ye raat

ye raat hai yā hayāt hai pul-e-sirāt hai

añdhere meñ lamhoñ kī tez dhaar par chale hue

halkī aañkh malte hue

lahūluhān qadam

lekin kaT kar girte haiñ nahīñ

karte bhī nahīñ

zaḳhmī pair liye abhī aur kitnī duur chalnā hai

ma.alūm nahīñ

is rāste kī sarhad

hamesha nazdīk dikhā.ī detī hai

lekin nazdīk pahuñchte hī ma.adūm ho jaatī hai

aur ham ek aur rāsta

ek aur rahguzār ubhar aatī hai

shāyad yahī manzil bhī hai aur yahī rāsta bhī hai

shāyad yahī is zindagī kā sāhil bhī hai

ki ham chalte raheñ

ḳhāmosh yā phir chillāte yā gaate hue

ḳhud apne aap ko koī giit koī naġhma

sunāte hue

gaane vaale bhī ham sunñe vaale bhī ham

hamārī duā.eñ bhī thī

hamārī zabān se nikal kar hamāre

dil tak hī jaatī haiñ

dil agar sun le to duāoñ meñ asar aa jaatā hai

na sune to ham haath uupar uThā kar nīche girāte rahte haiñ

aur rote rahte haiñ

is raat ke añdhiyāre meñ

khile hue zaḳhmoñ ke phuul bhī hamāre

hamārī aahoñ ke kāñTe bhī hamāre

ham tumhāre tum bhī hamāre

ḳhushiyāñ bhī apnī ġham bhī hamāre

is phuul aur dhuul se nikal jaane ke ba.ad

pul-e-sirāt se phisal jaane ke ba.ad

taqdīr sambhal jaane ke ba.ad

jab aañkh khulegī

to koī phūloñ kī biich hamārī muntazir na hogī

hamārī nīndoñ meñ

koī hañstā huā ḳhvāb nahīñ aa.egā

hamāre hāthoñ meñ koī gulāb nahīñ aa.egā

hamāre sāmne koī bām-e-sharāb

aur bāñhoñ meñ koī shahāb nahīñ aa.egā

aa.egā to

ik muhīb sannāTā

ik lambī ḳhāmoshī

ik na sunā.ī dene vaalī āvāz

ik na dikhā.ī dene vaalā ḳhalā

jis meñ na ham haiñ

na hamārā saaya hogā

na hone kā ilm

na hone kā ehsās

ek aisā lambā pul

jis kī kahānī ham apne dūsre shahr meñ bhī

sunā na pā.eñge

ham vahāñ se lauT kar

dobāra yahāñ aa na pā.eñge

ye raat hai ya hayat hai pul-e-siraat hai

andhere mein lamhon ki tez dhaar par chale hue

halki aankh malte hue

lahuluhan qadam

lekin kaT kar girte hain nahin

karte bhi nahin

zaKHmi pair liye abhi aur kitni dur chalna hai

malum nahin

is raste ki sarhad

hamesha nazdik dikhai deti hai

lekin nazdik pahunchte hi madum ho jati hai

aur hum ek aur rasta

ek aur rahguzar ubhar aati hai

shayad yahi manzil bhi hai aur yahi rasta bhi hai

shayad yahi is zindagi ka sahil bhi hai

ki hum chalte rahen

KHamosh ya phir chillate ya gate hue

KHud apne aap ko koi git koi naghma

sunate hue

gane wale bhi hum sunne wale bhi hum

hamari duaen bhi thi

hamari zaban se nikal kar hamare

dil tak hi jati hain

dil agar sun le to duaon mein asar aa jata hai

na sune to hum hath upar uTha kar niche giraate rahte hain

aur rote rahte hain

is raat ke andhiyare mein

khile hue zaKHmon ke phul bhi hamare

hamari aahon ke kanTe bhi hamare

hum tumhaare tum bhi hamare

KHushiyan bhi apni gham bhi hamare

is phul aur dhul se nikal jaane ke baad

pul-e-siraat se phisal jaane ke baad

taqdir sambhal jaane ke baad

jab aankh khulegi

to koi phulon ki bich hamari muntazir na hogi

hamari nindon mein

koi hansta hua KHwab nahin aaega

hamare hathon mein koi gulab nahin aaega

hamare samne koi baam-e-sharab

aur banhon mein koi shahab nahin aaega

aaega to

ek muhib sannaTa

ek lambi KHamoshi

ek na sunai dene wali aawaz

ek na dikhai dene wala KHala

jis mein na hum hain

na hamara saya hoga

na hone ka ilm

na hone ka ehsas

ek aisa lamba pul

jis ki kahani hum apne dusre shahr mein bhi

suna na paenge

hum wahan se lauT kar

dobara yahan aa na paenge