4)    Akela

Chala ja raha tha akela kahin,
Anjaan rahon se guzarta kahin.
Na maloom thi ki manzil milegi kahan,
Bas yakin thha ki hogi yahin per kahin.

Chala tha Akela mile saathi magar,
Woh chhutte kahan haen mujhe na khabar,
Dekhta hoon jo peechhe mud kar kabhi,
To aata nahi ab koi nazar.
Jo dekhoon is veeraane main gaur se kabhi,
Aata hae nazar bahut door ek ghar,
Bitaaye thhey jahan kuch lamhe yuhin,
Chala jaa raha tha jab akela kahin,
Anjaan rahon se guzarta kahin.

Khada hoon aaj ek aise mod per,
lene haen jahan kuchh faisle magar,
Sochta hoon kahin aisa ho na jaye,
Jo haen saath yaadein kahin kho na jayein,
Haen yaadein yeh chand un saathiyon ki,
Mile thhey mujhe jo is safar main kahin,
Chala jaa raha tha jab akela kahin,
Anjaan rahon se guzarta kahin.

Karunga maen kya yeh maen nahi jaanta,
Bhool jaaoon maen unko yeh dil nahi maanta,
Thoda hi sahi saath diya to magar,
Hamesha yu tanha mujhe chhoda to nahi,
Chala jaa raha tha jab akela kahin,
Anjaan rahon se guzarta kahin.
Milenge is safar main aise log aur bhi,
Jo denge saath thoda aur kho jayenge kahin,
Hamein chhod kar phirse tanha yuhin,
Phir bhi chalta rahunga akela yuhin,
Anjaan rahon se guzarta kahin.

Hae umeed dil main bandhi aaj bhi,
Milegi mujhko meri manzil kahin,
Liye is umeed ko dil main abhi,
Chala jaa raha hoon akela kahin,
Anjaan rahon se guzarta kahin.

composed on 22-Aug-2000