THE FOLLOWING POEM WAS SELECTED IN WINGWORD POETRY PRIZE 2023 LONGLIST.
Pehli nazar me vo rishtedar nazar aata hai
Akele me kuch lamhe kya guzre k vo khoonkhar ho jata hai
Na rishton ki kadar, na badappan, na lihaaz naa us nanhi si jaan ki cheekh pukaar
usse to sirf uska jism hi baar baar nazar aata hai
Is dard se vo kuch aagee chali
kuch zakham daba, kuch umr badhi
kuch yaadein dhundhli si hui, maazi ko peeche chod vo aage chali
Kuch khud ko usne smjhaya hi tha
rishton ko fir apnaya hi tha
K ek roz vo chal rahi thi
tution s ghar nikal rahi thi..
roz se aaj uski muskaan kuch zyada hi khil rahi thi..
Usse kya khabar thi maazi fir se dohra jaega
fir se koi uske jism-o-rooh ko rond jaega
Jab matlab nikal gya to sadak pe chor dia usse..
bebas,besaara, khoon me lat pat, kadpe pathe, uljhe baal, ankhen laal
Guhaar laga rahi thi
kisiko madad ko bula rahi thi
Bison (20) ke saamne hath jod kar apni hifazat chahrahi rahi thi
Kuch 15 ne usse palat kar dekha..
10 usse dekhkar chal die...
2-3 ne police ko call kia or apne ko ghar nikal lie
Or jo 2-3 bache the, jinke hifazat me vo thi padi
Unhone bhi usse tabaah karne me koi kasar na chodi
Police ko mili to bas ek laaho luhaan laash padi
Kise khabar us laash ne bhi sahi hogi darindagi
Hum ashraful maqluqat hai janab
Hum laash ke sath bhi kahan hone dete hai insaaf
Abhi unki laash saamne hi padi thi
Maa uski besud diwar se adi thi
Ke aagye 4 log
Vo 4 log jinhe har masle par bolna hota hai
Har marhale par mu kholna hota hai
Aakr logon ne uske kapde, parwarish, kirdar sab par daagh dala..
Sayasatdaaron ne saalon tk uske naam per khel khel kar na jaane kitni seat nikala..
Or!! Or uske mujrim??
Vo aaj bhi tapri pe ek haath me chai ek me sutta lie aazaad ghumte hai..
har ladki ko ussi nigaah se dekh kar
ussi anjaam tak le jaane ki raah dhundhte hai.