Ek ladki boli upar jaa kar,
"Main toh har mod pe karti thi tera intezaar,
Tune vaada kiya tha — kabhi na chhodne ka,
Phir kyun nahi aaya mera antim sanskaar?"
"Main toh sochti thi, tu royega sabse zyada,
Tere aansuon se bheeg jaayega mera kafan,
Par tu toh dikha hi nahi,
Kya itna aasaan tha mujhe bhool jaana, sanam?"
Ladka muskuraya, aankhon mein nami thi,
Dheere se bola, "Tu ab bhi wahi hai, par main ab wahi nahi..."
"Tera intezaar kiya maine har pal,
Jab tu gayi, us pal se main mar chuka tha kal.
Tu ro rahi thi upar, main toot gaya yahin,
Par zinda tha sirf tere liye... tere kahin aas-paas hi."
"Par tu jaane se pehle kabhi palat ke na dekhi,
Ek safed chadar mein lipta koi tere peeche bhi chala tha dheere se...
Vo main tha, jise sabne kaha — 'Do janaze nikle ek saath us din sheher se…'"


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