Bachpanaa (बचपना)

Uss din hua kuchh yun

office se ghar ko jaate hue

koi riksha na mila.

"Sahab.

Aage school chhoota hai.

Koi function thaa aaj.

Road per jaam hai."

"Kambakhath bachche!"

Aur budbudaate hue

pakad lee maine

sadak per raftaar.

Saamne dekhta hoon

sadak per

bachchon ka ek mela sa laga hai.

Koi Ram, koi Aishwarya

toh koi neta bana hai.

"Fancy dress competition."

Arey inke maa baap kahaan hai?

Sambhaal nahin sakte

inn oot baagad-billon ko!?

Aur itne mein hee

ek nanhi si bachchi 

mujhse takraai.

"Arey! Paagal ho kya!"

"Shorry unkle."

Woh masoom si aawaaz

kaafi kuchh keh gayi.

Uski woh badi badi aankhein

kaafi kuchh dikhaa gayin.

Dil maano jaise mome sa ho gaya.

Yakeen nahin hota.

Aaj bhi koi kaise 

itna maasoom ho sakta hai?

Na mann mein koi chhal

na kisi ke liye koi dvesh.

Kab tak aise reh paayenge?

Shayad isiliye 

isko bachpana kehte hain.

Aaj ki duniya mein

phir se masoomiyatt ki baat karenge

toh bachpana hee toh keh laayega.

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-Prateek

14/11/2011