Koi Aashiq Kisi Mehbooba Se!
by
Faiz Ahmed Faiz
Yaad ki rehguzar jis pe isi surat se
Muddatein beet gayi hai tumhe chalte chalte
Khatm ho jaaye jo do chaar kadam aur chalo
Mod padta hai jahaan dasht-e-faraamoshi ka
Jis se aage na koi main hoon na koi tum ho
Tum palat aao guzar jaao ya mud kar dekho
Garche waaqif hain nigaahon ki yeh sab dhoka hai
Gar kahin tum se hum-aaghosh hui phir se nazar
Phoot niklegi wahaan aur koi raahguzar
Phir isi tarah jahaan hoga muqaabil paiham
Saaya-e-zulf ka aur jumbish-e-baazoo ka safar
Yaan koi mod koi dasht koi ghaat nahin
Jiske parde mein mera maah-e-ravaan doob sake
Tumse chalti rahe yeh raah, yunhi achchha hai
Tum ne mud kar bhi na dekha to koi baat nahin
What Some Lovelorn Soul Says To His Beloved
Translated by
Mustansir Dalvi
It has been ages since you last stepped
Upon the path of remembrance
That would end if you but walked a few steps more
There at the turn, where the dust of memory slips
Into oblivion, beyond which there is neither me nor you
My forlorn gaze holds its breath, for who knows
When you might return, or pass by, or even turn
Even though this gaze knows it’s all a sham
For if it ever were to meet yours
Some other path would burst forth
And we would continue squabbling on down
That way, where the shadow of your tresses
And your enfolding arms lie in wait, and besides,
My heart also knows this to be false –
There is no bend, no forest and no ravine
Behind whose veil my waning moon could set
It's just fine, this thought of you keeps this path going
It matters not even if you never turn back
Translation and transliteration © 2020 Mustansir Dalvi, All rights reserved