--if it was possible the grandfather would never discuss his own health problems, life problems and medicines with anyone,, but thanks to hurey who was so reposnsible and took great care of the old man that he also was kept updated with the latest , bothe grandfather and grand daughter were so much alike , so much similar in may ways, he thought how one day he told the older man that now the old age was not spent with the support of their sons around but old age was spent with medicines
--he pated his shirt pocket to confirm the medicine packet for his grand father was still intact there after all those jumpings to save himself from falling down on sleeping people on the roads, his grandfather aging had multiple health problems and hurey was the only one who took full care of everything from his medicines to their meals and home management, grandfather r always spoke his mind starting his sentence from -the decent never stay out late on the roads roaming aimlessly- .he knew he was very late and no matter how late he returned home, hurey always was there to serve him his meal,
-he took a long cool sigh , he began walking, the whole town was sleeping, the roads were empty, looked so vast which turned so tight in rush hours, with malls and supermarkets around so much traffic passed those roads, he tripped over something, staring what could it be he realized it was someone sleeping on the road side with his bed cover tightly stretched over him, revealing just his head , then keeping himself from stumbling and falling he made his way looking at the sleeping figures , making a way through to cross the road,, life is not easy, one must learn to live it fully, but some avoid living others struggle and juggle hard
--
he leaned against the pedestrian railing on his elbows, looking at the night city lights on either side of the roads, lamp posrs casting long lights, inky scenery and illuminated by lights, on one side was located firdaus shopping mall, on the other side liyaqatabad supermarket, how much busy and crowded the streets remained during working times, squeezing the broadness of the sides of the busy lanes so much as jamming the traffic to a halt and at night the whole road and the entire city rolled out endlessly , the township seemed so much quiet and resting peacefully as their inhabitants , amazing how the day and the night worked like magic rolling unrolling the spaces
--the newly wedded couple reached their destination where they were welcomed with so much warmth and open arms that they soon adapted themselves in their family system, fatma made friends in the younger group but roshaney was different with whom fatma found impossible to get along , if fatma had won all others with her genuine sincere spontaneity , roshaney was a brisk dry businesslike woman hard to be with , so closed and difficult
--Hussain took control of the driving wheel, sitting himself in his seat ready to drive , about to start as fatma also was in the seat, he instructed her not to misbehave with anyone and nor act foolish, because he felt she sometimes appeared stupid, temper rose and se began an argument, she was always considered one of the most wise person around until he came into her life, in his presence she was declared a fool, she mumbled , grumbled and shut up , as he smiled naughtily
--
zarfin rather mock annoyed , half smiling remarked fatma was unnecessarily getting worried , there was nothing to worry so much about, Hussain was zarfin"s brother and she knew him so well, he would not disappoint his wife and they will be happy together without zarfin, but fatma insisted both were not sisters in law but friends sipping the juice kept near zarfin, which she took back and placed it on the table
--fatma packing her bags expressed her inner feelings if zarfin also accompanied her and Hussain on their trip how wonderfully cosy it will become for them, specially for fatma who knew nobody in the new surroundings , she would be a total stranger, zarfin laughed how funny to ask a third person -a sister in law to come along on the newly wedded couple's honeymoon
--zuber shah"s fertile imagination was running wild, he pulled his cigarette out from his mouth , staring at it , he could not remember lighting it, only a pair of mysterious hands , of which nobody nut the old woman knew were operating, his imagination was now working overtime was it possible the old woman was a witch who waited till mid night before changing herself to do magic , go out on a suspense spree, or was it chanderi beautiful witch who was left alone till mid night to use her crippled hands after mid night , it was just eleven he had one more hour"s wait
--zuver was relaxing with his cigarette lit that he puffed with a relish, second pint was against the old woman , both grandmother and grand daughter in the haveli were mysterious , only the old woman with wrinkled face knew of the mysterious hands that worked overtime outside doing things , suspense in the air was killing zuver, he took another puff, why did the old woma want him to stay away from chanderi only till mid night, the wall clock struck eleven his reverie was broken , he was puffing his cigarette, then he sat upright, when did he light his cigarette , he looked around his lighter and the case were where he had put them on the side table, he pressed his mind to clear the point of lighting the cigarette, he recalled a pair of hands,
--zuber shah noted the point that witches could look ugly or beautiful according to their wish, so chanderi who stayed inside the haveli was cut off from the rest of the world and did not know what was happening around , he stretched his hand and pulled one cigarette from the case and put it between his lips, his mind revolving around chanderi "s image , what an amazing beauty she was a pair of hands picked up the lighter and lit his cigarette held between his lips, he took a hearty puff and relaxed
--taking out his cigarette case and lighter from his pockets he put them on the side table, he wanted to logically pointwise see the happenings going around, first it was chanderi who came to his mind with her useless hands , he leaned his back in the easy chair, chanderi was so beautiful , , her voice so melodiously sweet, her eyes so deep, yet her crippled hands , how was it possible that she lived almost all the time inside the haveli , she was from no angle ugly, but then witches could change their appearances
--dying mud lamp fluctuates and flickers more energetically before it comes to an end, untrained person also speaks more vigorously making pointless useless speeches so frequently but meaningless, she entered her room as zuber shah was shown to his room, where he checked all the doors windows and walls for anything hidden and mysterious, wanting to spend some time analyzing the situation his eyes were vacant of sleep
--zuber asked the old woman if he could spend the night in her haveli, if she did not mind, the old woman enjoyed having guests, many a times visitors were lost travelers, strangers and zuber was on duty solving the case of murder he was welcome to stay there, but his men will not find the killer just running around with sticks, she knew it was chanan kumhar who was well built and tall like zuber but though strong physically chanan was not clever , the villagers believed he was possessed by some evil spirit that made him kill his wife
-
zuber shah watched the beautiful hands placed lifeless on the table, the old woman also put the lantern on the table near the girl introducing the lovely beauty as her grand daughter chanderi, , but chanderi "s hands were useless since birth , the old woman fed her, but the girl was an extraordinary beauty, zuber looked at her sympathetically
--zuber shah along with his investigating team began walking towards the old haveli , hoping they would be let in to stay and he would get a chance to see them, the main door of the haveli was in the dark, the emptiness around and vacant feel inside the haveli was eerie, they beat the door so many times finally life seemed to stir in the haveli and the door was opened by an old woma with so many wrinkles that if they were counted whole night would be wasted, she held a lantern in her hand, her sunken eyes in the casted light were dark in hollow shadows
--zuber shah gave his constables instructions to reach the crime scene and find out minute details related to the murder, by the time he himself would reach there next morning , after spending the night in the haveli of the old woman and meet the old woman and her young grand daughter , if possible
--a bus full of women travelers met with an accident killing all the passengers, whose husbands mourned crying for one week, one man continued crying for the second week and was asked what was his reason for longer than others mourning, the pathetic man explained his wife was not on the fateful bus
--one true friend found in life is a rare thing , finding two sincere friends in life is a rare blessing , there after there is no more possible options
-true love is rare to find and true friends even more impossible
-love is magic that transforms personalities
-love is a mirror that can get scratched and crack at slightest touch
-the pleasure of love is to love someone
--a car was chased on a highway by a police car , what a break neck speed it was, the driver innocently asked whay was he stopped , he was never like this ever before was stopped, the policeman mincing his words menacingly replied of course not like this because he must have been stopped by bullets flattening his back tyres
--farida asked her friend najma what did she see in that old man without teeth in his mouth and not hair on his head to marry him so suddenly, najma explained it was no problem at all when he was born then also he was bald and toothless
-a unhappily married couple go to a marriage counsellor to get his expert advice, the woman was asked if she took interest if any in the man"s job, of course she did , every day she coaxed him to demand a raise in his salary
-further she was asked if she spoke to her man if ever
-again she explained she spoke as much as he did, both of them spoke without listening to the other
--
the defense argued his client was absolutely innocent, every man who walked on his all fours was not drunk, this was no evidence to send him to jail, the officer argued it was true walking on all fours is not necessarily a sig of being drunk but the accused was also trying to wrap up the road
--after a feast the last guest was a television announcer to thank the hosts, he began his thanksgiving speech by thanking the cooks , servants staff and helpers who all had contributed to present the feast , then came the turn to thank the host and his wife and their daughters for sponsoring the feast and arranging it well and then the invitees were directly pointed to be soon meeting again the next month in a similar circumstances hoping till then all enjoyed themselves to join again for a showy feast
--licking his dry lips with his dry parched tongue razwan asked how long will it take to be known that shah zeb was missing, he had escaped from the prison, but he had in all that confusion and commotion not forgotten to turn the key into the lock and at this point tajur also joined in the conversation adding the guard was hidden under the drugget, he hoped he was still there
-doctor arram lay in a poolof blood in the wash room when shah zeb checked it, she was profusely bleeding from her head and lay unconscious , first they must help her and then take other steps, razwan was a meek man and shah zeb was stopped from going ahead , because he feared death was possible, but death is inevitable and weather shah zeb took action or not one day death would end his life so before that point was reached he decided to do what must be done,
-razwan had suggested they all must be very careful with their activities because it will soon become day light showcasing their presence, shah zeb wanted to know and what was his idea of action, because razwan was not the type of man who can handle violence and guns, in fact he as so surprised to see another rifle there, which shah zeb explained he had snatched from the guard, but besides himself razwan had limited knowledge of ammunition, so he was just an extra count but no help
--both men stood there looking around, one said there was nobody , meantime the other found someone exclaiming at least there was one person there bleeding , unconscious sprawled out on the damp floor, razwan reached the two asking how were they, both were alive and well before him, they had knocked down one on the same route razwan had taken if he could not find there victim others would also take time to locate him, so they were doing well, it was already past one thirty mid night, soon it would be light at dawn so they had to be very careful to plan their action plan
--sheril shared her life story with chris come to kill her, sent by beston her husband, they both sipped their coffe together , she was just twenty one when she finished her college and fell for a life of glamour, night life, limousine drives, fast life, night clubs and spending time enjoying , spending money and everything that dazzles a mind lusting for happiness, she got lost in that world like a fallen quivering leaf flowing in the rushing stream unaware that it would end up finally in the ocean
--chris reacted to her story , remarking it was very cruel of her husband to send someone to kill her for eating chips, but then both agreed that beston was a beast, a cruel breast who could do anything to hurt anyone, both chris and sheril in their early thirties were associated with beston and they could not escape him
--chris asked sheril how did she know he was there to kill her, sent by her husband, sheril simply explained she knew it instinctively because her husband beston had threatened her of she ever put on weight he would kill her, she was caught as she was eating chips hidden in her bag, she asked chris to judge her if she was fat, she had lovely olive complexion and a perfectly carved figure , deep dark brown wholesome eyes that enhanced her lovely black damp hair
--sheril added a generous spoonful of cream to her coffee and asked him how he wanted his, he liked it black with two spoons of sugar, then crossing her legs the way chris admired in women her right leg over her left she looked at him , with her hand nestling her chin , showing genuine interest so irresistible to tell her more about him
--he had come to kill her, if he did not kill sheril he would be killed , he was in debt, a gambler, sheril asked him to tell his story to her , her last wish was to have her last coffee with him, he was chris , by sixteen he had turned a gambler and enjoyed races, he always won , , this kept him going deeper and deeper into it, he could then never get out of that dirt, like quicksand he sank into it slowly and steadily
--sheril looked at his appearance and declared he did not like working , did he, he wanted an easy life, he argued it was not in his control to like or dislike , she opened the cupboard taking out two ceramic cups , she wanted to know more about him, but he was reluctant , why should he discuss himself with anyone, sheril insisted she was going to be dead within minutes after finishing her coffee so all his secrets would die with her, she wanted to know as a rightful interest in the man"s life history who had killed her
--sheril said usually people as their last wish want to smoke their last cigarette, but because she did not smoke she wanted her last cup of coffee if he did not mind, he began to think what to do in this situation, sheril helped him explaining to get her coffee all she needed to do was press a button and coffee is made, to make more she adds more to it, he gave his permission, she pressed the button of the coffee machine and leaned against the kitchen counter, filling up the silent gaps she continued it was beton"s birthday that day, he also nodded in agreement, it was indeed beston"s fifty sixth birthday, sheril told him they were married and marriage becomes routine after some time , he would know of it when he gets married himself, she always gave same birthday present every year to her husband , he got curious what gift did she give beston,
-sheril took a long critical look at him from up to down ,then she curiously asked what was his age, just thirty two, with a gun, he was there to kill for money ,she glared beyond him , he impulsively touched his back pocket, she asked for a favour as her last wish to drink a cup of coffee , from the kitchen they could see the vicinity and the lawns
--she stood holding the main door to her apartment open, as he stood there sherril said so he had come to kill her, before he could say a word she turned round and walked away inviting him to step in, , perhaps se had not seen the gun he carried in his back pocket, as se walked her beautifully sun tanned long legs polished like wood attracted his attention, she asked him to sit down to make her feel comfortable, sitting herself she crossed her legs , her tone was soft as she asked how will he kill her, he said he had a gun, , she asked if he had ever killed someone before, he had never killed before, this was his first time, he was a compulsive gambler and owed heavy debt that he could not repay , it would be forgotten if he killed her and , he would also get eight lacs , she whistled to hear that
-in the kitchen zarfin asked fatma when she will learn to behave herself, husain was zarfin"s brother showing interest in taking her out , he was speaking in whispers why did she shout repeating the whole dialogue between them, was it not so personal, but fatma trying to avoid being confronted was now under direct threat and explained should not one speak private things in private or loudly in a gathering , she herself would not like to be held responsible for this conversation
--
husain at the dining table spoke to fatma in a whisper that she must after finishing her tea pack both their bags to leave for Lahore, she screamed reacting to the news so excitedly repeating were they really going to Lahore, if he had got leave , that zarfin and gaza both began smiling , then realizing her stupid mistake she shut up not asking for the details, embarrassed and apologetic
--
from the side table drawer she pulled out a heart shaped crystal candle holder, decorating it with rose petals in such a way that when the holder is picked a heart of rose petals remains, scented candles and perfume sprayed in the room would add magic to the lighted candles
--suddenly the sky turned overcast with dark clouds rolling around, the change in the weather was pleasant, both zarfin and fatma in the kitchen used to make tea and snacks , the routine affair was followed with more enthusiasm on such a lovely cool day, they were ready for the vening , dressed up in style and looking prettier, waiting for husain fatma turned from the door , still fifteen minutes wait but something she has remembered
--because walter had read only murder cases he believed himself an expert on the subject and was seen with other real life detectives, investigators and such men , drinks and dinner was still going on when westland asked the narrator friend if he had ever before been to the club, he had long time ago once been there on the invite of a member , then realizing his mistake he bit his tongue because the host whose name he took was accused of killing his own wife and was tried and given death sentence by hanging
--in London almost everyone knows progress club where decent people go, though he himself was not a member of this club but his friend walter interested in crime and punishment was, one time walter invited the narrator to dine with him, when they were having their drinks the writer was not surprised at all to see his friend surrounded with other like minded detectives in nature who loved thinking and breathing crime stories, there was one friend from the Scotland yard and others present
-in hararey all factories were shut down, earlier workers and skilled groups roamed on the city roads , but with all of them now shut down the unemployed were seen walking aimlessly , with all the landmarks once the pride of the town falling down in ruins
--qasaea invitingly asked him to come closer so she could rub his head in her la, wamasho had no children from his firs wife and in African culture a man of his status is respected only if he has several children , he had only one son
--the mid day sun was sizzling bright, burning hot, when the detective reached the cluster of five cottages and pressing her breaks she opened the door to pick a stone to put it under the tyre because her hand brakes were loose, sweating profusely she did it to secure her car wanting to take no risk
--the detective walked up to the sideboard, tearing a piece of paper from the fresh herald she rolled it like a cigarette , filling it up with tobacco she took out from her handbag in a pouch, then taking a match box also out from her bag she lit her cigarette enjoying her smoke she remarked it was strange why nobody claimed the abduction , the boy was super wealthy man"s son gone missing
--the lady detective said as long as the case is not solved each and every member of his family is under scrutiny and will be scanned, looking at the ring in his finger she suggested perhaps that was one of the reasons his son was getting disturbed, trying to get a release he found a route of escape by making friends with bad people , you know how bad the world is , nobody can be trusted,
--this happened some two weeks ago , it was a Saturday, tanashi went to play cricket in the school playground, usually a driver is sent to collect him but because he wanted to talk to his son personally he drove there to find him missing, there was no email, message, sms, or phone call received for ransom
--wamasho was in his office sitting staring vacantly at nothing in particular but before him were bundles of bills, receipts, letters and such papers, on his left hand was an almost empty whisky glass in front of that stood his secretary watching and waiting for his instructions
he leaned against the pedestrian railing on his elbows, looking at the night city lights on either side of the roads, lamp posrs casting long lights, inky scenery and illuminated by lights, on one side was located firdaus shopping mall, on the other side liyaqatabad supermarket, how much busy and crowded the streets remained during working times, squeezing the broadness of the sides of the busy lanes so much as jamming the traffic to a halt and at night the whole road and the entire city rolled out endlessly , the township seemed so much quiet and resting peacefully as their inhabitants , amazing how the day and the night worked like magic rolling unrolling the spaces
--the newly wedded couple reached their destination where they were welcomed with so much warmth and open arms that they soon adapted themselves in their family system, fatma made friends in the younger group but roshaney was different with whom fatma found impossible to get along , if fatma had won all others with her genuine sincere spontaneity , roshaney was a brisk dry businesslike woman hard to be with , so closed and difficult
zarfin rather mock annoyed , half smiling remarked fatma was unnecessarily getting worried , there was nothing to worry so much about, Hussain was zarfin"s brother and she knew him so well, he would not disappoint his wife and they will be happy together without zarfin, but fatma insisted both were not sisters in law but friends sipping the juice kept near zarfin, which she took back and placed it on the table
zuber shah watched the beautiful hands placed lifeless on the table, the old woman also put the lantern on the table near the girl introducing the lovely beauty as her grand daughter chanderi, , but chanderi "s hands were useless since birth , the old woman fed her, but the girl was an extraordinary beauty, zuber looked at her sympathetically
--she stood holding the main door to her apartment open, as he stood there sherril said so he had come to kill her, before he could say a word she turned round and walked away inviting him to step in, , perhaps se had not seen the gun he carried in his back pocket, as se walked her beautifully sun tanned long legs polished like wood attracted his attention, she asked him to sit down to make her feel comfortable, sitting herself she crossed her legs , her tone was soft as she asked how will he kill her, he said he had a gun, , she asked if he had ever killed someone before, he had never killed before, this was his first time, he was a compulsive gambler and owed heavy debt that he could not repay , it would be forgotten if he killed her and , he would also get eight lacs , she whistled to hear that
--husain at the dining table spoke to fatma in a whisper that she must after finishing her tea pack both their bags to leave for Lahore, she screamed reacting to the news so excitedly repeating were they really going to Lahore, if he had got leave , that zarfin and gaza both began smiling , then realizing her stupid mistake she shut up not asking for the details, embarrassed and apologetic
from the side table drawer she pulled out a heart shaped crystal candle holder, decorating it with rose petals in such a way that when the holder is picked a heart of rose petals remains, scented candles and perfume sprayed in the room would add magic to the lighted candles
