su-e-kalkatta jo hum ba-dil-e-diwana chale
gungunate hue ek shokh ka afsana chale

shahr-e-salma hai sar-e-rah ghataen hamrah
saqiya aaj to daur-e-mai-o-paimana chale

is tarah rail ke hamrah rawan hai baadal
sath jaise koi udta hua mai-khana chale

shahr-e-jaanan mein utarne ki thi hum par qadghan
yun chale jaise koi shahr se begana chale

garche tanha the magar un ke tasawwur ke nisar
apne ham-rah liye ek pari-khana chale

khel ummid ke dekho ki na ki un ko khabar
phir bhi hum muntazir-e-jalwa-e-jaanana chale

un ka paigham na lae hon ye rangin baadal
warna kyun sath mere be-khud o mastana chale

ghar se ba-ishrat-e-shahana hum aae the magar
un ke kuche se chale jab to faqirana chale

baadalo khidmat-e-salma mein ye kah do ja kar
ki tere shahr mein hum aa ke gharibana chale

hasrat o shauq ke aalam mein chale yun 'akhtar'
muskuraata hua jaise koi diwana chale