aaseb

tirī rahguzar ko maiñ yuuñ chhoḌ aayā

ki ik be-navā kī tabāhī kā tujh par na ilzām aa.e

maiñ samjhā thā yuuñ shahar kī raunaqoñ meñ ulajh kar

tirī be-niyāzī ke aaseb se bach rahūñgā

magar jab kabhī maiñ sar-e-shām cafe meñ pahuñchā

to dekhā

ki tū haal ke ek kone meñ ik mez par sar jhukā.e

na jaane kise nāma-e-mushk-bū likh rahā hai

kabhī mall par maiñ ne taxi jo rokī

to dekhā

ki taxi meñ pahle se ik āshnā chehra-e-dil-nashīñ kī ziyā hai

hamesha ye tū thā

kabhī shaam ko maiñ kisī cinema haal meñ jā ke baiThā

to dekhā

ki pahlū meñ tū hai

ka.ī baar maiñ ne tujhe gulshan-e-fātima kī harī ghaas par baiThe dekhā

ka.ī baar bāzār meñ tū mire saath chaltā rahā der tak aur

ka.ī baar tū mere ghar tak mire saath aayā

aur ab apne tārīk kamre meñ baiThā huā sochtā huuñ

tirī rahguzar ko maiñ kyuuñ chhoḌ aayā

teri rahguzar ko main yun chhoD aaya

ki ek be-nawa ki tabahi ka tujh par na ilzam aae

main samjha tha yun shahar ki raunaqon mein ulajh kar

teri be-niyazi ke aaseb se bach rahunga

magar jab kabhi main sar-e-sham cafe mein pahuncha

to dekha

ki tu haal ke ek kone mein ek mez par sar jhukae

na jaane kise nama-e-mushk-bu likh raha hai

kabhi mall par main ne taxi jo roki

to dekha

ki taxi mein pahle se ek aashna chehra-e-dil-nashin ki ziya hai

hamesha ye tu tha

kabhi sham ko main kisi cinema haal mein ja ke baiTha

to dekha

ki pahlu mein tu hai

kai bar main ne tujhe gulshan-e-fatima ki hari ghas par baiThe dekha

kai bar bazar mein tu mere sath chalta raha der tak aur

kai bar tu mere ghar tak mere sath aaya

aur ab apne tarik kamre mein baiTha hua sochta hun

teri rahguzar ko main kyun chhoD aaya