
Shab-e-Tanhai
Raat aayi hai, magar tanha nahin aayi hai woh, saath laayi hai wohi baatein jo main bhool chuka tha.
Urdu written in Latin script, so the rhythm and idiom survive the alphabet.

Chhat pe do kursiyaan hain, ek pe main baitha hoon,

tum se ek baat kehni thi, magar lafz kam pad gaye — so maine khamoshi likh di.

Raaste poochte hain mujh se, ki manzil ka naam kya hai —

Kuch log kitaabon ki tarah hote hain — padh lo to poore, chhod do to adhoore.

Barish ke baad sheher thoda sa saaf lagta hai,