ab kis se kahen ki kya hua tha

ab kis se kaheñ ki kyā huā thā

ik hashr yahāñ bapā rahā thā

dastār ki paañv meñ paḌī thī

sardār kisī pe hans rahā thā

vo shaam guzar ga.ī thī aa ke

ranjūr udaas maiñ khaḌā thā

dahlīz jakaḌ rahī thī paañv

pindār magar uḌā huā thā

sad shukr gaḌhā huā thā qissa

kam-baḳht yaqīn aa gayā thā

ik baar hī aazmā to lete

dar band na thā bhiḌā huā thā

shab-ḳhūn meñ raushnī bahut thī

thā kaun jo dekhtā rahā thā

juzdān meñ āyateñ chhupī thiiñ

gul-dān meñ phuul khil rahā thā

ik shaḳhs ki thā vafā kā paikar

vo shaḳhs bhī mā.il-e-jafā thā

dastūr vahī thā hasb-e-dastūr

insāf kā qatl ho rahā thā

kuchh phuul khile hue the ghar meñ

kuchh yaad se dil mahak rahā thā

kuchh ashk gire hue the ḳhat par

ik lafz thā jo miTā huā thā

us shaam thā dil bahut akelā

maiñ hañste hañste ro paḌā thā

thī baat bahut zarā sī 'ahmad'

is dil ko na jaane kyā huā thā

ab kis se kahen ki kya hua tha

ek hashr yahan bapa raha tha

dastar ki panw mein paDi thi

sardar kisi pe hans raha tha

wo sham guzar gai thi aa ke

ranjur udas main khaDa tha

dahliz jakaD rahi thi panw

pindar magar uDa hua tha

sad shukr gaDha hua tha qissa

kam-baKHt yaqin aa gaya tha

ek bar hi aazma to lete

dar band na tha bhiDa hua tha

shab-KHun mein raushni bahut thi

tha kaun jo dekhta raha tha

juzdan mein aayaten chhupi thin

gul-dan mein phul khil raha tha

ek shaKHs ki tha wafa ka paikar

wo shaKHs bhi mail-e-jafa tha

dastur wahi tha hasb-e-dastur

insaf ka qatl ho raha tha

kuchh phul khile hue the ghar mein

kuchh yaad se dil mahak raha tha

kuchh ashk gire hue the KHat par

ek lafz tha jo miTa hua tha

us sham tha dil bahut akela

main hanste hanste ro paDa tha

thi baat bahut zara si 'ahmad'

is dil ko na jaane kya hua tha