faqat harf-e-tamanna kya hai

shaam raushan thī sunahrī thī

magar utrī chalī aatī thī

ziina ziina

aa ke phir ruk sī ga.ī

shab kī muñDeroñ ke qarīñ

ik sitāra bhī kahīñ saath hī jhuk aayā thā

jaise vo chhūne ko thā kānoñ ke baale us ke

gesuoñ ko bhī ki the ruḳh ke havāle us ke

kuhniyāñ Teke hue ek dhaḌaktī huī dīvār pe vo

khilkhilāte hue kuchh mujh se kahe jaatī thī

us kā āhañg-e-suḳhan munfarid lahn-e-kalām

zamzame phūTte the jis se shagūfoñ kī tarah

jhiil pe panchhī koī pañkh sañvāre jaise

sur kī lahroñ pe koī dil ko pukāre jaise

sāñvle chehre pe vo kānoñ ke baale kī damak

nāz-e-be-jā bhī na thā ruḳh pe tfāḳhur kī jhalak

itnī pur-nūr thiiñ vo āñkheñ ki gumāñ hotā thā

jaise ḳhurshīd abhī Duub ke ubhregā unhīñ āñkhoñ se

lekin is shaam un āñkhoñ se achānak TuuTe

do sitāre jo larazte rahe tā-der larazte hī rahe

jaise kahte hoñ ki is shām-e-gurezāñ kā bharosā kyā hai

dil na chāhe to faqat harf-e-tamannā kiyā hai

sham raushan thi sunahri thi

magar utri chali aati thi

zina zina

aa ke phir ruk si gai

shab ki munDeron ke qarin

ek sitara bhi kahin sath hi jhuk aaya tha

jaise wo chhune ko tha kanon ke baale us ke

gesuon ko bhi ki the ruKH ke hawale us ke

kuhniyan Teke hue ek dhaDakti hui diwar pe wo

khilkhilate hue kuchh mujh se kahe jati thi

us ka aahang-e-suKHan munfarid lahn-e-kalam

zamzame phuTte the jis se shagufon ki tarah

jhil pe panchhi koi pankh sanware jaise

sur ki lahron pe koi dil ko pukare jaise

sanwle chehre pe wo kanon ke baale ki damak

naz-e-be-ja bhi na tha ruKH pe tfaKHur ki jhalak

itni pur-nur thin wo aankhen ki guman hota tha

jaise KHurshid abhi Dub ke ubhrega unhin aankhon se

lekin is sham un aankhon se achanak TuTe

do sitare jo larazte rahe ta-der larazte hi rahe

jaise kahte hon ki is sham-e-gurezan ka bharosa kya hai

dil na chahe to faqat harf-e-tamanna kiya hai