meri zindagi hai zalim tere gham se aashkara
tera gham hai dar-haqiqat mujhe zindagi se pyara

my life is lit up, cruel one, by the grief you give
sans this sorrow, i confess, i'd rather die than live

wo agar bura na manen to jahan-e-rang-o-bu mein
main sukun-e-dil ki khatir koi dhundh lun sahaara

in this many splendoured world, if it does not offend
her, to console my heart i will, seek another friend

mujhe tujh se khas nisbat main rahin-e-mauj-e-tufan
jinhen zindagi thi pyari unhen mil gaya kinara

i have a special bond with you, to stormy waves i owe my thanks
those that were in love with life, have made their way to the banks

mujhe aa gaya yaqin sa ki yahi hai meri manzil
sar-e-rah jab kisi ne mujhe dafatan pukara

i then came to believe it was, my goal, my destiny
when someone in my path called out to me repeatedly

ye khunuk khunuk hawaen ye jhuki jhuki ghataen
wo nazar bhi kya nazar hai jo samajh na le ishaara

gentle breezes blow, these clouds, also hang so low
eyes are useless if they don’t discern signs even now

main bataun farq naseh jo hai mujh mein aur tujh mein
meri zindagi talatum teri zindagi kinara

my counsellor, the difference 'tween, my existence and yours
mine is like the stormy seas and yours is like the shores

mujhe fakhr hai isi par ye karam bhi hai mujhi par
teri kam-nigahiyan bhi mujhe kyun na hon gawara

pride an this favour i do feel, as its for me especially
why should not your callousness, be a source of joy for me

mujhe guftugu se badh kar gham-e-izn-e-guftugu hai
wahi baat puchhte hain jo na kah sakun dobara

her behest for me to speak causes me more pain
she asks the very thing that i, cannot say again

koi ai 'shakil' puchhe ye junun nahin to kya hai
ki usi ke ho gae hum jo na ho saka hamara

but for madness what is this, can anyone divine?
i am hers forevermore, who never can be mine