ye rasta

in daraḳhtoñ ke gahre ghane, ḳhvāb-ālud saa.e meñ

ḳhāmosh, hairān chaltā huaa... ek rasta

kisī duur ki... raushnī kī taraf jā rahā hai

yahāñ se jo dekho to jaise... kahīñ hadd-e-imkāñ talak

gum-shuda vaqt jaisī añdherī guphā hai

yahāñ se jo dekho... to

ummīd jaisā bahut hairat-afzā... ajab silsila hai

jo is tañg, tārīk nuqte se

mumkin ke mānind, ik raushnī-zād qarye kī jānib khulā hai

fazā meñ kahīñ nīl-gūñ sabz, halke sunahre

kahīñ bas hare hī hare... saḳht gahre

bahut ūñghte Dolte rañg

sūkhe hue surḳh pattoñ ke mānind

us be-amāñ rāste par paḌe haiñ

kiran bhūlī-bhaTkī koī

un se aa kar achānak jo milne lagī hai

to yak-bārgī chauñk kar... sab damakne lage haiñ

añdhere kī is hadd-e-imkāñ talak

tañg, gahrī guphā meñ...

sabhī yaad ke jugnuoñ kī tarah

uḌte uḌte chamakne lage haiñ

yahāñ se jo dekho... to

nādīda manzil kī mauhūm hairat se

āñkheñ, har ik ḳhvāb kī niim vā haiñ

tamannāoñ ke dil dhaḌakne lage haiñ!

in daraKHton ke gahre ghane, KHwab-alud sae mein

KHamosh, hairan chalta hua ek rasta

kisi dur ki raushni ki taraf ja raha hai

yahan se jo dekho to jaise kahin hadd-e-imkan talak

gum-shuda waqt jaisi andheri gupha hai

yahan se jo dekho to

ummid jaisa bahut hairat-afza ajab silsila hai

jo is tang, tarik nuqte se

mumkin ke manind, ek raushni-zad qarye ki jaanib khula hai

faza mein kahin nil-gun sabz, halke sunahre

kahin bas hare hi hare saKHt gahre

bahut unghte Dolte rang

sukhe hue surKH patton ke manind

us be-aman raste par paDe hain

kiran bhuli-bhaTki koi

un se aa kar achanak jo milne lagi hai

to yak-bargi chaunk kar sab damakne lage hain

andhere ki is hadd-e-imkan talak

tang, gahri gupha mein

sabhi yaad ke jugnuon ki tarah

uDte uDte chamakne lage hain

yahan se jo dekho to

nadida manzil ki mauhum hairat se

aankhen, har ek KHwab ki nim wa hain

tamannaon ke dil dhaDakne lage hain!