By Aqeel Nomani
ki kya hai
yun bhi hain
yun bhi hain
“What need is there to smile — you look sad even without it.”
Romanहिन्दीAqeel Nomani
मुस्कुराने की क्या है
यूँ भी लगते हैं
यूँ भी लगते हैं
The verse in Devanagari — it carries the authenticity of the original, and every Hindi reader can read it.
♪ Hear the coupletA recitation in a synthesized voice.
The Interpretation
In just two lines the poet dismisses the social demand to smile, telling the beloved she looks sad even without performing happiness. The cruelty and tenderness are inseparable — it spares her the effort of pretending while naming the sadness she cannot hide anyway.
For You, Today
You owe no one a smile — the feeling underneath shows regardless, so spend your energy on the feeling, not the mask.
A short, ironic couplet that punctures the everyday tyranny of forced cheerfulness.
Themes:SilenceLove & Loss
More from Aqeel Nomani
The heart of this site stays with Iqbal: explore his couplets → Or browse the whole Other Voices shelf →