Although to be perfect in friendship
It's not possible to be of one tongue and one heart
I am hidden from you, and you are hidden from me
To face each other's gaze is in vain
This Urdu quatrain reflects on the inherent complexities of achieving complete unity and transparency in human relationships, particularly friendship, a recurring theme in classical Urdu poetry. It posits that despite aspirations for perfect harmony ("yek zaban o yek dil" - one tongue, one heart), an inevitable hiddenness persists between individuals. This profound sense of separateness renders any superficial conflict or outward show (like a duel of gazes) ultimately futile and meaningless, emphasizing an internal, often unbridgeable, distance.
wonder & existence · the world's unfairness (shikwa)