Chehraa

aaj aaine me apna chehra dekha
to aankhon ne poocha-
yeh aks kiska hai?
yeh shaks kaun hai?

ik ajnabi si lag rahi thi apni hi nazar
ammi ki dee hui muskaan pheeki pad gayi!
shayad mera aaj ka chehra kisi gair pe gaya,
yaa phir shayad woh apna wala kahin sair pe gaya

ajeeb sa lag raha tha
to maine apna chehra dhoondha,
almirah me rakhi album me

kitne chehre palatke dekhe
kitne chehre pahanke dekhe
apna chehra mila hi nahin!

phir laga
shayad kabhi mera koi chehra tha hi nahin;
bas ek parda tha jis par kahaaniyaan raqs karti hain

jaise jaise udti sunti hain-
nazrein chup-chap
do chaar lakeerein likh jaati hain peshani pe;
do chaar laal lavz rakh jaati hain
bas hamein pata nahin chalta
nazrein aawaaz thodi na karti hain?!
bas tasveerein banaati baant-ti rahti hain

ab to roz khud se jaan pehchaan karna padta hai-
ab is chehre ke saath din utaarna hai,
to karna padta hai!

aur jab din dhalta hai
to mera dil darta hai
phir meri kahaani karvat legi
phir kuch kore kone kaale pad jaayenge
phir kuch berang tukde jud jaayenge
phir bhare chehre ko adhoora chod jaayenge

aur kal subah aaina dekhoonga
to parde par kahaani hogi,
ajnabi si, nayi si, alag si
phir aankhein poochengi-
yeh aks kiska hai?
yeh shaks kaun hai?