bachchon ke marhum rasail ki yaad mein

bachchoñ kā ik risāla

kal raat paḌh ke soyā

bachpan kī yaad aa.ī

maazī meñ apne khoyā

bachchoñ ke kuchh risāle

jo the mire havāle

marhūm ho ga.e haiñ

rakhte haiñ par ujāle

parcha thā ik masarrat

paTna se chhaptā thā vo

paḌhtā thā shauq se maiñ

ghar meñ mire milā thā

dil ko hamesha mere

bedār kartā rahtā

paiġhām apnā de kar

hushiyār kartā rahtā

behad hai yaad aatā

dillī kā vo khilaunā

āñkhoñ ko baḳhshtā thā

sapnā sadā salonā

apnī latāfatoñ kā

jaadū jagātā rahtā

har maah aa ke mere

dil ko lubhātā rahtā

ik māhnāma kaliyāñ

aayā thā lakhna.ū se

yā'nī ik achchhā tohfa

paayā thā lakhna.ū se

ab yaad aa rahī haiñ

us kī bhalī adā.eñ

har har varaq pe raushan

thiiñ ḳhair kī shu'ā'eñ

bachchoñ kā pyārā toffē

hāthoñ meñ jab bhī miltā

dil apnā shaad ho kar

ik phuul jaisā khiltā

āñkhoñ ko nuur kartā

har maah ek toffē

nekī ko raah dil meñ

detā vo nek toffē

nau-ḳhez ik risāla

kalkatte se thā niklā

dil us kī ḳhūbiyoñ ko

ab tak na bhuul paayā

do baar hī milā thā

par dil meñ aa basā thā

kam 'umr us ne paa.ī

ye ek sāneha thā

maiñ ne ye jab sunā hai

ġham dil meñ aa base haiñ

nūr-o-hilāl bhī ab

mujh se bichhaḌ ga.e haiñ

nūr-o-hilāl guzre

to aisā lag rahā hai

bachchoñ ke sar se saaya

shafqat kā uTh gayā hai

bachchoñ ke vo rasā.il

rakhte the vo fazā.el

ab bhī mirā tasavvur

jin kī taraf hai maa.il

un kī afādiyat kā

hai ik zamāna qaa.il

mumkin nahīñ 'atā' ki

ho yaad un kī zaa.il

bachchoñ ke kuchh risāle

jo the mire havāle

marhūm ho ga.e haiñ

rakhte haiñ par ujāle

bachchon ka ek risala

kal raat paDh ke soya

bachpan ki yaad aai

mazi mein apne khoya

bachchon ke kuchh risale

jo the mere hawale

marhum ho gae hain

rakhte hain par ujale

parcha tha ek masarrat

paTna se chhapta tha wo

paDhta tha shauq se main

ghar mein mere mila tha

dil ko hamesha mere

bedar karta rahta

paigham apna de kar

hushiyar karta rahta

behad hai yaad aata

dilli ka wo khilauna

aankhon ko baKHshta tha

sapna sada salona

apni latafaton ka

jadu jagata rahta

har mah aa ke mere

dil ko lubhata rahta

ek mahnama kaliyan

aaya tha lakhnau se

ya'ni ek achchha tohfa

paya tha lakhnau se

ab yaad aa rahi hain

us ki bhali adaen

har har waraq pe raushan

thin KHair ki shu'a'en

bachchon ka pyara toffee

hathon mein jab bhi milta

dil apna shad ho kar

ek phul jaisa khilta

aankhon ko nur karta

har mah ek toffee

neki ko rah dil mein

deta wo nek toffee

nau-KHez ek risala

kalkatte se tha nikla

dil us ki KHubiyon ko

ab tak na bhul paya

do bar hi mila tha

par dil mein aa basa tha

kam 'umr us ne pai

ye ek saneha tha

main ne ye jab suna hai

gham dil mein aa base hain

nur-o-hilal bhi ab

mujh se bichhaD gae hain

nur-o-hilal guzre

to aisa lag raha hai

bachchon ke sar se saya

shafqat ka uTh gaya hai

bachchon ke wo rasail

rakhte the wo fazael

ab bhi mera tasawwur

jin ki taraf hai mail

un ki afadiyat ka

hai ek zamana qail

mumkin nahin 'ata' ki

ho yaad un ki zail

bachchon ke kuchh risale

jo the mere hawale

marhum ho gae hain

rakhte hain par ujale