On making someone feel human

उस ने 

नाम से पुकारा, 

मेरा हाल पूछा 

और मैं 

नंबर से इंसां हो गया। 

To paraphrase Gulzar: 

बस इतनी सी जान होती है एक मुलाकात की, 

एक लम्हे के जितनी।  

हाँ 

कुछ लम्हे बरसों ज़िंदा रहते हैं। 

It is so easy to make someone feel human. 

Look them in the eye 

Call them by name

Ask how they are 

and then wait for an answer. 

Be with them, all there 

for just a moment, or two. 

That is all it takes

to make a number

feel like a human being. 

 

Note: The idea is the same, but its presentation in English and Hindi is completely different. This is not a translation.