Mele

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