ye sarae hai

ye sarā.e hai yahāñ kis kā Thikānā DhūñDo

yaañ to aate haiñ musāfir so chale jaate haiñ

haañ yahī naam thā kuchh aisā hī chehrā-mohrā

yaad paḌtā hai ki aayā thā musāfir koī

suune āñgan meñ phirā kartā thā tanhā tanhā

kitnī gahrī thī nigāhoñ kī udāsī us kī

log kahte the ki hogā koī āseb-zada

ham ne aisī bhī koī baat na us meñ dekhī

ye bhī himmat na huī paas biThā ke pūchheñ

dil ye kahtā thā koī dard kā maarā hogā

lauT aayā hai jo āvāz na us kī paa.ī

jaane kis dar pe kise jā ke pukārā hogā

yaañ to har roz kī bāteñ haiñ ye jīteñ māteñ

ye bhī chāhat ke kisī khel meñ haarā hogā

ek tasvīr thī kuchh aap se miltī jultī

ek tahrīr thī ye is kā to qissa chhoḌo

chand ġhazleñ thiiñ ki likkhīñ kabhī likh kar kāTīñ

sher achchhe the jo sun lo to kaleja thāmo

bas yahī maal musāfir kā thā ham ne dekhā

jaane kis raah meñ kis shaḳhs ne luuTā us ko

guzrā karte haiñ sulagte hue baaqī ayyām

log jab aag lagāte haiñ bujhāte bhī nahīñ

ajnabī piit ke māroñ se kisī ko kyā kaam

bastiyoñ vaale kabhī naaz uThāte bhī nahīñ

chhīn lete haiñ vo yak-bārgī jī kā ārām

phir bulāte bhī nahīñ paas biThāte bhī nahīñ

ek din sub.h jo dekhā to sarā.e meñ na thā

jaane kis des gayā hai vo divānā DhūñDo

ham se pūchho to na aa.egā vo jaane vaalā

tum to nāhaq ko bhaTakne kā bahāna DhūñDo

yaañ to aayā jo musāfir yūñhī shab bhar Thahrā

ye sarā.e hai yahāñ kis kā Thikānā DhūñDo

ye sarae hai yahan kis ka Thikana DhunDo

yan to aate hain musafir so chale jate hain

han yahi nam tha kuchh aisa hi chehra-mohra

yaad paDta hai ki aaya tha musafir koi

sune aangan mein phira karta tha tanha tanha

kitni gahri thi nigahon ki udasi us ki

log kahte the ki hoga koi aaseb-zada

hum ne aisi bhi koi baat na us mein dekhi

ye bhi himmat na hui pas biTha ke puchhen

dil ye kahta tha koi dard ka mara hoga

lauT aaya hai jo aawaz na us ki pai

jaane kis dar pe kise ja ke pukara hoga

yan to har roz ki baaten hain ye jiten maten

ye bhi chahat ke kisi khel mein haara hoga

ek taswir thi kuchh aap se milti julti

ek tahrir thi ye is ka to qissa chhoDo

chand ghazlen thin ki likkhin kabhi likh kar kaTin

sher achchhe the jo sun lo to kaleja thamo

bas yahi mal musafir ka tha hum ne dekha

jaane kis rah mein kis shaKHs ne luTa us ko

guzra karte hain sulagte hue baqi ayyam

log jab aag lagate hain bujhate bhi nahin

ajnabi pit ke maron se kisi ko kya kaam

bastiyon wale kabhi naz uThate bhi nahin

chhin lete hain wo yak-bargi ji ka aaram

phir bulate bhi nahin pas biThate bhi nahin

ek din subh jo dekha to sarae mein na tha

jaane kis des gaya hai wo diwana DhunDo

hum se puchho to na aaega wo jaane wala

tum to nahaq ko bhaTakne ka bahana DhunDo

yan to aaya jo musafir yunhi shab bhar Thahra

ye sarae hai yahan kis ka Thikana DhunDo