शहर में जो नज़र पड़ा उस का
कुश्ता-ए-नाज़ या तग़ाफ़ुल था
— Mir Taqi Mir
Meaning
Of the one who caught my eye in the city, was it the garment of coyness, or was it mere neglect?
Explanation
This couplet captures the agonizing uncertainty of love. Mir Taqi Mir wonders about the nature of the connection when his gaze falls upon her in the city. Was her reaction a playful flirtation (कुश्ता-ए-नाज़), or was it simply a deliberate indifference (तग़ाफ़ुल)? He is questioning if his perceived affection is reciprocated, or if he is merely seeing what he wishes to see. It speaks to the profound pain of ambiguity in romance.