kahani chalti rahti hai

kahānī ḳhatm hone jā rahī hai

log kahte haiñ

koī aivān meñ mizrāb par vo naġhma-e-afsūñ sunātā hai

jise sun kar havā-e-nīl-o-sabz-o-arġhavānī kaañp jaatī hai

sitāroñ kī chamak mā'dūm hotī hai

ruḳh-e-mahtāb par ganj-e-shahīdāñ ashk bhartā hai

koī darbār meñ shatranj ke mohre bichhā kar

reshmī finjān meñ zahrāb bhartā hai

koī maidān meñ tāshā bajātā hai

sagān-e-kūcha-o-bāzār lai par raqs karte haiñ

zamīñ kī tīrgī se āsmāñ meñ dhund chhā.ī hai

daraḳhtoñ peḌ-paudoñ bāġhbānoñ par

nigāh-e-āmirāna se sadā-e-sang aatī hai

ḳhayāl-e-ārzū ro ro ke apnī jaan detā hai

libās-e-fāḳhira par sīmiyā.ī tiir chaltā hai

jamāl-e-shahr ke e'zāz-e-yaktā.ī kā tamġha TuuT jaatā hai

kahānī āḳhrī manzil meñ aa pahuñchī hai

is meñ jhuuT kitnā aur sach kyā hai

ki har qisse meñ sidq-o-kizb se hī dāstāñ meñ rang aatā hai

yahāñ par nazm kā anjām hotā hai

magar ab dūsrī ik nazm kā āġhāz hotā hai

kahānī ḳhatm hone se bahut pahle ye kahtī hai

abhī vaqfa huā hai darmiyānī marhala ik hai

hazāroñ moḌ aur abvāb hote haiñ

ka.ī qisse ka.ī kirdār aate haiñ

jo dard-e-'ishq kī rūdād kī tafsīr karte haiñ

fasāne husn ke jaur-o-sitam aur ashk-bārī ke sunāte haiñ

sar-e-bāzār lailā mātamī poshāk pahne abr āñkhoñ meñ sajā.e

baal khole sar paTaktī pūchhtī hai

kyā kahīñ jāved ko dekhā kisī ne dasht-e-hijrāñ meñ

munādī ye

ki jaise san pachhattar meñ huā hangāma-e-mahshar

koī majnūñ talāsh-e-husn meñ gar shāhrāh-e-'ishq meñ nikle

hisār-e-ḳhema-e-ātish meñ us ko ziist karnā hai

yahī zinda asīrī hai

ye lab ḳhāmosh haiñ

dil meñ hazāroñ naqsh-hā-e-ḳhvāb rakhte haiñ

lahū meñ gardish-o-girya kī bhī tā'bīr rakhte haiñ

pas-e-dīvār yā āsār ho jaa.eñ

dar-o-dīvār ro.eñge

gharoñ se lashkar-e-girya bhī niklegā

yahāñ se zaḳhm-e-dil kī taḳhtiyāñ likkhī huī

siine se laTkā.e hue 'ushshāq nikleñge

gale kā tauq-e-gumnāmī bhī toḌeñge

farāz-e-jism jab sīna-sipar hogā

rupahlī dhuup sūraj kī

dhuāñ ban kar galī kūche meñ ghūmegī

kaheñge

āb-o-dāna hī nahīñ kaafī

jabīñ par har tarah ke phuul rakhne kī ijāzat ho

zamāna kab talak apnī samā'at band rakkhegā

use ik din

savāl-e-manzar-e-vahshat-zada kā sāmnā hogā

fareb-e-zindagī ko kyuuñ 'urūj-e-bandagī samjhā

kahānī zindagī hai

zindagī ḳhud ik kahānī hai

kabhī āġhāz yā anjām kā vaqfa na aatā hai

ki har pal qissa-e-darvesh jaarī hai

kahani KHatm hone ja rahi hai

log kahte hain

koi aiwan mein mizrab par wo naghma-e-afsun sunata hai

jise sun kar hawa-e-nil-o-sabz-o-arghawani kanp jati hai

sitaron ki chamak ma'dum hoti hai

ruKH-e-mahtab par ganj-e-shahidan ashk bharta hai

koi darbar mein shatranj ke mohre bichha kar

reshmi finjaan mein zahrab bharta hai

koi maidan mein tasha bajata hai

sagan-e-kucha-o-bazar lai par raqs karte hain

zamin ki tirgi se aasman mein dhund chhai hai

daraKHton peD-paudon baghbanon par

nigah-e-amirana se sada-e-sang aati hai

KHayal-e-arzu ro ro ke apni jaan deta hai

libas-e-faKHira par simiyai tir chalta hai

jamal-e-shahr ke e'zaz-e-yaktai ka tamgha TuT jata hai

kahani aaKHri manzil mein aa pahunchi hai

is mein jhuT kitna aur sach kya hai

ki har qisse mein sidq-o-kizb se hi dastan mein rang aata hai

yahan par nazm ka anjam hota hai

magar ab dusri ek nazm ka aaghaz hota hai

kahani KHatm hone se bahut pahle ye kahti hai

abhi waqfa hua hai darmiyani marhala ek hai

hazaron moD aur abwab hote hain

kai qisse kai kirdar aate hain

jo dard-e-'ishq ki rudad ki tafsir karte hain

fasane husn ke jaur-o-sitam aur ashk-bari ke sunate hain

sar-e-bazar laila matami poshak pahne abr aankhon mein sajae

baal khole sar paTakti puchhti hai

kya kahin jawed ko dekha kisi ne dasht-e-hijran mein

munadi ye

ki jaise san pachhattar mein hua hangama-e-mahshar

koi majnun talash-e-husn mein gar shahrah-e-'ishq mein nikle

hisar-e-KHema-e-atish mein us ko zist karna hai

yahi zinda asiri hai

ye lab KHamosh hain

dil mein hazaron naqsh-ha-e-KHwab rakhte hain

lahu mein gardish-o-girya ki bhi ta'bir rakhte hain

pas-e-diwar ya aasar ho jaen

dar-o-diwar roenge

gharon se lashkar-e-girya bhi niklega

yahan se zaKHm-e-dil ki taKHtiyan likkhi hui

sine se laTkae hue 'ushshaq niklenge

gale ka tauq-e-gumnami bhi toDenge

faraaz-e-jism jab sina-sipar hoga

rupahli dhup suraj ki

dhuan ban kar gali kuche mein ghumegi

kahenge

aab-o-dana hi nahin kafi

jabin par har tarah ke phul rakhne ki ijazat ho

zamana kab talak apni sama'at band rakkhega

use ek din

sawal-e-manzar-e-wahshat-zada ka samna hoga

fareb-e-zindagi ko kyun 'uruj-e-bandagi samjha

kahani zindagi hai

zindagi KHud ek kahani hai

kabhi aaghaz ya anjam ka waqfa na aata hai

ki har pal qissa-e-darwesh jari hai