Apnaapan

Aaj mere kisii apne ne,
koi apna khoya
Maine socha ki uska koi
bhalaa, mera kya lagaa?
...par jab usse milaa
to ek vichitr aabhaas hua
Mere liye to sab kuchh pehle sa tha
Phir bhi kuchh kho dene
ka sa ehsaas hua

Uski aankhon mein thodi namii thii
Aaj usko koi kamii thii
Mein do ghadi saath baitha,
thoda saath to nibhaayaa,
thoda sa dukh chakh liya
aur thoda saath baandh laaayaa

Jo nahiin raha, woh mera koi nahiin tha
Mein to usse mila bhi nahiin tha
Mujhe usse baandhne waali,
bas ek hi kachchi dor thii
...ki woh mere kisii apne ka apna koi tha

Kisii aur ki bhaavanaaon ke aaveg mein,
jab hum swayam hi behte hain
Uska dukh apna lagna,
ise apnaapan kehte hain

...lagta hai ki aaj maine koi apna khoya!

-- Manas Saran (29th Dec, 2005)