A night without armor

"I hate the dark." It's a nothingness so complete you start to see things that aren't there. Who knew that could be so terrible?

Hum jahaan aaye hain, meherbaan saaye hain where we landed, the shadows are kind

"Sometimes it's easier."

"What is?"

"The darkness. It's like faith -- it's intangible."

Raatein so jaateen hain, raahein kho jaateen hain nights end, paths get lost

"Intangible." The word felt like that reluctant space within him defined by her absence. "As you will soon be?" Tomorrow.

He felt her hesitate, ever so slightly."Yes."

He sighed. "How then does one know faith?"

Dhadkanein hain jawaan, hum yahaan khwaabon ke kaaravaan laaye hain Heartbeats are vibrant, here we have brought the caravan of dreams
Her voice took on a teasing tone. "How does one see a soul? It's about as intangible."

He laughed uneasily. "Go to sleep."

She thrashed around a bit. "You think I haven't been trying? You might have to stop talking first."

"And since we're on the subject of all things intangible --"

...jaane hon kal kahaan... who knows what will happen tomorrow?

"Hmmm?"

"How then does one know love?"

She told him because he wanted to know. She whispered it all into his ear.

Hum hain iss pal yahaan We are here at this moment
Pighli pighli si hain, mehki tanhaaiyaan the air melts with the fragrance of solitude
Har pyar milan to nahin Every love doesn’t end in being united
Judaai bhi toh ek pyar hai Separation is also a form of love
Pyar khotaa nahin, pyar sotaa nahin Love is never lost, love never sleeps
Pyar dhalta nahin, haan badalta nahin Love never ebbs, and never changes
Hum rahein na rahein, hum milein na milein* Whether we live or not, whether we meet or not

Later he would tell her the darkness danced behind her eyes, and he saw it all.










* Rahman+Akhtar