sarakti jaae hai rukh se naqab ahista ahista
nikalta aa raha hai aftab ahista ahista
the veil slips from her visage at such a gentle pace
as though the sun emerges from a cloud’s embrace
javan hone lage jab vo to ham se kar liya parda
haya yak-lakht aai aur shabab ahista ahista
as she came of age she started to be veiled from me
shyness came to her at once, beauty then slowly
shab-e-furqat ka jaaga huun farishto ab to sone do
kabhi fursat men kar lena hisab ahista ahista
I haven’t slept since parting eve, o Angels, I request
I’ll settle your accounts at leisure for now let me rest
saval-e-vasl par un ko adu ka khauf hai itna
dabe honton se dete hain javab ahista ahista
on question of our meeting, so scared of rival’s she
in soft tones thus replies, her answer whisperedly
vo bedardi se sar katen ‘amir’ aur main kahun un se
huzur ahista ahista janab ahista ahista
the only difference ‘tween your love and mine that I can see
you want to take your time while I, behave impatiently