Shahar Ke Dukaandaaron

Shahar Ke Dukaandaaron, karobaar-e-ulfat mein,
sood kyaa ziaan kyaa hai, tum na jaan paaoge,
dil ke daam kitne hain, khwaab kitne mehnge hain,
aur naqd-e-jaan kyaa hai, tum na jaan paaoge,
shahar ke dukaandaaron, shahar ke dukaandaaron...

koi kaise milta hai, phool kaise khiltaa hai,
aankh kaise jhukti hai, saans kaise rukti hai,
kaise reh nikalti hai kaise baat chalti hai,
shouq ki zabaan kyaa hai, tum na jaan paaoge,
shahar ke dukaandaaron, shahar ke dukaandaaron...

wasl ka sukoon kyaa hai, hijr ka junoon kyaa hai,
husn ka fusoon kyaa hai, ishq ke daroon kyaa hai,
tum mareez-e-ranai, maslahat ke shaidai,
raah-e-gumrahaan kyaa hai, tum na jaan paaoge,
shahar ke dukaandaaron, shahar ke dukaandaaron...

zakhm kaise phalte hain, daagh kaise jalte hain,
dard kaise hota hai, koi kaise rotaa hai,
ashq kyaa hai, naale kyaa, dasht kyaa hain, chhaale kyaa,
aah kyaa fughaan kyaa hai, tum na jaan paaoge,
shahar ke dukaandaaron, shahar ke dukaandaaron...

naamuraad dil kaise, subah shaam karte hain,
kaise zindaa rehte hain, aur kaise marte hain,
tum ko kab nazar aayi, ghamzadon ki tanhaai,
zeest be-umaan kyaa hai, tum na jaan paaoge,
shahar ke dukaandaaron, shahar ke dukaandaaron...

jaanta hoon main tum ko zouq-e-shaaiyari bhi hai,
shakhsiyat sajaane mein ik yeh maahiri bhi hai,
phir bhi harf chunte ho, sirf lafz sunte ho,
un ke darmiyaan kyaa hai, tum na jaan paaoge,
shahar ke dukaandaaron, shahar ke dukaandaaron...


~Javed Akhtar

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Wasl = meeting with the lover ; Hijr = seperation ;
Fusoon = Magic ; Ranai = Beauty ;
Maslahat = Prudent Measure, A Good Thing ; Shaidai = Lover ;
Fughaan = Lamentation ; Dasht = hands (here) ;
zeest be-umaan = life without cheer ;
zouq-e-shaiyari = interest in poetry ;