Ek kahani bahut purani

ajab din the
ajab na-mehrban din the bahut na-mehrban din the

zamane mujh se kahte the zaminen mujh se kahti thin
main ek be-bas qabile ka bahut tanha musafir hun

wo be-manzil musafir hun jise ek ghar nahin milta
main us raste ka rahi hun jise rahbar nahin milta

magar koi musalsal dil pe ek dastak diye jata tha kahta tha musafir!
is qadar na-mutmain rahne se kya hoga

malal aisa bhi kya jo zehn ko har KHwab se mahrum kar de
jamal-e-bagh-e-ainda ke har imkan ko madum kar de

gul-e-farda ko fasl-e-rang mein masmum kar de
dilase ki isi aawaz se sari thakan kam ho gai thi aur

dil ko phir qarar aane laga tha
safar zad-e-safar shauq-e-safar par e'tibar aane laga tha

main KHush-qismat tha
kaisi saat-e-KHush-rang o KHush-asar mein mujh ko

mere be-bas bahut tanha qabile ko naya ghar mil gaya tha
ek rahbar mil gaya tha

ek manzil mil gai thi aur imkanon bhara KHwabon se ummidon se raushan
ek manzar mil gaya tha