pardes

....it was a small folded many times iver piece of paper  clutched in her fust and that thing had started to hurt her, she  unfolded it to find a number on it , it was not really possible to keep that helpless piece of paper with her forever , having it  was giving her hooe, its presence was  full of promises  of staying alive , it was ger lifeline support , , that phone number was her only  chance to survival , one day someone will arrive, ring up amma,  and then amma will free her , , she embraced the phone number and wept , overwhelming emotions sweot diwn her as she held on to the piece of folded paper  with all her leftover strength

That piece of paper was narrating untold stories of past two years , of her endless loneliness 

bharosa

..amma , tea container is emoty,  get more tea leaves, the moment hamida beghum had stepped into the kitchen elder bahu had informed her in complaining mode, holding the empty container she approached her mother in law

Gosh, what are you saying, this month three tea packets were  included in the groceries , month is not over and all the tea packets are finished, both of  you  have  nothing better to do than drink tea all the time, seeing the empty tea box hamida beghum flared up quickly

Amma , you are speaking as if  only we two bahus drink tea ,  by the grace of god ours is a large wholesome joint family, elders and youngers both are fond of having tea frequently,  but the blame is shifted only on us women , banging the empty box back on the shelf  she moaned 

It was the senior woman s experienced  trick if anything went wrong  against her wishes she shifted the weight of  all the blame on her bahus accusing them for doing it wrong

All right then, if we are so much problem we give up drinking tea, what else has this household to offer us except a simple cup of tea , that  pleasure also we give up for your sake

meri eid mubarak kr de

....wait a minute fauz , his steps moving towards the stairs were stopped by the voice  command of his bhabhi, as his daily routine  he was ready to leave for work  in his estate agency  when he was asked to stop , fauz please hand this rent to hurin  , she must be on her way to work too, , shagufta bhabhi  held out the envelop with the ammount inside , he looked  up at her in surprise

You still had not deposited your rent , though we had my brother and me  given ours to you on time

Its so dufficult fauz  , i am always kept busy , as you know just ten days ago  sweet eid was celebrated ,  women  from the committee   did not send their money , i was forced to use the money you had deposited to pay khala who lives opposite  to complete the committee , after that gradual inflow of money  enabled me to save slowly to rebuild the rent money

succhai ki manzil

...evergreen park  at that time was full of  women  and the old  and children , the life in the park was vibrant and colourful , , angelic children sat tight on the swings scowling ling or laughing merrily  their noises as melodious and musical  filling up the surroundings ,  enjoying every moment universe geld out to them, , these were the times precious and full of beauty , how absolutely ultimately  real the scene was , he felt an outsider a stranger intruding the  scene  in the ground from where he sat on a bench he had given a  disinterested look 

No, all thus us not absolute, if all the colours in the universe are complete  then why is his own life so empty and dark, he whispered to himself, once again he was overpowered by his depressing thoughts

There is nothing that is apparent and visibly clear, if only , if only life could be as good as our dreams and desires

gazal by kaniz zohar sayad

..night before the dawn of separation is yet to come

Chill air starless night without the moon is yet to come

.

My heart my soul all are sold out

But talent of showering life on others yet is there

.

Hopelessly in vain i try to forget him

Something of his essence of togetherness is yet in me

.

Whole world was seen  with deepest interest

A corner  in my heart is yet to be seen

.

.seeing him on the top of the world kaniz 

Presence of someone s prayers is truly felt

mana umr wahi

...he had just drove past in his vehicle this way, sun was shining bright on the black gate ,  the tyres  had risen a cloud of dust  visible still , when he was leaving  her heart  desparately wanted to stop him , but she could not  she would not , after all what right did she have to stop him , unaware a commotion  was already made  her emotions were stirred, he  had  crushed all her dreams settled on her eyes  like a victorious ruthless invader, she like always unsuccessfully tried to pat her stormy feelings  back to slumber  in the depths of her heart only she knew exactly where

But the winds teased her they were playing mischief  uncaring of her feelings ready to play with her naughtily loosening her tresses  caressing her face  and she discovered his  invisible presence  in the winds touching her

fun e zaiqa

...chutpati dhuandahi raan

Mutton pullao biryani

Mughlai chops

Kaleji masala with mayonese

Bhuna hua gosht

Shehnshahi koftey

Bakrey ke paye

Muthiya kebab

Mutton seekh kebab

.

Chutpati dhua dahi raan is simple recipe of  mutton leg marinated in spices for a couple of hours before baking it in oven on 200 degrees for forty five minutes on one side then turn it on the other side to bake till tender , finally a piece of coal  is smoked to add the smoky flavour