main aksar sard raaton mein

maiñ aksar sard rātoñ meñ

zamīn-e-ḳhāna-e-dil par

akele baiTh jaatā huuñ

phir apnā sar jhukā kar yād-e-ahd-e-raftagāñ dil meñ sajātā huuñ

ḳhayāl-e-māzī-e-daurāñ mire is jism ke andar ajab tūfāñ uThātā hai

hazāroñ miil kā lambā safar paidal karātā hai

maiñ yādoñ ke dhuñdlakoñ meñ tumhāre naqsh-e-pā ko DhūñDne jab bhī nikaltā huuñ

to ik tārīk vaadī meñ utartā huuñ

jahāñ yādoñ kī kuchh be-rañg tasvīreñ mujhe bikhrī paḌī ma.alūm detī haiñ

mujhe āvāz detī haiñ

ki vahshat kā ye jañgal bāheñ phailā.e bulātā hai

mirā shauq-e-nazar thak kar zamīn par baiTh jaatā hai

achānak jab tumhārī yaad ke vahshī jānvar āvāz dete haiñ

maiñ Dartā huuñ

ki jaise koī bachcha apne hī saa.e se Dar jaa.e

koī shīsha bikhar jaa.e

koī furqat meñ ghabrā.e

mire tār-e-nafas par zarb kartī mustaqil dhaḌkan

mujhe rukne nahīñ detī

mujhe thakne nahīñ detī

ye bechainī mujhe phir ik safar par le ke aatī hai

maiñ chaltā huuñ

ki jaise ik musāfir ba.ad muddat apne ghar jaa.e

ThiThurtī sard rātoñ meñ

koī jaise ki jam jaa.e

ki jaise saañs tham jaa.e

magar mere muqaddar meñ

sukūn-e-qalb-o-jāñ kab hai

nigāh-e-yās meñ mub.ham sahī koī nishāñ kab hai

kahīñ par shorish-e-amvāj-e-dariyā hai

kahīñ āvāz-e-qulqul hai

magas kā shor hai sarsar sabā kī āh-o-giryā hai

so dil apnā machaltā hai

kisī se kab bahaltā hai

dhuāñ uThtā hai dil se aañkh meñ tūfāñ machaltā hai

tabī.at zor kartī hai

ye dhaḌkan shor kartī hai

tumhārī yaad ke ye chīḳhte aur pīTte lamhe

mujhe rone nahīñ dete

mujhe sone nahīñ dete

main aksar sard raaton mein

zamin-e-KHana-e-dil par

akele baiTh jata hun

phir apna sar jhuka kar yaad-e-ahd-e-raftagan dil mein sajata hun

KHayal-e-mazi-e-dauran mere is jism ke andar ajab tufan uThata hai

hazaron mil ka lamba safar paidal karaata hai

main yaadon ke dhundlakon mein tumhaare naqsh-e-pa ko DhunDne jab bhi nikalta hun

to ek tarik wadi mein utarta hun

jahan yaadon ki kuchh be-rang taswiren mujhe bikhri paDi malum deti hain

mujhe aawaz deti hain

ki wahshat ka ye jangal bahen phailae bulata hai

mera shauq-e-nazar thak kar zamin par baiTh jata hai

achanak jab tumhaari yaad ke wahshi jaanwar aawaz dete hain

main Darta hun

ki jaise koi bachcha apne hi sae se Dar jae

koi shisha bikhar jae

koi furqat mein ghabrae

mere tar-e-nafas par zarb karti mustaqil dhaDkan

mujhe rukne nahin deti

mujhe thakne nahin deti

ye bechaini mujhe phir ek safar par le ke aati hai

main chalta hun

ki jaise ek musafir baad muddat apne ghar jae

ThiThurti sard raaton mein

koi jaise ki jam jae

ki jaise sans tham jae

magar mere muqaddar mein

sukun-e-qalb-o-jaan kab hai

nigah-e-yas mein mubham sahi koi nishan kab hai

kahin par shorish-e-amwaj-e-dariya hai

kahin aawaz-e-qulqul hai

magas ka shor hai sarsar saba ki aah-o-girya hai

so dil apna machalta hai

kisi se kab bahalta hai

dhuan uThta hai dil se aankh mein tufan machalta hai

tabiat zor karti hai

ye dhaDkan shor karti hai

tumhaari yaad ke ye chiKHte aur piTte lamhe

mujhe rone nahin dete

mujhe sone nahin dete