vo jo divar-e-ashnai thi
apni hi zaat ki ikaai thi
main sar-e-dasht-e-jan tha avara
aur ghar men bahar aai thi
maile kapḌon ka apna rang bhi tha
phir bhi qismat men jag-hansai thi
ab to ankhon men apna chehra hai
kabhi shishe se ashnai thi
apni hi zaat men tha main mahfuz
aur phir ḳhud hi se laḌai thi
apni avaz se bhi darta tha
haae kya chiiz ashnai thi
zindagi gard gard thi ‘aḳhtar’
jaane luT kar kahan se aai thi