jab mai.n bahut hii chhoTaa thaa

jab maiñ bahut hī chhoTā thā

mastūl aur ghaas sāhil-e-samundar par khaḌe hue the

aur maiñ vahāñ laTe jaatā thā

aur qayās kartā ki vo sab ek jaise haiñ

kyoñ ki vo āsmān kī jānib baḌh rahe haiñ mujh se sar-buland

sirf merī maañ ke lafz hī mere saath the

jaise sandwich kī sarsarāhaT momī kāġhaz meñ lipTī huī

aur mujhe pata na thā merā baap kab vāpas aa.egā

kyoñ ki vahāñ ek aur jangal thā ālūdgiyoñ se pare

har shai bas ek haath lambī thī

ek saanD ne apne sīñgoñ se sūraj ko lahūluhān kiyā

aur galiyoñ kī rātoñ kī raushnī hī chumkārtī rahī

mere ruḳhsār fasīl-e-shahr ke hamrāh

aur vo mahtāb

jaise ek baḌī surāhī jhukī huī

aur merī pyāsī niiñd ko sairāb kartī huī

jab main bahut hi chhoTa tha

mastul aur ghas sahil-e-samundar par khaDe hue the

aur main wahan laTe jata tha

aur qayas karta ki wo sab ek jaise hain

kyon ki wo aasman ki jaanib baDh rahe hain mujh se sar-buland

sirf meri man ke lafz hi mere sath the

jaise sandwich ki sarsarahaT momi kaghaz mein lipTi hui

aur mujhe pata na tha mera bap kab wapas aaega

kyon ki wahan ek aur jangal tha aaludgiyon se pare

har shai bas ek hath lambi thi

ek sanD ne apne singon se suraj ko lahuluhan kiya

aur galiyon ki raaton ki raushni hi chumkarti rahi

mere ruKHsar fasil-e-shahr ke hamrah

aur wo mahtab

jaise ek baDi surahi jhuki hui

aur meri pyasi nind ko sairab karti hui