By Ahmed Faraz
Translated by Ayesha Khanna

tuu paas bhii ho to dil beqaraar apanaa hai
even when you are close, my heart is restless
ke ham ko teraa nahii.n intazaar apanaa hai
that the wait is not for you, but for me

mile ko_ii bhii teraa zikr chhe.D dete hai.n
whosoever I meet, I mention your name
ke jaise saaraa jahaa.N raaz_daar apanaa hai
as if the whole world was my confidant

vo duur ho to bajaa tark-e-dostii kaa Khayaal
she is far so i make claims of our friendship
vo saamane ho to kab iKhtiyaar apanaa hai
if she was here, when would i have that right

zamaane bhar ke dukho.n ko lagaa liyaa dil se
i've taken to heart the sorrows of the world
is aasare pe ke ik Gam_gusaar apanaa hai
on the comfort that i have someone to hear mine

'Faraz' raahat-e-jaa.N bhii vahii hai kyaa kiije
Faraz, she is the happiness of my life too
vo jis ke haath se siinaa_fiGaar apanaa hai
she on whom rests the blame for all my heartaches

Image Courtesy Silsila