bas ek shaam kā har shaam intizār rahā

magar vo shaam kisī shaam bhī nahīñ aa.ī

bas ek sham ka har sham intizar raha

magar wo sham kisi sham bhi nahin aai

us ne pūchā thā kyā haal hai

aur maiñ sochtā rah gayā

us ne pucha tha kya haal hai

aur main sochta rah gaya

ye udāsī kā sabab pūchhne vaale 'ajmal'

kyā kareñge jo udāsī kā sabab batlāyā

ye udasi ka sabab puchhne wale 'ajmal'

kya karenge jo udasi ka sabab batlaya

maiñ ne ai dil tujhe siine se lagāyā huā hai

aur tū hai ki mirī jaan ko aayā huā hai

main ne ai dil tujhe sine se lagaya hua hai

aur tu hai ki meri jaan ko aaya hua hai

kisī ke hijr meñ jiinā muhāl ho gayā hai

kise batā.eñ hamārā jo haal ho gayā hai

kisi ke hijr mein jina muhaal ho gaya hai

kise bataen hamara jo haal ho gaya hai

zindagī ham se chāhtī kyā hai

chāhtī kyā hai zindagī ham se

zindagi hum se chahti kya hai

chahti kya hai zindagi hum se

ye jo ham kho.e kho.e rahte haiñ

is meñ kuchh daḳhl hai tumhārā bhī

ye jo hum khoe khoe rahte hain

is mein kuchh daKHl hai tumhaara bhi

rah gayā dil meñ ik dard sā

dil meñ ik dard sā rah gayā

rah gaya dil mein ek dard sa

dil mein ek dard sa rah gaya

batāo tum se kahāñ rābta kiyā jaa.e

kabhī jo tum se zarūrat ho baat karne kī

batao tum se kahan rabta kiya jae

kabhi jo tum se zarurat ho baat karne ki

kuchh kahnā chāhte the ki ḳhāmosh ho ga.e

dastār yaad aa ga.ī sar yaad aa gayā

kuchh kahna chahte the ki KHamosh ho gae

dastar yaad aa gai sar yaad aa gaya

'ajmal'-sirāj ham use bhuul hue to haiñ

kyā jaane kyā kareñge agar yaad aa gayā

'ajmal'-siraj hum use bhul hue to hain

kya jaane kya karenge agar yaad aa gaya

log jiite haiñ kis tarah 'ajmal'

ham se hotā nahīñ guzārā bhī

log jite hain kis tarah 'ajmal'

hum se hota nahin guzara bhi

kaun aatā hai is ḳharābe meñ

is ḳharābe meñ kaun aatā hai

kaun aata hai is KHarabe mein

is KHarabe mein kaun aata hai

Thahar gayā hai dil kā jaanā

dil kā jaanā Thahar gayā hai

Thahar gaya hai dil ka jaana

dil ka jaana Thahar gaya hai

ab aap ḳhud hī batā.eñ ye zindagī kyā hai

karam bhī us ne kiye haiñ magar sitam jaise

ab aap KHud hi bataen ye zindagi kya hai

karam bhi us ne kiye hain magar sitam jaise

ġham sabhī dil se ruḳhsat hue

dard be-intihā rah gayā

gham sabhi dil se ruKHsat hue

dard be-intiha rah gaya

badal jā.eñge ye din raat 'ajmal'

koī nā-mehrbāñ kab tak rahegā

badal jaenge ye din raat 'ajmal'

koi na-mehrban kab tak rahega

ye bhī tai hai ki jo bo.eñge vo kāTeñge yahāñ

aur ye bhī ki jo kho.eñge vahī pā.eñge

ye bhi tai hai ki jo boenge wo kaTenge yahan

aur ye bhi ki jo khoenge wahi paenge

mirī misāl to aisī hai jaise ḳhvāb koī

mirā vajūd samajh lījiye adam jaise

meri misal to aisi hai jaise KHwab koi

mera wajud samajh lijiye adam jaise

kyā kahegā kabhī milne bhī agar aa.egā vo

ab vafādārī kī qasmeñ to nahīñ khā.egā vo

kya kahega kabhi milne bhi agar aaega wo

ab wafadari ki qasmen to nahin khaega wo

sab ke hote hue ik roz vo tanhā hogā

phir vo DhūñDegā hameñ aur nahīñ pā.egā vo

sab ke hote hue ek roz wo tanha hoga

phir wo DhunDega hamein aur nahin paega wo

dikhā dūñgā tamāshā dī agar fursat zamāne ne

tamāshā-e-farāvāñ ko farāvāñ kar ke chhoḌūñgā

dikha dunga tamasha di agar fursat zamane ne

tamasha-e-farawan ko farawan kar ke chhoDunga