sarkati jaaye hai rukh se
naqaab aahista aahista
nikalata aa raha hai
aaftaab aahista aahista
jawan hone lage jab vo to
ham se kar liya parda
haya yakalakht aayi
aur shabab aahista aahista

shabefurkat kaa jaaga hu
farishto ab to sone do
kabhi fursat me kar lena
hisaab aahista aahista
savaalevasl par unko
udu ka khauf hai itna

dabe hontho se dete hai
javaab aahistaa aahistaa
hamare aur tumhare pyar me
bas fark hai itna
idhar to jaldi jaldi hai
udhar aahista aahista
vo bedardi se sar kaate ameer
aur main kahu unse
huzuur aahista aahista
janaab ahista ahista

The veil descends from the face,
Revealing the sun, inch by inch,
As youth dawned, they hid from us,
Alas, beauty bloomed, slow to clinch.

Awake in the night of separation,
Friend, let me sleep now,
In leisure, you may settle accounts,
Bit by bit, somehow.

They fear Urdu's words,
When questioned on love's terrain,
With pressed lips, they reply,
Whispering answers, again and again.

Our love and their love differ thus:
Here, urgency burns so bright,
While there, it unfolds slowly,
With a lingering, gentle light.

He, the cruel one, slays with no mercy,
I plead to them, in soft despair,
"Sir, be gentle, please be gentle,"
With a gradual, hesitant air.