Ballimaran Se Dariba Talak

Tujshe milna purani Dilli mein
Chhod aaye nishaani Dilli mein
Ballimaran se Daribe talak
Teri meri kahani Dilli mein

From Ghalib’s haveli

One steps out on to the street

on Gali Qasim Jan

through the narrow dark streets of Ballimaran

where boatmen once lived but over the years were followed by soldiers, hakims, Ayurvedic healers, jalebi makers, kabab walas, mattress makers, plastic suppliers and other people

with Mughal domes jutting out in the far distance along with electric cables, air-conditioner units and modified roofs

And of course Lal Kila stands in the distance at the Dariba Kalan corner on Chandni Chowk

To round it up, in my book, based on my limited literary sense, one of the greatest Gulzar compositions ever