Chah na rakheen

'Ishq te aashiq doho barabar.. atey ishq da ta vadera..'

.......

I am watching the snowstorm outside. She's going through my playlist. Exploring, shuffling... never at peace. A pattern so recognisable, an impression so palpable. And then she gives up, keeping my phone aside, succumbing to her quiet self; yet again. There is no more music, the room is filled with her quintessential silence... I must speak before this silence becomes too loud. 

'He says.. love and fire are the same..'

'But love hurts more, no?'

I take a sip of my coffee and turn to look at her. She expects my answer, but I am not sure what to say. Her naive anticipation almost makes me smile. 

'I don't know really...  not so experienced with fire'

'Hmm..' she looks down. Seems to me as if she grew ten years in past ten seconds. 

'You know.. loving is trance.. perhaps almost the only thing that makes me feel good about myself'

'Isn't trance a delusion?'

'...perhaps that is why it hurts more?'

............

Aatish paani nal bujheyn di

Ate ishq da daaru kehra..