pal bhar ka mehman

kaun aayā hai

ye kis ne phūñk kar rakhe qadam

dahlīz par chup-chāp choroñ kī tarah

raat kī tārīkiyoñ meñ sarsarāhaT saañp kī

saañs ko siine ke andar rok lo

sun na le qadmoñ kī aahaT

dil kī dhaḌkan ko kaho chup saadh le

dil kā dar vā to na thā

par vo to darvāze se andar aa gayā

us ne dastak bhī na dī

ek saa.e kī tarah hai saath saath

kyā kareñ kis ko bulā.eñ

kyā kaheñ ye kaun hai

chup-chāp be-āvāz

gum-sum sāmne baiThā huā

yuuñ to sab kuchh hai

agar socho to ye kuchh bhī nahīñ

vahm-o-gumāñ

kaun ab DhūñDe use

vo to aa kar raat kī tārīkiyoñ meñ

is tarah ghul-mil gayā

jaise apnā jism ho us kā libās

ham ne dekhā hai use

jo ḳhud se bhī rū-posh hai

vo hamārī ruuh kī gardish meñ hai

aur hamāre jism se sairāb hai

ab agar tum so sako to so raho

ab vo jā.egā kahāñ

ab vo shāyad phir na aa.egā kabhī

kaun aaya hai

ye kis ne phunk kar rakhe qadam

dahliz par chup-chap choron ki tarah

raat ki tarikiyon mein sarsarahaT sanp ki

sans ko sine ke andar rok lo

sun na le qadmon ki aahaT

dil ki dhaDkan ko kaho chup sadh le

dil ka dar wa to na tha

par wo to darwaze se andar aa gaya

us ne dastak bhi na di

ek sae ki tarah hai sath sath

kya karen kis ko bulaen

kya kahen ye kaun hai

chup-chap be-awaz

gum-sum samne baiTha hua

yun to sab kuchh hai

agar socho to ye kuchh bhi nahin

wahm-o-guman

kaun ab DhunDe use

wo to aa kar raat ki tarikiyon mein

is tarah ghul-mil gaya

jaise apna jism ho us ka libas

hum ne dekha hai use

jo KHud se bhi ru-posh hai

wo hamari ruh ki gardish mein hai

aur hamare jism se sairab hai

ab agar tum so sako to so raho

ab wo jaega kahan

ab wo shayad phir na aaega kabhi