Word Meaning
पराई
paraa'ii
Meaning
belonging to another; of someone else; alien; stranger's
Detailed Meaning
Denotes something pertaining to an outsider, stranger, or another person. In this couplet, 'parai baat' signifies another person's private affairs or gossip about others, which the speaker acknowledges ought not to be aired yet finds impossible to hold back. It contrasts sharply with what belongs to the self or what is intimate.
Etymology
Sanskrit 'पर' (para, meaning 'other' or 'distant') through Prakrit into Old Hindi/Urdu 'पराया'/'पराई'.
Usage
In ghazal poetry, 'parai' is most often employed in juxtaposition with 'apni' to explore themes of alienation, betrayal, and gossip.
Examples
parai aag mein jalna (burning in someone else's fire)
parai baat pe dhyan na dena (not paying heed to another's affairs)