Nazm..

Sirf nibhaya gaya bhar
"taqalluf" ka safar
"shuqriya" "aammen" jaise hurf
aur kuch bhi to nahi hai mere paas
tumhara diya-
"Dil" bhi nahi.

ye ranjo-gam ye kahani
ho nahi sakte tumhari nishani
udas din aur shyah raaton ki tarah
haq hai merea in par.

Achanak mile jab kabhi
dono taraf
haan dono taraf
bah aai thi dariyaen jajbaat ki
thi magar mahir tum is tarah ke haalat ki
gujar gayi youn kareeb se
bheench kar jajbaat
othon ki tarah daanton tale
goya
shaher ho ajnabi aur...
koi chehra pehchana nahi
jab ki labon ki shikan me kahin
meri hamnafas hum reh gaye the wahin.

aana kabhi
ghadi do ghadi
lamhe do lamhon ke liye
taqalluf hi sahi......aameen.

-susheel Gairola
[Published in "Nirjharni" in July 1997.]