ummeed to humein bhi thi,
ki hamara likha padhne wale honge kaafi,
par kahan — koi chahta?
likh du shayari agar, kahan kisi ko hai raas aata.

likhne se kuch banne tak ka safar,
maine bhi chaha,
par dekhu jab kisi ko
padhte hue,
sochti *** — kya ye chahein padhna mujhe?

aur jo maine likha,
woh toh kabhi pohonch hi nahi paaya,
jiske liye tha, us tak se pehle hi
usne raasta badal diya.

aur mera raasta yahi tak tha,
ab likhna — ummeed ke liye ki koi padhe,
khareede meri woh kitaabe jo padi hui kahin.
ummeed par duniya kayam hai magar,
iss baar shayad, shayad duniya ke saamne mai jhuk kar khadi,
ki likhungi toh apne liye.

aur agar kahin kisi ko mil jaye
padi hui meri koi bhi kitaab,
toh bas ummeed yahi, ki woh phek na de,
rakh de wapas, bhale laa kar de wapas.
phekna nahi — kyunki har ek shabd mai ***,
aur jo likha, uska har ek zariya meri zindagi ki dor se bandha.

todna nahi.

padhne wale nahi mile toh kya,
likhna toh nahi chhod sakti.
aur shayad padhte bhi unko hi,
jinki jaanne wale bohot, mohabbat karne wale bohot.

aur koi aarzoo?
ek aur khwaish —
bas padh le ye tu, aur mil jaye mujhe meri khushi wali.

bikne ke liye likhna,
kya ghera bandi.
shabd-kosh hi nahi mere paas,
toh phir kaisi tukbandi.

bolne mai aati sharm,
nahi chahti kehna,
mat khareed jo bhi maine likha.
bas padh ke bata de, ban ja ek mohra.

chahti *** duniya dekhe — lekin parde ke peeche se,
bahar nahi dikhna,
nahin hi banna mujhe koi katputla.