Agli raat maine decide kiya ki ab mujhe sach jaan-na hi hoga.
Jaise hi raat ka time hua… phir wahi awaaz aane lagi — "chhan-chhan…"
Is baar main dheere - dheere darwaze ke paas gayi aur use khola.
Achanak thandi hawa ka jhonka andar aaya…
aur mujhe laga jaise koi mere paas se guzra ho.
Mera dil zor-zor se dhadak raha tha.
Maine dheere se deewar ki taraf dekha…
Wahan ek parchai thi… lekin wo meri nahi thi.
Wo dheere - dheere hil rahi thi… jaise koi wahan khada ho.
Main dar ke maare hil bhi nahi pa rahi thi.
Tabhi achanak wo parchai gayab ho gayi…
Aur usi waqt… mere kaan ke bilkul paas se awaaz aayi —
"chhan… chhan…"
Main zor se cheekhne wali thi… lekin awaaz hi nahi nikli.