thi ajab hi dastan jab tamam ho gai

thī ajab hī dāstāñ jab tamām ho ga.ī

ik misāl ban ga.ī ik payām ho ga.ī

raat jab javāñ huī jab diyoñ ke sar uThe

tab havā bhī aur kuchh tez-gām ho ga.ī

ek bas nazar paḌī us ke baad yuuñ huā

maiñ ne jo ġhazal likhī tere naam ho ga.ī

miT rahī thī tishnagī baḌh rahī thī dostī

phir anā kī teġh kyuuñ be-niyām ho ga.ī

falsafe ko chhoḌiye kyā kaheñge sochiye

zindagī jo aap se ham-kalām ho ga.ī

tanz to bahut hue par ajiib baat hai

raah jo hamārī thī rāh-e-ām ho ga.ī

kaisī umda qaum thī kyā hī zinda qaum thī

āḳhir us ko kyā huā kyuuñ ġhulām ho ga.ī

jām-e-ishq pī chuke zindagī bhī jī chuke

ab 'hilāl' ghar chalo ab to shaam ho ga.ī

thi ajab hi dastan jab tamam ho gai

ek misal ban gai ek payam ho gai

raat jab jawan hui jab diyon ke sar uThe

tab hawa bhi aur kuchh tez-gam ho gai

ek bas nazar paDi us ke baad yun hua

main ne jo ghazal likhi tere nam ho gai

miT rahi thi tishnagi baDh rahi thi dosti

phir ana ki tegh kyun be-niyam ho gai

falsafe ko chhoDiye kya kahenge sochiye

zindagi jo aap se ham-kalam ho gai

tanz to bahut hue par ajib baat hai

rah jo hamari thi rah-e-am ho gai

kaisi umda qaum thi kya hi zinda qaum thi

aaKHir us ko kya hua kyun ghulam ho gai

jam-e-ishq pi chuke zindagi bhi ji chuke

ab 'hilal' ghar chalo ab to sham ho gai