kahani ek raat ki

sun rahā huuñ der se dhīmī sī dastak kī sadā

kaun hogā is añdherī raat meñ

hogā koī

ajnabī raahī kī dastak to nahīñ

jo kisī pur-haul saa.e ke lapakte qahqahe kī guuñj se

bach ke aa niklā hai mere ḳhāna-e-tārīk tak

vāqa.ī vahshat-zada hogā agar raahī koī

is qadar mohtāt sī āvāz kyuuñ

is qadar dhīmī sī chaap

niim kī shāḳhoñ ke pīchhe uf ye kauñde kī lapak

aur uḌte abr-pāroñ kī garaj

tez-rau āñdhī ke qadmoñ kī ye bhārī āhaTeñ

tez bārish ke haiñ āsār-e-muhīb

bhiig jā.egā koī

band darvāze ko ab to khol denā chāhiye

jaane phir ye kaun apnī saḳht bāñhoñ meñ

jakaḌtā hai mujhe

jaane kyuuñ ruk ruk ga.e mere azā.em ke qadam

kaun hai is hajla-e-tārīk meñ mere sivā

jāntā huuñ mashriqī ruḳh par tipā.ī ke qarīb

shaam ko jaltā rahā āhista bosīda charāġh

ab vahāñ tak jā sakūñgā kis tarah

sā.ebānoñ se pighaltī be-karāñ zulmat kī rau

baḌh ga.ī hai toḌ kar saare hudūd

chīḳh kar kis ko pukārūñ kis ko maiñ āvāz duuñ

niim kī larzīda shāḳhoñ meñ garajtā hai ufuq

shor baḌhtā jā rahā hai kyā karūñ

aur vo dastak kī dhīmī sī sadā

ġhāliban tā-hashr ubhregī nahīñ

kyā bhayānak raat hai

sun raha hun der se dhimi si dastak ki sada

kaun hoga is andheri raat mein

hoga koi

ajnabi rahi ki dastak to nahin

jo kisi pur-haul sae ke lapakte qahqahe ki gunj se

bach ke aa nikla hai mere KHana-e-tarik tak

waqai wahshat-zada hoga agar rahi koi

is qadar mohtat si aawaz kyun

is qadar dhimi si chap

nim ki shaKHon ke pichhe uf ye kaunde ki lapak

aur uDte abr-paron ki garaj

tez-rau aandhi ke qadmon ki ye bhaari aahaTen

tez barish ke hain aasar-e-muhib

bhig jaega koi

band darwaze ko ab to khol dena chahiye

jaane phir ye kaun apni saKHt banhon mein

jakaDta hai mujhe

jaane kyun ruk ruk gae mere azaem ke qadam

kaun hai is hajla-e-tarik mein mere siwa

jaanta hun mashriqi ruKH par tipai ke qarib

sham ko jalta raha aahista bosida charagh

ab wahan tak ja sakunga kis tarah

saebanon se pighalti be-karan zulmat ki rau

baDh gai hai toD kar sare hudud

chiKH kar kis ko pukarun kis ko main aawaz dun

nim ki larzida shaKHon mein garajta hai ufuq

shor baDhta ja raha hai kya karun

aur wo dastak ki dhimi si sada

ghaaliban ta-hashr ubhregi nahin

kya bhayanak raat hai