ab aur tab

na pūchh ai ham-nashīñ college meñ aa kar ham ne kyā dekhā

zamīñ badlī huī dekhī falak badlā huā dekhā

na vo pahlī sī mahfil hai na miinā hai na saaqī hai

kutub-ḳhāne meñ lekin ab talak talvār baaqī hai

vahī talvār jo bābar ke vaqtoñ kī nishānī hai

vahī marhūm bābar yaad jis kī ġhair faanī hai

zamīñ par lecturer kuchh tairte phirte nazar aa.e

aur un kī ''gaun'' se kandhoñ pe do shahpar nazar aa.e

magar in meñ mire ustād-e-derīna bahut kam the

jo do ik the bhī vo masrūf-e-sad-afkār-e-paiham the

vo ziine hī meñ Takrāne kī hasrat rah ga.ī dil meñ

sunā one-way traffic ho ga.ī uupar kī manzil meñ

agarche āj-kal college meñ vāqif haiñ hamāre kam

hameñ dīvār-o-dar pahchānte haiñ aur un ko ham

bulandī par alag sab se khaḌā ''tower'' ye kahtā hai

badaltā hai zamāna merā andāz ek rahtā hai

fanā ta.alīm dars-e-be-ḳhudī huuñ is zamāne se

ki majnūñ laam alif likhtā thā dīvār-e-dabistāñ par

magar ''tower'' kī saa.at ke bhī baazū ḳhuub chalte haiñ

kabūtar baiTh kar sūiyoñ pe vaqt us kā badalte haiñ

usī mālik ko phir halve kī dāvat par bulāte haiñ

vo halva ḳhuub khāte haiñ use bhī kuchh khilāte haiñ

agar vo ye kahe is meñ to zahrīlī davā.ī hai

mirā dil jāntā hai is meñ anDe kī miThā.ī hai

phir is ke ba.ad bahr-e-ḳhud-kushī tayyār hote haiñ

vo halva biich meñ aur gard us ke yaar hote haiñ

vo pūchhe gar kahāñ se kis tarah aayā hai ye halva

to Dabbā pesh kar ke kah diyā is kā hai sab jalva

kisī kanjūs ke kamre meñ jā kar baiTh jaate haiñ

aur us ke naam par Tuk shaap se chīzeñ mañgāte haiñ

bichāra 'ja.afarī' muddat ke ba.ad aayā hai college meñ

izāfa chāhtā hai apnī añgrezī kī knowledge meñ

tire siine pe jab yārā-n-ḳhush aa.eñ kī mahfil ho

to ai 'oval' use mat bhuul jaanā vo bhī shāmil ho

na puchh ai ham-nashin college mein aa kar hum ne kya dekha

zamin badli hui dekhi falak badla hua dekha

na wo pahli si mahfil hai na mina hai na saqi hai

kutub-KHane mein lekin ab talak talwar baqi hai

wahi talwar jo babar ke waqton ki nishani hai

wahi marhum babar yaad jis ki ghair fani hai

zamin par lecturer kuchh tairte phirte nazar aae

aur un ki gaun se kandhon pe do shahpar nazar aae

magar in mein mere ustad-e-derina bahut kam the

jo do ek the bhi wo masruf-e-sad-afkar-e-paiham the

wo zine hi mein Takrane ki hasrat rah gai dil mein

suna one-way traffic ho gai upar ki manzil mein

agarche aaj-kal college mein waqif hain hamare kam

hamein diwar-o-dar pahchante hain aur un ko hum

bulandi par alag sab se khaDa tower ye kahta hai

badalta hai zamana mera andaz ek rahta hai

fana talim dars-e-be-KHudi hun is zamane se

ki majnun lam alif likhta tha diwar-e-dabistan par

magar tower ki saat ke bhi bazu KHub chalte hain

kabutar baiTh kar suiyon pe waqt us ka badalte hain

usi malik ko phir halwe ki dawat par bulate hain

wo halwa KHub khate hain use bhi kuchh khilate hain

agar wo ye kahe is mein to zahrili dawai hai

mera dil jaanta hai is mein anDe ki miThai hai

phir is ke baad bahr-e-KHud-kushi tayyar hote hain

wo halwa bich mein aur gard us ke yar hote hain

wo puchhe gar kahan se kis tarah aaya hai ye halwa

to Dabba pesh kar ke kah diya is ka hai sab jalwa

kisi kanjus ke kamre mein ja kar baiTh jate hain

aur us ke nam par Tuk shap se chizen mangate hain

bichaara 'jafari' muddat ke baad aaya hai college mein

izafa chahta hai apni angrezi ki knowledge mein

tere sine pe jab yara-n-KHush aaen ki mahfil ho

to ai 'owal' use mat bhul jaana wo bhi shamil ho