आईने

Meaning

Mirror or looking-glass (in the oblique or possessive case).

Detailed Meaning

In classical Urdu poetics, the mirror often represents the receptive heart, astonishment (hairat), or the site of self-reflection. In this verse, 'aaine ki' denotes the mirror's reflective plane whose faded whiteness threatens to plug the aperture of awareness like cotton, symbolizing the stifling shame of self-admiration.

Etymology

Persian (آئینه / āyīnah).

Usage

A quintessential motif in the ghazal, serving as a metaphor for the lover's immaculate heart or the dazed condition of sight.

Examples

Synonyms

Related Words