bas ek dhoka rah jata hai

bas ik dhokā rah jaatā hai

banda tanhā rah jaatā hai

dekhe dekhe manzar meñ bhī

kuchh an-dekhā rah jaatā hai

niiñd mukammal karte karte

ḳhvāb adhūrā rah jaatā hai

shaam Dhale us peḌ pe tanhā

ek parinda rah jaatā hai

peḌ agar kaT bhī jaa.e to

peḌ kā saayā rah jaatā hai

ik lamhe kī tah meñ rakkhā

ek zamāna rah jaatā hai

tum to kyā kyā gañvā dete ho

ham se kyā kyā rah jaatā hai

hijrat karne vāloñ dekho

pīchhe malba rah jaatā hai

log to paar utar jaate haiñ

dariyā dekhtā rah jaatā hai

bādal dekh ke chal dete haiñ

sahrā pyāsā rah jaatā hai

āḳhirī bas kā ek musāfir

shab-bhar baiThā rah jaatā hai

kab paḌtā hai us kā paañv

rasta dekhtā rah jaatā hai

baat kuchh aur nikal aatī hai

sab kuchh sochā rah jaatā hai

'jānāñ' ik tasvīr na ho to

kamra suunā rah jaatā hai

bas ek dhoka rah jata hai

banda tanha rah jata hai

dekhe dekhe manzar mein bhi

kuchh an-dekha rah jata hai

nind mukammal karte karte

KHwab adhura rah jata hai

sham Dhale us peD pe tanha

ek parinda rah jata hai

peD agar kaT bhi jae to

peD ka saya rah jata hai

ek lamhe ki tah mein rakkha

ek zamana rah jata hai

tum to kya kya ganwa dete ho

hum se kya kya rah jata hai

hijrat karne walon dekho

pichhe malba rah jata hai

log to par utar jate hain

dariya dekhta rah jata hai

baadal dekh ke chal dete hain

sahra pyasa rah jata hai

aaKHiri bas ka ek musafir

shab-bhar baiTha rah jata hai

kab paDta hai us ka panw

rasta dekhta rah jata hai

baat kuchh aur nikal aati hai

sab kuchh socha rah jata hai

'jaanan' ek taswir na ho to

kamra suna rah jata hai