ye daulat bhi shohrat bhi bhale chhin mujhse meri jawani
magar mujhko lauta de bachpan ka sawan
wo kagaz ki kashti wo barish ka pani
wo kagaz ki kashti wo barish ka pani

muhale ki sabse purani shan
wo bhudhiya jise bache kehte the nani
o nani ki bato me pariyo ka dera
wo chehre ki jhuriyo me sadiyo ka khera,
bhulaye nahi bhul sakta hai tu
bhulaye nahi bhul sakta hai tu
wo chhoti si rat wo lambi kahani
wo chhoti si rat wo lambi kahani

kadi dhup me mai ghar se na nikla
wo chidiya wo titliyo ka ghar
wo gudiya ki shadi pe ladna jhagdana
wo jhulo se girna wo girke sambhalna
wo pipal ke chhalo ke pyare se kante
wo pipal ke chhalo ke pyare se kante
wo tuti huyi churiyo ki nishani
wo kagaz ki kashti wo barish ka pani
wo kagaz ki kashti wo barish ka pani
wo kagaz ki kashti wo barish ka pani

Let them strip me bare, of fortune's gleam, of youth's swift tide,
Let them take the world, the fame that comes with worldly stride,
But grant me back, the monsoon of my childhood's grace,
The paper boats that sailed in rain's embrace,
The paper boats that sailed in rain's embrace.

The neighborhood's elder, a matriarch's wise hand,
The grandmother of lore, in that ancient land,
Where tales of fairies danced in her whispered art,
And wrinkles held the maps of time's deep heart,
You cannot, no, forget the dreams they'd weave,
You cannot, no, forget the dreams they'd weave,
The shortest night, yet the longest memory,
The shortest night, yet the longest memory.

I stayed within, from the sun's harsh glare,
The birds, the butterflies, a home beyond compare,
At the doll's wedding, the quarrels we'd ignite,
From swings we'd fall, then rise with all our might,
The tender thorns of the peepal tree, so dear,
The tender thorns of the peepal tree, so dear,
The broken bangles, a love's final decree,
The paper boats that sailed in rain's decree,
The paper boats that sailed in rain's decree,
The paper boats that sailed in rain's decree.