī jhāḌī ghūm-ghām ke

taal kī jānib aate aate rah jaate haiñ

jaise haath an-jānā koī

unglī pakaḌ ke

aur hī jānib un sab ko le jaatā hai

peḌoñ kī shāḳhoñ par baiThe

patthar ke vo saare parinde

taal kī jānib aane vaale har raahī ko

apne paas bulāte haiñ

aur gahrī niiñd sulāne vaale

mīThe giit sunāte haiñ

yā loT-poT kar

us kī soch kī shakleñ ban kar

us ko gale lagāte haiñ

tab is lamhe meñ

jhāḌī jhāḌī dubke dubke ḳhargoshoñ ko

aur ik sāthī mil jaatā hai

ye sab kuchh hai

par phir bhī jaane

maze maze se tairtī machhlī

patte ke girne kī sadā se

yā phir havā kī aahaT se hī

ThiThak ThiThak kyoñ jaatī hai

is jangal ke chaaron jaanib

aag ki unchi diwaren hain

is ke ghane ghane peDon mein

ek bahut purana tal chhupa hai

jis ka pani sadiyon ke raste jitna gahra hai

wo machhli is mein rahti hai

jis ke peT mein jadu ka wo manka hai

jo har jadu ka toD bana hai

jangal ke sab chup chup raste

jhaDi jhaDi ghum-gham ke

tal ki jaanib aate aate rah jate hain

jaise hath an-jaana koi

ungli pakaD ke

aur hi jaanib un sab ko le jata hai

peDon ki shaKHon par baiThe

patthar ke wo sare parinde

tal ki jaanib aane wale har rahi ko

apne pas bulate hain

aur gahri nind sulane wale

miThe git sunate hain

ya loT-poT kar

us ki soch ki shaklen ban kar

us ko gale lagate hain

tab is lamhe mein

jhaDi jhaDi dubke dubke KHargoshon ko

aur ek sathi mil jata hai

ye sab kuchh hai

par phir bhi jaane

maze maze se tairti machhli

patte ke girne ki sada se

ya phir hawa ki aahaT se hi

ThiThak ThiThak kyon jati hai