MAIKASHI

        

           MAIKASHI

Ek shaam hai,
Gumnaam hai,
Haathon me mere jaam hai.
Jaam me sharaab hai,
Log kehte hai yeh kharaab hai.
Magar hamare liye iska swaad lajawaab hai,
Isme maza behisaab hai.
Hum ise samajh kar peete hai ke yeh aab hai,
Hum bhool hi jaate hai ke yeh sharaab hai.
Hum ise peene me itne mashgul rehte hai,
Hamare hosh na jaane kahan gul rehte hai.
Yun toh ghar hai hamara,
Lekin ise labon se lagaane ke baad
Hum saatve aasmaan par rehte hai.
Saaqi hamara jaam bharte-bharte thak jaata hai,
Magar hum jaam khali karte thakte nahi.
Gar saaqi na ho hamare pehlu me
Toh hum khud hi jaam bhar lete hai,
Hum saaqi ki raah takte nahi.
Aakhir-kaar hamari mehfil jab khatm hoti hai,
Bas hum hi jage rehte hai,saari duniya soti hai.
Phir jaise-taise kar hum maikhaane se ghar ke liye nikalte hai,
Girte bhi nahi hai hum aur na hi hum sambhalte hai.
Maikade se ghar ke safar me
Ek baat zehen me aati hai,
Khudko baar-baar dohraati hai.
"Kyu main itna pee lete hun"
Is baat se main pachtata hun,
Aur aisi maikashi ki haalat me
Ghar jaane se ghabrata hun.
Ladkhadate-dagmagate hum ghar pohoch hi jaate hai,
Dheere se darwaza kholte hai,
Chupke se andar ghus jaate hai.
Koi jaag na jaaye hamari aahat se
Yeh soch kar hum ghabrate hai,
Phir dabe paaon bistar par jaakar
Chup-jaap se hum so jaate hai.

(Aab=Paani) (Saaqi-Bartender)

                          -RANA PRATAP SINGH