Wo beeti hui diwaliyon ke goonj abhi bhi yaad hai…
Jab mummy ki fatkar aur anar bomb ke dhamake se neend khula karti thi ;
Aur sari subah, apne kamre ki safaayee aur ghar ki sajaawat mein, ek pahaad si padti thi.
Poore din, doston ka ghar pe taantaa bana rehta tha ;
Aur kisi diwali gift mein mithai ya dry fruits ke bajaye chocolates nikal jayein, yehi armaan rehta tha.
Dilli ke sadar bazaar se bhar packet pathake, teen hafte pehle hi khareed liye jaate the ;
School ke toilets mein, classes ke beech mein, bijli bomb ke footne se sab lot pot ho jaate the.
Jab ek haath mein patakhon wali pistol, aur doosre mein saapon wali kali goli raha karti thi ;
Aur ‘atom bomb’ ki sannate ko cheerti hui cheekh, kano ko sunn kar deti thi.
Wo papa ke saath ghar ki chhat par bijliyon ki ladiyan lagana ;
Aur lakhsmi pooja mein chehre banakar apni behen ko hasana.
Mummy ka kisi tarah hum shaitano ko pakad kar diwali ke naye kapde pehnana ;
Aur paach minute mein hi, un kapdon ka mitti ya fuljhari ki chingari se chhalli ho jaana.
Wo cousins ke ghar pohach kar unke pathakon par dhhaava bol dena ;
Kiska rocket kitna uuncha fata, isi competition mein aadhi raat bita dena.
Jab nani maa prashad ko batkar sabko ashirwad deti thi ;
Aur kabhi angaare haathon pe lag jayein, to puchkaar kar haathon ko choom leti thi.
Jitna besabri se intezaar, mohalle ki aadhi raat ki aatishbaazi ka hota tha ;
Utna hi khayaal mummy ke haath ki poori, paneer aur kheer ka rehta tha.
Jahan doston ke saath tark-witark aur vipakshi dalon se muqablon mein, khilkhilaahat jama karti thi ;
Usi ullas ki goonj, aur diyon aur mombattiyon ki roshni mein, diwali ki jagmagati raat dhalla karti thi.
Neha Kumar 