You were…

Not just another translation of shayari. You will find out why! Read on (after going through the tab ‘Shayari’ above and profusely expressing my gratitude to DQ):

ज़िंदगी यूं थी की जीने का बहाना तू था
हम फ़क़त ज़ेब-ए-हिकायत थे फ़साना तू था

Zindagi yuun thi ki jeene ka bahana tu tha
Hum faqat zeb-e-hikaayat the, fasaana tu tha

Life was such that the excuse to live, you were
I was a mere narrative; the epic tale, you were

हमने जिस जिस को भी चाहा तेरे हिज्राँ में वो लोग
आते जाते हुए मौसम थे ज़माना तू था

Humne jis jis ko bhi chaaha tere hijraaN mein wo log
Aatay jatay hue mausam the, zamaana tu tha

Everyone I liked in your absence, they were
Akin to flitting seasons; the world, you were

अबके कुछ दिल ही ना माना के पलट कर आते
वरना हम दरबदारों का तो ठिकाना तू था

Ab ke kuch dil hi na maana ke palat kar aate
Warna hum darbadaron ka to thikaana tu tha

My heart didn’t agree to return back this time
Else for homeless like us; the abode, you were

यार-ओ-अगियार की हाथों में कमानें थी फ़राज़
और सब देख रहे थे कि निशाना तू था

Yaar-o-agiyaar ki haathon mein kamaanein thi Faraz
Aur sab dekh rahe the ki nishaana tu tha.

All the friends and foes had bows in their hands, Faraz
And everyone was aware of the target, which you were

-अहमद फ़राज़ (Ahmad Faraz)

वाह वाह! (waah waah!) Just brilliant! Sheer beauty!

The last sher took me a while to understand in the original form but the way I’ve translated it is more like a spoiler and does a huge injustice to the original. Well, that was expected I guess.

Meet the master now:

Ahmad Faraz