Ab mujhe har waqt darr lagne laga tha.
Raat hote hi phir wahi awaaz aayi — "chhan-chhan…"
Is baar awaaz mere kamre ke andar se aa rahi thi.
Mera dil zor-zor se dhadak raha tha.
Main dheere se uthi aur aas-paas dekhne lagi.
Tabhi mujhe laga jaise kamre ke kone mein koi khada hai…
lekin andhere ki wajah se kuchh saaf dikh nahi raha tha.
Maine himmat karke ek kadam aage badhaya…
Tabhi achanak wahi "chhan-chhan" ki awaaz mere bilkul peeche se aayi.
Main turant palti… lekin wahan koi nahi tha.
Ab meri saansen tez ho gayi thi…
aur mujhe pakka lagne laga tha ki main akeli nahi hoon.
Tabhi khidki apne aap halki si hilne lagi…
jaise koi bahar khada ho.
Maine dheere se khidki ki taraf dekha…
Aur us pal… mujhe laga ki kisi ki parchai wahan thi…
Lekin agle hi second wo gayab ho gayi.
Ab mujhe samajh aa gaya tha…
yeh sirf awaaz nahi hai… yahan sach mein kuchh hai.