वापस चल के आता हूँ
उस पूरे रास्ते
जिस पर साथ चले थे हम अभी, थोड़ी देर पहले
एक–एक कर बिखरे लम्हे उठता हूँ
और जेबें भर लेता हूँ अपनी
यहाँ, हम हँसे थे, बिना किसी बात के
यहाँ भाग के सीढियां चढ़े थे, और साँस फूली थी तेरी
और ऐसी ही किसी सीट पर बैठे, कंधे पे सर रखा था तूने मेरे
तेरे जाने के बाद
छोटा सा कमरा खाली लगता है बड़ा
वो जो नहीं पहनी थी तूने खुशियाँ
तह कर के रख देता हूँ वापिस
वो जो लफ्ज़ रह गए थे अनकहे
फिर से टेबल पर सजा देता हूँ
और जो ख्वाब अभी नहीं हुए हैं पूरे
निशाँ लगा के रख लेता हूँ, आगे काम करना है उनपे अभी
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.
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तेरे जाने के बाद
आज भी पलकें भीग आती हैं कभी
उस दिन के इंतज़ार में
के जब तू आए, तो तेरा जाना न हो
after you leave
i come back the whole way
which we crossed
a little while ago
picking up scattered moments
i fill my pockets, one by one
here, we laughed, for a reason without
here, we ran up the stairs, and breathless you were
and sitting on a seat like this, you’d put your head on my shoulder
after you leave
this small room, turns big and empty
i fold and keep away
i keep on the table, once again
the words, that were left unsaid
and bookmark the dreams
that are to be worked upon
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after you leave
the eyes still well up sometimes
in wait of the day
when you’ll arrive, not to leave again
Born in New Delhi, India in 1980 and is a retired pessimist (still) living in New Delhi. He has Haryanvi ancestors, a Punjabi girlfriend, friends all over the world, two (or more) yet to be born children, (many) memories of (many) pet dogs and no cats ever. He holds an honours degree in English Literature from the University of Delhi and creates advertisements for paying the bills. His interests are universal, and include: living, eating, sleeping and when not sleeping, daydreaming. Other abiding interests include reading, writing, street photography, newspaper editorials, watching the moon and planning trekking trips that never materialize.
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