251. Ajnabi musaafir

woh kaun hai?
aaya hain kahaan se?
 

lagta hai uske lahje se
usne bhi ik duniya dekhi hai
mere jahaan se juda
par shaayad utni hi uljhi
 

uski aankhon me
kahaaniyaan likhi hain
lekin kisi alag tahreer me
jise main padh nahin paata

mujhe poochna hai us-se

kya uski mehfil me bhi
udaasiyaan bikhri rahti hain
baukhlaayi si
anokhi mauziki ki sohbat me
 

kya uske yahaan bhi
log chehron pe sawaal
pahanke nikalte hain
 

kya uski galiyon me bhi
har roz kachahriyaan lagti hain
muqadme chalte hain
jahaan har koi
vakeel bhi hai
mujrim bhi hai
aur qaazi bhi

mujhe poochna hai us-se

par dar lagta hai

uska jawaab sun-ne se

kahin aisa na ho

ke meri ummeed bebuniyaad ho

kahin pata na chale ke

suljhe se mahaul 

mumkin hi na ho

mujhe poochna to hai

us-se

par sochta hoon

yeh sawaal-jawaab karte to hain

lekin phir kabhi