wo shaKHs kaun tha muD muD ke dekhta tha mujhe

vo shaḳhs kaun thā muḌ muḌ ke dekhtā thā mujhe

akelā baiTh ke pahroñ jo sochtā thā mujhe

maiñ us ke paas se guzrā to ye huā mahsūs

vo dhuup sar pe liye chhāñv de rahā thā mujhe

ulaT rahā thā mirī zindagī ke vo aurāq

kisī kitāb kī mānind paḌh rahā thā mujhe

usī meñ dekh rahā thā maiñ apnā aks-e-ḳhayāl

vo ek chehra ki jo aa.ina lagā thā mujhe

ab us kī yaad liye phir rahā huuñ shahr-ba-shahr

kabhī sukūn kā lamha jo de gayā thā mujhe

vo shaḳhs mere tavajjoh kā ban gayā thā madār

na jaane kaun sā manzar dikhā rahā thā mujhe

maiñ us ke jism kā saaya thā sar-basar 'ḳhālid'

jo raushnī kā samundar sā lag rahā thā mujhe

wo shaKHs kaun tha muD muD ke dekhta tha mujhe

akela baiTh ke pahron jo sochta tha mujhe

main us ke pas se guzra to ye hua mahsus

wo dhup sar pe liye chhanw de raha tha mujhe

ulaT raha tha meri zindagi ke wo auraq

kisi kitab ki manind paDh raha tha mujhe

usi mein dekh raha tha main apna aks-e-KHayal

wo ek chehra ki jo aaina laga tha mujhe

ab us ki yaad liye phir raha hun shahr-ba-shahr

kabhi sukun ka lamha jo de gaya tha mujhe

wo shaKHs mere tawajjoh ka ban gaya tha madar

na jaane kaun sa manzar dikha raha tha mujhe

main us ke jism ka saya tha sar-basar 'KHalid'

jo raushni ka samundar sa lag raha tha mujhe