page 109

...then  abba fell sick  badly,  both elder and younger brothers  gave him  full attention and  the best treatment,  doctors also tried their best to save his life,  but his lungs had collapsed,  no hope  was seen  of his surviving,  there was a dissertation in the college that day 

Abba s condition had worsened  from the Last night  yet you left uncaringly,  Abba s gaze was fixed on the door,  he wanted to see you for the last time  but you deliberately returned  later than usual  because you were  partying with your friends on your victory,  Abba  s eyes were filled with  waiting for you  then the waiting eyes closed for ever,  his wish of seeing you stopped throbbing as his heart 

from previous

....when  you  would see  a magnificent car with an ordinary looking woman in the window you would  draw my attention 

Look noshi what an ugly face  do tell truthfully  if she really deserves to be in there 

Your tone  drenched with desire   desperation  covered up wishing you owned  such a life  , instead of that useless woman you were driving it,  because you possessed  an attractive  personality and pretty face  you  thought you were worthy  of it ,  befitting  and  perfect,  but life wasn't happening that way,  poor you  the world  didn't want to take instructions from you,   you were  struggling  to exhaust your previous  unknown  sins 

Strange it was  I thought  why your arrogance  added  more dynamic charm  to your personality  instead of making you incredibly repelling,  you seemed more unpredictable  and exciting  than  egoistic,  perhaps  it was because we all had taken you for granted  and as a better off

from previous

....it was the final  year of medical  of elder brother,  he was working very hard,  he gave home tuitions to raise funds to pay his fees, Maa ji was  restricted  to abba mian  s  nursing and  became a dedicated  care giver,  giving him medicines on time  , giving him food punctually,  spoon feeding him citrus  and apple juice  frequently,  helping him to swallow  smoothies and soups to keep him hydrated  , changing  abba s bedsheets  pillow covers and clothes  every day,  , sge did all the washing  herself with her own hands,  washing tge s7ck room  twice a day  with   disinfectant phenyl water 

The whole family was   affected by abba  s  illness,  only you remained  aloof and not  involved,  abba Mia  constantly coughed all night,  both elder and younger appas would  religiously get up to check on him   ignoring amma ji  , standing by the bedside  holding  a glass of water,  to give him pills,  sometimes  waiting to  give him glucose water , I was full two years younger to you  also would get up  to look at abba ji nervously,  amma  would rub his back gently so he could  breath better  but abba  s  cough  never reached your ears,

Abba would become breathless panting heavily coughing  but you  enjoyed   listening to the music  cassettes,  engrossed in reading,  bent on books  writing something  , your head   regal y  sunk in soft pillows  dreaming of some prince to arrive  to wake you up 

pas aina

....and I have to write down a story 

Your story,,,but look  I am waiting  ready with a pen in hand  but  words simply  slip out of hand  before I can catch them  , how easy it was for you to  write down stories,  stories that were just heart touching,  imaginative   true and all sorts  just now you  said you would write a story on me sometime

 certainly , and perhaps you will when I am dead on me 

Dozakhi,, something on that  pattern  a reality  theme  asnat chughtai  spun a narrative  a mixture of truth  and falsehood 

Story of younger appa  elder brother  tales you could  write yourself  before I am dead 

You have  always been doing so  when you are in rage  and annoyed  you  quickly write a story about it  covering up a small  truth  with  lots of  pretentious  vocabulary  giving it a fake outfit  a false  appearance  to present it  attractive 

teen cheezein

....never ignore three following things 

Farz qarz marz

Duty  loan  sickness 

.

..the following three once  in a lifetime 

Waldeen husn jawani

Parents  beauty  youth 

.

...the  three unique things each one has 

Maut seerat qismat

Death  nature  destiny 

.

Be sincere in the following three 

Rehem karam dua

mercy  work prayers 

.

.three things  bring shame 

Chori chughli  jhooth

Cheating  backbiting  untruthfulness 

.

always remember three following 

Sacchai faraiz  maut

Reality  duties  life ends 

.

.

tanhai

....pitch dark grave night 

Complete silence prevailing all around 

Deadly  silent  stillness  everywhere 

Sorrowful  air

And 

Then 

This solitude 

From nowhere 

Gradually 

Tiptoing

Your memory 

Aboard 

In the sailing mind

Arrived 

And 

In the seas of my desiring heart 

Me

Began actively working 

in the noisy  memory 

It happened like this 

It became enjoyable 

And 

I wasn't alone anymore 

from previous

...why are you here  Hamid asked faridi 

For the same reason   for the woman you are following 

What!!!!exclaimed Hamid  confused,  goodness gracious  aren't you a true wizard 

Not at all,  just that I am more experienced than you are 

I happened to learn that from your attire 

How is that 

Simple,  had you started from home for this place you would have been dressed in an evening suit,  perhaps you spotted the woman  and  started following her as is your bad habit 

Hamid remained silent 

Faridi puffed on his cigar relishing it and smiling  added  he was certain Hamid didn't even know  who the woman was 

Hamid argued  how can you say that 

Your suit says that of course,  if you knew her you would be dressed in the evening suit 

I don't understand 

Let me explain 

Sarcastically Hamid waived off he will understand  it  but your hardship  since when have you   started chasing women 

My answe to  that r is  that  I find some women are very interesting 

tareek saye

...the  sun set  quickly the entire  city was covered by  fog  , the harsh chilling  air was biting,  the people walking on the  streets  shivered  and their teeth  chattered uncontrollably,  Hamid  had no clue the winter would suddenly turn so freezing,  he rushed out of the office  at mid afternoon,  he was clad in grayish suit,  to keep  himself warm he was humming a sonnet  it sounded  more like  yelping  and shivering  in the cold

The problem was simple,  he didn't want to go home  so early,  he was following an attractive woman,  the woman was driving ahead  Hamid was following her in a taxi thinking what was so attractive about her that he found himself following her , he was following her for past several days  , so far he couldn't get any chance of meeting her and introduce himself and know who was she,  he noticed her at random in various places and different times  and then he would start following her,  now too he spotted her and  started following her 

The  mysterious woman's car took many turns and routes around the city before  taking a secluded section leading to Niagara hotel 

page 291

,....on that mission he wanted to work alone  he explained looking at the other 

Drop this foolish idea,  always  work as a team  it's better  than being alone, don't underestimate  raja taimur  it will be a mistake  his tone was   filled with finality 

He was certain  he would  follow him anyway  and the situation could get worse and out of control,  he gave his consent unwillingly 

They left after paying the bills for their tea , he too was dressed up in trousers  shirt and a muffler around his neck  he hadn't changed a bit in years , he was just the same  cautious and alert 

They must walk from there to the house  he mumbled  walking on the pavement  without directly speaking to him,   he had  found  out  all about the location from kabir during  naghat and wsim case 

page 290

....I am following you,   you can't  point  at Seth raja taimur alone  spoke Salim  the other looked at him  intently  he didn't like being followed by him   and interfering  but carefully  controlling himself he spoke in a serious manner 

What is meant by difficult and easy  unfortunately from the beginning  he never learnt  these terms 

I know he smiled 

He found his smile  lacerated  with  wickedness 

But he wanted to add further  but ge cut him short 

I don't like your  behavior  he was annoyed with himself  because he didn't realize he was being followed  he wasn't cautious enough  though he was trained to stay alert  but Salim was equally matching  , in the past both were together  going through their training  otgers couldn't  reach level b but Salim and he had  rapidly risen to level a  in the  training camp that is why he  secretly admired Salim for his  extraordinary skills 

Friend,  why do you get annoyed so easily,  I want to just help you,  he took a short pause and  spoke more informally  to get  steaming  hot tea for him 

He added  he was quite close to raja taimur  and  he stressed  on explaining  the importance of being close to his target 

Now it was his turn to show his own importance  if  Salim and his group were so  important  wasn't it surprising they hired him to fight the black wave

page 90

....inner heat was increased and became burning  fever,  she lay her face covered in the pillow,  she had taken pills but the fever was stubbornly not leaving 

A cool hand  touched her burning forehead 

My brave girl,  don't give up so soon  this is life 

Her eyes flowed warm rivers 

Always remember  sorrows attack  from unexpected sides , the most trusted  cheats on you,  the nearest dearest  care giver gives pain  but you shouldn't  give up hope,  

Abbu  s voice  was soothing like cool water on burning sand  Abad should have arrived  by now   , her mind was stuck on just one point 

Abbu you don't know  fathers  and brothers are the main strength of girls,  if fathers  hands are on their heads and brothers full support given to women  then women emerge winners 

page 83

.... oh dear I can't find my socks  wrapping his necktie  Abad came out   extremely  irritated,   and  I can't find the eggs said fazal  searching   the kitchen,  didn't I bring them last night,  how could they disappear  

I am talking about my missing socks 

I of my eggs,  he couldn't speak of socks because his socks were on his feet 

Since when have you started giving eggs 

Ever since you turned pauper 

Just go away,  Abad  didn't  like  the joke   so he came to sit down in a sofa in the lounge,  his mobile was there ringing 

Something weird happened  he got up as quickly as he had sat down  a current had passed through him,  but the mishap was done,  all the eggs in the shopper cracked and  spilled out 

He screamed on top of his voice for fazal 

What happened  appeared fazal  scared for him

Your eggs are found 

jungbaaz

..as if time was dead the world  came to a standstill,  the universe  froze  all was  still except  someone sobbing,  it was madam,  sajad was  left by the sofa,  all dispersed  except him 

He was Salim  whose gaze was  glued on her,  he wasn't alone because another man  emerged from  behind him  he was known to him,  he was guggal representative of the chaudhary,  perhaps the rest of them were waiting outside  anyhow  tgeir presence was unexpected and unwanted,  Salim felt insecure   certain the two men were there to give him a spin , why else  there couldn't be any other reason 

Nobody will move,  this time  roared guggal , put down all your weapons  he meant  the madam sajad and jawari 

Sehram come out  you 

, today  we will prove your supporters  not opposers 

Salim  spoke to him,  his inner  turbulence  stopped and he was startled sehrab  give yourself up or it will be  not good for you,  you are dangerous  surrounded by enemy  and we are here just for you  taking so much risk 

page 271

...Salim s wedding  function   was on its superlative swing  , all the girls were impatiently waiting for gori  because  she was the best singer  around the entire village,  her voice  was soulful  and unbeatable,  her beautiful voice   lent a typical folk    aroma to the melodies  the listeners  simply remained unsatisfied , sge was  one of the best  native dancers,  gori s arrival was eagerly awaited,  a couple of small girls were sent to find he and bring her  but the girls  turned back  from halfway because it was scary  dark 

On the other hand  gori was extremely happy because the man she loved had looked at her  for quite some time attentively, admiringly  , those who are in love understand this look  and appreciate it , she was alone walking   lost completely in Farhan  s thoughts  a strange smile  decorated her lips 

She was  so  much   unaware of her surroundings that she failed to notice someone was watching her movements,  she reached a secluded place  on the outside of the  colony 

page 269

....sajadil  stopped  gori  from going to the college,  she felt miserable like a bird in a cage  her wings clipped off , she pleaded  sorry for all her mistakes but to  let her attend classes,  not to  prevent her from  enjoying her rights to education but he refused  he didn't give his consent because he was given a thorough brainwash,  gori shed streams of tears  but who cared about her,  only her mother cared but in this case she too was completely powerless 

It was a Friday,  gori was not keeping well for a while,  unhappiness  and headaches   constantly  kept her head spinning,  heavy discomfort and distressed mind definitely make anyone  sick,  her health  started to get worse 

Sajadil was in a hurry,  he carried a shopper  that contained a bridal  red  outfit 

Where is gori amma  he enquired 

Sleeping inside,  what happened why are you so alarmed  halima  didn't like her son's  behavior,  since morning she was  intuitively  expecting something bad to happen 

page 256

....sherkhan didn't turn up even the next day,  he spoke to him on his phone 

Oh, babu ji  sherkhan explained the work wasn't done for what he had come for,  he was delayed  a couple of days more  he must stay away,  he sounded put off apparently he was helpless 

Allright  take care and do your best and make it happen quick,  he spoke  sincerely  it was true  sherkhan was a good company,  they spent time  gossiping  exploring  sightseeing  without him  he was bored,  he was restricted at home, he wasn't prohibited from going anywhere  it was just that he found himself lonely without sherkhan 

That day gori didn't make her appearance,  perhaps  what had occurred the night before  made her hesitant,  anyhow  two days passed somehow,  night fell and khala  again suggested he slept up on the terrace  but he refused to comply smoothly 

He lay down to sleep and   his mind  filled with  gori s images,  was it really possible to get attracted by someone so fast,  he   tried to go through each and every detail  but couldn't find a single   thing that would  give  gori  that he was interested in her,  he had not  shown or done anything to give her that impression 

So it meant  it was her erroneous mind,  he was not guilty,  he had to stop  her from walking that dangerous  path of imagination

page 252

...beds  were arranged on the terrace  and when they reached  he again  experienced a surprise  , in the background  the mysterious silence of the hills soaked in darkness  , the open sky full of shimmering stars  perhaps on such an occasion some poet must have  said  one could talk  his heart to the  stars directly ,  he was ready to go to bed and missed shumaila  he wished she was with him,  they would have  counted the stars together,  he missed her scowling  her frowning  his teasing her, they could have  admired the surroundings together 

He slept well  that night,  pleasantly cooling breezes,  there was also a fan placed   which wasn't really necessary at all,  in fact  later during the night he had to cover himself  with a sheet to keep himself warm 

He woke up at daybreak  hearing the chirpings of the birds,  he was amazingly refreshed and rested,  surroundings grow on  one's mind  and  believe it very strongly it influences  one's mind,  so was he,  the strong impact of the  remote divine  village  was  very deep  he appreciated  being there  enjoying every moment of it   , it was soul nourishing  stay 

from previous

....when he reached home  it was  after,  his neck was slightly stiff  , his eyes heavy with sleep,  opening the door to the house  his gaze fell directly on the person sitting in the lawn dusky shadows had spread,  his eyes were tired and a faint smile appeared on his face,  round frame on big etes , a few count of hair strand on the head,  quite old washed several times  woollen sweater  and wrinkled hands  unable to hold  the newspaper,  the dirt covered on the newspaper suggested it was old one 

Abdullah had messaged him and left,  he was delayed by the traffic  otherwise they usually met at the gate,  as he approached  the echoing footsteps  drew his attention and he lifted his head,  there wasn't any sign of recognition in them 

He greeted gently  before picking up the clutter on the table,  

He replied in a somewhat sober manner  to his greeting  , then turned to look at the door wondering how did the young man managed to come in 

Who are you,  how did you get into my house  he asked him in a surprised voice 

kahaniyon wala pyar

.... the moment the first  drop of rain  touched the ground   within some minutes  the rain   began    its opera  but the melody held a note of sadness   in its tenor,  pitter patter fell  rain drops  in its simplest  form , people  walking on the footpaths  holding their open umbrellas  over themselves,  traffic jam on the roads,  dusky evening  light  slightly mixed in nocturnal  shade  , lined up street lights burning a soft golden glow,  taxi window  glass   presented an intricate watery pattern  intriguing  as the outside street lights   shone on to it

The   traffic signal turned green  and suddenly  the taxi door was  burst open  on the drive,  he  looked at  the  girl with  surprise,  she was soaked  completely in the outpour,  her  tresses  were sticking on to her face,  she was trying to tuck the tresses behind her ears,  her eyes   were scared , fear showed  in them,  , she  placed  lots of things on the seat  her hands  quivered,  he stared at her startled  , now the driver too turned around and spoke o bibi get down quickly,  this iis special   ride

The girl  had settled herself comfortably and arranged all her things  by her side before looking at the annoyed driver 

The driver looked at the man and  promised to get rid of the unwanted passenger  who had just gate crashed 

The driver  rudely asked her to step down 

The girl began  to converse in sign language,  opened her mobile notes and  typed something 

from previous

....sherkhan sitting with him  started   gossiping,  the  hardness in his nature some time ago  had disappeared,  he looked into the backview mirror,  gori sat  watching out of the window looking upset,  anyway it was her own fault,  she ought not to have sat down in the front seat with a stranger  in a vehicle,  he and sherkhan kept on talking  lightly,  but gori remained muted all throughout the journey 

Reaching the bazaar he desperately searched for the camera  shop that sold appliances,  soon he found one in a back lane  in a narrow corner  , the lense was poor quality but at least  workable  for next twelve to fifteen days,  both sherkhan and gori had gone their way shopping for themselves,  both came back when he also was finished with his shopping,  he  observed  sherkhan looked  stressed and gori annoyed,  he couldn't speculate what had gone wrong with them when they were shopping,  he  thought it would be  improper to ask  but if they wanted they would tell him themselves,  she held a few  shoppers and woman's  magazines  in her hands 

Free from shopping they decided to have snacks,  their gaze fell on the nearby burger shop , he ordered three burgers and cold drinks for them,  he felt  gori watching him  when sherkhan was busy eating,  they still had three hours before returning home 

page 247

...next morning early  he realized hus camera lens wasn't working,  , he git goosebumps  all his work depended  on it alone,  this was sudden and unexpected  problem,  unseen  and he wasn't prepared for it, he didn't want to travel back to Lahore  , jauhrabaad was still not  as developed as Lahore,  he had to  do everything staying there,  he  discussed his matter with Sher khan  who mocked his fears away saying  jauharabaad was more advanced than khushab which  was still twenty years behind slowly lagging  , everything was available in jauharabaad,  then he began narrating untold tales of yore,  he stopped him and asked if it was possible to get what he wanted to make his gadgets functional 

page 245

 ..  meantime a soft knock on the I inner door was heard  , sherkhan called out loudly to khala to come in 

The other  sat upright,  definitely this was family  woman   who was asking for permission to enter the room,  his  thinking proved  correct,  a woman's face  appeared  , her whole being was covered in a sheet , her presence  evoked  almighty s  radiance  full of affection and purity,  she was surely  sajadil  s mother  khala  halima  , she held a food tray  certainly only for the him the  visitor,   the   small nervous shy  shrinking   person behind khala  stood   in her early twenties  very young  , she too was tightly wrapped up entirely  in a sheet,  only her shy face was hardly visible ,  he liked her invisible smile,  he greeted khala he stood up to present his shoulder  to her who lovingly patted it  and  showered on him lots of prayers 

How did you spend the last night,  was there any problem,  she spoke informally  affectionately and sincerely,  she placed the food tray on the table before him  before turning to the shy girl  and presenting her before him , introducing her , she is my daughter,  her name is gori,  he gently greeted her and she slightly moving her jet black eye lashes  replied , what does she do  he pointed towards the shy  package and asked halima khala dear son  she goes to college  Halima  khala  spoke with pride 

Now he decided to directly speak to gori , perhaps she didn't expect it  she became nervous  what class 

  Lowering her eyes  shyly she explained  b a 

Good  casual tone  he used 

from previous

....and then he began speaking  slowly 

You know  I was  so passionate about  traveling different places  during  university days  he smiled   blandly  shumaila also gave an equally  matching smile 

Of course I know she said  I also remember very clearly  I  asked you to stop  that,  I still believe it is a useless  passttime  you were wasting your time,  her eyes brightened up speaking of their memorable experiences 

You  prevented me from  following my passion  because it was  for you a waste of time  , instead  I should  lend a helping hand  in my abbu  s business,  his  smiling gaze was   glued on her face 

And uncle needed you by his side  she emphatically  stressed her point 

You  were more considerate because you were in love with me  and not because you really  cared about abbu,  you didn't like my roaming about from place to place  pounding dust , he affectionately looked at his loving wife  who was also faithful   who wasn't even touched by the  passing time, 

She lowered her eyes  before his admiring gaze 

I swear what  awesome days they were,  I couldn't  stay without you  not even for a moment,  shirt time  absence seemed  lifelong  tragic  moments,  a strange fear had settled into my heart,  that these  small time  separations won't  become frequent and for ever

sehra ka phool

....27th January 

Aah one more twenty seventh January,  another   sorrowful night,  another   test of life, 

Sighing heavily he drew the window curtains aside,  outside the  night was  soaked  half way,  continuous  steady pouring since last evening  had turned tge dry January winter  suddenly  cold,  outside weather wasn't  different from his inner  complexion of his emotions,  in fact  the inner    emotional  canvas was   extremely    difficult,  outside the window  there was  a soft gentle  rhythm  of pouring rain  but inside his mindset  there was  an outstanding outpour  absolutely  different experience because of  the burning  sorrow   that had nestled  there for years giving him pain  and sleepless nights,  a feeling of guilt  was   cutting  his  soul to pieces 

Tears  spilled out  trailing down his cheeks leaving  their   traces  to  get absorbed into his outfit  somewhere,  these tears are like   companions  always present to share your  secluded sorrow  drowning  your fuming  hurt  to  lessen it to half  dividing all your painful experiences 

He  heard a sound  beside him,  he turned to see  shumaila  standing there with a coffee tray

from previous

....both were married off soon,  then they started living a life of the perfect couple, 

He helped in the kitchen,  , kneading the wheat flour dough with his hands in the sweltering heat , , sometimes  also made chapatis,  on alternate days cleaned up and  did the laundry,  scowling  all the time but that's what he had asked for,  he wanted   such a modern wife  who worked outside to earn and share financial responsibilities,  who won't depend on husband  and be a liability 

She too on the other hand  was  completely trapped into a vicious  circle of over work  to stay awake all night with the infant to leave for work early morning,  every task was challenging,   alternate  nights turn by turn  Farakh and she   took care of the infant,  naturally mothers spend sleepless nights Farakh  mostly  shirked  , going to bed uncaring of the child,  she was forced to take care of the child 

She had become a robot  working mechanically,  he had to iron his own  outfits,  he prepared his breakfast himself both were tired of this lifestyle  but now their ego was pushing them on, neither of them was ready to withdraw or give up , both  were determined to marry their  dream life partner,  both were  regretting  but the world believed  they were made for each other  ,,,perfect couple 

page 40

...she was a modern  young woman  , her personal opinion was  that she wasn't born to merely have children and spend  domestic life,, her dreams  were too many,  to fulfill them she  had worked very hard  day and night  and overtime,  she  excelled in studies  and obtained  the   top position,  she  applied  for the job of a professor in a government organization,  her  main problem was ber marriage  her family wanted her to get married while she was still young but she was focused on making a career 

Ammi invited her married friend mahira  to  discuss the matter  frankly,    that she ought to  get married when she is still marriageable , once  her youth was gone she won't be able to find suitable match,     then she will be   forgotten    by the society,  right now   mahira and she were  arguing on the topic 

Have you noticed what all demands  boys have,  the wife should be home bound  and  bear children and just be a housewife,  men want to work outside  to gain power and return home and renjoy domestic  bliss resting and taken full  control of the service of the housewife  and give orders  and expect  to be respected  , husband is completely  selfish and self centered  person  , therefore she  didn't want to get married  the idea of marriage  was annoying 

Are we all mad people who get married,  we are also educated  yet we  are subordinate  to our husbands,  mahira gave her own example 

But I don't want to be like you  , that lifestyle  I don't like at all  she was quite straightforward 

Is some angel going to fall down from  the skies just for you intervened ammi

page 231

....the family  consisted of four members  lived in the old fashioned house  , maxvill and jerry  s father  was dead  , he was unhappy about just one thing  the diamonds  he had obtained   he couldn't  enjoy  them , , maxvill  s father died regretting  , three years ago  unable to pass the diamonds to his sons and  grandsons  but he  transferred his dreams before dying into  maxvill  s eyes 

Jerry was completely  uncaring about  the diamonds he had only heard of  , ,  kristi  never believed in their  existence,  shamm was quite a kid but maxvill  always  intended intensely to find the diamonds 

Maxvill and his wife worked on a vegetable farm,  the owner of the  vegetable farm was the rudest man  maxvill had ever come across,  the owner was always ready to cut daily allowance  of workers on some  pretext  or the other ,,Jerry worked in a restaurant,  in fact  he he worked in several restaurants  to make more money,  he was  an aggressive young man  or perhaps he overreacted to the proprietors,  he didn't  stay long enough  anywhere,   jumping from first to second to third  ,  leaving  the  jobs  quickly    getting nowhere,  he was a drop out  by choice  because he wanted the best of education in the best of the institution,  heart broken  on dreams unfulfilled he merely roamed around,  sometimes he   helped his parents on the farm,  but  tge owner's attitude and parents poor condition  disheartened him , he wondered what kind of life he would have 

asap daulat

....they...they look diamonds  spoke shamm whispering 

They don't look like diamonds but are real diamonds,   real genuine diamonds declared maxvil  his gaze fixed on the diamonds on his palm

Real diamonds  exclaimed  sgamm kneeling down on the floor  ,

Absolutely real and very expensive too my son  smiled maxvil  deeply 

Whose are they  asked shamm to confirm his doubts  that they belonged to them 

These are ours , our possessions  confessed  maxvil  explosively 

What are you saying daddy, shamm looked at him in utter disbelief,  there was no reason to believe,   humble lifestyle  frugal earnings    poorly people   suddenly find  in their forgotten  store full of abandoned broken  things  real diamonds  , all of them their own  , it was hard to believe  shamm thought it incredible 

Of course you heard  it right,  that's what I said  explained  maxvil seriously 

page 235

....she had smiled faintly  and spoken  it would be a complete lie if they said the breakfast wasn't good 

Bhai  explained that was to be discussed after  the breakfast  Bhai remained silent,  phuphi  served the breakfast  on the table,  they still had not started eating  and the door bell rang,  Bhai walked towards the door to open it   he returned followed by amjadalla,  she and Bhai invited him to join them at their breakfast table  ,

He replied  sur I have had my breakfast  there was no space for more,  Bhai  cheerfully  said sister had prepared it all herself,  amjadalla  then accepted to take just two bites to taste the food,  he took  his first  morsel and began praising  , Bhai asked him what brought him so early 

There was a big problem 

Bhai looked at him questioningly,  hadayatalla  explained    goats from shehnaz  s brothers   ran into zamyar s field,  so he shot the giants down  and beat the brothers of shehnaz  badly  that they were admitted into the hospital 

arzu

...arzu  became aware before growing up that her parents were murdered  , that  she   had only one  relative  alive in this cruel world her phuphi  saira,  , it was her first  birthday,  her both maternal uncles  came in and shot down her parents dead 

Saira phuphi   answered  and  explained  all her questions,  her parents were wonderful persons  , extremely brilliant in studies  , they aspired to become highly qualified  government officials,  to fulfill their dreams they worked very hard  , they had earned o level and a level  positions,  they  were  outstanding,  their interviews were  highlighted in newspapers,  they appeared for competitive  exams,  they topped the merit list,  clearing all tests  bhai was posted at abatabad,  parents  were  told by faras bhai  the candidates were not given  home postings,  rules were rules  , first they should  gain experience and then take charge of district  postings,  father was silent, bhai left for duty  and joined his office at havelia 

Two months later a  school teacher was made hostage by a politician  s son , the girl s father  filled a report,  faras bhai  called him to his office  and  started questioning him  to find out if the female teacher willingly had gone with the abductor or was it really a genuine case of abduction