page 46

...where is the younger  one  she is not  around,  absent from the breakfast table,  said javed   stretching his hand to grab a hot oaratha to stuff his mouth  with a morsel,  he began calling out for his sister,  he was aware hus sister had reached her in-laws  and  reopened her emotional bruises  but hiw freshly she was scratched  and hurt he had no idea 

Oh, but she gers up late these days,  she us a changed person altogether  from her experiences  at the in-laws place  spoke  Sheila  laughing  out loudly  unreasonably to reassure her husband 

Farzaba beghum s etes became heavy with   sentiments,  helpless  she was   unable to weep on her son's shoulder  and explain  everything,  she couldn't find courage  so  in utter silence somehow  quickly swallowing her breakfast she came to rataba  s room ,  at least her mother  had  understood  her pain though  she took  very long  and  it was too late now

Farazana was married to a man who  spent lots of time  on her , who was overly attentive  and most caring  to her , man  must be sincere to his family  but  surely was completely different  and absolutely indifferent to  his wife's  feelings 

mujrim Zahan

....renny was  kleptomaniac , for years she was   working for miss Mac,  miss Mac was  aware of  her this habit  but she was helpless and  had to tolerate  runny because runny was her only companion  in her  deteriorating condition , runny was  a good caretaker  of miss Mac ,  the most satisfactory  thing was  that runny ķnew what her mistress liked  and disliked 

Living together  people become  accustomed to each other's   habits  but if this  stretches  beyond    limits  it becomes a necessity,   so runny had become  miss Mac s necessity,  naturally therefore miss Mac didn't want to lose renny   miss Mac  ignored all the    small robberies missing things  and other matters  but if something valuable  and rare piece was  not in its place  then miss Mac  did take serious action  , her such so called action also  would be extremely classy stylish and refined 

A few days ago miss Mac after having her breakfast  entered her study and sat down,  renny was sitting by her side in another chair,  miss Mac was an avid reader  and enjoyed having a library  at home ,  engrossed in reading a book  sge lifted her head to cast her gaze  on a book shelf  she was taken aback by sheer surprise,  on  the upper shelf  a silver showpiece was placed  , it was  a miniature model of a ship  in silver  that was not  there 

shikanja

....as was said by some social worker  if someone was born poor its not his fault  because he wasn't given any choice  and had no control over his   situation  but of course if someone dies poor it's his fault entirely  that he died  in such circumstances of deprivation 

It is true to some extent  but  ignoring  destiny in one's life  won't be correct because destiny in many ways shapes up  lives  if   poverty and  hardships are considered   the paradigm for success and failure  in life   then anyone  from anywhere can  try to include three major factors in his life  , firstly  destiny  second  qualifications  capabilities to achieve desired goals third good luck without good fortune and  positive  energy  all  one's efforts are futile,  it is simply a waste of time 

Now coming to the story 

It was  a pleasantly  dry evening in the month of November,  he sat as usual inside his office  doing the daily routine  when two people arrived to see him 

from previous

.....did you really come here just to see me 

 Let me tell you  frankly  no , actually you had said you work in some government  office  and it turned out to be a surprise for me that you work here in this social service  office,  Monday morning  gave you a shock  to see your husband in office 

She became rather nervous remembering of that incident,  how  frightening it was,  he remained silent,  his glaring dirty looks were scary too

He had seen the video  , he then realized what exactly was he looking at, they were  amazed to see him alive  , it had escaped from their eyes what was he doing there 

He didn't have any appointment , he was there just to check on her 

Not to see you  but to show you that he was  out of prison  ,that  he was back 

For past four years I have been so worried  dead scared of his return  and kill me for giving statement  against him,  he believes  because of my testimony he was sent to prison 

He is dead,  he doesn't believe it he used to believe it  miss , she was asked if she was all alone  in the world  or did she have a family or someone 

Nobody 

Miss flat he said he thought she was lying 

She had once called her brother  and discussed with him about her situation 

ashaar

...what were those flowers on your bed last night 

Fragrance of love envelopes you today 

They  introduced me to a Fragrance adorable 

Then I was  surrounded with breezes of  blossoms 

Don't bring Colton  paradise without Fragrance 

This much understands my gardener 

A blossom was  present for me too

In the garden my name was mentioned too 

A window opened  to Fragrances  next to the colors 

A lost memory touched me from the fallen picture 

Different is tge Fragrance of thoughts of a dear friend 

Different is the Fragrance of blooming flowers 

page 13

...it was absolutely true   seeing the  corpse  had put him off but otherwise he is a cheerful man with the living  specially with beautiful blond gir,  his happiness  doubles 

One day after The post office episode  he reached a  just recently released from tge prison  an accused at his  place  situated in a small flat , Jack somers was a robber  caught in Portland,  he was  one of the names on the list of the wanted,  so he was there knocking at his door  from where the  beauty was recovered 

He is not here  tge blond  explained 

Give his other address and location 

I have no idea 

When did you see him last 

Yesterday morning,  but why do you ask 

she was stunning in her loose  outfit  , hiw could such a fantastic woman be a robber s girlfriend  but he kept his thoughts to himself 

Miss , are you Jack s close friend 

Sge hesitated  before answering  

What do you think 

What is your name 

Zara shaik

page 33

...he was sitting in the  vast university ground on a solitary  ordinary wooden chair,  two boys stood before him  with a plastic tray with blue color,  he placed his slightly  twisted   and very stiff  right hand  on the tray  then with the help of others  printed his hand  on a huge white sheet,  he was surrounded with the noise of clapping,  all the  seniors  were following tge tradition of passing out  as their journey of  education ended,  everyone printed  their  coloured hand prints on tbe sheet  leaving their  memories  for other students,  juniors  were  to  leave their  tracks on the convocation day,  it was  a sentimental record  kept as legacy m most tried to  print his left hand  but everyone insisted he must use his right hand  only  so  his real strong identity  of personality and character was revealed  perfectly 

Just one more is left  the boy holding the tray announced  to draw attention of all gathered 

 All the names are set up with the prints of their hands,  what more is left to do,  one girl  began  to    check the  account,  one boy  rubbed the color on another boy's face,  laughing mischievously he ran away  saying this task  was  also completed 

page 31

...javed lit up a cigarette standing there in the paan shop , he had just  git a vehicle  sold , the seller had given him a wholesome amount,  his pocket was heavy with crispy  notes yet his heart grieved,  the engagement   was done two months  ago  , he was getting disturbed,  what if this Sheila  had  married  into his family  his happiness of his earnings would have doubled,  he would have bought bangles and ear rings  , expensive  ice cream  cone  and returned home to see Sheila  eating it  but now he felt  putting the ring on her finger  had  in fact  made her distant,  even if he dared to visit her house she would appear fir a moment  with her head covered  to serve him  tea , the  fruit he lovingly  carried there  in  bags would be taken out from the torn  bags by her siblings  laughingly before devouring  them before his eyes  as he would   watch  something might be left intact for his Sheila  , amma was quite a gossip,  to have  a look at Sheila he sat there  tolerating patiently  listening to their    nonsense  and   would remain extremely polite

and patient 

Amma  had  her condition   imposed  that  the younger will have to get married first,  this was  a big obstacle,  a few days ago he was at bagel s place with Amma,  they were  much interested in rataba  so Amma had appointed him to find out details,  he used a friend to get the details but that was not to their satisfaction 

anokhi laash

.he had  just been  inducted in the c  I  d for six months  when  he  came across the case of a  strange corpse,  it was a perfect murder   and  someone like him was supposed to solve it  though  it seemed impossible,  you must have  heard of Sherlock Holmes  stories  in one  of his episodes  the dig didn't barrk  at night,  he found  himself inspired by this  theme,  the strange corpse  became active 8n the morning,  to solve it he had to gather all his   knowledge  and use it  to find the truth,  he was  no Sherlock Holmes and had no Watson to assist him  just his skills of logic to depend upon 

It happened like this,  he was one Monday morning  reached the emergency in Salisbury  at nine  ,  a call was received  , he was  having a large mug of his espresso coffee to awaken himself,  his boss was  reputed to arrive  nit before ten inspector Johnny hurgun his boss was  a lazy man ,  so all  the management was his responsibility,  there was  an accident taken place at five lanes  small postoffice area,  the post master had  rung up through the emergency center  and he was  listening to the audio recording 

from previous

....Mac bride was doing overtime,  he wanted to quickly    finish the pending matters  that were piled up during his absence  while he was on leave!  He and his wife  had gone on a trip to Richmond Virginia  in their new car,  where he broke a bar signal,  second time he hit a truck  he destroyed his car as much as possible  , in Philadelphia  on one way drive  he was arrested for driving wrong side  otherwise they really had a most enjoyable trip,  captain was now absolutely fitting, he was  capable of accomplishing his job,  he was  coming towards the inter office   peeped inside ...Bogards 

A few minutes later  sergeant Bogards  arrived holding in his hands a half eaten  ham sandwich 

benayaz

...kandy  was standing  in a corner of the German street  when he had seen that  girl  passing  through the street   under the street lights,  , tge moon  was visible in the  April sky but its  moon light wasn't touching the German street,  it was a tight narrow  street on either side  were standing  three storey buildings  made of wood and bricks  canady  in halem lived in a  one room  house  upstairs  in the next block,  he had  moved in just a week ago  and tonight  ten minutes ago had stepped outside to  get himself his dinner,  someone had told him about a  a good restaurant  nearby,  he leaned against a pole  satisfied   and then he saw the  girl approaching,  he could tell by her rhythmic   sound of her heels  she was  walking   drunkenly it was a drunkard s walk, it wasn't his matter of course,  naturally every person is responsible for his own actions  and he was not there  leaning against the pole to assist her,  , he was not at all interested in her in any way,  he was there  pondering over something  like how to reach the  restaurant,  it served the best liquor  it was said 

The girl was walking on the side pavement  believing  she will stay in tge pavement  but that moment she stumbled  across and  walked towards him swaying,  he thought of moving forward to give her a supportive  hand  but he was still not certain about the restaurant  location 

She moved towards him,  definitely she had seen him  because the pole  was casting it's full light on him 

from previous

.... where  have you been,  so many phone calls I made   but there was no answer from you,  amna  ritualistically  flung a verbal  volley of questions  the moment waqas entered the house,  she was  around thirty eight  a good looking woman,   bkack shining eyes on a daur complexion face  made ger appear quite attractive 

Phone was  kept on silent,   I couldn't  get any of your calls,  he too answered  in a typical manner  of a perfect husband,  she felt a slight  bitterness in his manner,  she  paused to stare at him closely,  his manner was absolutely   not normal since  mud day  she realized 

Should I serve you  your meal,  she maintained her tone and manner 

No, I am not at all hungry 

His this response  once again  started,  he had had his early breakfast before leaving home 

Did you eat something outside  she asked whimsically 

No, it's just that I am not feeling good  rather heavy  , he rubbed hus forehead  and asked her to get him one strong coffee instead 

jawaz

...black asphalt  straight road  and  waqas  strongly clutched the  steering,  pressing  his foot on the  escalator  putting more  pressure  on it , the speed of the  car  reached  one twenty  , he remained  uncaringly calm of any danger,  his  muddy complexion  was turning  more  and  more red  with every passing moment,      in his  stressful condition he kept on driving   on  on that breakneck speed  then suddenly he shifted his foot to press the brake  , The car tyres  screamed their  protest  before coming to a screeching halt , he  had  succeeded in stopping  right  before his  chosen  destination,  breathing  deeply  waqas leaned his  head  on the  steering,  the   cold metal touch  was unable to remove his  high temperature from his face and  forehead,  he waited a few minutes before getting out,  now  he was  sea shore,  he released hus feet free from his shoes 

page 29

....time was flying by,   , it had grown wings , it simply flew exploring  life without  specific direction,  the three of them  together  riding the tidal waves of  time  became very close friends,  it was impossible to  stay afloat   but it became more practical  rooted to the world  ,  most learned to move around  successfully,  on one side was zinnia on the other side Anna's,  they were  friends  who   were   dependable and supportive,  it was a healthy  relationship  with  endless exchange of experiences  and  it was  counted their  duty to spend weekends  together  for the sake of friendship,  most stopped  making excuses to anywhere,  he never was tired of making plans  like before,  destiny had  branded his name  with   a special person,  but what does it matter to be special,  he had learned   the definition of being special  living with Anna's and zinnia 

Most stood in the line to buy tickets  to the museum,  he was thankful to almighty  who had  always  given him so much,  everyday  just one thousand tickets  of the museum were sold,  and all were sold out within minutes of opening the house,  both Anna's and most had reached the ticket house  before it was opened,  zinnia hated getting up early on holidays,  she had firmly refused  but asked  to show  her  there on the Facebook page 

page 15

....she was walking through the dirty filthy  street  by her clean and   neat house,  early morning  cleaning up one's own house  and  sweeping out all the  trash out in the street  was a regular practice of colonies  rataba carefully  jumped over the  trash heap  where ages ago someone  must have put a shopper bag  full of trash  thinking  it would be picked up by the  regular cleaner in routine,  certainly others also  joined the first one  and  added their trash bags  thinking the same thing  and that developed into a trash corner 

Rataba  had heard it  was sad  man is a woman's support,  she felt odd it was a strange  saying,  she was in the fourth standard in school  when her abba had passed away,  jaced bhai was three years older to her  and  he still wasn't  an adult man   it was then  rataba realized  woman's  real  strength is ber own skills 

from previous

....ashman  what are your plans   when will you  be back,  in my opinion you must  seriously think over this matter,  asgar had gone to school,  she was  busy speaking  with ashman on the video call,, ashman was located in a different time zone and  had  different timings of waking hours  and  it was her time after sending  ashar to school and  finishing her kitchen work  when she was absolutely free,  sge could  satisfactorily talk live with him 

What happened  why do you look so serious today,  asked ashman  whipping his coffee and sensing her seriousness 

I am tired of living alone ashman,  we need you , how much can we  be  pleased with all the wealth,  money is no substitute of you,  sh was sad, there was a function yesterday in the family  clan and she couldn't attend it just because  afterwards it was  late-night  for her and ashar to travel back home alone  from one corner of the city to another corner 

I understand  and am concerned about your  loneliness,  you are going through all this by yourself,  I am also alone here and miss you so much,  just think about it  had we been together right now you would be cooking breakfast for me  and I would be still in bed nit getting out   of it 

You just come back  and all this can happen  and be worthwhile 

Dear life   wait some more time patiently  , so many years  you have waited,  I am trying  to  set up some business in Pakistan  then  all our troubles will be over 

buzdil mujrim

...absolutely not,  you won't do anything  of the sort 

But  why, she is my closest friend  and above all she needs my help 

If you want to help  transfer money amount directly online  in her account,  there is no need to meet her 

What are you saying ashman,  this way she will definitely feel insulted,  she desperately wants to meet me  , how can I tell her Just that  that my husband  suspects you  so I can  give you  the certain amount  but I can't see you personally,  she  was annoyed 

You can  inventory some  reasonable excuse  of course  he became  rather   weary 

Ever since our marriage this is what you have been doing,  all my old contacts have left me  because of your  excuses  , now I have made new friends list on the social media   and you are not tolerating them 

Sofia try to understand,  the world of social media is completely fake,  you are not aware of this,  the attractive words we read on the screens   hide behind them  their ugly  truth 

page 17

...humza was sick , down with  fever and  cold,  he  missed his mother badly,   in the recent past  in such cases she  used to  take care of him , she would refuse to budge  from his bedside,  mahim also  gave him full attention    ignoring  their  petty  disagreements and  made special coffee for him,  demise of both his mother and sister  brought  tears of warm emotions into his eyes 

When the evening shadows lengthened   arfan   came by to see him,  he had to pay the rent of the two shops 

How is bhai han feeling  , he asked humza ritualistically 

Humza helplessly  answered he was  right before him 

What do the doctors say 

What can they say,   all now depends on father's  strength  and  in that matter he is  so careless  humza was disappointed 

Arfan nodded    absent mindedly and then asked  what were his plans for his studies 

So far he had thought nothing about it,  everything was out of control and unmanageable,  his tone was defeated 

You have to manage,  hiw can it work otherwise,  he tried to encourage him to not give up hope 

Actually father's condition also wasn't allowing him to do things  he wanted to,  he confessed  he was   not able to cope with his circumstances 

page 15

.....that was a most terrible night,  eyes were wide awake  , sleep  miles away,  soft bed  seemed   thorny and  unable to feel rested tossing and turning  became  endless and painful,  his mind trapped in emotional storms,  mahim  s death  and funeral   images  , gulnaz  s burial  lashed his mind 

Fighting with himself  , his thoughts  tightened their grip   on him , humza  picked up his mobile  and opened up  zohaib s Instagram profile , seeing his  pictures  he was set on fire 

Why was in such a hurry to get married,  was he not  affected at all   from  mahim  s this step,  humza felt his thoughts  echoing and re echoing  inside his head 

I don't think so  buddy   , his consciousness  became aware of saira  , her mother had pressed her into this marriage  and of course he was quite happy about it

Pictures displayed on zohaib  s profile  were  open proof , his face was showing  extraordinary  happiness  overflowing,  in humza  s mind  mahim s listless  face and zohaib  s   radiant face started to get mixed up 

page 13

...what exactly happened to aunty,  that day I had left her quite  well  at her place  asked saura worriedly 

Who says sge was well,  she was just  stable  yesterday   during the function sge simply  lost all her strength  he explained  bitterly 

 Saira was startled  what had happened  yesterday 

She was kept  extremely busy  extending hospitality to the guests visiting her parents 

Several  tales were  invented,  everyone was interested in the suspense  , how did mahim die , a resident  boy of the society   had some connections in the local hospital,  he returned with the breaking news,  he shared his  information with his family  why mahin was  taken to hospital in the first place,  yesterday everyone was stressed  about the reasons of mahim  s depression he seemed  bitter 

Then  what were the speculations made by others she enquired curiously 

Some  guesses were she got less marks,  yet others thought her g p dropped,  yet others  believed  this new generation  was  fickle and delicate brittle emotionally,  they don't like being  scolded  and  reject parental control 

page 14

..money was no problem  , he had more than enough,  it was  his luck  yet he was unhappy  , he constantly  had some complaints  about his luck life is certainly unpredictable  sometimes stormy on other times calm  always changing  , in bad times  all can be lost,  most s friendship  meant  very meaningful to him,  it was his life support he could depend on , Ana's was loaded with all their burden   he was  strong and energetic  but walking  with  most he will all his  strength  and collapse  or like an arrow shot from the  bow will   leave,  he feared the day 

Had that day  arrived  , looking at the  vacant chair next to him he thought  , other students had  stated  writing  holding their pens  on the  examination answer sheets,  at that very moment  in the  isolated  corridor  running steps  were heard  like siren  for  iftar,  he felt  hydrated,  entering the class room he gave  thumbs up signal to momi a sign of assurance,  arrival of Ana's always  made  momi  reassured  and  stress free, Ana's was a medical student  and took special leave for momi  s examinations,  momi had to dictate  and  Ana's would  write down  but Ana's a good friend also learned some  lessons  on his friend s behalf 

dastoor

....white clothes and black car  both  are standard and   grand and to maintain the shine  of both  it needs  some  extra effort,  momi  had both,  white collar shirt  and  shining black car,  seeing  that eighty percent people  could  easily speculate his  importance,  the other  twenty percent ignorant  realized his importance when his car  unlike other students  cars was not  stopped  at the parking but allowed to drive inside  through   the university 

It was the first day of the exam,  boys and girls  in small groups  holding their books and  and notes were seen  preparing  on the last minute,  the  car driver pressed the horn  , everyone started to give way and stepped aside on the sides of the road 

A girl student unaware of the occupant of the  shining black car watched  awestruck  at him  who was her age  and instead of driving the car himself  sat  childishly  with the driver  holding his books and  confusedly  turning the pages,  the car stopped right outside the classroom  because the management had given him permission 

Opening the door of the  car momi got out of his  car , walking with the help of cruches  his tall figure slightly   was  smalled

saza e dauran

,,she was  listless and  sat blankly   , her mind was   foggy,  her entire body and mind   were  stressed out,  her mind was totally  blacked out, she had never anticipated such a situation in her life  but then this is life  , life works this way,  it creates situations  that one finds himself  completely   empty of life itself 

She  forced herself to gather all her scattered wits  , she had decided to start and slowly  and gradually she became successful  in getting herself back on track  , her emotions  were under her control,   her mind  was under control,  she was restored in strength and courage,  the fogginess of mind was removed,  she could  see more clearly,  a fl8cker of hope  was lit up encouraging her things will improve  all her problems will be solved,  life will  move back on the right track,  she craved and desperately longed to enjoy everything she had lost  , suddenly the  atmosphere changed completely,  now that her  mind was cleared and  spirits restored  she saw two different ways before her,  the first  option was to go in the pitch dark  path blindly  , second  path  opened up innumerable  opportunities  of  happiness and  fulfillment 

page 176

....this life is also  absolutely amazing exclaimed maiz looking at the wild geese  swimming in the  lake,  he had just arrived there  and seeing shaiza  decided to stay 

True amazing  and  humbling too ,she smiled  forcedly  it was her  previous marriage  s anniversary,  since morning she was feeling  that hangover of heavy emotional failure,  sitting by the  lake  looking at the wonderful marvels of nature  had calmed down her nerves,  she was lonely and invited  maiz to sit down with her 

Have you come here all by yourself alone,  hesitating he asked  what was on his mind 

Definitely  alone to combat loneliness  to defeat it,  she was so spontaneous  , not realizing  the natural surroundings had a calming affect on her and   encouraged her to  talk to him 

Divorced you too

Divorced  yes answered saharsh your family didn't come with you,  I have seen your wife  so much pretty 

When misfortune befalls  shadow also  leaves you,  his smile was wistful 

He was  like  shaiza  in a situation  helpless and   seeking  emotional comfort,  in next  few minutes they  shared their  life stories with each other  and felt empathy for each other 

Build your  YouTube channel 

Trust me, public still wants to see you  and listen to you  , shaiza  spoke  politely 

Sadam seriously shook his head  and saharsh  joined him  they began quarreling  their conversation had become an argument  and they left 

Bloody fools  chewed  maiz

Maiz it's alright,  this age is so careless she had dropped the word sahib that didn't go unnoticed  , maiz liked  this new development of informality 

khwab deeda jazbey

.... the  partially dark air was suffocating,  the window was  two by four feet in size  the only source of  light and air, ,   it's  glass had turned  muddy soiled and  mossy  with time,  , every now and then  lightning  and thunder  would add more    suffocation    , the floor was lost under  several layers of thick dust 

In the  center of the room hung a chandelier with five lights , the metal sides were rusted rotten,  the  chain fixed to the ceiling  with the  hanging chandelier once must have  been  fresh white  or of brown color  but now it was  of unidentifiable  black  slimy shade,  right   beneath  the old chandelier  was  placed a chair standing on its three and half legs  , tied on it was tightly  leather    , one of tge kegs was started to rattle slowly 

Is someone there,  come and help me 

, he screamed  with all his strength  , fayaz s these screams were  going unheard for the last half hour,  his throat had become  scratchy dry by now 

Someone  hear me 

page 160

...he was locked up inside  a warehouse  on the seashore,  the  warehouse was a store of thousands  of empty  cartons kept  methodically  , tge place smelled of  medicines in godowns

He was stripped of his mobile  and other things in his pockets after a thorough search,  hus room lights were  shut and so was he  and the three  silhouetted figures  disappeared   quickly,  he was certain he was  all alone i occupant in the whole place,  if there was  any watchman he was definitely  posted  outside  somewhere 

He was  thinking   what to do  next as he surveyed his surroundings,  he was finally  trapped  and his whole body ach in different areas,  he somehow managed to  wrap  his loose bandages  round his  aching head 

It was a compact room devoid of any furniture,  the floor was covered with dust  , corners of the room lit up with the   light   falling from outside  ,  next to the iron door was  a window  with a grill fixed outside it, he tried his luck there and failed,  tired he sat down on the dust settled floor  and leaned  his back on the wall,   the only  hope  of his life now after almighty was tge sardar ji,  he also feared they could fund out details of his connections from his dara and   what if Jesse  called him up

Nit just about her location  was he worried but he was aware where was Jesse  accommodated  in whose house  he would never reveal  her location  he felt strong 

page 159

...this world is transit,   people  come and go and  pass through,  nobody can  stay here forever,  information of one's death  is given  while   message of someone else's  birth is also  announced  yet  someone  is happily getting married at the same time,  the law of nature  maintains  natural  balance,  every  new arrival  on this planet  has to fulfill  the commands  of destiny  before fading away,  when  in all this chaos and confusion  man leans more towards the worldly  matters  then it definitely  becomes a sin , only those who make their life a  spiritual  commitment   can truly stay alive  otherwise  temptations  are sinisterously misleading,  only  almighty  is merciful who envelopes the faithful  in a protective  sheet , praise be to God  

from previous

.....It was the eid day,  she  dressed herself in grape  colored maxi  that had  extra long sleeves,  she putting on her ear rings when her husband entered the room 

You are looking quite sweet,  he passed her to reach his  Almira,  he took something from the shelf and came to stand close to her,  you were fast asleep I got some bangles for you,  he began taking out golden bangles out from the shopper,  let ne  help you  put them on

She was awestruck,  she quickly  folded her arms behind her back,  what is the matter,  he was  rather surprised at  her reaction , he straightened her  arms and exclaimed  on seeing  red patches on her skin,  what are these,  she couldn't  hide anything  anymore,  she  narrated  everything 

This junior bhabhi was from  the beginning  very careless,  why didn't you tell amma 

I  couldn't spoil their eid,  amma would have scolded her 

 Spoke innocently  she 

And what about your eud that is spoiled,  he was now looking  meaningfully at her 

Not at all,  she got confused 

Suddenly he discovered his bride was adorable 

pehli eid

...,she entered  a  full  joint family after  her marriage,  besides her father and mother in law  there were  two elder brothers and their wives and children,  one unmarried  sister  in law  and two younger  unmarried brothers,  two married sisters  lived nearby,  the house always  was full of guests , her own  connection was with a small  family,  abba was  the only child of his parents  and amma had just one brother  who was settled abroad,  though amma had never experienced  a life in a joint family with two three generations living together in large numbers  but she had seen  those times  so amma  gave her several  time-tested  advices  knotted to her bridal  veil at rukhsati 

Always speak in low voice with your  parents in l

Always  welcome  wholeheartedly your married sisters in law 

With other  wives of other brothers  be diplomatic  its a delicate matter 

She was maintaining  all the  relationships,  there were so many  members in the house,  each one different from others in nature and habits and tastes,  she was trying her best to get along  and  doing her best to understand them,  she  remained the focal point of the whole family,  naturally  the new bride is always  the main center of  scrutiny and  open to  critical     interest 

page 141

.,,,..he was certain  the silhouetted men  were thoroughly thrashed by him  but will try to  catch him sometime somewhere near his house

He asked her what was the matter  between her and tgem

It is a quite a long story,  sge would tell him  later , he breathed  a sign of relief,  he fir sometime wanted to  play with  his  imagination,  Allright  come along  

She was delighted like a child,  fallen by her fallen scooter was her handbag that she quickly picked up and was ready to go with him 

Like other ordinary people  he too had got a carrier fixed behind the rear seat, weekly groceries  were easy to carry,  a medium sized bag comfortably   could be accommodated,  he straightened his bicycle  and she leaped forward  and sat down on the carrier  , to maintain proper balance she held her arms round his waist 

He moved his bicycle  forward,  her voice rose  asking him his name 

A flickering  shadow of a desire  throbbed inside his  heart,  he felt  once again  civilized  to officially  introduce himself,  secluded and  shimmering road  made his heartbeat  faster 

Unintentionally hus tongue slipped    waqas shah  he was called 

She happily   exclaimed  his was a  romantic poetic style of speaking 

He remained  tongue tied bashfully

dhundhli tasvir

......it was a dry night in .bilwert  Elizabeth  , the weekend  energy had  died down  the hangover  was  tiring,  he was off duty  and  was going home  he worked in a bar room,  the owner was a sardar ji his young daughter  helped him run the bar room,  his job was to deal with the drunken men amongst other responsibilities,  the distance between his residence and the bar room   was  just two blocks  walking distance  but he used a bicycle,  he was on his way home  it was  a shimmering road,  this name was given to the road  by himself,  the street lights   turned on and off by themselves for a couple of months  and nobody bothered to change the bulbs,  southern African  cities  mostly  shared similar   state of affairs like other cities  and  in the  field of crime  it was unbeatable  

Peddling  fast over the  bridge  he was only thinking of his comfortable bed , suddenly  his gaze fell on that shinnering road on three dark  silhouetted figures  who were   dragging forcibly a girl   towards a car  waiting in the middle of the road,  her scooter was fallen  on one side  and the  wheel of it was  still running 

It was a common  scene for him,  a young woman  alone  at night on that secluded road  with its street lights not working properly  driving her scooter  was like  a doe in a jungle full of wolves