aise hi, mann hai

Aaj mann hai thora aaram se jeene ka

khud ko samjhaye bina.

Idhar udhar ke shagufton mein uljhaye bina.

ulti-pulti baaton ki patti paraye bina.

Aaj mann hai

bebaak ho jaane ka

kagaz par bekhauf syahi ki tarah

surkh neele rang mein mil jane ka

likhte mitaate - likhte mitaate 

aur kagaz muchore bina.

Thori garam chai, thori dhoop

thori thand, aur thand mein kohra

ek neend ki jhapki, ek chatai!

aur ek balcony ka bhi mann hai.

Aaj mann hai 

thora pyar kia jaye

nahi, dher saara kiya jaye

beparvah! beinthaan! ishq mein para jaye

Aur mann hai thora

pare rehne ka rajai ke andar

ghum fir ke vapas aane ka

ulti-pulti baaton ki 

fir koi patti parane ka!

fly by

I wait by the window

hoping a thought would fly by

perhaps perch at the sill 

for a moment or two 

before flapping its wings again

-taking to the air

taking me with it.

Or it'd knock on my doors,

I might even answer not

For I avoid all who come

with things to think and do.

But as the knocking persists

I'd run to comply

And open the door wide-

Lest it should wander off

leaving me to myself