... कहीं आंसू ना निकल जाएँ

जब भी आइना देखा,

घंटों अपनी आँखों को एकटक घूरा,

कभी इन आँखों में झाँकने की हिम्मत्त ना हुई.

डरता हूँ कहीं आंसू ना निकल जाएँ.

जब भी आँखें बंद कीं,

घंटों जगमगाते उथले सपनों में खोया रहा,

कभी गहरी यादों में डूबने की हिम्मत्त ना हुई.

डरता हूँ कहीं आंसू ना निकल जाएँ.

जब भी किसी से आखिरी बार मिला,

घंटों बेकार की कहानियां सुनता सुनाता रहा,

'मत जाओ', कभी कहने की हिम्मत्त ना हुई.

डरता हूँ कहीं आंसू ना निकल जाएँ.

हाँ, दो आंसूं टपके ज़रूर थे.

उस दिन धूप कुछ ज्यादा ही तेज़ थी.


Jab bhi aaina dekha,
ghanton apni aankhon ko ektak ghoora,
kabhie inn aankhon mein jhaankne ki himmatt na hui.
Darta hoon kahin aansoo na nikal jaaein.

Jab bhi aankhein bandd ki,
ghanton jagmagaate utthle sapnon mein khoya raha,
kabhie geheri yaadon mein doobne ki himmatt na hui.
Darta hoon kahin aansoo na nikal jaaein.

Jab bhi kisi se aakhiri baar mila,
ghanton bekaar ki kahaaniyan sunta sunaata raha,
'mat jaao', kabhie kehne ki himmatt na hui.
Darta hoon kahin aansoo na nikal jaaein.

Haan, do aansoo tapke zaroor they.
Uss din dhoop kuchh jyaada hee tez thee.

यादें

यादें. 

कुछ यादें दिल में रह गयीं, 

कुछ यादें कागजों पर रह गयीं.

कुछ कागज़ डायेरी के पन्ने रह गए, 

कुछ कागज़ मेरी जेब में रह गए.

कल रात एक जेबकतरा,

मेरी कुछ यादों को अपने साथ ले गया.

संभाल के रखना भाई,

थोड़ी नाज़ुक हैं.

वज़न ज्यादा लगे तो,

पानी में बहा देना.

मैं समंदर किनारे रोज़ मिलूंगा,

ढलते सूरज के नीचे,

डूबा हुआ,

इन् यादों में.


Yaadein.
Kuchh yaadein dil mein reh gayin,
kuchh yaadein kaagazon par reh gayin.
Kuchh yaadein diary ke panne reh gaye,
kuchh kaagaz meri jeb mein reh gaye.
Kal raat ek jebkatraa,
meri kuchh yaadon ko apne saath le gaya.
Sambhaal ke rakhna bhai,
thodi naazuk hain.
Vazan jyada lagey toh,
paani mein bahaa dena.
Main samandar kinaare roz miloonga,
dhaltey sooraj ke neeche,
dooba hua,
inn yaadon mein.

मैं दुआ मांगता हूँ

अपनी पहुँच से दूर, आसमान में टिमटिमाते तारों से जलता हूँ.

और एक टूटते तारे को, आसमान से गिरता देखकर, खुद की सलामती की,

मैं दुआ मांगता हूँ.

बटुए में किसी दुसरे की, खनकते सिक्कों की आवाज़ से जलता हूँ.

और एक खोटे सिक्के को, तालाब में उछाल कर, खुद की तिजोरी भरने की,

मैं दुआ मांगता हूँ.

आँखों में किसी अनजान की, झलकती ख़ुशी से जलता हूँ.

और एक टूटी पलक को, हवा में उड़ाकर, खुद के आंसू पोंछने की,

मैं दुआ मांगता हूँ.

सुनकर खबर किसी अपने की मौत की, उसे मिली मुक्ति से जलता हूँ.

और मृत-शय्या पर रखी राख, माथे पर मल, खुद की लम्बी उम्र की,

मैं दुआ मांगता हूँ.

Twisters (August)

Driving his rickety car, he sees a huge billboard. His face, with "The Next Big Thing" written. He hates that "Next". He hates his car.

She pulled him off the couch to feel the nature. Under the tree she serves him tea. This is cold, he mumbles. A pigeon drops poop in the tea

I'm blond, but not dumb, she says as she spots a tablet in her drink. He gulps. You could've simply powdered & mixed it in salad. He smiles.

You should write, she said. The book was published. None bought it. Not even her. He tore off the first page. The book was dedicated to her.

Fixed the chair, she asks. He is quiet. Soccer's on. And the door, she shouts. The coffee table breaks under his punch. That too, she says.

His words were her aphrodisiac. Women were waiting for his next romantic blockbuster. He was enjoying the stardom, in his appartment, alone.

No one else in the ballroom. The lights are dimmed. As they begin to dance, she steps on his cape with her heels. A hole. Oops. They kiss.

They both were dying to meet each other. So much to talk. So much to share. After months, they met. Silence. They had nothing to talk.

Infidelity won't take you far, he says. Really? Seems your love also managed to get you only this far, she says, as she kisses the new guy.

Red eyes. His mouth foaming. The dog knows nothing of it. He just wants to be in his master's lap. The master loads his gun. Bam. Silence.

The silhouette that was sharp on the edges. Damn, as I see blood dripping down the fingers, not everything's as soft as they seem.

This is a dream, he says, as he opens his eyes, finds her sitting by his side. Then, it is a good dream, she says, planting her lips to his.