“Aaj ki baat phir nahi hogi 
Yeh mulaqat phir nahi hogi
Aise badal to phir bi aayenge
Aisi barsaat phir nahi hogi”

Roughly translated…

“We will not talk about today again
Our meeting will not happen again
We will have overcast skies like this again
But we will never have the rains like this again”

Today is a Nusrat evening. Great words from Ghalib…

“Haathon ki lakeeron pe
Mat ja, ae Ghalib
Naseeb unke bhi hotey hain
Jinke haath nahin hotey”

Some references here – the lines on your palm is considered to state your future and fate, according to some… Here, Ghalib tells himself to pay no attention to it…

“Do not go by the lines of the palm
On your hand, hey Ghalib
‘Coz, luck is bestowed even upon those
Who do not have any hands”

“Banke tasweer-e-ghum reh gaye hain
Khoye khoye se hum reh gaye hain
Bnaat li sabne aapas mein khushiyaan
Mere hisse mein ghum reh gaye hain”

Translated…

I stayed there like a picture of sorrow
I stayed there – completely lost (in your thoughts)
Everybody shared in their part of the happiness
On my fate, I was left with nothing but sadness

“Mein Ne Manaa Janaab Peeta Hoon
Ba Khuda Behisaab Peeta Hoon
Log Logon Ka Khoon Peete Hain
Mein To Phir Be Sharab Peeta Hoon
Zindagi Ka Azaab Peeta Hoon
Banke Khana Kharab Peeta Hoon
Roz-e-Mehshar Hisaab Ho Na Sake
Is Liye Behisaab Peeta Hoon”

Monday thru Friday travel. 3 cities. 10 hours of flight. 10 hours of drive. Lots of meetings!!!

Now to relax…

“Gharyaal Deyo Nikalni, Mera Piya Ghar Aaya
Oo Laalni Mera Piya Ghar Aaya
Piya Ghar Aaya, Sanu Allah Milaya
Hun Hoya Fazl Kamaalni Mera Piya Ghar Aaya”

The original proponent of this qawwali were the Sabri brothers. Today, I was listening to the version by Amjad Sabri (son of the younger Sabri brothers). The poem was penned by Purnam Allahabadi. Born originally in India in Allahabad as Mohammad Musa, he later migrated to Pakistan after the partition.

“Jholi” refers to the bag that a beggar carries to collect alms.

“Bhar do jholi meri ya Muhammad
Laut kar main na jaaoonga khaali
Tumhaare aastane se zamaana kya naheen paata
Koi bhi dar se khaali maangne waala naheen jaata”

Roughly translated (please feel free to offer better suggestions – this is not my mother tongue)

“Fill my bag, O Muhammad
I will not go back empty-handed
What does the world not receive at your doorstep
No one who comes asking at your door leaves empty-handed”

“Kal tum judaa huey the jahaan saath chhod kar
Hum aaj tak khade hain usi dil ke mod par
Hum ko is intazaar ka kuchh to silah miley
Dil ki ye aarzoo thi koi dilruba miley”

Poet: Hasan Kamal

Roughly translated…

Where we got separated yesterday when you left
I am still waiting at the same crossroads of heart
Oh! To get some respite from this long wait
It was my heart’s desire to get my beloved.