Kambal

Woh chandni raat na thi,
Uss shab mein aisi koi baat na thi.

Hawa par udta ek tarana,
Jab mere hoton ke sirhane aa baith,
Zahen ki kiwad par dastak de raha tha.
Uski aawaz se dhool ki parat mein lipta ek khayal,
Apni adhkhuli neendbhari aankhen khole mujhe ghoor raha tha.

Maine aasman ki taraf dekha.
Chand kahi gum tha,badal bhi bikharese the.
Jaisa ki maine kaha..
Woh chandni raat na thi,
Uss shab mein aisi koi baat na thi.

Phir uss khayal se nazar bachate hue,
Tarane ko hoton par se hatate hue,
Kisi doosre khayal ke ghar mein maine ghusna chaha,
Par uss khayal mein qayamat ka junoon tha,
Apne saath bahut se logon ko le aaya,
Aur mai samjha ki woh akela tha.

Mai aangan mein aakar baith gaya,
Hawa sard thi,Buss ek kambal ki kami thi.
Par woh thodi na chandni raat thi,
Na ke uss shab mein koi baat thi.

Khauf ka saaya dil mein mandraya,
Jab muh ke zayke ko bhi badalasa paaya,
Aakhon ne bhi choda saath jab,
Dikhai pada ek jana - pehchaana sa saaya,
Ek chehra silwaton bhara,ek chehra masoom,
Ek ki aankh behti hui aur ek ki naak.

Hawa ki shararat par imli ke ped ne sihran bhari,
Andhere ka rang patton mein sama gaya...
Par woh chandni raat na thi,
Uss shab mein aisi koi baat na thi.

Khayal ke saath aaye log samne aakar baith gaye,
Kuch chehron ko bhule arsa hua tha,
Kuch chehron ko yaad karne ki jurrat na thi..
Shayad naraazgi se mujhe taak rahe the..
Anginat sawal apni khamosh nigahon se puch rahe the..
Aur main?
Main aankhen moonde us waqt ke naam se kosne bhar raha tha,
Jis waqt mai uss khayal se ja takaraya tha...
Accha hai ki woh chandni raat na thi..
Uss shab mein aisi koi baat na thi..

Phir ek lambi saas bharkar aankhen kholi,

Na aangan tha..
Na woh log the..
Na koi imli ka ped..

Seena kuch bhari tha,
Galon par bhi khushki thi,
Karwat badali toh pata chala...
Mere badan par ek kambal tha...
Zehen ki sandukchi mein tatola,
Khayal wohi pada so raha tha,
Par usse lipta dhool ka kambal ab waha nahi tha..