gum-gashtagii

merī chhoTī laḌkī

saath khelne vāloñ kī pukār sun kar

sīḌhī se nichlī manzil kī taraf utar kar jā rahī thī

añdhere meñ Darte Darte ruk ruk kar

haath meñ dīpak thā

āñchal se use oT meñ chhupā.e chal rahī thī bach bach ke

maiñ thā chhat par

tāroñ-bharī chait kī raat thī

achānak laḌkī kā ronā sun kar uTh kar

dekhne ko dauḌ gayā

sīḌhiyoñ ke biich jaate jaate

us kā dīpak havā se bujh gayā hai

maiñ us se pūchhtā huuñ kyā huā hai baamī

vo ro kar nīche se kahtī hai maiñ kho ga.ī huuñ

chait kī tāroñ-bharī raat meñ

chhat par palaT aane ke baa'd

ākāsh kī taraf dekh kar aisā mahsūs huā

jaise hū-bahū merī baamī kī tarah koī ek laḌkī

niile āsmān ko āñchal se gher kar

charāġh kī lau ko bachā.e hue akele chal rahī hai dhīre dhīre

agar dīpak bujh jaatā agar achānak vo ruk jaatī

to vo ākāsh ko apne aap meñ samote hue ro uThtī maiñ kho ga.ī huuñ

meri chhoTi laDki

sath khelne walon ki pukar sun kar

siDhi se nichli manzil ki taraf utar kar ja rahi thi

andhere mein Darte Darte ruk ruk kar

hath mein dipak tha

aanchal se use oT mein chhupae chal rahi thi bach bach ke

main tha chhat par

taron-bhari chait ki raat thi

achanak laDki ka rona sun kar uTh kar

dekhne ko dauD gaya

siDhiyon ke bich jate jate

us ka dipak hawa se bujh gaya hai

main us se puchhta hun kya hua hai baami

wo ro kar niche se kahti hai main kho gai hun

chait ki taron-bhari raat mein

chhat par palaT aane ke ba'd

aakash ki taraf dekh kar aisa mahsus hua

jaise hu-bahu meri baami ki tarah koi ek laDki

nile aasman ko aanchal se gher kar

charagh ki lau ko bachae hue akele chal rahi hai dhire dhire

agar dipak bujh jata agar achanak wo ruk jati

to wo aakash ko apne aap mein samote hue ro uThti main kho gai hun