zindagi kya hue wo apne zamane wale

zindagī kyā hue vo apne zamāne vaale

yaad aate haiñ bahut dil ko dukhāne vaale

rāste chup haiñ nasīm-e-saharī bhī chup hai

jaane kis samt ga.e Thokareñ khāne vaale

ajnabī ban ke na mil umr-e-gurezāñ ham se

the kabhī ham bhī tire naaz uThāne vaale

aa ki maiñ dekh luuñ khoyā huā chehra apnā

mujh se chhup kar mirī tasvīr banāne vaale

ham to ik din na jiye apnī ḳhushī se ai dil

aur hoñge tire ehsān uThāne vaale

dil se uThte hue sho.aloñ ko kahāñ le jaa.eñ

apne har zaḳhm ko pahlū meñ chhupāne vaale

nik.hat-e-sub.h-e-chaman bhuul na jaanā ki tujhe

the hamīñ niiñd se har roz jagāne vaale

hañs ke ab dekhte haiñ chāk-e-garebāñ merā

apne aañsū mire dāman meñ chhupāne vaale

kis se pūchhūñ ye siyah raat kaTegī kis din

so ga.e jā ke kahāñ ḳhvāb dikhāne vaale

har qadam duur huī jaatī hai manzil ham se

rāh-e-gum-karda haiñ ḳhud raah dikhāne vaale

ab jo rote haiñ mire hāl-e-zabūñ par 'aḳhtar'

kal yahī the mujhe hañs hañs ke rulāne vaale

zindagi kya hue wo apne zamane wale

yaad aate hain bahut dil ko dukhane wale

raste chup hain nasim-e-sahari bhi chup hai

jaane kis samt gae Thokaren khane wale

ajnabi ban ke na mil umr-e-gurezan hum se

the kabhi hum bhi tere naz uThane wale

aa ki main dekh lun khoya hua chehra apna

mujh se chhup kar meri taswir banane wale

hum to ek din na jiye apni KHushi se ai dil

aur honge tere ehsan uThane wale

dil se uThte hue shoalon ko kahan le jaen

apne har zaKHm ko pahlu mein chhupane wale

nikhat-e-subh-e-chaman bhul na jaana ki tujhe

the hamin nind se har roz jagane wale

hans ke ab dekhte hain chaak-e-gareban mera

apne aansu mere daman mein chhupane wale

kis se puchhun ye siyah raat kaTegi kis din

so gae ja ke kahan KHwab dikhane wale

har qadam dur hui jati hai manzil hum se

rah-e-gum-karda hain KHud rah dikhane wale

ab jo rote hain mere haal-e-zabun par 'aKHtar'

kal yahi the mujhe hans hans ke rulane wale