Karb

roz jab subh ko

apne ghar se nikalta hun main

raste mein koi dost mil jae

ya jaan-pahchan wala

main baDi garm-joshi se us ki taraf

baDh ke jata hun

aadab karta hun

aur muskuraata bhi hun

(jaise main aaj ke din

aur ghar pe sab KHairiyat hai)

mujh ko har har qadam par

kai tarah ke log milte hain

jo unchi dukanon pe baiThe hue hain

kai aise afrad

main jaanta hun wo kitne ghabi hain

magar kursiyon par DaTe hain

unhen log

jhuk jhuk ke taslim karte hain

(wo log

jo un se behtar hain

tahzib-o-shaistagi mein

danish-o-agahi mein

magar is ko kya kije

un ki qismat mein

wo KHas kursi nahin hai

ki jis par koi masKHara baiTh jae

to us ko koi masKHara kah na pae

main ye mahsus karta hun

KHud mere andar

koi baiTha hua

kah raha hai:

ji mein aati hai

in masKHaron par hansun

khokhle aadmi jo bhi hain

un se kah dun

ki tum khokhle ho

apni kursi pe baiTha hua

koi ahmaq

unT ki tarah se bilbilae

to kah dun

ki kya bak rahe ho?