hasb e haal

aye shOkh, arey O nadaaN
yeh tez dhaRkan yeh tapish
dard e qaum o millat nahiN
sub'h say kuch bukhaar nazla
hum aaghosh ho raha hay

strangers we remain

in this

anomalous commute

strangers we're

after countless

hellos

exchanges

conversations

hugs

journeys

declarations

promises

shabistans*

and

strangers we remain

*noon meem rashid coinage.

place to spend one night.