Well, you would probably be living beneath a rock if you’re not well acquainted with who Zakir Khan is. The OG Sakht Launda who not only makes us laugh but mesmerizes us with his poetry. His emotional anecdotes often leave us in an awe of his wit. Many of us don’t know but he is also a good Sitar player.

All of us are aware of Zakir Khan’s ‘shayari’ and some of us have been lucky enough to watch him perform live at Jashn-e-Rekhta (like me!). We have picked up some couplets from Zakir Khan’s poetry for you:

• Sab Sambhal Lete Hai Hum

Sab sambhal leta hu main.
Bhai ki ladhai ho ya doston ke pachde,
Girlfriend ka ex ho ya uske ghar ke nukkad par khade fukrey.
Sab sambhal lete hai hum.

Haathon ka plaster ho ya chhile hue ghutne,

Gire ho bike se ya khade ho teacher se peetane

Ab bahan toh bidaai pe ro legi

Par hum nahi royenge

Chaar din ki road trip hai

Par hum wheel pe nahin soyenge

Ek chhota sa kissa bhi ho jaaye

Toh use badha chadha ke sunayenge

Par jab dil tootega na

Toh apne doston ko bhi nahin batayenge

Kyonki sab sambhaal lete hain hum.

View this post on Instagram

Jab itne logon ne upload kar hi rakha hai toh socha mai bhi kar du. Gillette ka naya campaign dekhkar kuchh baatein kehne ka dil kiya. "Jhoothe hain woh log jo kehte hain aadmi ro nahi sakte" #shavingstereotypes #gilletteindia @gilletteindia

A post shared by Zakir Khan (@zakirkhan_208) on Feb 19, 2020 at 12:00pm PST

• Zindagi se kuch zyaada nahi

Zindagi se zyada nahi, bas itni si farmaish hai.

Ab tasveer se nahi, tafseel se milne ki khwahish hai.

zindagi se zyada nahi, bas itni si farmaish hai.
Ab tasveer se nahi, tafseel se milne ki khwahish hai.

— Zakir Khan (@Zakirism) June 25, 2019

• Gaow Ki Samajh

Dhoop aate hi chat se utar kar khaat neem ke neeche lag jaaye,
Chai bane sabke liye phir se, chahe koi bachcha hi jagg jaaye.

Dadiyal mein sab chacha-tau,
Nanihaal mein saare mama hai,
Jo mile koi aurat toh mausi,
Bhudha har aadmi nana hai.

Gaow ulajhte nahi tumhaare CTC ke jaal mein,
Tankhwa pooch lete hai pehli hi sawaal mein.

Jo ho rukhi sukhi sab mil baat kar kha lete h,
Haan kabhi ek d baar shehar bhi ho aate h.

View this post on Instagram

Gaow ke baare me hai, shayad meri kalpana thodi purani hai. Par yahin hai mera Gaow ki samjh. Padhiyega agar waqt ho toh. #poetry #kavita #hindikavita #shayari

A post shared by Zakir Khan (@zakirkhan_208) on May 27, 2019 at 8:44am PDT

• Ishq Ko Masoom Rehne Do

Ishq ko masum rehne do notebook Ke Akhiri panne par.

Aap kitaabon mein daal kar usse mushkil na kijiye.

Ishq ko masum rehne do notebook Ke Akhiri panne par.
Aap kitaabon mein daal kar usse mushkil na kijiye.

— Zakir Khan (@Zakirism) December 1, 2019

• Bas Wahi Bebasi Hai

Bas wahi bebasi hai.

Jaise khule aasmaan mein,
Ek takatwar madad ki cheekh.
Aisi ki sunne waalo ka kaleja phatt jaaye.

Magar uski taseer itni kamzor
Ki maano kisi band,
Andhere kamre mein,
Kissi ne zameen par halke se
Bas ek sikka khaska diya ho.

Ya,
Itni kamzor ki
Hoth to aage badh gaye.
Par awaaz aur alfaz
Bheetar dur kahi
Pet ke aakhri tal mein
Hi reh gaye ho.

Bas wahi bebasi hai.

View this post on Instagram

Bas wahi bebasi hai…

A post shared by Zakir Khan (@zakirkhan_208) on Oct 24, 2018 at 9:42pm PDT

• Yun Toh Bhule Hain Hum Log Kai

Yun toh bhule hai hume log kai, pehle bhi bahut se.

Par tum jitna koi unme se, kabhi yaad nahi aaya.

• Mere Ghar Se Daftar Ke Raaste Mein

‪Mere ghar se daftar ke raaste me,  ‪tumhare naam ki ek dukaan padhti hai.  ‪

Vidambana dekho,  ‪wahan Dawaiyan mila karti hain.

View this post on Instagram

‪Mere ghar se daftar ke raaste me, ‬ ‪tumhare naam ki ek dukaan padhti hai. ‬ ‪Vidambana dekho, ‬ ‪wahan Dawaiyan mila karti hain. ‬ ‪(Vidambana=irony)‬ ‪Zakir Khan‬

A post shared by Zakir Khan (@zakirkhan_208) on Mar 21, 2018 at 11:41pm PDT

• Hazaaron Baar Ke Sune Hue Gaane

Hazaron bar k sune hue gaane k lyrics agar aachanak se aache lagne lag jaaye.

Toh babu samjh jao ki emotional watt lagane hi wali hai.

• Mera Waqt

Mera waqt Qayamat ki tarah hai,
Yaad rakhna aayega zaroor.

View this post on Instagram

Kisi bade admi ke be-izzati bhare lehje ne, bahut kamzor mehsus karaya tha uss din. Shayad ussi ki jhunjhlahat me yeh baat nikal kar aayi. Woh bhi din pyare they, yeh bhi din apne hai.

A post shared by Zakir Khan (@zakirkhan_208) on Jan 16, 2018 at 5:13am PST

• Bewajah

Bewajeh Bewafaaon ko yaad kiya hai,

Galat logon pe bahut waqt barbaad kiya hai.

• Ab Ke Bas Milna Hai Tumse

Bahut hua ruhani ishq, ab ke milna hai tumse.

Ghazlein nahi likhni ab,
Chuna hai tumko.
Woh hazaar baar ke padhe hue khat,
Ek aur baar nahi padhne hai mujhe.
Mujhe apni ungliyon mein tumhaari hatheliyaan chahiye,
Chum lena hai maatha thumhaara.
Seene se laga lena hai,
Baahon mein bhar lena hai tumko.

Aur phone toh bilkul nahi karna hai,
Par tumhaare kaano par se baal hataane hai.
Aur ek choti si baali pehna deni hai.
Bichiya, payal, bindi sab kuch,
Apne hatho se pehnana hai.
Khushboo mehsoos nahi karni hai tumhaari.
Bas palko ko band hote aur khulte hue dekhna hai.

View this post on Instagram

Ab ke bas milna hai tumse! #nazm

A post shared by Zakir Khan (@zakirkhan_208) on Nov 30, 2017 at 7:51am PST

• Har Ek Dastoor Se Bewafai

Har ek dastoor se be-wafai,

Maine shiddat se hai nibhai.

Raaste bhi khud hai dhundhe.

aur manzil bhi khud banai.

• Jab Tum Dabe Paon

Jab tum dabe paon chhaton pe milne aaya karte they,
Andhere bhi raaton mein timtimaya karte the.

Ruth kar bhi usne mere haath par karvat badli,
Aur hum baahon mein lekar unhe manaya karte the.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Zakir Khan (@zakirkhan_208) on Oct 12, 2017 at 8:23am PDT

• Jigar Ka Nichod Kar Lahu

Jigar ka nichod kar lahu, kahaniyon me rang bhara hai siyaah.

Aur log pooch liya karte hai ki “Yeh sab sach me hua hai kya?”

• Mujhe Chai Banaani Aati Hai, Tumko Peeni Hai

Tumhare marne par, shayad Taj-Mahal nab ana saku par..

Mirchiya sukhane ko ek chhat.
Gadi khadi karne ko ek aangan waala ghar.
Jisme badha ek Gulmohar ka ped hoga.
Uss se bandha ek jhula.
Narazgi mein tum us par jaakar baith jaana,
Main wahi aa kar mana lunga tumhe.