Jeb Khaali:

Arz kiya hai…

Jab jeb khaali ho, toh ghar ka har kone sawal ban jaata hai,
“Kya karte ho? Kis kaam ke ho?” — yeh hi ikhtiyaar ban jaata hai.

Par jab rozgaar ki dhool pairon se jhoom kar uḍti hai,
Tab wahi log kehte hai, “Aaj-kal ghar ka rasta kaise bhool gaye ho?”

Ajeeb dastaan hai zindagi ki—
Na be-rozgaari pasand aati, na mehnat ka safar samajh mein aata,
Insaan do raaston mein pissa rehta hai…
Gharwalo ko sirf shikayat milti hai,
Aur dil ko sirf tanhaai ka inaam milta hai।

Sach keh doon?
Ghar aur bazaar ke beech jo chalna padta hai na…
Wahi sabse sakht imtihaan hota hai—
Jisme jeete hum hai,
Aur samjhte koi aur hai.

Kisi ko kya pata, safar kitna darar deta hai,

Woh toh bas itna dekhte hai—

“Kab paisa laaye ho, kab ghar aate ho?”

Par yeh nahi padhte ki dil ke andar kaunsa zakhm jagte hai.

Sach yeh bhi hai…

Apne hi kabhi kabhi sabse gehra teer chalate hai,

Ghar ka sukoon chheen kar,

Phir poochhte hai — “Aakhir itne badle kyun lagte ho?”