Life before you

Driving out of the city on Saturday, the car audio threw up an old favourite. I can listen to any number of Jagjit Singh ghazals any number of times, even binge listen to his many ghazal albums. Thanks to endless long drives I’ve heard countless CDs, DVDs and pendrives with his ghazals and of late, on YouTube while driving. This one was published as part of his Seher album at the turn of the millennium.

I like the way it starts, soft and introspective as the singer is imagining how it was before he met the love of his life. An admission of the love of his life being far more important than he thought she would be to him. Absence makes the heart grow fonder is a clichéd statement that’s repeated ad nauseam.

A lovely, touching, almost maudlin piece of verse by Meraj Faizabadi. https://youtu.be/ivCIixOFek0

तेरे बारे में जब सोचा नहीं था
मैं तन्हा था मगर इतना नहीं था

तेरी तस्वीर से करता था बातें
मेरे कमरे में आईना नहीं था

समंदर ने मुझे प्यासा ही रखा
मैं जब सहरा में था प्यासा नहीं था

(सहरा  = रेगिस्तान)

मनाने रूठने के खेल में हम
बिछड़ जाएँगे ये सोचा नहीं था

सुना है बंद कर लीं उसने आँखें
कई रातों से वो सोया नहीं था

गुज़र जा इस तरह दुनिया से ‘मेराज’
कि जैसे तू यहाँ आया नहीं था

-मेराज फ़ैज़ाबादी

The heady intoxication of the ghazal stayed with me through the weekend and stayed with me when I woke up today.

In all probability it will be there with me through the day as well.

Stay safe, stay healthy and happy, folks and do speak up. Don’t lose the love of your life. Enjoy the week ahead

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