O friend, do not bring up the mention of late (ruined) Delhi, for we will never be able to bear listening to this tragic tale.

In this deeply moving couplet, the poet mourns Delhi not merely as a city, but as a beloved companion who has passed away, calling it 'Dehli-e-Marhoom' (the late Delhi). The devastation of its culture, elegance, and soul—particularly in the aftermath of 1857—leaves a grief so raw that even a passing conversation about it feels unbearable. It is a tender plea between friends, asking to leave the ghosts of that glorious past in peace because the heartbreak of remembering it is simply too heavy to carry.