raat ka aaKHiri pahar

raat kā āḳhirī pahar bhī

raḳht-e-safar bāñdh rahā hai

mere kamre meñ ḳhāmoshī aur tārīkī

do būḌhī saheliyoñ kī tarah ek dūsre meñ gum haiñ

maiñ haath meñ garm chaa.e kī pyālī liye

soch rahī huuñ ki mujhe kyā sochnā chāhiye

kyā use

jo merā kuchh bhī nahīñ

to phir use kyā sochnā

chalo apne mustaqbil ke raushan ḳhvāb

āñkhoñ meñ zinda karte haiñ

magar ḳhvāb

kyā un kī ta.abīr vāqa.ī raushan hogī

kise ḳhabar hai

achānak kaise murġhe kī āvāz aa.ī

aur mujhe yuuñ lagā jaise

us ne duur se kisī ko pukārā ho

pukār

maiñ ne aisā kyoñ sochā

kyā mere siine meñ bhī koī pukār dafn hai

nahīñ chhoḌo

aur phir bahut se murġhe chillāne lage

jaise kisī bichhḌe hue kā mātam kar rahe hoñ

uf phir kyā ḳhayāl aayā

maiñ un kī āvāzoñ ko vasl kā giit bhī to kah saktī thī

mujhe ye āvāzeñ nauha kyoñ lagīñ

kyā mere andar bhī kisī se bichhaḌne kā ġham pinhāñ hai

nahīñ to

mujhe kisī se bichhaḌne kā ġham kyoñ kar huā

are

koī kuttā bhauñkā

maiñ ne khiḌkī se bāhar jhāñkā

añdherā duur tak

aur añdhere se mujhe phir kuchh yaad aayā

añdherā añdherā

vo bhī to apne māhaul ko

añdherā kahā kartā hai naañ

vo vo

lekin nahīñ

mujhe use nahīñ sochnā

to phir

soch rahī huuñ ki mujhe kyā sochnā chāhiye

raat ka aaKHiri pahar bhi

raKHt-e-safar bandh raha hai

mere kamre mein KHamoshi aur tariki

do buDhi saheliyon ki tarah ek dusre mein gum hain

main hath mein garm chae ki pyali liye

soch rahi hun ki mujhe kya sochna chahiye

kya use

jo mera kuchh bhi nahin

to phir use kya sochna

chalo apne mustaqbil ke raushan KHwab

aankhon mein zinda karte hain

magar KHwab

kya un ki tabir waqai raushan hogi

kise KHabar hai

achanak kaise murghe ki aawaz aai

aur mujhe yun laga jaise

us ne dur se kisi ko pukara ho

pukar

main ne aisa kyon socha

kya mere sine mein bhi koi pukar dafn hai

nahin chhoDo

aur phir bahut se murghe chillane lage

jaise kisi bichhDe hue ka matam kar rahe hon

uf phir kya KHayal aaya

main un ki aawazon ko wasl ka git bhi to kah sakti thi

mujhe ye aawazen nauha kyon lagin

kya mere andar bhi kisi se bichhaDne ka gham pinhan hai

nahin to

mujhe kisi se bichhaDne ka gham kyon kar hua

are

koi kutta bhaunka

main ne khiDki se bahar jhanka

andhera dur tak

aur andhere se mujhe phir kuchh yaad aaya

andhera andhera

wo bhi to apne mahaul ko

andhera kaha karta hai nan

wo wo

lekin nahin

mujhe use nahin sochna

to phir

soch rahi hun ki mujhe kya sochna chahiye