ek ajnabi laDki

shaam shaam jaisī thī rāstoñ pe halchal thī

kaam karne vaale sab

apnā farz adā kar ke

apne apne maidāñ se

kuchh thake to kuchh haare

apne ghar ko jaate the

bhiiḌ thī dukānoñ par

ghar ko lauTne vaale

aglī sub.h kī ḳhātir

ruk ke maal lete the

har kisī ko jaldī thī

aur shaam Dhaltī thī

ek ham the āvāra

kal na thā koī saudā

is liye saḌak par ham

dhīre dhīre baḌhte the

bhāgte hue logoñ par nigāh karte the

aur un pe hañste the

apnī mastiyoñ meñ gum

be-niyāz duniyā se

aage baḌh rahe the ham

muskurā rahe the ham

lekin ek manzil par

ham ThiThak ga.e ik dam

ek ajnabī laḌkī

ham pe ik nazar kar ke

ḳhuub ḳhuub hañstī thī

muñh ko pher letī thī

phir palaT ke vo ham ko dekhtī thī hañstī thī

jaane apne jaisoñ par

us kī khilkhilāhaT ne

kaun sā asar Daalā

kis ne jaane kyā sochā

kis ne jaane kyā samjhā

hai ḳhabar mujhe apnī

merī mastiyāñ saarī

shaam ke dhundalke meñ

duur hotī jaatī thiiñ

ḳhud pe sharm aatī thī

aur vo shoḳh sī laḌkī

ham pe hañstī jaatī thī

ab mirī nigāhoñ ko apnā dhyān aayā thā

ajnabī sī laḌkī ne dil bahut jalāyā thā

ab maiñ zaat kā apnī ḳhud tavāf kartā thā

apne aks ko apne aa.ine meñ taktā thā

ab niyāz-mandī thī merī be-niyāzī meñ

ab vo ajnabī laḌkī

dūsre ik āvāra

par nigāh kartī thī

us ko dekh kar phir vo

be-panāh hañstī thī

vo ajiib laḌkī thī vo ajiib laḌkī thī

sham sham jaisi thi raston pe halchal thi

kaam karne wale sab

apna farz ada kar ke

apne apne maidan se

kuchh thake to kuchh haare

apne ghar ko jate the

bhiD thi dukanon par

ghar ko lauTne wale

agli subh ki KHatir

ruk ke mal lete the

har kisi ko jaldi thi

aur sham Dhalti thi

ek hum the aawara

kal na tha koi sauda

is liye saDak par hum

dhire dhire baDhte the

bhagte hue logon par nigah karte the

aur un pe hanste the

apni mastiyon mein gum

be-niyaz duniya se

aage baDh rahe the hum

muskura rahe the hum

lekin ek manzil par

hum ThiThak gae ek dam

ek ajnabi laDki

hum pe ek nazar kar ke

KHub KHub hansti thi

munh ko pher leti thi

phir palaT ke wo hum ko dekhti thi hansti thi

jaane apne jaison par

us ki khilkhilahaT ne

kaun sa asar Dala

kis ne jaane kya socha

kis ne jaane kya samjha

hai KHabar mujhe apni

meri mastiyan sari

sham ke dhundalke mein

dur hoti jati thin

KHud pe sharm aati thi

aur wo shoKH si laDki

hum pe hansti jati thi

ab meri nigahon ko apna dhyan aaya tha

ajnabi si laDki ne dil bahut jalaya tha

ab main zat ka apni KHud tawaf karta tha

apne aks ko apne aaine mein takta tha

ab niyaz-mandi thi meri be-niyazi mein

ab wo ajnabi laDki

dusre ek aawara

par nigah karti thi

us ko dekh kar phir wo

be-panah hansti thi

wo ajib laDki thi wo ajib laDki thi