from previous

....she hadn't seen him come  confessed Maggie, holding the driving wheel it was  stopped on the side,  not wanting to  drive it on the highway,  her hands still trembling,  to get that shivering  under control she tightly clutched the sterling wheel,  but it was useless to hold on to it, she dropped her hands  to place them into her lap,  she felt  her head and back sweat profusely,  she was still  confused and speculative  why couldn't  she see the pick up truck  coming  following the four cars , tge front lights were  visible  flickering  in t the rising dust, her car was squeezed between tge two vehicles and her bumper crushed    and scattered fell about,  what do you mean by that  was asked  angrily,  don't go around telling them you don't see them coming  or insurance people will turn against you,  you won't get a penny out from them  explained Kathy practically 

sitam drr sitam

...come on here my dear boy, egg  curry is ready, , hot and  fresh  ro rotis are served  , quickly sit down to eat them while they are still hot,,  allahdutta s mother explained affectionately,, his amma was   kneading the dough  in the  kitchen,  her elder daughter sixteen  Laila  was  lost in thoughts  as tge milk  on the earthen stove heated, younger daughter  saiba twelve  was  eating  together with her brothers younger to her,  alladutta  washed his hands  having finished his foot  and came to sit down  in the sitting corner of the kitchen  on  a cot, , he looked  worried his mind and heart were heavy with worrying,  just today his best cow fell sick, , three goats and  two   sheep  were also  in the same  shed,  to keep them safe  he  tied the cow far away 

page 43

....she came into the room,  taqi  was sitting in the rocking chair with his eyes closed  his head resting on the back of the chair,  , the  ashtray was loaded with cigarette  butts and  his fingers  held another burning  cigarette,  fumes of it rose up in the air  to disappear , aima  looked at his face  nervously,  his arrogant  features  were taut,  he was lost  deep in his  thoughts , aima wiped tge sweat from her forehead  nervously  with a corner of her dupatta  before  softly  walking forward to sit at his feet,  her presence  was  not felt l that never had happened before  that she was near him  and  he wasn't aware of her 

What is this,  , distrust or precaution

, her filled with  complaints m but this wasn't the proper moment to make demands and complaints,  instead she must keep her head and heart in complete control,  to find a way to tell him  what was the reality,  so she  placed her trembling hands on his  strong hand kept on the arm of the  chair  that was  instantly  flung aside  , in a deadly bone chilling voice he explained he didn't want to  talk  about anything,  but sge said she had something to tell him 

That you too are just another ordinary woman 

taqaval

...a huge explosion was heard and  their bodies dropped down lifeless,  before the   mishap both Maggie and  Debbie  with their mother   thought the trip wasn't  a good idea, it was   impossible to convince mother  on such matters,  these occasions  proved   always not profitable  ,  vehicles  colliding  and then tyres screeching to a halt , tge brakes  kept  pressed  hard , rubbers leaving a trail of burning marks on the side,  used later as evidence  to regret at leisure  one more time,  several hours before the accident   she had  accepted  the cursed moment   when she had planned the road trip, her mother Kathy was  pleading incessantly to stop  somewhere  to eat something and take a break,  after   ignoring   several such requests  maggy finally parked  the car  into the parking lot of super doll and Freddy's diners

page 206

...., oh so that is so

Junaid don't you waste anymore time spoke  sadta rather pleasingly,  pick up this box carefully  and carry it back to the same place  where we had dropped you,  if you   delay  any thing disastrous can happen,  do you  understand  my point 

Yes of course,  he shuddered  and asked if there was any  snake alive 

Not at all all are destroyed and buried  to ashes,  he  explained in a firm manner,  you can safely move around 

from previous

....the sun was sinking on the other side of horizon,  it was after five    but the temperature in the desert   was  boiling  keeping the mind boggling and  the body  burning,  freshening up was  even worse experience,  one hour  later it would be dusk descending   turning the entire atmosphere  completely  to  a different level  cooling  the air   breezes   playing around  pleasantly 

The delivery truck stood some three kilometers away from hajo towards the west, both science and technology were used beneficially and David s competent team had discovered the tunnel   twenty feet  below 

page 201

....but I can  certainly  make a guess,  her tone was  meaningful     she declared   her guesses  proved  always right 

Aren't you getting above yourself

If you don't believe me  try ne this time her voice  was filled with a strange note

But  during their conversation  he had made it very clear 

It is acceptable  in their religious community to become friends  from that moment onwards  explained jasim  plainly,  I never try and test my friends,  I have  made you my friend  so I trust  you are my friend  and therefore  no reason  to test your intentions 

In  that case  I will tell you  all  without your asking questions,  she was stressing  pressure on each and  every word strongly,  if I am not wrong   and  it's  hundred percent  certain  it's not wrong  you exited from the airport  with khalal huskies  , then you went together to his house  and right now  you are coming from there

Your  speculation   is  and  belief  are incredibly powerful  sighed coolly  jasim

 But so sorry  you have the  control of the steering wheel 

If you wish   I can stop tge car on the side of  of the road nish spoke  meaningfully 

Jasim  quickly explained  it wasn't necessary 

We are just two minutes away from  taqsim  square  her voice was sensational  

Facebook

....a village damsel goes to city to stay  with relatives,  all her cousins  surrounded her affectionately,  one of them asked her  if she used Facebook 

The girl replied she didn't,  she never felt the need for it 

Another cousin  suggested she must use Facebook sometimes at least 

The damsel remained silent for awhile before  replying  I am  so fair naturally  

...

...a husband  going abroad for work   to wife; darling  do take lots of care of my mother and father  when I am away 

Why is your thinking so backward  taunted  the  wife 

page 29

...you must have heard 

Of some incessant tearful eyes 

Read you must have somewhere 

Of showering of moments 

Of sorrows untold

But my dear Of life 

Did you ever  see  or  judge 

Tears of written words 

Your going away 

Gifted me just that 

Whatever I express in words 

All those words  shed tears 

from page 26

....is it possible to be in love this way Maga  lifting her head  enquired  aima, 

Maha stole her eyes away seeing her tearful eyes  to look at the  leafless tree  in the distance fixedly,  it was autumn already  , every thing around was colored yellow,  green leaves  covered in yellow,  were fallen around on the soil  draping it yellow,  when  someone walked on them they raised a rebellious  crunchy sound  before they were crushed,  they seemed to be saying  falling down from the tree was our fate,  is it anymore necessary to crush us under your feet  but  alas their  pained voices  were  inaudible and left unheard,  perhaps this was unconditional love that aima realized  unhappily she was experiencing 

from previous

....the gunman along with his gun  crashed onto the floor of the restaurant  , near by the waitress lay  motionless dead hit by his bullet,  there was no doubt she was  not alive,  it was a useless  unwanted incident,  the gunman was still alive,  because he hit the floor on his chin  it was painful and  most horrific fall, , jasim was  trying to avoid  the  situation,  but a waitress got involved and the public  got visibly   disturbed,  next moment the entire area was surrounded by the police  vehicles,  to not get into deeper trouble jasim reached the  injured gunman  rolling in pain on the floor  whose  gun was dropped somewhere  because he couldn't have held it any longer,  not at all interested in his gun jasim  quickly gave him the injection  before  pulling his own cell phone  and his from his  control,  by then Nisha had also come out from the  washroom 

page 196

....many a times  it happens so man becomes so helpless he  has to succumb to the  wishes of his deadliest enemy,  in those moments jasim was exactly experiencing  the same,  his head on gunpoint,  his hands  lifted  upwards in traditional  manner,  the man at the back snatched his phone  away  , the pointed gun felt terribly cold on his scalp 

Just before this situation occurred he was speaking to his friend kamal on the phone and definitely hopefully the threat must have alerted kamal too and he  was shrewd enough to grab the situation 

The man behind jasim  growled  he stood up and stayed silent  if he wanted to stay alive with the airhostess,  not to try any overclever  action  or he won't hesitate to  kill  the airhostess was already scared to death 

Jasim understood very well the man holding him at gunpoint was  keeping an eye on his target  and  that's how following the target he reached the restaurant 

Jasim had agreeably lifted his arms up on the instructions of the  threatening man but he wasn't one to obey him forever 

Jasim was thinking at the speed of light that is equal to three lakh kilometers a second  and in a fraction of that second he came to a decision  about what he had to do 

from previous

....are you sure  you are coming with me  and  manage all my business  asked Mrs Bruce  looking at  mabal her daughter  , in all seriousness,  she couldn't believe what  mabal had said, she was all packed up and neatly ready with her hair tidy, instead of her usual  disturbed perturbed  irritated look she appeared perfectly calm and stable 

Mrs Bruce inaudibly thanked Catherine  her bitter experience  did wonders  that  Mrs Bruce  s long lectures couldn't have  taught  mabal,  she was reformed,  transformed,  the car started  with Mrs Bruce and mabal   driving out of sight  as Catherine stood watching them disappear,  Karon carrying her bag asked  what next,  how will they live now 

Catherine winding up the kitchen said she had found another job , well paid  and Karon won't have to do anything  except be completely comfortable 

golden words

...stop looking for  support  and be strong 

..beware  , tge world is full of people who have dropped their values

...relationships don't  break up  because of lies but when the reality is revealed 

..the beauty of life is not dependent on how happy you are but how many people are happy because of you 

...prayers are never rejected but are accepted  on the right time 

...if  pleasantries are  not shared  sorrows  pike up 

...feelings  is the building  material of each and every relationship,  feelings are intrinsic to the selfless only 

...care  nurtures  a relationship  without what  even a healthy sapling falls down dead 

from previous

..she. was a big robber,  always  aimed high  never  went for small things,  to kidnap miss mabal  it was  beyond her line of business,  she was so insignificant how could she,  how could she possibly  pick up s someone's opponent,  she ought to ask the police  or her  family  for support,  they can definitely prove more helpful,  , Karon explained herself  and her helplessness because she was still small 

Right,  her age was not much but she was a good  liar   now to maintain  her lies she must  do as she was told  and who ever did tell her  she wanted to get rid of her enemy  asked mabal 

Who then  surprised  Karon enquired 

Me you have to kidnap  explained mabal  with  a  pleasant smile 

Karon s mouth fell open 

aghava

...Karon served the order  and turned   to  see  through the clear  restaurant  glass window  the  scene  outside  ,  from  a shining  expensive car   mabal got down with an attitude to walk into the restaurant,  she stopped a while to take   a look  around  casually  then  walked up to her usual favorite place  to sit down,    caressing her golden tresses she gestured to  Karon, Karon was  gaping in sheer surprise and was startled,  she came running to her 

Yes ma'am what do you want  asked Karon  decorating a smile  on her face 

In response  mabal fixed her gaze just for a second on her face  before concentrating on her phone as she began giving her order,  nodding her head  Karon turned away  thinking  she  welcomes that rich woman so politely  smiling all the time, giving her full attention and amiable  conditions  but  she never  returned her smile,  not even a flicker of a smile,  working  Karon thought  perhaps  she is arrogant of her wealth , she  kept her  focus on mabal,  her attitude,  her  attractive dress,  her expensive shoes,  sometimes at her attention drawing purse,  mabal  was a regular,  Karon  tried her best to please her and  take her orders,  to grow a deeper bonding with her, but the poor  waitress s wish remained unfulfilled 

sayad gah

......the night was deepening  but the  hostel  was alive and active,  he was  silently  tiptoeing  to his room  holding a leader  jacket,  his face   looking  extensively  joyful  , the look of  success,  fahim ali belonged to a welloff family  but he was  a born  thief,  , there wasn't any cure for it, though he was  given several different  treatments for his compulsive  habit,  in school  he stole  pencils from others,  pens  and geometry  boxes  now he was  an experienced  thief, he was  stealing  expensive  and rare things,  because his parents were wealthy they  paid for the stolen things  to save their kleptomanic son 

eid mubarak

happy eid

from previous

... two female  passengers  began  arguing heartedly  as their journey started, one of them declared  if the window was left open she would  certainly die of cold,  the second said if it remained shut she would die of suffocation 

Others all got tired listening to them scream shriek and being unpleasant , one  of the passengers  informed the guard,  he listened very carefully to them  then turned to address the  other passengers on the train first open the window and let one of them be dead then shut the window 

page 143

,,,,an Irish armed man was giving a lecture to the  public  surrounding him  , drinking was a bad habit,   drunk men become quarrelsome,  they  argue with their wives and  beat their children at home,  , he picks up   fights with his neighbors,  he becomes abusive,  he even  shoots his  landlord  but  the worst thing is when drunk  the  aim  is not  perfect 

page 139

...in the evening  he was  called  by gul,  he had to pick her up from the hostel,  before starting his bike  he tilted it and  gave it a shake,  the fuel tank was empty 

She emerged from the  women's hostel  , she looked even more  lovelier in the sunset , she  felt his etes on her face  and  her rose complexion turned red, she came to sit on the back seat and asked what was he staring at, 

Her fragrance,  her  hair kept lovingly on her shoulders and her  white  pigeon smooth  hands  pressed on his shoulder  were all intoxicating,  he  started the bike and asked if she would like to hear  lies

She asked in her stylish attitude  what lies

He continued he was  admiring her and  was  envious of himself 

And what exactly is truth 

He said he was  thinking how  smart mustaches  the hostel  guard  had

Laughing she leaned closer to him and rested her head on his back 

He realized she was in a wonderful mood and asked where should they go 

Anywhere nice 

Like my flat

She  pinched him hard 

, since when is  his flat a nice place 

Be couldn't  even rub the  pinched spot

When you  came into my life   life became beautiful,  when you  come to my flat it will also become a nice place 

Enough,  keep that butter pack shut in your pockets 

, first let's go to the supermarket 

bebakra

....he entered the office to find  a heated argument was   taking place between hasrat and  bijli , bijli was  full of energy and  hasrat sahib full of dignity,  bijli s face  shone red with rage,  screaming  he  wanted his bills cleared right away  or  he was threatening but saw the narrator and  completed the statement  with a finesse for the benefit of the narrator  that bijli will drag  hasrat sahib to the courts,  several lawyers were known to him personally,  they would  happily  give him their full support,  the narrator couldn't help smiling  but hasrat sahib successful hid his smiles  and maintaining his  previous  sobriety  said  look  afai bijli couldn't you possibly  postpone  tea buns  bills for a while  and please  don't you drag  me to the courts  for that  gul sahib is present here in your tea shop  , certainly he has more contacts 

Bijli didn't understand but felt  he had  succeeded in scaring hasrat sahib  so  he changed the  direction of attack towards gul sahib  proclaiming  his  promises were  becoming lengthier and  more lengthier  like  fiqr iqbal  s  I want my payment  at all  costs today  , he waved the account book held in his hand like a sword 

Both gentlemen fell on the sofa  , gul sahib noticed  hasrat  sahib  s paunch  shake like  jelly  on the similarity  bijli gave of firaq iqbal,  

from previous

....what happened with you aima,  asked  Maha hundreds of times  , what could she say the poor woman,  what happened with her,  she was in love  , in the first glance  and  after that love at first sight she never saw him again,, never did she speak with him,   feeling of strange  emotions  filled her life,  an odd disappointment  she was unable to  share it with anybody,  there wasn't anything to tell,  she looked at Maha with wide  vacant eyes 

Maha got worried perhaps something  was wrong in her family,  some problem,  her brother was married two months already,  how much  planning  was done for his wedding  , sge would do this  , she would have things done that way but all her plans were  failed,  nothing felt good 

A flicker of hope  was  manza  that ended with the  arrival of the last guest,  manza was ushered  as the bride to sit down next to Farhan, aima   looked at the  entrance door  and then towards  the smiling  face of manza  sitting on the stage with the groom,  she lost her patience  and  with her distorted  expression  came to sit by her side 

Appi, she bent to call her  but manza was  engrossed is talking with farman,, manza turned  to face aima who asked her curiously if manza had  remembered to invite  him   aima looked troubled  but  outwardly  managed to  give a smile 

Who do you mean 

Taqi naushera 

What for , he was just  a class fellow,  that's all 

page 23

...manza exclaimed  in mock horror she was so highly educated and yet  expected not to get a job 

Of course you will  get a job and that too  for  my brother  laughed aima,  her laugh  drew someone's attention towards her  and that was  he who was busy on the phone,  startled and disturbed his hand fell down to his side as he turned   that was enough to put a brake on the mocking laugh  , aima  pursed her lips and looked at manza in silence 

Meet  him, he is my class fellow  taqi naushera,   observing  the  soberness on aima  s face   manza played the hostess 

Appi , let me see you later,  aima didn't want to see this person at all  therefore  quickly  commented 

Come on , stop , manza held aima by the arm , taking wants to speak to you,  he had sent for me to arrange this  meeting 

Appi, aima  choked on her own words

Taking broke in he will take just two minutes  to say what was he  there for  he had opened his lips 

Appi I have nothing to talk about  scowled  aima  looking at manza  and  then stared at taqi  whose eyes were  only  stuck on her face 

Just for a fraction  of a second  their gaze had brushed  , something  unidentifiable was  in his  look  and she couldn't  turn away  but  he had , he was speaking to manza,  who was  nodding as she listened  in agreement  and  turned to go

Now left alone  in the  room  he  turned to speak  to her  , she was  nervous,  he coughed  and   began he didn't know how to talk long and   a lot  but  coming directly to the point  be expressed himself quite  correctly   he was   sorry  for his behavior  the other day  , he had been rude to her and her friend 

 

from previous

....be more grateful to almighty  for receiving all the  admirable  things  in life  , be more appreciative and less complaining 

..

Think less of  your  problems 

Try to focus fully on finding solutions 

don't bother about the results,  leave it to  the wishes of the almighty 

..

Accept only  just enough responsibilities you can handle,  don't  overload yourself with unnecessary stress..

..

Take out time for yourself,  converse with almighty,  it is the best way to apologize and  promise to rectify your mistakes 

do pahiye

....negligence of a lawyer  can be  from  his  carelessness or   inexperience or unawareness  or misinformation  the result is always  unfair  either  the real culprit  is released  or the innocent is ganged , if the  accused is guilty and  saved it is not as bad as the innocent being  sentenced , 

After this short  build up the narrator comes to the point,  

It was  a sad autumn evening,  he reached his office  , on the office table was displayed the post one of them was an invitation  but there wasn't any stamp on it , definitely it was hand delivered,  on enquiring  it was  confirmed  , he opened the envelope  , it was  a wedding invitation  of Malaika  the only daughter of  remand and namaste siddiqui,  Malaika of siddiqui family had recently completed her m b a from Malaysia,  the lawyer  knew  nafis siddiqui  for some specific reason,  he was involved in a murder case  and  the lawyer had   successfully managed to get him out of trouble,  in plain simple language  they were  lawyer client   acquaintance 

It is rarely seen that  after the case is over  the accused maintains  contact the defense or the prosecution 

page 108

....she was reminded she had taken admission in Michigan law university,  Kate was working I in a grocery store,  they  hardly got time to see each other,  so  Angelina spent her evenings with Julie drinking,  , Julie like Angelina  belonged to a wealthy family,  she was  quite a weird character,  mostly friends spoke of her  having  all  the  brain  screws  loose 

It was  Kate's day off , Angelina  decided to get  Julie and Kate introduced,  Julie picked the other two from the downtown,  she had arrived  in her father's Mercedes,  Angelina and Kate  took  the  back seats,  Julie was  at the  steering wheel 

Nice meeting you Julie  said Kate pleasantly , Angelina has spoken a lot about you 

Julie driving forward said Angelina had been discussing  about Kate for years,  what a strange thing  they were meeting for the first time but  everything was  arranged  and available  in the car , vodka and chops were pulled out from the dashboard 

After all where are we going  asked Kate casually  

To the same peaceful spot by the  river where nobody  can discover us  where Angelina and Kate could smoke and drink as they did in the past,  Julie knew so much  about them  because  Angelina had been talking 

That won't be a good idea  quickly added Kate  and never from this route 

Any specific reason wanted to know  Julie 

Because it's a rough road nuddy and slippery explained Kate soberly, it had rained all week 

Angelina agreed 

Julie uncaringly suggested then they could go to Kate's house instead 

page 107

....did you get the chemo therapy done 

Was getting it done  but two months ago I stopped it she added  my body wasn't  tolerant to it , I changed the  treatment 

Cancer treatment is naturally expensive explained  using a tone that won't hurt her , how are you managing it, how do you afford it

Credit card, she  confessed   humbly,  

Ever since she was diagnosed sge got  several of these cards made  simply  shuffling them around  works for her

But this can't go on for long  said I  worriedly,  one day you will be declared defaulter  and the bank will  squeeze out your  life out of you

Dear Angela  said Kate  this way or that way  she was  balancing between the  two horrible choices 

Life was miserable  , her father left them destitute,  mother died paying  back the loans,  she herself too would  be dead  , bankers might show  mercy and free her but  Cancer won't  , it's cruel 

Angela was sympathetic  to Kate 

Kate was getting along  accustomed to her life circumstances,  she pointed to her fake leg and asked if she really remembered the car accident 

Just for a second  the horrifying scene flashed before Angela she jumped upto hug Kate  ,  she kept  patting her on the back and Kate took some time to recover,  next hour was passed in discussing  Kate's  problems in detail,  Kate also shared something  unbelievable with her 

Father had left  them  to duel with life alone,  she  was smoking  in between pauses,  but she  succeeded in locating him 

What exactly are you saying Kate 

Angela it was pure coincidence,  her tone was completely careless 

Three years ago both were crossing the street  and they stopped facing each other,  he was  living with his new wife then in California 

page 105

....talking to each other we reached the  sitting room,  she was  very carefully  looking at each and everything in my apartment,  the expensive paintings on the walls,  photo frames kept on the shelves and other such  items,   entering into the dining room she  pointed at a photo frame and asked me 

How are these people 

In the picture were  my parents   looking  so alive 

I told Kate they were my parents picture,  daddy still spends most of his time on the boat  and mom remains worrying about her health as always,  she keeps herself very busy  finding  illnesses in herself which don't really exist 

Even now,  she repeated my words  meaningfully,  how is that possible 

I didn't understand her  so I looked at her questioningly 

Without answering my quizzical look she moved to another photo frame and picked it up,  it was a group picture  with me in it

Who are  others with you 

Mostly my colleagues  I  explained   proudly to Kate,  it was  to celebrate our success,  a  case of a wealthy client  proved not just profitable  but  also  brought  name fame and success to our firm,  on the occasion the picture was taken 

Angela you must be feeling odd  my curiosity about your personal matters,  said she  rather apologetically,  your success  and  progress  is remarkable  and I couldn't resist asking  too many questions