Ek Khwaab

Kal shab, yun hi, raah chalte
Ek bichhda hua khwaab mujh se takra gaya

Muskuraa kar gale mila woh
Aur poochhaa us ne:
“Kaise ho?
Kahaan the mere yaar itne din?
Bataao, kaisi kati barson mere bin?”

Main uska chehra taakta raha
Beete hue kal mein jhaankta raha
Ke kahin koi suraag mil jaaye

Woh phir muskuraaya,
Is baar nam aankhon se,
Aur bola:
“Nahin, nahin pehchaane mujhe
Sab kuchh bhool gaye ho tum
Ho chuke ho shaayad
Gham-e-rozgaar mein gum."

Sach, kuchh bhool sa gaya tha main
Lekin yaad bhi tha, zara-zara
Kisi puraani nazm ki tarah, adhoora

"Chalo, koi baat nahin
Mujhe iski aadat si hai

Log aksar apne khwaabon ko
Yun hi bhool jaate hain
Tez raftaar-e-zindagi mein
Bahe chale jaate hain
Apne sapnon ko qatl kar
Jiye chale jaate hain.”

Main behad sharminda tha
Kya main mar chuka tha
Ya zinda tha?

Us ne mere kandhe par haath rakha
Bahut halka, bahut pyaar se
Aur bola:
“Tum mujhe bhool gaye to kya?
Main to tumhe nahin bhoola
Ab tak hain yaad mujhe
Woh kasmein, woh waade
Woh be-daag usool, woh paak iraade

"Aao, phir thaam lo haath mera
Ek baar phir kar lo saath mera
Aao, mil kar chalen raushan sahar ki ore
Aao, chhod chalen peechhe
Yeh jadd-o-jahad, yeh shor

"Aao mere yaar
Apne khwaab par aitbaar karo
Kya laaye the tum yahaan?
Kis cheez ke khone se daro?
Aao, mere saath chalo.”