Main aur meri aawaaragi

phirate hain kab se dar_ba_dar ab is nagar ab us nagar
ek duusare ke ham_safar main aur meri aawaaragii
naa aashanaa har rah_guzar naa mehar_baaN hai ek nazar
jaayen to ab jaayen kidhar main aur merii aawaaragii

ham bhii kabhii aabaad the aise kahaaN bar_baad the
bifikr the aazaad the masaruur the dil_shaad the
vo chaal aisi chal gayaa ham bujh gaye dil jal gayaa
nikale jalaa ke apanaa ghar main aur merii aawaaragii

vo maah-e-vash vo maah-e-ruuh vo maah-e-kaamil huu_ba_huu
thiin jis kii baaten kuu_ba_kuu us se ajab thii guftaguu
phir yuuN huaa vo kho ga_ii aur mujh ko zid sii ho ga_ii
laayenge us ko DhuuND kar main aur merii aawaaragii

ye dil hii thaa jo sah gayaa vo baat aisii kah gayaa
kahane ko phir kyaa rah gayaa ashkon kaa dariyaa bah gayaa
jab kah kar vo dil_bar gayaa tee liye main mar gayaa
rote hain us ko raat bhar main aur merii aawaaragii

ab Gam uThaayen kis liye ye dil jalaayen kis liye
aaNsuu bahaayen kis liye yuuN jaaN gavaayen kis liye
peshaa na ho jis kaa sitam DhuuNdenge ab aisaa sanam
honge kahiin to kaar_gar main aur merii aawaaragii

aasaar hain sab khoT ke imkaan hain sab choT ke
ghar band hain sab koT ke ab Khatm hai sab ToTake.
qismat kaa sab ye khel hai andher hii andher hai
aise hue hain be_asar main aur merii aawaaragii

jab ham_dam-o-ham_raaz thaa tab aur hii andaaz thaa
ab soz hai tab saaz thaa ab sharm hai tab naaz thaa
ab mujh se ho to ho bhii kyaa hai saath vo to vo bhii kyaa
ek behunar ek besabar main aur merii aawaaragii

~Javed Akthar (from his collection of poems Tarkash)