Originally performed by the Mehdi Hassan Khan, the ghazal speaks of solitude, the sorrow of missing one’s love, and finding personal solace in life’s little pleasures. For Atif, this was a personal undertaking as an artist as he connected to the words, finding beauty in the lyrics. A personal reflection of Faiz’s inner state during his imprisonment in Hyderabad Jail, the song’s poetic depth provides a space for one to find the common humanity in their difficult emotions. A challenge that Atif did not shy from, the singer creates this rendition not with the intention to replicate what Mehdi Hassan accomplished with the piece, but to cherish its beauty and carry its tradition forward into the world. “Before you even touch a piece like this,'' he acknowledges, “you think twice. But the work of legends is not meant to be feared.”