main ne yun dekha use jaise kabhi dekha na tha
aur jab dekha to aankhon par yaqin aata na tha

baam-o-dar se sakht barish mein bhi utthega dhuan
yun bhi hota hai mohabbat mein kabhi socha na tha

aandhiyon ko rauzan-e-zindan se hum dekha kiye
dur tak phaila hua sahra tha naqsh-e-pa na tha

log lae hain kahan se shab ko marmar ke charagh
un chatanon mein to din ko rasta paida na tha

shahr ki hangama-arai mein kho kar rah gaya
main ki apne ghar mein bhi mujh ko sukun milta na tha

barf apne-ap ghul jati hai suraj ho na ho
sham se pahle ye jaana tha magar samjha na tha

un dinon bhi shahr mein sailab aate the bahut
wadiyon mein jab kahin baadal abhi barsa na tha

raat ki tanhaiyon mein jis se chaunk utthe the hum
apni hi aawaz thi shoala koi chamka na tha

wo bhi sach kahte hain 'akhtar' log begane hue
hum bhi sachche hain ki duniya ka chalan aisa na tha