Chalo Ek Baar Phir Se ...

With a few exceptions who can move from pain to happiness on their own , most people have this intense urge to pour out the bitter repercussions of an anguished experience , so sharing agony and distress with a genuine well wisher is neither weakness nor abnormal.

The winning , and also the tricky point however is that this outpour of bitterness must not create more bitterness 

This is easier said than done 

I was deeply touched when I saw the documentary " Soz: Ballad of Maladies " 

Among other things , the documentary introduced it's viewers to the youth in the terror-torn Kashmir Valley who have turned to writing poetry in a bid to bury the deep anguish of a painful past and also as a means to deal with an unjust present

Also there is Sahir Ludhianvi whose birth centenary is being celebrated this year ...

Incidentally his mother belonged to Kashmir 

Most of his poetry is a narration of his life's anxieties and suffering 

He saw and understood through his own struggle the deprivation of others and poured out his compassion , sympathy and empathy for all the oppressed people through his timeless poetry that is remembered and discussed even today 

" Chalo ek baar phir se ajnabi bann jaaeiN hum dono ... " has become one of the most iconic and timeless pieces of Urdu poetry that has ever been written

The thought expressed in words is so matchless that it seems like once-in-a-lifetime kind of writing  

Its uniqueness never ceases to amaze even the best of writers and it has been among one of the most loved , listened and discussed Hindi film songs 

It was actually not written for a film situation but used most appropriately in the film "Gumraah" by Chopra Saheb 

And the rest is history 

Sahir Ludhianvi's words set to music by Ravi and sung by Mahendra Kapoor , this is a masterpiece that sinks in gradually as Kapoor Saheb brings the words to life with a depth that is engrossing and overpowering , delicately untangling a multi layered tapestry of human feelings , and as you listen , the magical play of emotions engulfs you completely 

How does one go about becoming a complete stranger to someone with whom they have shared life's most beautiful moments ?

Don't we deliberately cling on to memories 

And who can ignore the fact that the most touching poetry is most definitely made from memories that are precious and closest to one's heart

Hence this song stands out in its uniqueness.
The poet apparently is comfortable in choosing to let go of a loved one with whom he cannot carry on any further.

But hold on.
He is moving on , and although well wishers might advice him to "forget the past " he is not doing anything like that ...

In fact he is taking along with him a bagful of memories too endearingly deep-seated to just let them go ...

And seemingly this baggage is neither burdensome nor tiresome
So he casually and yet so profoundly remarks :

"Wo afsana jisey anjaam tak lanaa naa ho mumkin

Ussey ek khoobsoorat mod de kar chhodna achcha ... "

Moving on is apparently a part of one's existence.
Indeed and truly so.
But Come to think of it , how much inner turmoil must one undergo before finally accepting life as it comes.
" Ta'aruf rog bann jaaye to uss ko bhoolna behtar

Ta'aluq bojh bann jaaye to uss ko toddna achcha ... "

And so if life must go on in separate compartments for two people who once travelled intimately together , can there be another better option than the one provided by Sahir Ludhianvi ?

"Naa maiN tum se koi ummid rakkhooN dil nawaazi ki

Naa tum meri taraf dekho ghalat andaaz nazroN se ... "

It is a feeling of profound peace and contentment that comes after you have unraveled the layers of a relationship and discovered the truth 

You have shed the old skin .....

Now you are clothed with a much better resolve and determination.

So what if ...

"Mere hamraah bhi rusvaaiyaN haiN mere maazi ki

Tumhaarey saath bhi guzri hui raatoN ke saaye haiN "

You have learned to deal with it all without hurting yourself or anyone else 

"Naa mere dil ki dhadkan ladkhadaaye meri baatoN meiN 

Naa zaahir ho tumhaari kashmakash ka raaz nazroN se "

You are now better prepared for a happier and more enriching journey ... 

So 

Chalo ek baar phir se ... 😊