ishq mujh ko nahin, vahshat hi sahi
meri vahshat, teri shohrat hi sahi
qata kije nah taluq ham se
kuchh nahin hai to adavat hi sahi
ham bhi dushman to nahin hain apne
ghair ko tujh se muhabbat hi sahi
umr har chand kih hai barq khiram
dil kih khun karne ki fursat hi sahi
ham koi tark-e-vafa karte hain
nah sahi ishq, musibat hi sahi
ham bhi taslim ke khu dalen ge
be niyazi teri adat hi sahi
yar se chher chali jae Asad
gar nahin vasl to hasrat hi sahi
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So I love you not? Let it be solitude.
My solitariness bringing you fame, so let it be.
Break-off not the connection with me;
If nothing else, enmity, let it be.
I, too, am not my own enemy;
The rival may love you, so let it be.
No doubt, that life is like the swift lighting;
Enough time to bleed my heart, let it be.
Do I ever give up being faithful to you?
If it is not love, then any calamity, let it be.
We, too, will cultivate a habit of submissive resignation;
Obliviousness may well be your style.
Teasing should continue with the beloved, Asad;
If it is not union, then insistence on it, let it be.
-- Mirza Asadullah Khan 'Ghalib' [translated by Sarfaraz K. Niazi]
Listen to Chitra Singh here.
