Featured Ghazal (Meter: 121222 121222)

This ghazal by Dr. Mani is written in the meter 121222 121222 — a rhythm that powerfully conveys grief, longing, and emotional turmoil. Each couplet presents a hypothetical scenario, using the word “if’ to reflect on love, fate, and the emotional Consequences of absence or presence. The structure invites the reader into an introspective world of “what could have been,” which adds to its melancholic charm. 1. Mir Taqi Mir: His poetry also employs soft pain and imagined longing — “Mir, how naive you are, falling ill for The very one who caused your pain…” Mani reflects a similar simplicity, but with modern language. 2. Ghalib: Frequently uses and wish to paint philosophical longings — “Thousands of desires, each worth dying for…” Mani’s ghazal, like Ghalib’s, delves into imaginary complaints, but with greater clarity and emotional resonance.