nigal gaye sab ke sab samandar zamiiN bachii ab kahiiN nahiiN hai

nigal gaye sab ke sab samandar zamiiN bachii ab kahiiN nahiiN hai
bachaate ham apnii jaan jis meN, vo kashtii ab to kahiiN nahiiN hai

(kashtii : boat)

vo aag barsii hai do-pahar kii key saare manzar jhulas gaye haiN
sub’h-savere jo taazgii thii vo taazgii ab kahiiN nahiiN hai

(manzar : the view)

tum apne qasboN meN jaa ke dekho vahaan bhi ab shah’r hii base haiN
ke DhuuNdte ho jo zindagii tum vo zindagii ab kahiiN nahiiN hai

(qasbe : towns)

bahut dinoN baad paayii fursat to maine khud ko palaT ke dekhaa
magar maiN pehchaantaa tha jis ko vo aadmii ab kahiiN nahiiN hai

guzar gayaa vaqt dil pe likh ke na jaane kaisii ajiib baateN
varq palaTtaa huuN maiN jo dil ke to saadgii ab kahiiN nahiiN hai

(varq : page)

Javed Akhtar

Contributed by M Zafar Momin