raaz itna gehra hai ye
nazron ke saamne, shuru bhi waise hi hua
bina bole, sab kuch dikha diya

shaant rehna toh chuna gaya hai
dhokha jab wahi de dein, jinse umeed hona bhi—
aisa sochna daravna lagta tha

ek waqt tak ki yaari
jab dor koi aur hi tod jaye
ya beech mein aakar, sira baandh kar
ye bata jaye ki gaanth hai kidhar

tab kya karoge?
kya kar sakte **?

ghaav bhi wahi dete hain
jinhe dene layak hum bana dete hain

kashti dubti hui khud ki
kisi aur ki ko sahara de diya
kasht kyu kiya itna?
unhone toh bas zara sa dhakka de diya


phir bhi baithe rehte
intzaar mein ki shayad kahi se madad aayegi
wahi, woh-hi aaye, bolkar ki dhundne gaya tha
koi aisa jo jod de tute hue dhaage

par umeed bhi toh kasam se—
shaap toh nahi ye?

sab chupa hua, aankhon ke peeche
khel khelne wale soch ke rakhte apni har ek chaal

toh kya maanu mai
shuruwat hi hui thi aisi,
ki meri gair mojudgi mein chun liya tumne ye khwab?