from previous

...should we lose or win from you 

You are the reservoir of exoticness how to say 

Love for you  streaming in my system 

My complete emotions  surrendered before your  attitude 

How possible it is to get isles of dreams 

Should you be forgotten or remembered 

Now no other is  desired by heart 

Now nothing is left 

To be destroyed 

Unable to ever share you dearest possession 

Losing myself  to you

 to choose you the most precious 

Amongst them all

Impossible it is yet

How to free myself from your magic 

Should I forget you or remember you 

Not so easy is my  love journey 

Suffering  pain walking on thorns 

Unable to express my  feelings 

Tired of your  victories  desired 

Time passes in months and years 

Should  I lose or  win you 

page 141

....if you want to know 

How one  gets scattered 

How life then moves on

Go to a garden 

In wintery autumn 

Look at the leaves

Or carry a mirror 

If it too is difficult for you 

Take a blossom 

Keep it against the  strong winds 

You shall  come to know 

How one gets scattered 

If this too is not possible for you 

Come to me

To see me

You shall come to know it 

How one gets scattered 

from previous

....a constable  presented a person before  the Magistrate saying  sir, I have  caught him red handed,  this man  picked up lots of  bananas  from a vendor  on a street in the sadar area and walked off without paying 

The Magistrate sarcastically looked at the  police man  and   said this was a solid case of cheating   the  police constable was arrested for posing as a constable and sent to prison for two months 

.

Dear friend do tell us about the girl you used to go out for  walks in the evenings 

We never had  good raport between us, one day annoyed I declared I didn't love her at all,  I was  fooling her, 

In rage she threatened me I would regret it all my life 

Did she succeed in taking revenge 

Absolutely,  she married me

.

.an artist was asked to portray a door to heart

The artist attempted and painted a beautiful building with a door 

The critic asked why was the door shut  and had no handle to open it

The artist explained the door to heart was not open to all and sundry 

The handle was not necessary because the door to heart opened from only within 

kanch mahal

....ever since hashya had returned  from  wasim s house  her condition was strange,  she had spent   the night awake,  she felt odd , her feelings were mixed  with anger  fear  humiliation  and more,  why did he  do this,  he wasn't  he  leaving it, didn't he know what  family background she had,  his  move could  create a storm , why did he  bother to waste himself,  sometimes she wished she could    give him a strong  reply he wouldn't dare to  lift his head up again,  this wasim case could  get sorted out by hiring a good lawyer,  she moved and turned to get her mobile and felt her ribs were stiffened  , it was the spot paining since Adil and  taimur had  hit each other,  perhaps last night  that very  spot git hit again,  it was hurting,  the room was  closed,  , window curtains were  arranged properly,  she got out of her bed to stand before the  dressing table,  , clad in a cream colored sleeping gown,  her hair  loosened at shoulder length,  , she  untied tge knot of her gown to check her paining ribs,  this was where  taimur  s elbow had  hit her,  last night again sge git hit on the same place,   she got overwhelmingly  embarrassed  and confused  as strange mixed feelings  gripped her mind 

The bollywood song was playing,  she  quickly dressed , she was  so like a marble  figurine  proportionate, long graceful neck complexion so flawless and polished  , so delicate her skin was one could see her breath, her mind  got  entangled  on those moments  when she had lost her balance and fell into taimur s arms in the darkness 

page 121

...Tariq climbing upstairs  towards the library  kept thinking   over the whole  thing  , a war was taking place in his mind,  he was certain though he would  solve the case,  reaching upstairs he entered  the victim  azim begh s room,  the  sunlight  casted from the window fell on tge bed and the sheet shone  , the same  was lighted up the glass cup placed on the beatable and the water within displaying the dead man's  dentures,  on a couple of chairs  his clothes were  kept untidily,  on the  Cheval  also things were  kept carelessly  telling the man left hurriedly  unable to  properly arrange things,  Tariq now  focused all his attention on the dentures in water, he kept looking at it for very long before   looking at the  Almiras on both sides of the bed containing   decorative items,  suddenly his gaze fell over a patent leather pair on a shelf just recently painted  which according to the inspector were the shoes worn by the dead man when he was killed,  something drew his attention and Tariq  turned them over to measure the size and thoroughly  checked the  soles  , there were  secret  sections between   the heels  , Tariq put the shoes down on the floor,  whistling he walked up to  the open window,  he watched the outside scenery for a while  with empty emotionless eyes to return to the clothes shelves to check them very carefully  to sit down  on a chair  to hold his head lowered in both hands  to scan  the area below to finally get up to walk towards beghum azim s room,  he sat down to quickly  make sketches of the both rooms  with  the positions of the veds and additional details 

page 123

...if you don't get what you want  and pray  for believe it  someone has  asked for you in prayers 

.

No matter how  much  difficulties one goes through  remember there are others  in more  worse  situations , be thankful for what you have 

.

The face one is born with  is not of his choice  but the character he dies with is certainly his own reflection of his  dreams  desires ideas and  doings 

.

ishq muhabbet apnapn

...a most  tiring day  was coming to an end  with heaviness,  the sky was   painting  duskiness , the birds  in flight  were headed  to their nests , she took a long sigh  before dropping the window curtains  seeing the  free  flying birds  she  seethed   for her wings were clipped off,  the days were passing in sheer boredom  after her inter exams , dulling her, college was a place to mix with friends  and have a fun time till new session started, life seemed  useless and colourless , life was plain and nothing new was happening,  she was so full of life and enjoyed  lights was going through   so much  emptiness,  she slowly  emerged from the room, utter silence prevailed around,  the deadly silence  cut into her disturbed mind  and noisy turbulence  rose inside her,  this silence was distressing 

,  a few birds on the  parapet  quickly began sipping the water kept for them in a container and  swallowed  the grains  thrown to them,  the  veranda was dimly lit,  the birds were getting late to reach their nests and hurriedly  finished  before taking off, they all knew their locations  but she herself was not  successful so far in finding  her life goal 

page 120

....did you hear and see him  the last time 

No sir,   some time later around  eleven thirty   when I sat reading my newspaper   in the store door way , I heard  the master s footsteps  going towards his bedroom upstairs,  I immediately got up to  shut the open library window  and also locked the  main door after which I couldn't hear anything 

Tariq smiled at the chef  did he  fall asleep  waiting for his  telephone call 

Not at all sir, I was  alert and awake all the time,  my sleep is also    not deep  and  go to bed after midnight 

Did you receive any message on the phone 

No sir,  

It looks a straight and simple case  just some of the details  are to be  scrutinized 

Before going to your  bedroom which windows did you shut  off in the library 

The bigger window  sir,  it is kept open the whole day,  the windows   opposite the door are rarely  opened 

So you claim you  are a keen listener  and even overheard the  snippet of their conversation in the garden,  now tell me if you did hear the victim return  from the  moonlight outing 

The chef took some time to think over the incident before answering he didn't  actually hear him come back,  but he was  called  by the pressing of the bell,  had he come in from the  main door he would have seen him,  definitely he entered the house through a window  , sir  the master always  entered from the main door  and walked  through the hall to reach his library,  perhaps he needed to  use his phone and   from the garden directly jumped in through the window,  he was rather weird so it's not surprising 

page 82

...batul, where are you 

 Sitting outside in the courtyard batul jumped up hearing her mother's voice,  after returning from the well  with water she hadn't gone inside,  she had sat down on the  cot and perhaps  fallen asleep  from which she just  woke up, before  batul could  speak  Shakur was  by her side 

She was impatient  because  several of her calling out batul  had gone u answered,  where had she been,  shakura looked at her daughter  yawning and  stretching  sitting in the cot in the middle of the yard  , she was without her veil,  batul explained it was simple she had  taken a nap , it was  so stuffy inside,  she  was ready now to get out of her cot, 

Why is the main door left open 

Shakura looked at the door doubtfully,  the door was shut but not chained nor bolted, batul had forgotten it , batul going inside stopped  she replied perhaps it escaped her mind,   who else' besides mother  bolted it,  she lied straight faced, 

Did sayyad come in asked Shakira  perplexed 

He thinks hundreds of times before coming here  during the daytime  and you suspect him at night batul was quick to reply 

Shakur still wasn't satisfied,  somehow  batul wasn't replying as usual 

Batul thought just for a second to tell mother all then changed her mind 

page 119

...after a long thoughtful moment Tariq said  looking out of the window  he needed to hear the chef's  story once more,  hoping  the inspector wouldn't get bored,  he  pressed the bell to call  the staff,  an elderly man  nervously entered the room,  he explained the last time he saw azim begh...

Tariq  interrupted  and asked him to start from the dead man's dinner,  to add as much  details were possible 

He began he remembered  after the dinner  his master and his secretary  strolling  and talking in the garden,  when they reached the  end of the garden  the  chef overheard  some  words  spoken by his master..if Haris was present there  then every passing moment was counted important,  so  the secretary better  be off lest anyone should know of it 

Zulfar ali quickly agreed but he wanted to change into fresh pair of clothes before leaving   Zulfar went to his own room to get ready,  azim sahib goes to  the library and  rang the bell for the chef,  he handed some letters  for the postman,  , the chef was asked to stay awake for Zulfar ali was taking  sahib out  for a moonlight walk

That is an amazing story 

Absolutely sir, me too thought the same but hadn't I overheard sahib saying not to mention about Haris to anyone so I realized it was to misguide  others that he was going out for a drive 

from previous

....before Tariq  stood displayed in it's  full glory a modern  two storey  house  surrounded with   a pleasant   blend of a floral garden and blooming blossoms,  something ugly  like a murder  had somehow  sent shivers  down the spine,  it was  not the right  place for a crime  , , the cabin was located between  the road leading to the market and the  boundary  hedge,  the gardener  kept his tools in that store, the  dead body of the victim was  found by the store, Tariq reached the  Dorr that opened into the  garden,  his experienced eye scanned the entire  scene,  but he couldn't find any thing,  his  reverie broke  with the opening and shutting of the door,  a man was   left the house  from the main entrance,  Tariq quickly followed him,  the  turned to look  on hearing tge footsteps  behind him,  Tariq in a fraction  read the fear  writ on nevardo s face,  he was a perfect image of utter exhaustion  and mental stress  reflected from his light blue eyes  , affecting his strong physique,  tall height,  muscular  limbs and broad shoulders 

You must be Tariq sahib,  nadim sahib had informed  telephonically about your arrival,  he was zulfar ali he introduced himself 

Aren't you  azim  sahib s secretary  asked Tariq looking directly into his eyes,  there was definitely something  unsaid  lurking in those  tired blue eyes that   were  going to present a strong challenge thought Tariq,  where had he seen that pair of eyes , he tried to recollect and said  it must have proved a terrible night  

Somewhat,  being a Sunday and driving throughout the day,  when he reached the place he couldn't sleep a wink

from previous

...when he reached the haveli tajur like a cat was tiptoeing around the haveli vicinity,  he had rode upto the courtyard and not left his horse outside,  as if she  became alive  seeing him, he got down holding the gun,  mother was waiting  he walked towards her falling down before her, , tajur s spirit shook for a moment,  lest he had really shot someone down 

He said he had lost   ammi had won, motiya proved unfaithful,  he  was now ready to marry mahnoor ber choice,  motiya was dead for him,  he clutched her feet  , tajur felt   her soul was cooled down  , this was her Murad who  worshipped her adored her ardently,  he had gone astray,  he was back on the right track,  tajur embraced him, she kissed his forehead,  the face of the Murad gone out was absolutely different from the face of the Murad come back 

Dana pani

....why  did you open the letter from  sajtta

Nowhere is it said  we are done 

Murad tried to  press the trigger   but it wouldn't work,  his gaze stopped on motiya  s neck  where his gun was pointed on   her shapely ivory smooth neck  he could see her drinking water  rippling down some days ago,  if he had shot her how could he have seen her boiling blood  fountain  gushing  from that very neck,  had he turned himself unsentimental  her dying before his eyes  was still  intolerable 

He wished she would run away like  sayyad the coward,  but she didn't,  instead of choosing to escape she was rooted  to the spot 

How stubborn and unfaithful she was  or she perhaps believed it he couldn't kill her,  if it's her vanity  then it suited her

He lowered his gun and didn't fire at her,  she rightly  knew he couldn't take her life  but how could she doubt him, motiya wasn't scared of death  , it was the doubt  shaking her, true lovers never doubt each other 

Go away motiya,  I discard you  from my heart 

As he let her go something in her heart  hit her  like a gunshot 

You saved my life once,  you are free , you just no longer are mine,  go find someone you love,  you are dead to me,  live for someone else,  Murad didn't wait to see her break into tears,  he just turned and  walked through the canopy of trees quickly to reach his horse and rapidly disappear out of sight  headed towards the haveli 

Motiya was left there  buried in shame 

Go motiya just go away  resonated in her mind   , her whole persona was shattered and broken down 

from previous

..next morning  at eight  a medium  structured nadim  barq khan  stood pondering  in a hotel lobby  over the death  of begh  and how his body was found  , he didn't look sixty from anywhere,  retired bank officer,  wife dead, childless,  simple lifestyle  he spent time cheerfully with  neighbors and friends and amidst books 

He was  just about to finish his breakfast,  a long black shiny car stopped by the  main gate of the hotel,  the  staff rushed towards it, , a smiling   man emerged from the car,  who was  far younger than nadim  barq

Nacaro shouted loudly looking at nadim  who was greeted  warmly , what was  nadim doing there 

Tariq man something has  happened here,  he was certain  the newspaper would send him there,  sit down,  nadim promised to tell him the whole thing , nadim was absolutely right,  Tariq was sent to investigate the murder of begh of begh industries,  he sat down  close to nadim,  he was to try his best to reach the  killer  

A new voice  intervened  unexpectedly,  introducing himself as the manager 

qatil o maqtool

...beigh group of industries  head mr begh  s murder  had no  one crying  or reacting,  ,he had left behind h8 several  factories and unlimited wealth  but all his life he couldn't make a  true friend  who would weep over his death 

His grandfather  s little     amount  inherited by  his father who  increased  it wisely and with utter hardwork  became a coveted  inheritance  he had received,  by the age thirty his indisciplined  lifestyle   and his  playboy  nature  overnight  became a serious matter 

It was said  his father dying  gave him some instructions,  perhaps it was the only man mirza azim could  respect miss and  love 

Then people saw him rapidly  rising 8n the social  and business  world,  his  decisions and  business acumen  and  shrewd investment  made him one of the most successful man 

Sadly his second aspect was  not so pleasant , he  would ruthlessly crush  any type of  rivalry and workers on strike,  he would  instead of giving bonus or increase  prefer to throw out  the 

 Workers from their jobs,  people were scared of him , his death   shook up the  market and business community ,  an uncertainty  spread  , within  half hour of  his death it  was floated  it was a suicide 

Mirza azim begh s death  had no impact on anyone,  business and life  moved on the same pattern and pace, just that  there was nobody  as strong and powerful  to be able to control  the legacy of begh industries 

dohra mayaar

...he never could comprehend her nor could she  understand him,  whether it was about daily matters or about family issues or their  personal opinion,  she sadly thought  she was shanya born  in a loving adoring doting family,  she had three brothers,  her every wish was a command but what is marriage made for  if the woman loses all her importance,  for afraid married life was just for him just for his  wishes,  shanya had no place in his life,  after all what position  does a wife have,  he was ruthlessly sarcastic to her

Life is so beautiful yet it was getting  entangled  gripping her tightly  , it wasn't a big issue  but  sometimes  small  matters  lengthened and stretched  beyond proportion 

The other day  salma phuphu had invited for a feast and afaaq had promptly accepted it, though phuphu didn't like shanya much,  no matter how much shanya tried to please them she failed  because everyone was aware of her husband's behavior  that afaaq mian didn't believe in giving equal respect to women 

page 73

....believe me m he said  , he had never ever seen a woman like her not even in his dreams,  so patient and  understanding wife  that he had never before thought of,  he had  wanted someone more jubilant more outgoing more loud and aggressive  stubborn type  , it was her fierce fiery  side that had attracted him so much,  the  look full of anger  , her eyes aflame,  her  fuming annoyance  were her attractions he lost his head and heart  completely,  amjad  explained his overwhelming experience 

So you wish to see me annoyed 

Absolutely,  what is that couplet that says  we  love to see them annoyed 

She  was completely taken aback,  her husband was weird 

Amjad continued telling wards he was the only child,  pampered and all his wishes were fulfilled before he could ask for,  it was his birthright to demand and  enjoy,  gradually he go tired of being pampered and loved so possessively,  he began longing for someone he could love and take care of, sgehla appi would  comment he would realize his mistake when his wife would show her attitude and seek his attention,  but wardhra was absolutely different from what he had asked for,  , so unpredictable that he began  harassing her, but she refused to give up and like a rock  stayed put, she chose to stay calm and silent  refusing to argue,  he wanted to intimidate her, but she was  tied up to her father's promises and didn't know what amjad wanted 

Amjad you are so....

Nice  completed he  her statement 

page 110

... it was eleven thirty at night,  ahed was busy counting  two bundles of one thousand rupees  he had extracted from  the envelope,  the three left over were still in the khaki   envelope,  a satanic glint  rose in his eyes,  it was beyond his  imagination faiqa could really pay him five lakh  for killing ahsam

He stared for a while at the  bundles  before pushing all of it back into the khaki envelope to  hide the envelope inside the cupboard   and turned the night bulb on and slipped into his bed, he pulled the quilt over but he couldn't sleep,  his mind was  activated by ahsam, tomorrow ahsam was to be dead but he didn't want to kill him but  faiqa had coaxed him showering her love on him and  provoked him till he agreed 

page 93

.... female staff to her boss: sir, clerk Nasir  forces me   to speak lies

Biss: how so, madam

He keeps asking me my age

.

It happened long time ago that a villagers handed an agent a huge amount to arrange a trip abroad,  the so called travel agent turned out to be a fraud and left the villagers in the murrie  hills and said walk three days to reach the London gate and just pass through it

On the fourth day this villagers met a man and enquired where was the London gate 

The other man explained he was  looking for Dubai gate for over a week 

.

A train stopped at a station,  a passenger spoke to the guard to tell him  how could he manage to have a hot cup of tea at the platform and return  before the train left 

The guard smiled it was so easy,  let me come with you to have tea with you 

,

Miss janson teaching basic maths to her backward maid,,

Dear if you have ten rupees and asked for another tenner from your husband how much you save 

Maid::   ,,five rupees 

Miss janson,;; ,think again very carefully before answering 

Maid took one extra minute and smiled  and answered nothing will be left 

Miss janson,;;  ,dear  you don't know basic maths at all

Maid,::  ,madam you don't know my husband at all

page 91

...Caron said she  wanted to speak to her or how could she determine it was her daughter kept hostage  and she is still alive  and not  harrassed, Caron was shutting off until she was allowed to speak directly to her daughter 

In that case nothing will be left to discuss and negotiate,  Emma is listening to you and knows you didn't cooperate to save her,  we  will start cutting her up first of all her middle finger on which she wears a silver ring 

Stop, said Caron  her head spinning and darkness descended before her eyes,  Caron had given that ring two years ago to Emma on her eighteenth birthday 

Caron now turn on the speaker of your phone and let us hear you moving so we can  know what exactly are you doing 

Caron followed his instructions and the man coughed before  becoming silent 

Caron could hear music playing in the background of the man,  her mind  connected it to  red Russia  some blocks away from her apartment,  was someone from there troubling her, did they know it she lived alone and worked on her business from home,  was there an online partner in crime  helping him to get her account transferred to theirs,  she still hadn't paid her taxes on that business account 

Hers was a two room apartment,  after Daniel's death she faced financial problems,  for her  paying the rent and for the bills was quite  a serious hard  matter , she opened a educational consultant  s business but it suffered much for her  drinking habits,  quickly she  mentally went through all her Russian contacts  and shopkeepers on her regular list,  there were two females both working  as  cashiers on  Moscow produce market 

page 71

....who else can  tolerate your attitude 

It's just  my courage and patience that we get along 

For some days amjad wasn't spending the nights at home,  she thought he was annoyed,  she tried to at her level  make up with him,   but this stretched  for very long  and a frustration and   anger  began rising inside her,  first of all he wouldn't be home if he was he stayed talking to others for hours on his cell phone unavailable to her,  he would return home so late in rage she couldn't  get to speak to him at all, it wasn't right to talk to parents about it, , she knew  domestic matters were settled inside the house,  she didn't know what was the matter with amjad what exactly he wanted,  she wasn't given any importance  on her behavior or attitude,  but he knew it well enough she was  a female  weak and not necessary,  her patience and  control couldn't be tested for long very soon she would explode  overwhelmed and he was watching waiting for that precise moment 

himaqat

...just after midnight Caron s eyes flwe open in the jail,  she was lying on a small cot, close by was a toilet,  the stench  was  unbearable,  uncovered mattress below her was soaked with her sweat, her head ached and mouth was absolutely dry, a police  woman approached her slowly  to tell her  cheerfully in the morning she could contact her lawyer,  she was in prison for several antinational and other criminal charges,  Caron read the chargesheet quietly and lowered her head,  she felt she was  destined to be there,  it was  a warm October san  Francisco  day, it was the result of forest fires burning around  , this wild fire had proved a disaster killing many residents and pulling down  many shops  leaving  piles of decision and forty dead, she saw tiny shred of things sticking around in the washroom,  her husband was certain dead and she became stressed,  the sky was filled with  ash and smoke, , when she had left her house she couldn't remember if she had locked the door behind her or not 

page 73

....a woman sat beside her husband looking at her family album,  seeing   her parents picture she put her finger over it and said  daddy always put on his gallace  over his pantaloons,  just look at this how odd he looks 

Right,  husband said seriously,   but I am certain of it he would have locked even more queen without them 

.

In a party a just introduced woman  ushered the man to a corner before gesturing towards a man sunken in a sofa  who was he so ugly

The man  rather ashamed explained his elder brother 

The woman pointedly confessed her mistake  for not seeing the strong resemblance 

.

Doctor,  tge woman screaming entered the room  and asked  what exactly was wrong with her 

The man in the room gravely  surveyed her before replying she needed to reduce fifty pounds at least, second her makeup was very loud she out to go lighter  to look better third point he wasn't a doctor but an artist,  the eye doctor was next clinic outside 

page 18

.....with the passing of time   spending the time together traveling both  became friends  from  co travelers  mainly because their life circumstances were so similar,  zara s only brother  nadir  five years ago had  died in a  road accident  after him mother couldn't  live long and  had raised her both children   single handedly  after her husband had cheated on her  and she also left for the  afterworld, mother had  big dreams in her mind  for nadir and zara

Zara lived in the same town  studying  when her mother and brother were alive,  she sold off her house in sahewal and bought an apartment now where she resided, she worked and studied  , getting her degree she applied for  small jobs in various companies  till she reached   sales manager  s position  in the store, she was  earning a decent salary and  working on  improving her life 

Sayyad s story was almost similar,  he lived with his elder brother after his parents were dead,  mayaz was five years older to him,  he had become his guardian,  magazine and ama  helped sayyad complete his studies,  when he was in his third year  software engineering  ama died of a heart stroke,  it was a great loss for both the brothers 

Ama had in her lifetime  married  magazine to samya  the daughter of the Haji next door neighbor 

from previous

....layaway alias lali was twenty two,  he was a a handsome young man  but unfortunately born in a most lowly  family, his family belonged to a specific  class and discussing about it here is not necessary,  his clan was closenit  closed community  and lived together and the rules were followed by them all

Lali his mother Laila and father raswan  lived a peaceful life  but something  strange happened to destroy their peace  all together,  women folk of this community  worked as domestic helpers in posh families 

Women like Laila preferred to  be beggers, men of this clan stayed home resting   and listening to the radio 

Children spent time playing instead of taking interest in studying 

The young  either worked in factories or  stayed home doing nothing at all 

There were one or two who were selling  small things in their own community,  lali didn't have any shop , he worked with a fruit vendor 

page 60

....the face was quite familiar but all his memory failed to  place the woman sitting before him across the table seeing his dilemma she introduced herself,  she began  ,waking sahib  perhaps you are trying to  locate me 

The narrator  lawyer  replied that was absolutely right,  she was dusky dark woman,  what was her name he asked 

Laila, but he won't be able to connect her by her  name for she was in a different  get up 

Fine then,  do tell all about yourself and the reason you are in  my office 

She  continued in a tearful manner   she was Laila come to beg for the last time,  begging not for money but for the life of her son 

Laila ji please explain what exactly you mean 

My son is  sent to jail,  her voice choked,  she wanted to hire him to save her son  , she promised she won't trouble him for a rebate and concessions,  she was ready to pay his full fees,  she had enough by the  grace of  kind people  and all she wanted  him was to prove her son innocent 

from previous

....though both the security guards were unconscious  and it was probable three four hours they would stay there that way yet  Aftab khan  took  care  of  the  details and the unconscious guards were to be tightly tied up with nylon strings,  they wouldn't be gagged but adhesive tapes will be used to keep them from shouting and will have to wait for the next morning  when the bank reopened 

Naved showed his appreciation  , khan sahib  s planning was impeccable but  using the melting liquid,  drill machines iron cutters  how could they  reach inside the bank lockers  to clean up the lockers and get out of tge bank within fifteen minutes 

No offense khan sahib  hashmi  explained he was in this field for over twenty years  and knew his job very well,  from that very night he would  align everything by tomorrow  and report to them 

So that was all settled  said Aftab to hashmi his tone satisfied,  they fixed a

 meeting  for the next day,  the execution  of this project was settled  for the midnight of twenty  twenty first  of Sunday Monday, Naved agreed  because  the command was being given by the expert, he was to attend a  wedding   of a wealthy jewelry merchant s daughter  so he was leaving them to enjoy their meal 

from previous

...now  listen carefully  and   notedown  mentally each point  said Aftab,  the bank we choose for our actions is located in a posh area and is one of the most  busiest  branches,  if we get to work during the day  we can make  at least five chores, ,but there is another better plan  because rob,if the staff refused to  cooperate  with  a sudden idea of heroism  the whole scene would change completely,  something  personally I don't want .  naved said if they were going to action in the bank and they didn't rob the cash what else were they supposed to do there 

Let me explain said Aftab to hashmi sahib that he was ignoring the lockers in the bank,  with new ATM cards credit cards debit cards women enjoy shopping safely without having to carry all that bulk cash on them,  fashions change and real gold platinum is put away in lockers and that's where we need to wipe it clean 

page 15

....she said she was zara  working in one of the top most chains  as secretary in fresh fruit juice  department  , she had brought sayyad  to a small park by the road side,  both now sat down on a green bench,  the dusk turned silently into darkness,  the  park illuminated with poles lights 

He said he was sayyad, it was like a confession  , he was guilty for being caught,  he worked in a multinational software company  , he coughed  to control the quivering in his voice  they had  happened to come across each other  so many times  and by now were familiar with each other,  her following him neither  surprised him nor  he felt bad about it 

Zara undetood him very well 

She turned upwards her head to look at the night sky  it did happen sometimes,  strong desire to know someone  leads to unexpected results,  there wasn't any need to be ashamed by now she had   seen he wasn't a rascally bully stalker of a person, pointing towards the building  before them she  said she had a studio apartment in it, it was sufficient for her,  her father died when she was small,  she shook the water bottle held in her hands 

fun e zaiqa

...sindhi biryani

Bakra paye

Fish dude soyya cream 

Badami gosht

Gosh saagwala

Shahi kaju alu

Zofran gosh

Fried dhaga kebab 

Fish nuggets 

Fried chicken til makhana 

Foggy dry winters and hot home-cooked food

khara sikka

...a stone  is heavy  at its place,  twelve years and a horse is transformed,   God  delays  but does justice,  all such  sayings  quotes and  traditions were learned by heart,  he was neither a horse nor a stone,  he was a living soul and working  on the same  post  for past fourteen years  he had full faith in God  and his  fate  he prayed to his God but  he was still a foot constable  saluting his seniors,  he was aware his associates called him an idiot  discussed his foolishness  his wife also  believed him to be  a fool 

His seniors stopped  giving him  tasks  believing  Shakur Ahmed  should be included to spoil  everything 

He even  tried to change his luck  by going to quacks but all his money was wasted,  when he was at his  lowest  disappointment  level something happened that filled him up with  positive energy 

He was going home   as his routine was after duty   , he  longed to have some tea,  he thought if he would ask   his wife to make tea  she would  serve it with  generous  abusive words,  in the police station  he had had enough of it  so he  headed towards a restaurant 

This specific restaurant was good  , it provided privacy and comfortable seating within cabins  where four could sit facing each other across the table inspired by Irani restaurants,  it wasn't Irani ,Shakur Ahmed  stopped his  old fashioned motorbike  before the restaurant and stepped in to have his tea 

from previous

...his voice was  attractive,  he had heard even other girls  comment on his nice voice quality,  he wanted to speak to him  in private,  , he took out his wallet,  to take his business card  to show him instructing him to  come to his office next day when ever he had at least one hour just just give him a ring before coming 

He was startled what could he have to talk to him  alone,  but he checked himself from commenting at all,  in those days mobiles weren't so common,  sim cells were not in market,  it was very expensive to keep a mobile,  it was definitely a status issue,  he was thankful he had managed to get a mobile for his business purpose,  he promised to see him in his office  and  began speculating  what could be the main reason,  his assumptions  didn't  really mean anything,  they used to discuss  everything important on the  location shooting sets,  now what could be the secrecy all about 

Next day he was rather free  not much of anything to do,  on the phone  he spoke and reached him, , what a spectacular office  it was,  he quickly controlled himself  by then he had got accustomed to seeing wealthy  people and their lifestyle,  faraz khan  met him  unexpectedly very warmly  and proved a most wonderful host  , quite some time later he came to the real point,  though just the two of them in the room  yet his tone became very secretive,  his elbows on the table before him he leaned forward  addressing Farhan if he was aware  faraz had been casted in second lead in his drama  for which he had paid two lakes

Farhan knew such  things happen  in the world of showbiz  but someone like faraz khan  involved in it was surprising 

from previous

...flattery is a  all time favorite  prescription used everywhere for long time,  many successful people have reached the top by mastering this skill  leaving  behind them   legacies  unsurpassed  having registered unbelievable stories  of their  impossible  struggles overcome,  the living legends  also are busy practicing the skill of flattery to reach their dream goals,  from  a peon to the head of the department,  every time this skill is used it proves beneficial,  he was enlightened  truly  when he joined the world of showbiz,  better late than never but he mastered the art of flattery 

from previous

...he was attached to  senior producer retired from government television,  he was retired long ago,  he was quite an aged man,  quicktempered and  bad tempered  specially towards his juniors,  he illtreated them like a  garage owner is to his mechanic  who are  usually  errand boys, but he was at his best behavior when  in company of  female artiste   who worked in his shows and dramas but even then if someone like him a boy or newcomer  appeared on the scene  the senior  would give him a good piece of his mind 

He really believed  women were his admirers and   that his  work impressed them,, those were  also talented actresses and  very successfully established a rapid raport  with him  to their own benefits,  these actresses  were  often overheard  discussing   the producer  in his absence,  if only someone told the producer  what were their opinion about him he would certainly have fallen  down dead with a stroke,  but  the new boy  by now had learnt more practical golden tricks in life  and refrained from  sharing  the gossip and stay out of meddling with the boss s life  to stay out of trouble 

page 8

...a man wanted to meet Aristotle,  he entered  the street that lead to Aristotle s house  when a resident  emerged from one house,  the seeker asked him which house was Aristotle  s

The  resident replied this was the house of Aristotle 

The visitor asked if Aristotle was home 

The resident explained he wasn't 

The visitor asked where was Aristotle gone 

The man replied Aristotle has  left  to see the hakim 

The visitor  promised to come again 

In the evening he was back at Aristotle s house where Aristotle was surrounded by his students , the visitor was surprised to see the man  of the morning was Aristotle himself 

The visitor  overwhelmed said so he was Aristotle 

Coolly Aristotle replied  of course he was it

The visitor got irritable  that he could have told him so in the previous  trip 

Seriously answered Aristotle the visitor could have asked him that earlier 

page 12

...it was  an ordinary   day like usual,  office  hours tiring and routine,   it was time to return home,  sayyad perhaps had   no reason  attractive enough to go back home,  nobody waited for him there with open arms and welcoming doors open,  for past three years he was resident of a small flat,  he had to unlock the door himself to let himself in, , where  his solitude and silence  embraced him completely,  he wished  the way home would  never end, he  would watch  faces getting in and out  at each stop,  trying to read their expressions,  making stories of them,  ever since he had come to this town to  do his job  he had discovered himself  and found his mind invented  stories  just by looking at people's faces,  his skills  had improved and he could  be quite  true  in his speculation  about otgers personalities  nature  habits and characters,  he didn't care if he was right or wrong he just enjoyed  studying faces,  he would   deeply get into reading the faces that he  would forget he had nobody home and  silent solitude awaited and he had to unlock his door himself to let himself in 

pasand ki shadi

  Times are changing  and with that the  societies and their  thinking,   their minds becoming more flexible  softer and broader  for marriages,  the marriages in the older  traditions  were  arranged between   families  by the families  is now considered old  fashioned and not practical  , now   choosing  a life companion  is trendy  and not a matter of  family feud,  in fact  it's  a sign of modern enlightened  souls , now  it is easily acceptable  concept  that  the young people  like someone and  can  decide independently,  this is  given much importance   because   the new  trend is to plan  a career  long before  , other life matters also are sorted out   carefully  selecting and rejecting  years before   likewise  marriages are now also  customized and well planned  for personal reasons and quality life,  social norms are changing  so are the youth   who no longer  take sentiments seriously,  romance and virtual world  is not practicable any more , now the youth  know  getting married is not enough getting along is what is needed to make their marriage work 

shikast arzoo

...many people are still there who  sigh coolly   and remember that Era, they say it was   a real  golden age,  there used to be just one  national  television  channel  that too government  controlled,  evenings started with  the recital of  the holy Quran and before  midnight  with the national anthem  ended the  television,  in those days very few had  television sets at home and the owners never got tired of it, in fact  such television homes were tge cultural and social   centers  accommodating  the entire neighborhood   somewhat shy and excited at the same time  filling up the  floor  area in their  drawing-room where the  television set  was kept,  this drawing room crowd  simply  enjoyed watching the TV  together,  regular appreciation  on comedy and soap dramas was shown by  noisy applause by this cheering gathering,  nobody then realized their applause couldn't be seen or heard by the  performers 

His memory was  full of faded events of those days,  he was very small then,  by the time he grew up a little more  television was  part and parcel of every household,  it became one of the most important and common  item,  , it was no longer  seen as an  amazing product,  but he was  looked at oddly because he wasn't much interested in television as others of his age group had 

Man doesn't know of his  future  and what fate holds for him,  someone like him who was not attracted by television  was destined to become television producer,  he had done his masters and like others  he spent time struggling to find a job but unemployment is a national  trend