apne aap raaton me
chilmane sarkti hain
chaunkte hain darwaje
sidhiya dhadakti hain apne aap
apne aap

ek ajnabi yaad aa rahi hain
kam kam si
jaise dil ke pardo par
gir rahi ho shabnam si
bin kisi ki yad aaye
dil ke taat hilte hain
bin kisi ke khankaye
chudiya khanakti hain apne aap
apne aap

koi pahle din jaise
ghar kisi ke jaata ho
jaise khud musafir ko
rasta bulata ho
paav jane kis janib
be uthaaye uthte hain
aur chham chhama chham chham
payale chhankti hain apne aap
apne aap rato me

jane kun balo me
ungliya pirota hain
khelta hai pani se
tan badan bhigota hain
jane kiske hatho se
gagari chhalkti hain
jane kiske baho se
bijliya lapakti hain apne aap
apne aap

In nights of self,
Venetian blinds softly slide,
Doors gasp awake,
Stairs pulse, unaided,
Of their own accord.

A stranger's memory,
Faint as a whisper,
Like dew falling gently
On the heart's veiled screen.
Without recalling,
Heartstrings tremble,
Without a touch,
Bangles chime, alone,
Of their own accord.

As if on a first day,
Entering another's home,
As if the path itself
Beckons the traveler.
Feet move, towards an unknown,
Without prompting,
And, chiming, chiming,
Anklets tinkle, alone,
In nights of self.

Who, in the dark,
Weaves fingers through hair?
Plays with water,
Drenching body and soul?
By whose hands,
Does the pitcher overflow?
By whose embrace,
Does lightning flash, alone,
In nights of self?