Subah sab kuch normal lag raha tha, jaise kuch hua hi nahi ho.
Lekin jaise hi raat hua... phir wahi awaaz aane lagi — "chhan- chhan..."
Is baar awaaz bahut dheemi thi, jaise koi dheere-dheere chal raha ho.
Main dar ke saath dekhne gayi… lekin wahan koi nahi tha.
Maine socha shayad mera waham hai aur main wapas jaakar let gayi.
Tabhi phir se wahi awaaz aayi… is baar thodi aur kareeb se.
Mera dil zor se dhadakne laga.
Main turant dadi ke paas gayi aur unhe sab bataya.
Dadi ne halka sa muskura kar kaha,
"Kuch nahi hai… koi janwar hoga. Tum bas so jao."
Lekin mujhe aisa lag raha tha…
jaise koi hume dekh raha ho.