Naya saal aa gaya…

par sirf tareekh badli hai.

Zindagi wahin ruki hai

jahan kal thi.

Na khushi badhi,

na dard kam hua —

jo tha, bas wahi reh gaya.

Dil wahi hai,

andar se thaka hua,

bahar se theek dikhne wala.

Jo takleef kal chup thi,

aaj bhi chup hai.

Na cheekh bani,

na aansu.

Bas ek bojh hai

jo roz utha kar chalna padta hai,

jaise aadat si ho gayi ho.

Har naya saal

kuch na kuch cheen kar le gaya —

kabhi kisi apne ka janaza,

kabhi kisi apne ka saath,

kabhi mohabbat,

kabhi sukoon,

kabhi khwahishein,

kabhi khwaab.

Aur aakhir mein

reh gayi sirf

ek gehri khamoshi…

jo bolti nahi,

bas saath rehti hai.

Log poochte hain,

“sab theek?”

aur main muskura kar keh deta hoon,

“haan.”

Zindagi 

Tooti nahi hai …

bas thoda si thak gyi hai.

Aur shayad

waqt ke saath

phir se sambhal jaae. 

---arfa