aaj ki raat badi shokh badi natkhat hai
aaj to tere bina nind nahi aayegi
ab to tere yaha aane ka ye mausam hai
ab tabiyat naa khyaalo se bahal paayegi

dekh wo chhat pe utar aayi hai saawan ki ghata
de rahi dwaar pe khadi aawaaj purwaai
bijali rah rah ke, pahado se chamak uthati hai
suni aankho me koi khwaab le jo angadaai
kaise samjhaau, kaise samjhaau kaise
waqt ka matlab kya hai, dil ki hai baat
ho dil ki hai baat naa hotho se kahi jaayegi
aaj ki raat

ye bhatkate huye jugnu ye deeye aawaara
bhigate ped pe bujh bujh ke chamak uthate hai
tere aanchal me take salme sitaare jaise
mujhse milne ko bina baat damak uthate hai
saara aalam
saara aalam hai girftaar tere husn me jab
mujhse hi kaise
haaye mujhse hi kaise ye barsaat sahi jaayegi
aaj ki raat

raat raani ki ye bhini si nashili khushbu
aa rahi hai ke jo chhan chhan ke ghani daalo se
aisa lagta hai kisi dheet chakore se lipat
khel aayi hai tere uljhe huye baalo se
aur bejaan
aur bejaan naa kar mere tadapte huye dil ko
aisi rangin
ho aisi ragin gajal aake naa phir jaayegi
aaj to tere bina nind nahi aayegi
aaj ki raat badi shokh badi natkhat hai

Tonight is a rogue, a playful tease,
Tonight, without you, sleep will not appease.
This is the season, your arrival's near,
My spirit can no longer be held by mere thoughts, I fear.

See, the monsoon cloud descends from the roof,
The eastern wind whispers at your door, a proof.
Lightning flashes, from mountains it gleams,
In empty eyes, a dream stirs and teems.
How to explain, how to make it known,
What time truly means, a heart's secret sown?
A heart's tale whispered, unspoken, unheard,
Tonight.

These wandering fireflies, lamps astray,
On the drenched tree, they flicker and play.
Like sequins and stars in your embrace,
They glow without reason, for my gaze.
The whole world, the whole of this sphere,
Is captive of your beauty, held so dear.
How can I, oh, how can I bear,
This rain, this sorrow, this despair?
Tonight.

The night queen's sweet, intoxicating scent,
Pours forth, through the dense branches, heaven-sent.
It seems it has embraced a bold moonbird,
And played with the tresses, your hair, unblurred.
Do not,
Do not leave my yearning heart bereft,
Such a vibrant,
Such a vibrant ghazal, will not come again, I left.
Tonight, without you, sleep will not appease,
Tonight is a rogue, a playful tease.