woh shakhs

ja raha tha mulaqaat ki khatir,
raah-e-safar mein mila ek shakhas,
baitha tha bus ki bayin taraf khidki wali seat par,
jardd sa chehraa,
udaasi bhari aankhen,
sukhe sabz honth,
dhool se sani thi deh, kapde bhi the dhool se sane,
uske bagal ki seat khali thi,
main ja baitha uss seat par,
safar shuru hua,
kuchh waqt beeta,
woh bus baahar khidki se dekhe ja rahaa tha,
maine chuppi todi aur puchha uss se,
kahaan tak jaana hai?
uski ore se koi jawaab na aaya,
na jaane kahaan khoya tha,
na jaane kis khayaal mein gumm tha,
ya meri awaaz hi na suni ussne,
bus woh dekh rahaa tha apalak baahar ek tathasth sa,
mann mein aaya kahin woh mook to nahin chehre se to aisa jaahir nahin hota tha,
ghante dhedh ghante baad mera gantavy aaya,
jahaan mujhko jaana tha,
main utarne ko taiyaar hua,
peeche dekha woh bhi khada tha,
shaayad usko bhi yahin tak aana tha,
ham utre ek saath,
main aage badh gaya,
na jaane kyon pichhe muda,
dekha woh apni khayaalon mein dooba chala ja raha tha.