ruh-e-awara

yās-ḳhez sub.hoñ se

be-sukūn shāmoñ se

bhāgne kī kāvish ne

kitnī rahguzāroñ ke

pech-o-ḳham ke jalvoñ se

āshnā karāyā hai

dar-ba-dar phirāyā hai

jaane kab ye hosh aayā

sub.h-o-shām be-ma.anī

be-sukūn-e-be-ummīd

phir to silsila niklā

lamha-hā-e-kāvish kā

chain kho gayā din kā

niiñd uḌ ga.ī shab kī

justujū kā ye chakkar

khīñch le gayā har pal

jaane kis taraf lekin

har qadam huā ehsās

maiñ gunāh kartā huuñ

umr kyuuñ gañvātā huuñ

kāvishoñ kā kyā hāsil

har qadam sameTe haiñ

ḳhaar nā-umīdī ke

ek din kā qissa hai

chalte chalte pahuñchā huuñ

ik jagah jo vīrāñ thī

kuchh daraḳht phaile the

jā-ba-jā pareshāñ se

ik daraḳht par gidh the

intizār meñ baiThe

aur maqbare the kuchh

pur-sukūn thā māhaul

dil-pasand thā behad

jaane kyuuñ ye lagtā thā

apnī sub.h shāmoñ se

apnī be-sukūnī se

apnī nā-umīdī se

chhūTne kā vaqt aayā

pai-ba-pai har ik lamha

hosh ho rahe the ġham

aur dil ko lagtā thā

ziist vahm ho jaise

ḳhvāb yā ki afsāna

daf.atan uThī ik chīḳh

ruuh tak taḌap uTThī

chīḳh jaane kis kī hai

haa.e ye to merī hai

aur barq kī sūrat

maiñ vahāñ se palTā huuñ

is ḳhamosh aalam se

be-ḳhudī kī duniyā se

jab palaT ke dekhā hai

ruuh muskurātī thī

merī rūh-e-āvāra

aur hasīn lagtī thī

yas-KHez subhon se

be-sukun shamon se

bhagne ki kawish ne

kitni rahguzaron ke

pech-o-KHam ke jalwon se

aashna karaya hai

dar-ba-dar phiraya hai

jaane kab ye hosh aaya

subh-o-sham be-mani

be-sukun-e-be-ummid

phir to silsila nikla

lamha-ha-e-kawish ka

chain kho gaya din ka

nind uD gai shab ki

justuju ka ye chakkar

khinch le gaya har pal

jaane kis taraf lekin

har qadam hua ehsas

main gunah karta hun

umr kyun ganwata hun

kawishon ka kya hasil

har qadam sameTe hain

KHar na-umidi ke

ek din ka qissa hai

chalte chalte pahuncha hun

ek jagah jo viran thi

kuchh daraKHt phaile the

ja-ba-ja pareshan se

ek daraKHt par gidh the

intizar mein baiThe

aur maqbare the kuchh

pur-sukun tha mahaul

dil-pasand tha behad

jaane kyun ye lagta tha

apni subh shamon se

apni be-sukuni se

apni na-umidi se

chhuTne ka waqt aaya

pai-ba-pai har ek lamha

hosh ho rahe the gham

aur dil ko lagta tha

zist wahm ho jaise

KHwab ya ki afsana

dafatan uThi ek chiKH

ruh tak taDap uTThi

chiKH jaane kis ki hai

hae ye to meri hai

aur barq ki surat

main wahan se palTa hun

is KHamosh aalam se

be-KHudi ki duniya se

jab palaT ke dekha hai

ruh muskuraati thi

meri ruh-e-awara

aur hasin lagti thi