kash

us ḳhāmosh qil.e kī

saḳht lohe sī dīvāreñ

har taraf safed ġhamgīn parde

vo apnī ālī-shān kursī par baiThī

koī hisāb joḌ rahī hai

us kā phīkā sapāT bojhal chehra

jaise bhītar kā ek ruup

us ke uuprī ruup rañg ko khā chukā ho

achānak darvāze kī dastak

dabī huī siskiyoñ kā shor

ūñche darvāze ko kholte hī

us kī bhāv-vihīn āñkhoñ meñ

sañvednāoñ kī halchal ho uThtī hai

sub.h kī os narm dhuup meñ

nāzuk kopal sā ek bachcha

apnī chīḳh ko gale meñ Thuus kar

us kī taraf qil.e kī taraf

dauḌā aa rahā thā

abhī gale lagā kar ro paḌegā jaise

vo ek Tuk use dekhtī rahtī hai

magar gale nahīñ lagā paatī vo

us kā hirdai kahtā hai ki bhej de use

vāpas us ke ghar jahāñ

us kā intizār ho rahā hogā

is tivr ichhā ke saath

barsoñ se nirlap rahī us kī āñkhoñ meñ

dabī huī bhāvnā.eñ gatī-mān ho kar bahne lagtī hai

he īshvar vo āñkheñ muuñd letī hai

mez par rakhī hisāboñ vaalī kitāb dikhā.ī detī hai

aur nau-pallavit paude kī

nāzuk Daalī jaisī uñgliyāñ thaam kar

vo use qil.e ke bhītar le aatī hai

totīñg darvāza karkash āvāz ke saath

band ho jaatā hai

vo bilakhte hue bachche ko āġhosh meñ le letī hai

ḳhāmosh kamre meñ us ma.asūm kī

dhaḌakne sāñseñ siskiyoñ kā shor

tez ho uThtā hai

vo kas ke us bachche ko

apne bhītar sameT kar gahrī niiñd sulā detī hai

jab koī shor baaqī nahīñ rahtā tab

us ke bhītar kā rūdan bāhar aane ko taḌaptā hai

magar us ke adh-mare man mastishk

use yaad dilāte hai ki

maut mātam nahīñ manā saktī

kaash mujhe bhī haq hotā

darvāze pe aa.e ko vāpas bhejne kā

kaash

bhārī qadmoñ pe uTh kar vo

us kitāb meñ kuchh joḌ detī hai

din kā ujālā surya kā tej

lajjit ho kar sar jhukā lete hai

havā bhī chhobhit ho kar niilī paḌ jaatī hai

saarī sirishTī añdhkār kī gart meñ Dūbne lagtī hai

us KHamosh qile ki

saKHt lohe si diwaren

har taraf safed ghamgin parde

wo apni aali-shan kursi par baiThi

koi hisab joD rahi hai

us ka phika sapaT bojhal chehra

jaise bhitar ka ek rup

us ke upri rup rang ko kha chuka ho

achanak darwaze ki dastak

dabi hui siskiyon ka shor

unche darwaze ko kholte hi

us ki bhaw-wihin aankhon mein

sanwednaon ki halchal ho uThti hai

subh ki os narm dhup mein

nazuk kopal sa ek bachcha

apni chiKH ko gale mein Thus kar

us ki taraf qile ki taraf

dauDa aa raha tha

abhi gale laga kar ro paDega jaise

wo ek Tuk use dekhti rahti hai

magar gale nahin laga pati wo

us ka hirdai kahta hai ki bhej de use

wapas us ke ghar jahan

us ka intizar ho raha hoga

is tiwr ichha ke sath

barson se nirlap rahi us ki aankhon mein

dabi hui bhawnaen gati-man ho kar bahne lagti hai

he ishwar wo aankhen mund leti hai

mez par rakhi hisabon wali kitab dikhai deti hai

aur nau-pallawit paude ki

nazuk Dali jaisi ungliyan tham kar

wo use qile ke bhitar le aati hai

toting darwaza karkash aawaz ke sath

band ho jata hai

wo bilakhte hue bachche ko aaghosh mein le leti hai

KHamosh kamre mein us masum ki

dhaDakne sansen siskiyon ka shor

tez ho uThta hai

wo kas ke us bachche ko

apne bhitar sameT kar gahri nind sula deti hai

jab koi shor baqi nahin rahta tab

us ke bhitar ka rudan bahar aane ko taDapta hai

magar us ke adh-mare man mastishk

use yaad dilate hai ki

maut matam nahin mana sakti

kash mujhe bhi haq hota

darwaze pe aae ko wapas bhejne ka

kash

bhaari qadmon pe uTh kar wo

us kitab mein kuchh joD deti hai

din ka ujala surya ka tej

lajjit ho kar sar jhuka lete hai

hawa bhi chhobhit ho kar nili paD jati hai

sari sirishTi andhkar ki gart mein Dubne lagti hai