aa ki maiñ dekh luuñ khoyā huā chehra apnā

mujh se chhup kar mirī tasvīr banāne vaale

aa ki main dekh lun khoya hua chehra apna

mujh se chhup kar meri taswir banane wale

khulī āñkhoñ nazar aatā nahīñ kuchh

har ik se pūchhtā huuñ vo gayā kyā

khuli aankhon nazar aata nahin kuchh

har ek se puchhta hun wo gaya kya

kis ko fursat thī ki 'aḳhtar' dekhtā merī taraf

maiñ jahāñ jis bazm meñ jab tak rahā tanhā rahā

kis ko fursat thi ki 'aKHtar' dekhta meri taraf

main jahan jis bazm mein jab tak raha tanha raha

nā-umīdī harf-e-tohmat hī sahī kyā kījiye

tum qarīb aate nahīñ ho aur ḳhudā miltā nahīñ

na-umidi harf-e-tohmat hi sahi kya kijiye

tum qarib aate nahin ho aur KHuda milta nahin

ye bastī is qadar sunsān kab thī

dil-e-shorīda thak kar so gayā kyā

ye basti is qadar sunsan kab thi

dil-e-shorida thak kar so gaya kya