Khidki Par Thehri Hui Baarish

Kaanch ki patti par ek qatra thehra hua tha,
Jaise kisi purane dukh ne aahista se saans li ho.

Bahar gali mein paani ka shor tha,
Chatriyon ke rang the,
Bhaagti hui gaadiyon ke peele pahiye the—
Lekin kamre ke andar,
Dopahar ki chhati par ek dabi hui khamoshi thi.

I. Shishe Ke Paar

Hum ne baarish ko hamesha safar samjha,
Ek aamad, ek be-sabab be-qarari.
Lekin aaj jab parde zara se khiskaye,
To laga jaise baarish kahin jaati hi nahi—
Bas waqt ke bahaav par
Zara der ke liye ruk jaati hai.

Gili mitti ki mehak nahi thi kamre mein,
Kyunki khidki band thi.
Bas sheeshe par phisalti hui lakeerein theen,
Jo bina kisi shart ke
Aapas mein milti aur toot jaati theen.

II. Sukoot

Chai ki pyali mein thandi ho chuki bhaap,
Aur kitaab ke safe par ruki hui ungli.
Ajeeb hai na,
Jab dil ko kisi se koi gila nahi rehta,
To aisi dopaharon mein
Sabse zyada aawaaz apne hi dil ki aati hai.

Na koi shikwa, na kisi aahat ka intezaar,
Bas khidki ke frame mein qaed
Ek dhoondhla sa ped,
Aur hawa ke rukh par jhookti hui tehniyan.

III. Aakhiri Qatra

Baarish jab thamti hai,
To sabse aakhri aawaaz chhat se tapakne wale paani ki hoti hai.
Jaise koi mehmaan jaate jaate
Dehleez par apna rumaal bhool gaya ho.

Maine khidki nahi kholi.
Kuchh baaton ko
Sheeshe ke us paar hi rehne dena behtar hota hai.