By Ahmed Faraz
Translated by Ayesha Khanna

is se pahale ke bevafaa ho jaaye.n
kyo.n na ai dost ham judaa ho jaaye.n
before that day we become disloyal
why not, my friend, go our separate ways

tuu bhii hiire se ban gayaa patthar
ham bhii kal kyaa se kyaa ho jaaye.n
you also turned from a jewel to stone
i too will change to another tomorrow

tuu kay yakta tha bayshumar hoo.ah
ham bhii toote.n to jabaja ho jaaye.n
you who were lone became ubiquitous
when i break, everywhere I too will scatter

ham bhii majabuuriyo.n kaa uzr kare.n
aur kahii.n aur mubtalaa ho jaaye.n
i should also contest my obligations
and involve myself somewhere else

ham agar manzale.n naa ban paaye.n
manzalo.n tak ka raasta ho jaaye.n
if i can't become the destination
let me be the path to that haven

dair say soch mei.n hai.n parwanay
rakh ho jaaye.n, ya hawa ho jaaye.n
like moths, my thoughts flutter around you
should i die in that fire, or fly like the wind

ishq bhii khel hai nasiibo.n kaa
Khaak ho jaaye.n kimiyaa ho jaaye.n
love is the playground of the fortunate
to become ash, to be like cinders

ab ke gar tuu mile to ham tujh se
aise lipaTe.n terii qabaa ho jaaye.n
if i meet you again, to you
i will cling as if you were my Mecca

bandagii ham ne chho.D dii hai 'Faraz'
kyaa kare.n log jab Khudaa ho jaaye.n
i have left behind religion, Faraz
now that even humans seem divine

Image Courtesy film Omkara