kya puchhte ho mujhse ki main kis nagar ka tha

kyā pūchhte ho mujh se ki maiñ kis nagar kā thā

jaltā huā charāġh mirī rah-guzar kā thā

ham jab safar pe nikle the tāroñ kī chhāñv thī

phir apne ham-rikāb ujālā sahar kā thā

sāhil kī giilī ret ne baḳhshā thā pairahan

jaise samundaroñ kā safar chashm-e-tar kā thā

chehre pe uḌtī gard thī bāloñ meñ raakh thī

shāyad vo ham-safar mire ujḌe nagar kā thā

kyā chīḳhtī havāoñ se ahvāl pūchhtā

saaya hī yādgār mire ham-safar kā thā

yaksāniyat thī kitnī hamāre vajūd meñ

apnā jo haal thā vahī aalam bhañvar kā thā

vo kaun thā jo le ke mujhe ghar se chal paḌā

sūrat ḳhizar kī thī na vo chehra ḳhizar kā thā

dahlīz paar kar na sake aur lauT aa.e

shāyad musāfiroñ ko ḳhatar bām-o-dar kā thā

kachche makān jitne the bārish meñ bah ga.e

varna jo merā dukh thā vo dukh umr bhar kā thā

maiñ us galī se kaise guzartā jhukā ke sar

āḳhir ko ye muāmla bhī sañg-o-sar kā thā

logoñ ne ḳhud hī kaaT diye rāstoñ ke peḌ

'aḳhtar' badaltī rut meñ ye hāsil nazar kā thā

kya puchhte ho mujh se ki main kis nagar ka tha

jalta hua charagh meri rah-guzar ka tha

hum jab safar pe nikle the taron ki chhanw thi

phir apne ham-rikab ujala sahar ka tha

sahil ki gili ret ne baKHsha tha pairahan

jaise samundaron ka safar chashm-e-tar ka tha

chehre pe uDti gard thi baalon mein rakh thi

shayad wo ham-safar mere ujDe nagar ka tha

kya chiKHti hawaon se ahwal puchhta

saya hi yaadgar mere ham-safar ka tha

yaksaniyat thi kitni hamare wajud mein

apna jo haal tha wahi aalam bhanwar ka tha

wo kaun tha jo le ke mujhe ghar se chal paDa

surat KHizar ki thi na wo chehra KHizar ka tha

dahliz par kar na sake aur lauT aae

shayad musafiron ko KHatar baam-o-dar ka tha

kachche makan jitne the barish mein bah gae

warna jo mera dukh tha wo dukh umr bhar ka tha

main us gali se kaise guzarta jhuka ke sar

aaKHir ko ye muamla bhi sang-o-sar ka tha

logon ne KHud hi kaT diye raston ke peD

'aKHtar' badalti rut mein ye hasil nazar ka tha