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Date: 30-Sep-99
Poet: Mazhar Imam

dil akelaa hai bahut laalaa-e-saharaa kii tarah
tum ne bhii chho.D diyaa hai mujhe duniyaa kii tarah

[laalaa-e-saharaa = desert flower]

chho.D ke jaao na yuu.N ahad-e-guzishtaa kii tarah
ban ke ummiid raho vaadaa-e-fardaa kii tarah

[ahad-e-guzishtaa = bygone days; vaadaa-e-fardaa = promises of yesterday 
(past)]

tum havaa ho bikhero mujhe saahil saahil
mauj-e-may ho to bahaa do mujhe dariyaa kii tarah

[saahil = shore; mauj = wave; may = wine]

paas rahate ho to aataa hai judaa_ii kaa Khayaal
tum mere dil me.n ho a.ndeshaa-e-fardaa kii tarah

[a.ndeshaa-e-fardaa = remnants of the past]

biich me.n kuchh to rah-o-rasm-e-ta'lluq rakkho
ajanabii yuu.N nahii.n milate hai.n shanaasaa kii tarah

[rah-o-rasm-e-ta'alluq = social etiquettes/code/customs]
[shanaasaa = acquaintance]

[**

One of the most popular usage of 'rah-o-rasm' is in Ahmed Faraz's
ghazal immortalized by Mehdi Hasan - "ra.njish hii sahii..."

pahale se maraasim na sahii phir bhii kabhii to
rasm-o-rah-e-duniyaa hii niibhaane ke liye aa

**]