hitch-hiker

maiñ ki do roz kā mehmān tire shahr meñ thā

ab chalā huuñ to koī faisla kar bhī na sakā

zindagī kī ye ghaḌī TūTtā pul ho jaise

ki Thahar bhī na sakūñ aur guzar bhī na sakūñ

mehrbāñ haiñ tirī āñkheñ magar ai mūnis-e-jāñ

in se har zaḳhm-e-tamannā to nahīñ bhar saktā

aisī be-nām masāfat ho to manzil kaisī

koī bastī ho baserā hī nahīñ kar saktā

ek muddat huī lailā-e-vatan se bichhḌe

ab bhī riste haiñ magar zaḳhm purāne mere

jab se sarsar mire gulshan meñ chalī hai tab se

barg-e-āvāra kī mānind Thikāne mere

aaj is shahr kal us shahr kā rasta lenā

haa.e kyā chiiz ġharīb-ul-vatanī hotī hai

ye safar itnā musalsal hai ki thak haar ke bhī

baiTh jaatā huuñ jahāñ chhāñv ghanī hotī hai

tū bhī aisā hī dil-ārām shajar hai jis ne

mujh ko is dasht-e-qayāmat se bachā.e rakhā

ek āshufta-sar o ābla-pā kī ḳhātir

kabhī zulfoñ kabhī palkoñ ko bichhā.e rakhā

dukh to har vaqt ta.āqub meñ rahā karte haiñ

yuuñ panāhoñ meñ kahāñ tak koī rah saktā hai

kab talak ret kī dīvār sambhāle koī

vo thakan hai ki merā jism bhī Dah saktā hai

ajnabī log na.e log parā.ī galiyāñ

zindagī aaise qarā.in meñ kaTegī kaise

terī chāhat bhī muqaddas terī qurbat bhī bahisht

des paradesh kī tafrīq ghaTegī kaise

nā-guzīr aaj huā jaise bichhaḌnā apnā

kal kisī roz mulāqāt bhī imkān meñ hai

maiñ ye pairāhan-e-jāñ kaise badal saktā huuñ

ki tirā haath mere dil ke garebān meñ hai

main ki do roz ka mehman tere shahr mein tha

ab chala hun to koi faisla kar bhi na saka

zindagi ki ye ghaDi TuTta pul ho jaise

ki Thahar bhi na sakun aur guzar bhi na sakun

mehrban hain teri aankhen magar ai munis-e-jaan

in se har zaKHm-e-tamanna to nahin bhar sakta

aisi be-nam masafat ho to manzil kaisi

koi basti ho basera hi nahin kar sakta

ek muddat hui laila-e-watan se bichhDe

ab bhi riste hain magar zaKHm purane mere

jab se sarsar mere gulshan mein chali hai tab se

barg-e-awara ki manind Thikane mere

aaj is shahr kal us shahr ka rasta lena

hae kya chiz gharib-ul-watani hoti hai

ye safar itna musalsal hai ki thak haar ke bhi

baiTh jata hun jahan chhanw ghani hoti hai

tu bhi aisa hi dil-aram shajar hai jis ne

mujh ko is dasht-e-qayamat se bachae rakha

ek aashufta-sar o aabla-pa ki KHatir

kabhi zulfon kabhi palkon ko bichhae rakha

dukh to har waqt taaqub mein raha karte hain

yun panahon mein kahan tak koi rah sakta hai

kab talak ret ki diwar sambhaale koi

wo thakan hai ki mera jism bhi Dah sakta hai

ajnabi log nae log parai galiyan

zindagi aaise qarain mein kaTegi kaise

teri chahat bhi muqaddas teri qurbat bhi bahisht

des paradesh ki tafriq ghaTegi kaise

na-guzir aaj hua jaise bichhaDna apna

kal kisi roz mulaqat bhi imkan mein hai

main ye pairahan-e-jaan kaise badal sakta hun

ki tera hath mere dil ke gareban mein hai