By Ahmed Faraz
Translated by Ayesha Kaljuvee & Sonia Mansoor
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**ab ke ham bichha.de to shaayad kabhii khvaabo.n me.n mile.n
jis tarah suukhe hue phuul kitaabo.n me.n mile.n
If now these feelings we cover, perhaps in dreams shall we meet
As dried flowers are chanced upon pressed softly in books
**dhuu.ndh uja.de hue logo.n me.n vafaa ke motii
ye khazaane tujhe mumkin hai kharaabo.n me.n mile.n
Pearls of loyalty amongst those lost in desolate fogs
In dark misfortune, these treasures you may encounter
**tuu fkudaa hai na meraa ishq farishto.n jaisaa
dono.n insaa.n hai.n to kyo.n itane hijaabo.n me.n mile.n
God you are not, nor is my love sanctioned by the angels
Both mortals, why meet then behind such innumerable veils?
gam-e-duniyaa bhii gam-e-yaar me.n shaamil kar lo
nashaa ba.dataa hai sharabe.n jo sharaabo.n me.n mile.n
*
Add the pathos of love to the great tragedies of the world
Even though its intoxication makes it worthy of worship
aaj ham daar pe khe.nche gaye jin baato.n par
kyaa ajab kal vo zamaane ko nisaabo.n me.n mile.n
*
Those conversations that today tore us apart at your door
How remarkable if the cosmos echoed them in other fates too
**ab na vo mai.n huu.n na tu hai na vo maazii hai `Faraaz’,
jaise do shakhs tamannaa ke saraabo.n me.m mile.n
Now it is neither I, nor you, nor is it the past ‘Faraaz’
As if two people came together only in the mirage of desire
