Kabhi kabhi mere dil mein khayaal aata hai...

Ke zindagi teri zulfon ki narm chhaon mein
Guzarane paati to shaadaab ho bhi sakati thi
Ye teergi jo meri zeest ka muqaddar hai
Teri nazar ki shuaon mein kho bhi sakati thi

Ajab na tha ke main begaana-e-alam reh kar
Tere jamaal ki raanaaiyon mein kho rahata
Tera gudaaz badan teri neem-baaz aankhein
Inhin haseen fazaaon mein mehav ho rahata

Pukaratin mujhe jab talkhiyan zamaane ki
Tere labon se halaawat ke ghoont pi leta
Hayaat cheekhati phirti barahana-sar, aur main
Ghaneri zulfon ke saaye mein chhup ke ji leta

Magar ye ho na saka, aur ab ye aalam hai
Ke tu nahin, tera gham, teri justajoo bhi nahin
Guzar rahi hai kuchh is tarah zindagi, jaise
Ise kisi ke sahaare ki aarazoo bhi nahin

Zamaane bhar ke dukhon ko lagaa chuka hun gale
Guzar raha hun kuchh anjaani rahguzaaron se
Muheeb saaye meri simt badhate aate hain
Hayaat-o-maut ke pur-haul khaar-zaaron se

Na koi jaada na manzil na roshani ka suraag
Bhatak rahi hai khalaaon mein zindagi meri
Inhin khalaaon mein rah jaoonga kabhi khokar
Main jaanata hun meri hum-nafas, magar yun hi

Kabhi kabhi mere dil mein khayaal aata hai...

Sometimes the thought comes to my mind…

That life spent in the soft shadows of your tresses

Would be so joyful if it could be so; that

This sorrow, which seems to be the fate of my existence

Could have been lost in the radiance of your eyes.

It would not have been strange if I, forgetful of the world

Had remained lost in the flashes of your beauty.

Your lithe body, your half-shut, dreamy eyes—

If I had been occupied with such beautiful fantasies.

And when the bitter realities of life called me

I would have drunk the sweet nectar of your lips.

Life would be shouting and shrieking about me, and I

Would have hidden in the shadows of your thick tresses, and lived.

But alas this could not be and now such is my condition

That neither you, nor sorrow for your loss, nor longing for you exist.

My life is passing by in such a manner as if

It has not even the aspiration for anyone’s succour.

I have embraced the sorrows of the world.

I am travelling through unknown paths

Terrifying shadows are coming toward me

From the frightening planes of life and death.

I have no place, no goal, neither a ray of sunlight.

My life is being wasted in desolate wildernesses.

I will remain lost in such desolate places for ever

I know, o my soul-mate, but still, out of the blue,

Sometimes the thought comes to my mind…