meri zindagi hai zaalim
meri zindagi hai zaalim
tere gam se aashkara
tera gam hai dar haqiqat
mujhe zindagi se pyara
meri zindagi hai zaalim

wo agar bura na maane
to jahaan-e-rang o buu me
wo agar bura na maane
to jahaan-e-rang o buu me
main sukun-e-dil ki khaatir
main sukun e dil ki khaatir
koi dhundh lun sahara
meri zindagi hai zaalim

ye khunaq khunaq hawaye
ye jhuki jhuki ghataye
ye khunaq khunaq hawaye
ye jhuki jhuki ghataye
wo nazar bhi kya nazar hai
wo nazar bhi kya nazar hai
jo samajh na le ishara
meri zindagi hai zaalim

mujhe aa gaya yakin sa
ke yahi hai meri manzil
mujhe aa gaya yakin sa
ke yahi hai meri manzil
sare raah jab kisi ne
sare raah jab kisi ne
mujhe daftun pukara
meri zindagi hai zaalim

koi aye shakil puchhe
ye junun nahin to kya hai
koi aye shakil puchhe
ye junun nahin to kya hai
ke usi ke ho gaye ham
ke usi ke ho gaye ham
jo na ho saka hamara
meri zindagi hai zaalim
tere gam se aashkara
tera gam hai dar haqiqat
mujhe zindagi se pyara
meri zindagi hai zaalim.

My life, a cruel mistress,
My life, a cruel mistress,
Revealed in your sorrow,
Your sorrow, a stark truth,
More precious than life itself,
My life, a cruel mistress.

If she wouldn't disapprove,
Within the world of scent and hue,
If she wouldn't disapprove,
Within the world of scent and hue,
For solace of my heart,
For solace of my heart,
I'd seek a different haven,
My life, a cruel mistress.

These cool, caressing breezes,
These downward-bending clouds,
These cool, caressing breezes,
These downward-bending clouds,
What gaze is that, truly,
What gaze is that, truly,
That fails to read the sign?
My life, a cruel mistress.

I've come to almost believe,
That this, my fate's true station,
I've come to almost believe,
That this, my fate's true station,
When all paths, someone
When all paths, someone
Whispered my name, softly,
My life, a cruel mistress.

If someone asks, O Shakeel,
If this is not madness, what is?
If someone asks, O Shakeel,
If this is not madness, what is?
That we have become hers,
That we have become hers,
Who could never be ours,
My life, a cruel mistress,
Revealed in your sorrow,
Your sorrow, a stark truth,
More precious than life itself,
My life, a cruel mistress.