jism mein KHwahish na thi ehsas mein kanTa na tha

jism meñ ḳhvāhish na thī ehsās meñ kāñTā na thā

is tarah jaagā ki jaise rāt-bhar soyā na thā

ab yahī dukh hai hamīñ meñ thī kamī us meñ na thī

us ko chāhā thā magar apnī tarah chāhā na thā

jaane vaale vaqt ne dekhā thā muḌ kar ek baar

go hameñ pahchāntā kam thā magar bhūlā na thā

ham bahut kaafī the apne vāste jaise bhī the

koī ham sā dost koī ham sā begāna na thā

ajnabī rāheñ na jaane kis tarah āvāz deñ

jab safar par chal paḌe the kis liye sochā na thā

paañv kā chakkar liye phirtā rahegā dosto

aur phir sochoge apne shahr meñ kyā kyā na thā

ham bhī un rātoñ meñ thālī par diyā rakh kar chale

jab shivāle kī imārat kā koī dar vā na thā

farz kī manzil ne merī gumrahī bhī chhīn lī

varna 'ashk' is rastī-bastī raah meñ kyā kyā na thā

jism mein KHwahish na thi ehsas mein kanTa na tha

is tarah jaga ki jaise raat-bhar soya na tha

ab yahi dukh hai hamin mein thi kami us mein na thi

us ko chaha tha magar apni tarah chaha na tha

jaane wale waqt ne dekha tha muD kar ek bar

go hamein pahchanta kam tha magar bhula na tha

hum bahut kafi the apne waste jaise bhi the

koi hum sa dost koi hum sa begana na tha

ajnabi rahen na jaane kis tarah aawaz den

jab safar par chal paDe the kis liye socha na tha

panw ka chakkar liye phirta rahega dosto

aur phir sochoge apne shahr mein kya kya na tha

hum bhi un raaton mein thaali par diya rakh kar chale

jab shiwale ki imarat ka koi dar wa na tha

farz ki manzil ne meri gumrahi bhi chhin li

warna 'ashk' is rasti-basti rah mein kya kya na tha