talab kareñ to ye āñkheñ bhī in ko de duuñ maiñ

magar ye log in āñkhoñ ke ḳhvāb māñgte haiñ

talab karen to ye aankhen bhi in ko de dun main

magar ye log in aankhon ke KHwab mangte hain

bahut aziiz thī ye zindagī magar ham log

kabhī kabhī to kisī aarzū meñ mar bhī ga.e

bahut aziz thi ye zindagi magar hum log

kabhi kabhi to kisi aarzu mein mar bhi gae

maiñ jo chup thā hama-tan-gosh thī bastī saarī

ab mire muñh meñ zabāñ hai koī suntā hī nahīñ

main jo chup tha hama-tan-gosh thi basti sari

ab mere munh mein zaban hai koi sunta hi nahin

ek nā-tavāñ rishta us se ab bhī baaqī hai

jis tarah duāoñ kā aur asar kā rishta hai

ek na-tawan rishta us se ab bhi baqi hai

jis tarah duaon ka aur asar ka rishta hai

ajiib turfa-tamāshā hai mere ahd ke log

savāl karne se pahle javāb māñgte haiñ

ajib turfa-tamasha hai mere ahd ke log

sawal karne se pahle jawab mangte hain

vahshat ke is nagar meñ vo qaus-e-quzah se log

jaane kahāñ se aa.e the jaane kidhar ga.e

wahshat ke is nagar mein wo qaus-e-quzah se log

jaane kahan se aae the jaane kidhar gae

ḳhauf aisā hai ki duniyā ke satā.e hue log

kabhī mimbar kabhī mehrāb se Dar jaate haiñ

KHauf aisa hai ki duniya ke satae hue log

kabhi mimbar kabhi mehrab se Dar jate hain

tamām umr kī be-tābiyoñ kā hāsil thā

vo ek lamha jo sadiyoñ ke pesh-o-pas meñ rahā

tamam umr ki be-tabiyon ka hasil tha

wo ek lamha jo sadiyon ke pesh-o-pas mein raha

kyā karūñ ḳhil.at o dastār kī ḳhvāhish ki mujhe

ziist karne kā salīqa bhī ziyāñ se aayā

kya karun KHilat o dastar ki KHwahish ki mujhe

zist karne ka saliqa bhi ziyan se aaya

vo habs thā ki tarastī thī saañs lene ko

so ruuh taaza huī jism se nikalte hī

wo habs tha ki tarasti thi sans lene ko

so ruh taza hui jism se nikalte hi