aa phir se mujhe chhod ke jaane ke liye aa
“Let it be resentment, even so — come, if only to wound this heart; come once more, even if only to leave me again.”
आ फिर से मुझे छोड़ के जाने के लिए आ
The verse in Devanagari — it carries the authenticity of the original, and every Hindi reader can read it.
The couplet bargains downward, offering the beloved any pretext to return — even resentment, even the certainty of a fresh wound. There is no demand for love here, only for presence, and the poet would rather be hurt in company than spared in absence. The repeated plea "aa, aa" makes longing itself audible, a door held open against all reason.
When you miss someone, notice whether you want their love or simply their nearness — and be honest with yourself about which ache you are actually trying to soothe.
The heart of this site stays with Iqbal: explore his couplets → Or browse the whole Other Voices shelf →