Word Meaning
आईं
ā'īñ
Meaning
Came, arrived, or descended (feminine plural past tense of 'to come').
Detailed Meaning
In Urdu and Hindi poetry, 'ā'īñ' is the third-person feminine plural past tense form of the verb 'ānā' (to come). In this couplet, it governs the feminine plural subject 'āfatein' (calamities), expressing how multiple misfortunes befell or descended due to the oppressor. It carries a heavy sense of inevitable calamity arriving upon the helpless.
Etymology
Derived from Sanskrit 'āyāta' / 'āgama' (to come) through Prakrit into Hindustani 'ānā'.
Usage
In the ghazal, it frequently rhymes as part of a radif or qafia when paired with feminine plural nouns like 'balā'eñ' (troubles), 'yādeñ' (memories), or 'āfateñ' (calamities).
Examples
Calamities came down unannounced.
Tears came rushing to the eyes.