Paper marriage.
He was running very fast, faster than one could. He was running from last many years. He was very tired. His condition was very bad. He was out of breath. If he would have taken another step, he would have been dead. Whenever he thought of being copped he drowned himself in deep thoughts. He was in this dilemma and police was close to him. One of them shouted loudly, “Attention monsieur! Papier s’il vous plait”.
He wasn’t unaware of this phrase. Since he entered in France, He knew about certain things. In these frangi (white skin people) countries, you can’t trust upon three things which were, “Work, women and weather” besides that where he was born, was elevated and uneven plateau (Satha Murtafa Potohar) and over there you can’t trust upon weather as well. Anyhow he was unable to answer them so they took him to jail and after little so called remand, they released him because they were unable to communicate each other. His French and their English weren’t sufficient.
Thanks God, he was safe otherwise they would have deported him to Pakistan. He took metro 1 and came to Chalet les Hales. This was his favourite place. He went at the top floor of Centre George Pompidou. He started a bird eye view. He was in love with Paris but without paper it was like a lockup or jail or you can say solitary confinement. You are living with millions of people and you are alone. He was scared of many things about his poverty, about going back to his country. He was in Paris from last many years and was unable to change his life. Means, earning money, bank balance, a so called Asian philosophy of Asians in European countries that you make money in Europe and you invest it in your promise land, in your own country. During his stay, he was unable to learn any skill like electrician, cook or any kind of technical work. Neither he was expert in painting. He always misunderstood, when someone asked him about painting. For him painting was on canvas and for them painting houses. He never accepted these things. On the other hand he studied a lot of things when he was student upon dignity of work. In his own religion Islam, “the one who does manual work, that person is very close to God”. For him it was all bookish stuff.
When he was in B.A. (Bachelor of Arts) in Pakistan. He never thought that he will face these things. His father was an office clerk and they were hardly surviving. Everyone was sacrificing for his studies because he was their asset. Mautassam Baqi Billa that was his name. When Mautassam was in university, he used to dream about his future that when he will pass the exam. He will get some nice governmental job and he will complete his masters as a part time student. Like this he will be able to help his parents and will continue his studies. His office will be nice and clean. He will be sitting on a revolving chair and electric typewriter and a peon will be sitting on a chair outside his office. Everyone will need permission to enter inside. Peon will ask him, “Sahib jee (add as a respect) shall I send him in or not” but since he passed the exam. He got his bachelor degree. He didn’t get any job. He had no approach or money to bribe them to get a job. His father and family were unhappier than him. It wasn’t him, there were many like him. They were even better than him but jobless. Their education system is strange, it’s theoretical not practical. After having degree you are handicap. They give you certain type of slow poisoning that you feel that you aren’t ordinary person, you are someone very special. It’s true education and knowledge grooms and polishes you but it doesn’t mean that you forget dignity of work. His father used to think in different manners. Alas he would have learnt some technical work. It wasn’t Mautassam’s fault, that decade was strange (Zia Ul Haque’s martial law period). Nobody was able to understand the situation. His biggest and greatest amusement was when he was in Pakistan, snooker club. Where his all friends used to come. He was unable to afford to play but for him it was a meeting place where he used to pass his time, the second place where he used to go regularly was any sub standard restaurant, where they used to take tea. It was very easy to find him in these restaurants or snooker clubs. He was a proper vagabond. He used to pass his time in the streets like loafers and coming home late was his daily routine.
While he was in these thoughts the waitress asked him in a very tactical way. He knew that because it’s a small cafe at the top floor of George Pompidou Centre, you can’t say it’s very small but its terrace is always jam pack and he knew the trick because he does this job sometime. When waiter bring the bill at the table and say, “finni”, it means leave the table especially when you are having only coffee. He left the table and came home. His flat mate used to call him Bao. (Babbo or Bao a short word for educated person or the one who is bit open minded and dress up nicely specially trousers and shirt). His name was Mautassam Baqi Billah (B’illah) but everyone used to call him Billa (the one who has eyes like tom cat) but his name wasn’t Billa, his name was B’illah which means something else.
One of them said Bao, “We will find some girl for you for paper marriage. You will get papers and it will cost you 50,000 thousand French francs”.
Mautassam started thinking which were nearly five lakh rupees (half million rupees). With that much money you can buy a two bed room house. You can start a small business.
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He found waiter’s job again. He was educated and good looking but he had strange habit. He never had permanence and serenity in his personality. Wherever he worked he worked for five months, seven months like that. During waiter’s job he used to think that somebody has thrown him from a multi story building and whenever someone spoke harshly and bitterly, he felt his words like a razor edge. He used to feel that somebody has placed a piece of red hot burning coal in his heart. He used to drown himself in deep thought, deep down in the bottom but without papers what you can say. Like a bastard or illegitimate child. If that bastard’s or illegitimate child’s secret will be disclosed, he won’t be able to face the world. During waiter’s job he never wanted to talk or came closer to some girl because their boss used to keep an eye on them. Whenever he made up some courage to speak with some girl, that courage, courage had gone in a blink of eye. He never liked waiter’s job but there wasn’t any choice. He was ordinary waiter but with lot of confidence. He used to think that with his one gesture he will shake the world. He did petty jobs but never degraded himself in his own eyes. He never ever said anything or did anything with which there would have been any chance of his country’s or his personality’s degradation or against his prestige. For him love was luxury and apart from that during his stay he never thought about his brother, sister and parents. Since he was in Europe he was in crises. He was lazy or unlucky. He didn’t know what his goal was. Whenever he saw some spot light in the dark, something happened so instead of thinking about that happiness and started resolving that problem.
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In the morning they were preparing restaurant for lunch. Usually they don’t have many customers during lunch time so until 11:30 they don’t have many customers. Everyone was busy in his work. Mautassam was setting tables and checking their clothes and placing glasses as well.
She was sitting at table no 3, for them it was normal, so he ignored her and reluctantly gave her menu card.
She said, “I don’t need this; give me cappuccino and couple of samosas”. (A triangle kind of thing made of super fine flour, you can stuffed it with mince meat or boil mix vegetables of potatoes) she wasn’t bad looking, she was young. He passed the order to chef through intercom and looked at her suspiciously. She wasn’t bad at all and suddenly an idea came in his mind and he made up his mind in a blink of eye that rubbish idea, forget it.
He asked her, “Vous avez finni mademoiselle” (you have finished) she said, “Oui”. He gave her bill like that waitress of George Pompidou’s cafe gave him.
She was thinking that she should escape without paying bill but it was difficult because there were lot of people in the street. Mautassam knew that she doesn’t have money and she wants to escape because this was his everyday’s job.
She said, “Look I don’t have money but you can take my id, passport or identity card. When I will pay you I will take them back”.
Mautassam said, “What shall I do with them”. He was very angry and annoyed but what you can do, you have to take decision quickly and amount wasn’t a lot. He thought of Urdu proverb, “If horse makes friendship with grass than what will he eat”. Suddenly something clicked his mind.
He said, “Listen, you give me your telephone number”.
She gave him her telephone number and said, “I will definitely bring you the money” and she went away.
It wasn’t new thing for Mautassam. It was like that. He just forgot it like an ordinary event and phone number; he wrote her number in his small diary.
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Today was Monday. Most of the Asians rather Indian and Pakistani restaurants are closed on Monday. It was his day off. He went to the launderette, washed his clothes than he came home, he prepared meal for himself and for his mates as well because it was his turn today. After finishing everything, he watched a romantic Indian film than in the evening he went to Champs Elysees. He was doing window shopping. His favourite stores were music stores and book stores. He was fond of fine art. It was nearly impossible for him to buy designer clothes but it was cost less to look at them through window. He was walking in front of Lido. It’s big and famous hall for musical programmes, concerts and competitions. He saw a public telephone booth and thought of phoning her. I must phone her, what was her name, “Shantel”, why not. He had a telecom Franciase card. Still there were some minutes. He inserted the card and dialled her number. Phone was ringing and after a while someone picked up the phone and said, “Alo (hello). Mautassam responded, “It’s me Mautassam can I speak with Shantel”.
She said, “Yes it’s me”.
“Mautassam, Pakistani restaurant”. Said Mautassam
“Oh, I am sorry I didn’t come”, said Shantel.
He said, “It’s ok, what are you doing”.
She said, “Nothing”
He said, “Can we see each other next Monday, if it’s please you”.
She said, “Fine, I would love to”.
He said, “Ok than I will phone you next Monday. Aurevoir, abientot.
Now Mautassam was waiting for next Monday desperately. He wasn’t very hopeful but like this he passed the week.
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Today Mautassam was looking very good. He did his best. The date was at George Pompidou Centre. She was there at exact time. First of all she gave him money but he refused to take it because it was nominal amount. He took her at the top floor of George Pompidou centre at the same cafe where he used to come quite often.
Shantel was from a good family she wasn’t from mediocre or rich family but wasn’t bad. She was in her final year of fine art but there she got habit of drugs. She left her studies in the middle and drugs were her sole interest. She was thinking if this gentleman will ask me to go into bed with him, she will accept it like this she will have some more money for drugs.
Both of them were sitting quietly because for Mautassam it was very difficult to say. His conscience wasn’t permitting him but from last many years he was running. Finally he made up his mind and he said what he wanted. Gave her proposal and explained her how this will be work out. After hearing his idea, Shantel thought like this she will earn lot money. He said I will give 40,000 thousand French francs in three instalments. First will be at the registration second will be, when I will get Carte Sejour and third when I will give you divorce.
She said, “Fine”
.......................................
Mautassam got married and got Carte Sejour for ten years. He gave her two instalments. He was very happy. During this period Mautassam and Shantel came very close to each other. Mautassam was fond of literature and Shantel was fond of fine art. Since they were married even though it was paper marriage, Mautassam started working regularly and Shantel now she was using less drugs. Mautassam was like a free bird, he never took life seriously but now he was working and living with her like it was a mission. Sometime he used to feel guilty conscience that he was using her for his purpose. He used to feel pejorative. On the other hand Shantel was feeling guilty conscience as well that she has taken a lot of money from a helpless person just for the sake of her drugs. It had been two years and divorce time was very near and last instalment was remaining. It was first time that Mautassam worked at some place and same place for two years regularly. First reason was that that he was working legally and second reason he didn’t know because he never worked at some place for more than six months. Shantel left fine art but after this marriage she started painting again. She persuaded towards art. Again she started visiting art galleries and seeing exhibitions. This was after a long time, she wanted to restart painting. She had knowledge of surrealism, realism, frescoes, cubism and abstract art but her inclinations and tendencies were towards cubism. She started working on a painting. Neither Mautassam nor Shantel knew what the reason behind all this change was.
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Today when Mautassam came back from work he saw that Shantel was chatting with some young man. Mautassam said bonsoir to both of them and went to the wash room. It was pretty obvious that they were husband and wife only in papers, it was contract marriage. It was marriage of convenience but he didn’t like it. He pretended that everything is okay. After couple of weeks Mautassam went to see the film with his colleague Claudia. When Shantel came to know about this, she didn’t like it but she didn’t mention him. She was feeling fidget and squirmed but the problem was that that it was paper marriage. As the divorce days were coming closer the stress was increasing among them. In two years time, they were habitual and addicted off each other. They never lived together continuously and regularly but they had to stay together until their divorce would not have been sorted out.
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Mautassam gave her divorce’s paper and she signed them. After some official technicalities and formalities court accepted their divorce and now both of them were free. Even Mautassam was free when he got Carte Sejour but he was scared of some uncertain things. When they were coming out from the court, Mautassam offer her to go to George Pompidou Centre where they met two years before. He said, “This will be our last coffee together and I will give you last instalment, is that okay with you”.
Shantel liked his idea and said, “Yes”.
It was nice and sunny day and they ordered their coffee.
Shantel, “Mautassam what you will do now”?
Mautassam, “I will go to Pakistan to see my parents, brother and sister. I will marry there as well. It has been ages that I haven’t seen my country and family. What about you Shantel”?
Shantel, “I have planned that I will join my fine art college and I will complete the education. I will dedicate my life to fine art.
Mautassam, “If you like it, I have an offer for you. I know a Pakistani guy. He hasn’t got documents. You will earn money and he will get papers. He is a decent guy”.
Shantel, “No Mautassam, I can’t do it. You don’t even know that how I have passed these two years. Only I know that how bad I felt. Paper marriage is worse than common law marriage”.
Mautassam, “Okay! Fine, it was an offer. Here is last instalment”.
Shantel, “Let’s go”.
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Mautassam was perturbed and uncontrolled. He was feeling strange. His studio flat was empty. He was feeling that he has lost his some precious thing.
Shantel was upset as well at her place. Both of them were sitting close to telephone. He checked all the miss calls and she checked as well.
One day Shantel got the message that Mautassam is going to Pakistan and his flight is on such and such date. He is going there for marriage. With trembling hands she dialled his number. Bell was ringing. He picked up the phone and after knowing Shantel is on the line, he responded her question and confirmed her that he is going to Pakistan and he will marry there.
Shantel said, “I know we weren’t husband and wife but there was some relation between us, so if I request you, if we can see each other”.
Mautassam said, “Fine, listen Shantel, we will have dinner together tonight, if you aren’t busy”.
Shantel said, “Done, tonight”.
As usual they were there at exact time. They ordered their meal and were quiet than Shantel broke the ice and said, “Mautassam you like someone in Pakistan or than what, how? God will drop some girl for you from the sky”.
Mautassam said, “It’s not like that in Pakistan like we do here in France or Europe. My parents will find girl for me and like an obedient son I will have to marry her without seeing her”.
“And if girl is from other country and other religion”, said Shantel.
Mautassam said, “Than she will have to accept our certain values”.
Shantel said, “Mautassam shall I tell you one thing that when you went to see film with Claudia, “I didn’t like it”.
“And Shantel”, said Mautassam, “That when you started going out with that French guy, I didn’t like it as well”.
“He was just a friend. We were class fellow in Fine Art College. He didn’t even know that we have done paper marriage”, said Shantel.
“You know Claudia was my colleague and that day she was upset, she had an argument with her boyfriend, so I just wanted to divert her attention”.
“Anyhow apart from these things Mautassam, I have something for you. I made this painting for you. Since I came closer to you I started working again. I left drugs as well”.
“And you know Shantel; I never worked permanently since I came to Europe. This much persistency came in my personality first time in my life. You know when we were coming out from court, after that stage I gave you cold shoulder. I wanted to be free and myself as well”.
“Mautassam you are going to Pakistan, you will definitely need money”, said Shantel.
“Yes I will but I have taken some advance where I work and my Pakistani friends, they have given me some loan as well”, said Mautassam.
“Mautassam how long you gonna stay there”, said Shantel.
“Most probably two months, could be less than that”, said Mautassam.
“Can I come to the airport to say good bye”.
“Yes you can”.
They didn’t say anything what they wanted to say.
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Charles de Gaulle airport was jam pack as usual. Mautassam was waiting for someone. He didn’t get his boarding pass. His friends were saying, you don’t know them, these goris (any white girl, usually goris are English girls and she was French, but for Asians any white skin lady is gori). They all are same. You have sorted your problem. You used her and she used you. Now there isn’t any problem. Now you will marry with the girl of your own country, religion and tribe. While they were chatting Mautassam saw her. She was bit late and she was running hurriedly towards him. She came closer and hugged him. She was crying and saying, “You didn’t realise that you broke someone’s heart but why should you care, your problem has been sorted. Here are your 40,000 thousand French France and let me get rid of my conscience. You don’t even know how I have passed these two years. I didn’t sleep well. I suffered of guilty conscience”.
“No Shantel take them, this is your right because of me you didn’t get your shomage (unemployment benefit). You faced agony and pain”.
Mautassam’s all friends were watching this live theatre. For them it was new thing.
Shantel shouted, “You go to Pakistan and marry there and forget me and just forget this thing that you ever met with some girl Shantel in your life”.
“What are you saying Shantel. We will be good friend. You take this money”.
“I don’t want your friendship because I love you. I want to marry you. Once, you asked me for your own purpose, now I am asking you for my future”.
“Shantel I am Muslim and you are Christian”.
“I will change my religion even though it isn’t a hurdle when you are in love”.
“For me it isn’t important as well”, said Mautassam but my parents are fanatic, anyhow now we both will go to Pakistan because I love you as well. I wanted to tell you many times but after doing paper marriage with you I felt degraded and disrespected not even in my own eyes, sometime I used to feel that the whole Pakistani nation has been kneeled down in front of French nation but I was so much scared of being copped again. My scariness defeated my conscience”.
“You know Mautassam when I accepted your offer and when I took money; I was feeling that I am selling the prestige and dignity of France for this little money in the hands of Pakistani nation. But later on, love knocked at my door. Your honesty and humanity gave me such an impression that I never thought for even a single moment that Pakistanis are inferior than French”.
“You know Shantel I was in love with you but I never mentioned it to you because I thought you might think that this could be my new trick for saving money. Now Shantel between us there is no greed and self interest. No paper marriage, no contract. We will marry again, it will be on papers but this time we will give these papers some meaning. These papers will be respectable because both of us have won the battle of conscience.
Telephone
Leonardo Da Vinci was getting old. His all friends had girl friends and some of them were married. He was very much worried about this because he was the most famous painter, architect, sculptor and mathematician of his time. At that time he was living in a small town called Vinci which wasn't very far from Florence. Than Leonardo's family they move to Florence. There were lots of opportunities in Florence. Here he met with Michael Angelo, Donatello and Raffaello. Bit by bit he got acquainted with people. Once his all friends decided to go discotheque called YAB which was very famous discotheque of Florence. There Leonardo met with very beautiful and young girl. Her name was Mona Lisa. He asked her for dancing and she accepted his offer. Then they started talking each other, lastly they exchanged their phone numbers.
Raffaello, Donatello and Michael Angelo were very curious about this that at last Leonardo found a girl friend. They started asking him different questions.
Next day Leonardo phoned her just to check it whether it's real number or fake one. She picked up the phone. Leonardo and Mona Lisa were talking formally.
Leonardo said, "Can we see each other".
She said, "Look Leonardo first of all I don't know you very well, second thing is that I am very young third thing is that my father is very strict person. The day you saw me in discotheque, it was like miracle because I told my dad that I am preparing for exams so that's why I will stay at my friend’s place, even though he accompanied me with governess. So we can talk on phone after 10 "O" clock in the morning and then after 4 "O" clock in the evening and keep in mind if someone else picks up the phone, don't say anything, understand".
Leonardo was sensible person so he got the point. It were hardly couple of months and Leonardo got a chance to go to France's famous city of artists's Paris.
Leonardo phoned Mona Lisa, "Look I am going to Paris for work because in Italy I don't have many opportunities".
Mona Lisa started crying and said, "I wish you all the best for your better future but don't indulge yourself in bad things like Moulin Rouge, Pigalle and things like these".
Leonardo said, "I will follow your advice".
Than Leonardo went to Paris, from there he used to phone Mona Lisa quite often. After staying couple of months in Paris, Leonardo went to London.
He phoned Mona Lisa, look I am in London and I left my art work because now days it's hard to survive as an artist so I am doing other things to earn my living. There is another thing to tell you that Michael Angelo and Raffaello are with me as well.
During his stay in London, Leonardo had great experience of life. He has seen many paintings and books of different world. He met with many girls but his relationship with Mona Lisa was still vigorous and energetic.
One day Mona Lisa asked Leonardo, will you marry me.
Leonardo was almost nowhere, like on the horns of dilemma. He asked her what about your father. She said, “It’s my problem. I will sort it out, if not, I am old enough to decide, so you don't need to worry. Trust me. Leonardo was thinking as a matter of fact he wants to marry someone, why not Mona Lisa. He said for me it's ok but I am still worried, you won't be able to make it. She said, I can lose anything but not you. I never realises it that I am madly in love with you. When you left Florence, I realised afterward that you are made for me.
After staying four years in London, Leonardo decided to go back to Florence. When he told Raffaello and Michael Angelo they said it's not a good idea, you will suffer because women are not very strong. As you know it's men's world. This is her illusion and fantasy. Leonardo was very romantic; he left everything and went back to Florence.
Mona Lisa and Leonardo Da Vinci both of them were living in Corso Italia. Their houses were very near.
Leonardo phoned her, "Hi, Mona Lisa I am in Florence, can I see you".
She said, "Leonardo, I am very sorry I can't marry you because I have some family problem, please forgive me".
Leonardo got stunned, "Mona I left everything for you, even my best friends Michael Angelo and Raffaello and my job as well. I have nothing and now you are saying that you can't marry me. You ruined my life. Leonardo I am very sorry but I can't leave my father. He is old man. I am sacrificing my love for my father. When I asked you for marrying at that things were different. Circumstances were different but now the whole scene has been changed. We can be good friend if you like.
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Leonardo was very upset and shattered. He never even dreamt that his life will be like that. Then he accepted it like this was his fate and destiny. He forgave her but not really because he didn't have any choice. Still they were friends.
One day Mona Lisa phoned him and said, "Look Leonardo we are leaving Corso Italia and moving towards Certosa".
While they were shifting their house, Leonardo helped them and like that he saw some other scenes of their life. Mona Lisa was very different at home. He got acquainted with her father like that he became Mona Lisa's father's friend.
After staying few months in Certosa area they came back to Corso Italia because Certosa was in the outskirts of Florence. Leonardo was very happy that his Mona Lisa was coming back to Corso Italia; even she didn’t belong to him.
So like that Leonardo used to go to her home quite often. They used to talk for hours and used to eat together but one thing was strange for Leonardo that Mona Lisa had an addiction of talking on telephone. Sometime she used to talk on phone for hours; she never missed any call because she had this special system in her phone of call waiting. Many time it happened that Leonardo got annoyed but then he used to convince himself that she isn't my wife or fiancé so I can't object anyway. I am not going to marry her, we are just friend.
During Leonardo’s stay in Italy, he used to go to Siena, Perugia, Arezzo, Venezia and Pisa; he never missed to call her. He never understood that what sort of relationship was this. Was it love, Infatuation or lust? Finally he decided to go back to London. He told Mona Lisa that I am going back to London. In Italy I am not making enough money. If you would have married me I would have started new life which you can't do. So I have decided to go London, at there at least I will be making some money to survive. In Florence as you are close to I and I can't concentrate on my work. I will meet with Raffaello and Michel Angelo as well. You know they have made their CD's of their artistic work and they are on internet as well. On the other hand I am doing nothing. I am still the same.
Mona Lisa was crying while Leonardo Da Vinci was leaving. Leonardo said I will phone you, don't worry.
Leonardo Da Vinci was again in London. He started working at the same place where he used to work before. Raffaello and Michel Angelo were very happy to see their friend and they said, forget Mona Lisa. You will find many Mona Lisas here. Raffaello told him that I know a girl called La Velata. You can ask her out if you like her. Leonardo refused to do this because he was very upset, British government sent him letter that you left England without our permission so this time you can't live in London. You have to leave this country. Leonardo was paying and suffering a lot because of his one sided love story. He was in debts. He phoned Mona Lisa’s father that I am in trouble what shall I do. Her father said, come back to Italy. We will do something but Mona Lisa said, don't listen to my dad, stay there even illegal, it doesn't matter. You will find some solution.
At last he had to leave London, so he came to Florence again at same Corso Italia.
He met her. She was crying, please forgive me, I am the culprit. I ruined your life.
While these things were happening to Leonardo Da Vinci, everyone in Florence was watching and enjoying their pain and agony. Leonardo's sister Camille Paglia asked this time to Leonardo that we will find someone for you like this you will start your new life. Forget London and Paris, you can live in Florence. You can make money, you can survive, and you are an artist.
Leonardo's sister and father went to Mona Lisa’s father asked her hand for Leonardo Da Vinci and he accepted the proposal. When Camille Paglia told Leonardo he was very happy and on the other hand Mona Lisa was very happy. For them it was like miracle. Mona’s father was aware of their love affair but he never said anything because he thought maybe I am wrong but Leonardo was in his good books since very long not as a son in law but as a good person.
Leonardo called Raffaello, Michel Angelo and Donatello. They came with their wives and the most astonishing thing was that that Raffeallo's wife was La Velata.
Leonardo Da Vinci requested his family that I will do my wedding like Indian style. Everyone got shocked, what is this Indian style of wedding. Leonardo told them, when I was in London, I met with many Asian people. Their wedding style is entirely different from us. They do rusme henna (henna ceremony) of both, bride and bride groom separately. Than Barat ( they go to girl's place, bride's parent serve them lunch or dinner as per programme and next day they invite bride's parent and family for lunch or dinner which is called Valema.
Both families hired a big hall close to Verdi Theatre. It was nicely decorated and a deejay was playing Indian music. Mona's friends and Leonardo's friends were enjoying and dancing. The most favourite songs were of Ricky Martin and Tarkan.
Mona Lisa was wearing yellow shalwar qameez (baggy trouser and long shirt up to knees) and her whole skin was pasted with ubptan (a yellow paste made of gram flour and turmeric) and her friends were painting her hands with henna and they were making fascinating designs. On the other hand Leonardo was wearing orange shalwar qameez. This day passed happily and everyone enjoyed the party.
The next thing was wedding ceremony. In the morning first thing they did, both families went to the big church Santa Maria Nouvella. The priest read the bible and then pronounced them as a husband and wife instead of Mona Lisa and Leonardo.
Their wedding night was arranged in Ritz of Paris by Mona's father as a wedding gift.
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Leonardo and Mona both of them entered in the room. It was the most beautiful room both of them have ever seen.
Leonardo said to Mona Lisa, "I have special gift for you".
She opened the box and it was mobile phone. Instead of saying anything, Mona Lisa opened her beauty box, removed the back of the mobile and inserted her sim card and as she inserted the sim card, her friends started calling. Leonardo was very tired, so he slept soon. He woke up at 4 "O" clocks in the morning and Mona Lisa was still talking with someone on phone.
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After couple of years
Now Leonardo and Mona were living in Siena. Phone was ringing, she picked up the phone and said, "You can phone me in the morning from 10 to 1 "O" clock because during this period my husband is at work.
After 20 years
Now Leonardo and Mona are in Perugia and phone was ringing. Mona picked up the phone and said, "You can call me when I pick up the phone otherwise not because my son and husband, they don't like it.
After 30 years
Now Leonardo and Mona are in Rome. The phone is ringing. Mona is nearly seventy years old and she has grand children and Leonardo isn't alive. She picked up the phone, her grandson wanted to interrupt her but she didn't care.
After death
Mona was in her grave and two angles were asking her questions and phone beside her was ringing, instead of responding them she started chatting.
In front of God
Mona Lisa was in front of God and two angels were holding her. God this lady has equal sins and good deeds. Where shall we send her, heaven or hell? While they were asking this, the telephone set next to God started ringing. God wanted to pick up the phone but suddenly Mona Lisa said, should be mine, don't pick up the phone. Should be mine don't pick up the phone, should be mine, don't pick up the phone. She woke up and picked up the phone and said thanks God it was a dream.
Gama
When they brought Chaudary Ghulam Rasul in a Dessio village’s hospital which is close to Milan, he was in severe condition. When doctors discussed each other and decided that to save Chaudary Ghulam Rasul's life there is only one way that we should cut his right arm.
This is doctor's everyday’s job, their job is to save life but sometime many patients die in front of them and they can't do anything. Doctor Giuseppe Galvani made his heart strong and came to tell this Pakistan’s Punjabi robust man that we will cut your arm. When Chaudary sahib heard this news salted water started coming out from his eyes and he got drowned in deep thoughts.
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Gama means Ghulam Rasul passed through many hardships and he came to Germany. His father was an ordinary man and he used to get ready huqas (Hubble bubble) for chaudarys. In his whole life he did this job but Gama had only one goal and destiny that by any means he should go to abroad or some European country and that's what he did. Since he was in Germany he was no more Gama, he was Ghulam Rasul.
When he came to Germany somebody gave him suggestion that you should apply for political stay. As Gama, who was now Ghulam Rasul, got acquainted with this new environment in a short span of time, he added Shah (Shah or Syed means when you have this sir name that you are direct descendent of Mohammad peace be upon him) with his name. When he applied for the political asylum he applied with this new name called Ghulam Rasul Shah. Now people used to call him Shah Sahib (shah or Syed means the people who are directly descendent of Prophet Mohammad P.B.U.H. from his daughter side Fatima. They are very respectable). People used to give him a lot of respect because of being Shah. Gama used to wake up early in the morning and his job was to do publicity work for the pizzeria where he was working and he used to go door to door to distribute pamphlets of pizzeria. In the evening he used to help pizza maker, preparing material, cutting salad, dish washing and cleaning the kitchen. He had free lodgement from political asylum department and he used to eat in pizzeria where he was working and on the other hand he used to collect some social benefit from social security office. Whatever he used to earn from pizzeria, he used to send that money to his father. Gama means, Ghulam Rasul who was now Shah Sahib, He had sex with nearly all prostitutes who were living around the place where he was staying. Where he was staying there was a big brothel house. Gama used to go there every week regularly, he never repeated girl again, and sometime he used to go twice a week. He wasn't alcoholic but his philosophy was that about drinking alcohol, with alcohol he kills his internal germs. Sometime he used to smoke hashish just for tranquillity and to relax himself. Now nobody knew he was Gama or Ghulam Rasul, everyone knew that he was Shah Sahib. His father bought a piece of land with the money which he used to send him regularly. He renovated the house as well. Now Gama was dreaming to construct a house on a piece land in city area which his father already bought it. Asylum department refused his application but he applied for appeal against their decision. So he was waiting for their answer either they will refuse it or accept it. During this period Italy opened immigration and Gama took all his belongings and came to Milan. Gama was very clever; he didn't spend even a single penny to come to Italy from Germany. He took the advantage of being Shah Sahib. There were few people in Germany they knew about him that he is fake Shah but in Italy nobody knew that. He never cooked at home, never cleaned house even somebody submitted his papers, free of cost, that gentleman thought that like this He will get some good position in paradise. Now someone gave suggestion to Shah Sahib I mean to Gama that Germans have taken your finger prints, so you change your name and date of birth otherwise it will be very difficult for you to get papers. For this purpose, Gama, Ghulam Rasul, Ghulam Rasul Shah was now Chaudary Ghulam Rasul Shah. Before he used to get respect being a Shah and now he used to suppress and degrade people being a Chaudary.
Gama was very lucky that he got papers very soon and he found job as well. He used to go to factory six days a week and he used to do overtime as well, but he wasn't convinced what he was earning. The money he used to save in Germany, he wasn't saving that much money in Italy. He got upset, he thought, he has advantage of papers but his expenses were increased. Somebody gave him an idea that send sick leave and find some illegal job without paying any tax. He liked the idea and he started doing like this but his budget was upset because his father started construction work on the piece of land which they had in city. He fixed ceiling fans in all rooms and where he was supposed to be spending his wedding night his father fixed air conditioner. Even though he decided that there should be ceiling fans in corridors and verandas as well. His father found a graduate girl for him as well. For all this Gama needed a lot of money but he wasn't achieving his target. This time Gama applied for infortunio, which means accident at work or during work. He hurt his finger intentionally. From now on, until unless he wasn't healed, INAIL should have to pay every month because it was infortunio sul lavoro, mishap during work. He continued infortunio for six months than reluctantly he told them that now he is fine and he restarted his work. After couple of month his same finger got injured again, so he was again on infortunio for six months. Where Gama was working, the factory owners new all these tactics but they can't go against rules because INAIL and INPS used to deduct taxes from Gama's pay slip.
This time when Gama went to INAIL's office to stop infortunio, somebody gave him an idea that if you cut your finger than you will earn a lot of money and it's quite possible they send you on pension. On the other hand you can find some illegal job as well.
Gama's finger got injured once again which was injured twice. He didn’t care of his wound, never clean it because he wanted, they should cut his finger and he will start getting pension money. His finger's wound was getting worse and worse and he was still working at the same place illegally where he used to work during infortunio.
One night Gama felt a severe and terrible pain, they took him to pronto scorso (first aid). They admitted Gama in hospital, they saw his documents, and he was on infortunio. His paper work was excellent, he was very happy that now they will cut his finger and he will be eligible for pension.
Doctors took his x-ray, and scanned it as well and they saw that poison has penetrated in his whole arm and if we won't cut his arm, he will die. As Gama heard this, tears started coming out from Gama's I mean from Chaudary Ghulam Rasul Shah's eyes continuously.
Ahmad Marjan
He said some phrases in English and let the customer to leave his shop. He was lucky enough that his customer didn't know much English or more than him, if he would have known more than him, than it would have been very difficult for him because Ahmad Marjan wasn't that good in English conversation. He knew few and typical phrases in English, which he heard from here and there.
Ahmad Marjan belonged to a well off family but he had such a twist in his life that his standard of living instead of increasing started decreasing. When they were well off and his father was alive (who was doctor by profession), at that time they used to live in a big villa which left Marjan's grandfather. Marjan was living very dandy life at that time. Everyone had his own car; he used to wear expanses clothes. Marjan never ever even thought that he will be living life like this. His elder brothers and sisters completed their education when his father was alive and they were living posh life but Marjan failed thrice in F.Sc. And finally he passed his exam in third division. His family has good reputation, so he got admission in B.Sc. (Bachelor of Science) but for Marjan it was hard nut to crack so he thought of doing simple B.A. (Bachelor of Arts). While he was deciding to do this, his father died. As his father died his elder brothers changed their attitude with him. Now sisters were remaining but his pride didn't give him permission to take their help. So Marjan didn't complete his graduation now he was called F.Sc. third division pass. His family has good relations with other families and they were not poor so his family thought to find a compatible match for Marjan. Like this Marjan got married. But this marriage didn't bring him happiness. He still had the same bad habits which he used to have when his father was alive like smoking Gold Leaf, expansive car, nice dressing, and his tailor was the most expansive tailor of Rawalpindi, called Chiragh Din. He used to import jeans from England. Now things were changed. After marriage he didn't like that someone support him and his wife. He started searching for some job but with third division Intermediate certificate, he didn't find any job. While he was searching for some job, he had an accident and he lost his one eye. His brothers and sisters paid the hospital and operation bill, so like this he came home with one eye; his other eye was artificial, made of stone. Now he used to see everyone with one eye, means equally. But he used to wear glasses black ones, just to pretend that he is wearing sun glasses. Nobody knew that Marjan’s one eye is artificial. The only people who knew this secret were his close relatives. Sometime your fate gives you severe punishment. Same thing happened with Marjan. After this accident God gave him son and on the other hand, the one and only well wisher of Marjan, his mother died. Because of her, he was eating and living in that house. As he lost his mother, where he was living with his wife and his son, his brothers and sisters decided to sale out this house because everyone wanted his share. They divided the money which they have after selling the house, they gave Marjan his part with that money Marjan bought a small house and he started a small business. His standard of living was already low after his father's death, now it was worse. One couldn't even thing about this that Marjan his one brother was brigadier, one was deputy commissioner and two sisters were doctor, among them there will big status difference that they weren't even willing to see him. They always try to avoid him and Marjan too. Like this his life was going on.
Now Marjan designed his life like that, he used to search nice and good shirts and jeans from landa shops (landa is a word used for second hand clothing). Like this he used to satisfy his conscience. His cigarette brand was still same, Gold Leaf but he used to buy only two cigarettes daily, which he used to keep in an empty box of Gold Leaf. Whenever he felt that the box is dirty or in bad condition, he used to change it. He bought a second hand car as well from a junk yard. The car's condition wasn't good but giving him company. Early in the morning his wife used to prepare breakfast for him and he used to take bath in way taking shower. He had a silver bucket and there was a silver bowl. He used to drop water with that silver bowl on his head like he is having shower. After this he used to change his clothes, than breakfast, he used to bring jam or butter sometime or sometime fried egg. After all these things, he used to wear his shoes, which were worn and torn after lot of polishing. He used to place the only box of Gold Leaf in his briefcase and other than this box; there wasn’t anything in his briefcase. Whenever his car gave him problem, he went to mechanic. There he used to place his one leg on a wooden stool and he used to open his brief case to take out the packet of cigarette which always had one or two cigarette. He never wanted and showed to anyone that someone see his briefcase. He used to take one cigarette out from the box and he used to throw the empty box in a corner, so this was last cigarette in the box, although he used to buy two cigarettes in the morning. He used to smoke one cigarette and other just to show the mechanic, he used to throw but it happened always that he took back his box but he always made sure that mechanic isn't watching and like this he used to put back the cigarette box in his brief case. The mechanic never discovered Marjan’s this trick.
Where Marjan bought his new house, his neighbour’s, people around him was thinking that Marjan is someone very special. Where he had his small shop, for them he was the most powerful man in the market. Like this Marjan had created his own world. Sometime he used to feel very bad, in his loneliness, that if he would have completed his education when his father was alive, he would have taken it seriously, he wouldn't have been living like this disconnected with everyone but now it was too late.
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Life was moving slowly. Whatever he was but Marjan was kind at heart. It was true that he used to lie sometime and he was a little bit hypocrites but he never hurt anyone. It was his routine; waking up early in the morning; going to work at eight o clock in the morning and coming back home in the evening. His wife wasn’t very happy with him but she never hurt his feeling and respected her husband's dignity. During this period God gave them another baby girl, they named her Mariam. Due to this new baby their expanses were increased. They had their own house so they used to manage the budget but when his wife used to think about their kid's future, she used to scream. Sometime she used to complain to Marjan about their life but she knew that their income was limited. He used to give her same example that look around, the people who are living around us, are much poor than us. After hearing this justification she used to remain quite.
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Marjan went to work like he used to go everyday but on the way, his car broken down. His motor mechanic was quite near so he went there. The car mechanic was busy in repairing someone's car. The car was very expansive and mechanic knew that he will get more money so he didn't really care of Marjan’s existence. Marjan didn't like this, he started waiting. He wanted to light his cigarette but his lighter didn’t have gas. He went to the person who was wearing nice suit and latest and shining shoes. When he saw that gentleman, he got shocked because he was his father's best friend, Mirza sahib. He recognized him at first view. He gave him lighter but Marjan placed back his cigarette in box for respect sake.
He asked him, “Why you needed to come”?
So he said, “My car is broken down, I was going to work but I think I will be late today”.
He said, “You don't need to worry, I will give you lift. You tell me what you do”?
“Uncle, I have small shop”.
That gentleman saw Marjan’s car, heard about his small shop, he got shocked because Marjan had very lavish and dandy life. He was loving and favourite child of his family.
He said, “Marjan beta (means son), tell me honestly, what is the truth”?
Marjan said, “Uncle there isn't anything, I have my own house, business, car. I have everything. I have two kids and above all my wife has wonderful personality”.
“But your elder brothers they are living luxurious life. I don't know if you know that that your elder brother’s name has been nominated for General”.
“Yes I know that, I read about him in the news paper”.
“Marjan you are hiding something. Why there is such difference between your and their standard of living”
Marjan told him little bit but he didn’t say such a thing with which one could degrade someone. He respected his elders. His father friend’s eyes got wet and he said in heavy voice because he was going to cry, “Beta (son), you have passport”?
Marjan said, “Yes I do have”.
“What about your wife and kids”?
“No they don’t have”.
While they were chatting, the car mechanic yelled, “Sir, your car is ready”.
He paid the bill and said to Marjan, “Let’s go, I will drop you up to your shop”.
The car mechanic got astonished and he said in a loud voice, “Marjan sahib, what about your car”.
“He said, “You repair it, I will take it in the evening”.
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Marjan and Mirza sahib spoke thoroughly in the car and he Mirza sahib gave him an idea that he should apply for visit visa because he has someone in British embassy. Ahmad Marjan spoke with his father in law. He said that there is no harm in applying visa but don’t sell your shop and house and apply for visa.
He applied for visa. Mira sahib phoned already so without any objection they got visa.
Marjan gave the keys of house and shop to his father in law and he went to England. There he found his college friend and according to his suggestion he applied political stay there. British government gave him home, he got free medical facility and he used to get social security every week. His kids started going to school. In six months time lot of freshness came on Marjan and his wife Rahat’s face. His kids colour became more farer. His wife got teacher’s job and Marjan started driving minicab after passing the driving test. Their financial condition was much better and Marjan started saving the money as well.
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It has been six years. Home office wrote a letter to Marjan that we have accepted your asylum application. Marjan was flabbergasted and shocked how does it happened, usually home office refuse ninety percent applications. Now he was allowed to travel all around the world accept Pakistan. Marjan wasn’t interested going to Pakistan but his wife used to suffer sometime nostalgic feelings because she has her family, parents. She used to convince herself that for the betterment of their children’s future they have to sacrifice. Ahmad Marjan bought two houses, one was for them, where they were living and other they rented out. They have two cars, one for Marjan and other his wife Rahat had. They had all basic needs. Ahmad started thinking that old days are back when his father was alive.
During this period, an interesting thing happened, or you can say a sad incidence. Marjan’s elder brother who was brigadier and his name was nominated for General, he was being retired forcefully. So he left Pakistan army having dream of being General and retired as Brigadier. So he was only and only retired Brigadier. His both sons were loafer and vagabond. They didn’t complete their study. Now their father wasn’t Brigadier so due to financial crises, he decided to come to England. He found Marjan’s telephone number from some relative although he never wanted to know where his younger brother is after their father’s death. He never even thought how he must be feeding his kids because Marjan wasn’t even mother’s favourite; he was his father’s favourite as well. Marjan forgot everything and went to the airport to receive his elder brother. Marjan and his wife respected him a lot, and looked after him. Brigadier sahib got shocked after seeing Marjan’s way of living. He introduced Daniyal and Mariam to his elder brother and said, “Kids he is your taya”. (Elder brother, if he would have been younger than Marjan than he should have call him chacha). Both of them got shocked because they heard about mamo and khala but they didn’t know about these words, taya, and phupho like these.
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Marjan had his own mini cab office. Lots of people were working for him. His elder brother started working with him as well. He applied for political asylum and the Brigadier sahib did mini cabing with Pakistani licence in the beginning which was valid for one year than started working with British licence because he passed the test very soon. So like this Pakistani Brigadier started working in England as mini caber. Brigadier sahib was realistic person so he accepted the life the way it was. Now Marjan was who third division matric pass and his elder brother who was brigadier, there was no difference among their status because both of them were working as a mini caber. They were making good money. After couple of years Brigadier sahib’s family came as well. His two loafer sons came as well. Brigadier sahib found a separate house for him and his family. His kids became worse and on the other hand Mariam and Daniyal planned to join Oxford University. Marjan finally came to this conclusion that education is the most important thing in your life. And Brigadier sahib not even kept an eye on their kid’s education; he didn’t care about their upbringing. Brigadier sahib and his wife learnt the lesson but their sons were out of track. He used to think that this is curse of God because he didn’t look after his younger brother. Although Marjan never wanted their help. He started living on his own. Neither he asked them anything nor did they want to know how he is.
Until yet Marjan’s two nephews were in London. It was strange who ever used to come to Pakistan he must have had Marjan’s address and phone number. He thought when my parents left me everyone turned his face towards me and now I am in London, everyone cares about me. But Marjan didn’t have this name Marjan for name sake; he was in fact Yaqut and Marjan. (These are precious stones)
Home Office.
The small room was packed of files. There were two or may be three telephone sets. On one side there was plastic tray and “IN” was written on it and there was another tray on the cupboard and on that it was written “OUT”. Jamil and Arshad were searching the room with their eyes like special police check suspicious things. Both of them were quite frank friends but in lawyer’s room they were quite like someone stopped the kids not to say anything when they are at some funeral because kids don’t realise the delicacy of the situation or place.
They were drowned in their thoughts; somebody twisted the handle of the door and entered in the room. The gentleman was wearing camel colour double breast suit and matching tie. He was handsome man but there were no moustaches on his face this was the only thing which was lacking in his personality. This was Jamil and Arshad’s personal opinion. As this gentleman, I mean Bhatti sahib sat on the chair, Jamil started his story,
“Bhatti sahib he is my best friend and he left Pakistan because of financial crises. Now he wants to apply for political asylum”.
Bhatti sahib asked him some questions and got impressed of his education and qualifications which he had and gave them Thursday’s time. Both friends, Jamil and Arshad came down through stairs. While they were walking in the street they were knitting their dreams. Finally they took their way to home.
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On Thursday Arshad came to Bhatti sahib’s office on his own. He gave him relevant documents which were necessary for political asylum. Bhatti sahib checked everything, home address, one electricity bill which was to check the gentleman who gave him his address, either his is the resident of this address or not. Then he took his citation, what happened with him, which was in frangi’s language English. In the mean Bhatti sahib called his secretary who was on the brink of dying beauty, like she was enjoying her last moments of beauty. She was murmuring in Hindi, Urdu and English like this it became some kind of Creole or Pidgin language. As she entered inside, she said, there was train strike, so she borrowed someone’s car to come to the office. Bhatti sahib told her about his new client and told her that he is an educated man, due to economic problems, he left Pakistan and he wants to apply for political asylum, and he is even unable to pay our fee. So take his sign on green form (green form is such a form if you sign it than your legal charges will b covered by British government, after signing this form you can have a lawyer and who ever accompanied you up to home office, state will pay the train ticket and all the allowances. British government pay every single penny to lawyer).
Like this you can solve his economic problem”. The way that lady entered in the office, she took Arshad with her and left the office again in a same way. She checked all the papers, which Arshad had; she took his sign on green form and on their law associate’s form as well.
In the mean time a fat guy entered in the room and he was speaking English in way that someone is chewing the words. Or maybe this was his style. His dress matching was weird, that weird that, it’s nearly unexplainable in words. He was wearing a check shirt and an old fashioned tie. He tightened his belt on his belly in a way that someone tried to hold an elephant with this belt. Due to this tight belt, his belly was divided into two parts; it seemed like that that he has two bellies. While he was doing conversation with that lady, it seemed like that he has to solve the whole London’s problems and you can’t find even a single person all around London who is more trustable and responsible than him. He started photocopying the important documents of Arshad and while he was doing this he was talking with that lady as well. Arshad was searching the room with his eyes like an expert detective. There was a cupboard, which had twenty or thirty books which were all same but the difference was only the year written on them. Some books were on literature as well. One was on Picasso, some books of Shakespeare and few novels of Jane Austin. On one side there was photocopier and few chairs and one telephone set.
All of a sudden that lady’s mobile phone started ringing. That lady started chatting on the phone. This all period Arshad passed in curiously and inquisitively. She was chatting with some in her beautiful voice like someone is playing some melodious musical instrument. When she finished her conversation on mobile phone; she dialled some number on the telephone which was on her table. People were coming in and out and that lady was fixing appointments of her clients for Home Office of The United Kingdom of Great Britain. She finally found someone for Arshad and the lady who accepted to go with Arshad to Home Office on Friday at one “O” clock, her name was Mah-Laqa. She fixed the appointment at law associates address and said Khuda Hafiz.
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Arshad was waiting outside the Bhatti law associates at quarter past one. As he entered in the office he saw a skinny girl who was speaking Urdu in way that when you do transliteration and write them, when you speak them they will be English words but there meanings you understand in Urdu. Like this that skinny girl was talking in verbal transliteration. Like she was saying “karain gay”, she was saying “kareen gay”. She was speaking Urdu but phonetically it was like English. Anyway, that lady, whose name was Mah-Laqa, she glanced at Arshad’s body from head to toe and made her face like she ate some sour almond. While they were coming down from the stairs of law associates, she started explaining him that what will happen in Home Office. During their travel that lady treated Arshad that some Brahman had to accompany some Achut (untouchable) due to some severe emergency. At last they arrived at Croydon. They came out from the tube station, after walking through some different zigzag roads and streets they arrived in front of a building. They entered in the building. That lady was acquainted with every worker of this building which is called Home Office. In the mean time that lady met with an English man. She started talking with that gentleman and Arshad felt inferiority complex. In a blink of eye a thought came in his mind that this white skin man defeated the brown skin man once again. Anyway thrice of them arrived on second floor. They stood in the line and started waiting for their turn. Than that lady sat on a chair which was close to the queue. Arshad was waiting for his turn and he was upset as well, so that lady felt Arshad’s disturbance and came closer to him and said in strange Urdu accent, “jab tumharhi bari aaye gi to main pass a jaon gi” when your turn will come, I will join you.
Arshad was in front of concerned person. That lady came as well. She started telling that gora (white man) Arshad’s case’s delicacy. And Arshad started telling that English man his story in typical Pakistani English and with specific accent but that English man didn’t get what he was saying so that lady helped him and explained everything. That’s what she came for and she was supposed to be getting money for interpretation. The counter clerk heard everything and he wrote it as well and then he said, “Soon we will call you, wait for your turn, they will take your finger prints”.
Arshad started waiting for his turn. There was an electronic sign board or you can say that electronic display machine, which was showing number on it. Arshad was in his deep thoughts and that lady again started talking with that white guy who met them in the beginning. Finally he came out of his thoughts, his turn came.
First of all they said him to wash his hands than they took the prints of his all fingers and thumbs as well. Then he was being asked by them to wash his hands again. Arshad thought that they will take his fingers’ prints again but they said the finger print stage has been passed; now you are free. Then they have given him blue colour token. Some people had pink token, they were here to collect their passport or travel document and the people who had blue token they were here to submit their cases. There were different counters and they were calling people one by one. The same electronic display machine was here as well. Arshad was looking around habitually and his turn came. As Arshad saw his token number, he stood up and that lady realises as well and she accompanied him up to the counter where they had to go. Arshad gave all documents, relevant documents and photos as well to counter clerk. He kept everything and gave a piece of paper to Arshad which had his interview date and time as well. The interview was after three days. That lady, English gentleman and Arshad took their way to home so thrice of them started walking swiftly towards tube station. As they stepped in the train, that lady and English man started chatting in their typical Urdu accent which is quite common in British born Pakistani people. For whom Arshad was thinking that he is English, he was like one of them and Asian blood was flowing in his veins as well.
When their train arrived at Black Friar railway station that lady said, good bye to Arshad and specified him once again about the Home Office’s appointment, date and time. She told him that she will meet him there, outside the Home Office and told him to inform Bhatti law associates as well about this. Then she took her way towards her home with that Asian gora. Arshad was walking, he was drown in his thoughts and he disappeared somewhere in the people.
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The first thing Arshad did was he came to Bhatti law associates. He took all the information about Home Office and took his way to Home Office. When he arrived there, he found that that lady, Mah-Laqa hasn’t arrived yet. He was standing on second floor carrying his all documents. He was singing in a very slow voice, “Killing me softly” (song by Fugees), his voice was that low that it was nearly impossible for anyone to hear him. Although he knew few lines and rest of the song he never understood and his voice wasn’t that good. The lady who had to registered his application, she heard what he was singing; she started singing with Arshad as well. She found what Arshad was singing through lips reading. Maybe that lady liked this song very much. She started telling Arshad that song was originally sung by Roberta Flac and now a new group Fugees sang it again. They have given this song a new life but I think Roberta Flac sang this song better than Fugees.
That lady sent him on third floor. When Arshad arrived there, he was being told to go in a room. Arshad entered in the room, went to the desk, where a lady was sitting and told her his name and address than he showed her all documents which he had. That lady told him to stay here and wait for your turn. She asked him about solicitor and interpreter. Arshad got confused and respond her perplexedly. Then he came towards chairs which were made of plastic and sat there. He was waiting for his turn and for his solicitor as well. While he was sitting in the hall, habitually he was searching everything with his eyes. There was one place where Arshad was sitting and around this big hall there were many small cabins. The cabins were made in such manners that it was very easy to see through them. He was watching, what was going on in these small cabins and who were sitting in them. Arshad quit searching because his interpreter or you can say solicitor came. As she came, I mean Mah-Laqa; she started briefing him about things. She begged him pardon of coming late as well. She said, “I am sorry, I am late”.
Arshad name was being called and a very fare and white complexioned girl came and asked him to come with her. That lady was carrying some Islamic name plate on her chest. He didn’t know she was from which country.
Now in one of those small cabins, Arshad, his lawyer, interpreter and an immigration officer was sitting. It means there were three women in the cabin and only one man. That white and fare complexioned lady started asking him questions. She asked him thirty three questions. That interpreter was translating the phrases from English to Urdu like you drop money in Cadbury chocolate machine and you get chocolate instead. From that interpreter’s mouth, the words of Urdu and Punjabi were coming out like someone is printing on printing machine without errors. Arshad was inventing and fabricating answers of her questions and his all answer were based upon lie. They had nothing to do with reality.
Arshad was doing very well because of his knowledge and wisdom than that lady asked him questions about those thirty three questions. The interview was completed and Arshad and interpreter left the room than she took him to another place. As Arshad was unaware of this building’s tangled structure so he didn’t know where she was taking him and where they were walking in these confused corridors. Now when they arrived, at this place there was an English person and an interpreter was there as well. The interpreter who came with him, she wasn’t allowed to go inside so when he entered in the room, they locked the room. They took his audio interview, which was recorded. After this it was played for Arshad to hear what he said. He heard everything than that cassette was taken off from the tape recorder and it was being attached with Arshad’s file. They have given a brown envelope which has details about his finger prints, photos and explanation about his political asylum application. It was written how long he can stay in England; everything depends upon his case’s situation. The most shocking thing for him was that there were few lines written on the top of paper that he wasn’t allowed to work for six months. Arshad did all this process to have permission of work, he thought after applying for political asylum, he well get insurance number and he will find some decent job or he will be eligible for social security and they didn’t allow him to claim social benefit as well.
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Saving.
Ahmad Nadeem Qazmi was discussing with his friend from last many hours that he failed thrice in B.Sc’s (Bachelors of Science) exams and now he is wasting his time in Technical college. He goes there every day. If by mistake he will pass the exam and get the diploma than what’s the difference.
But Javed Ahmad Siddiqui was trying to convince him that after completing diploma he can find some job and for that he is for sure. It doesn’t matter, if he will have technical diploma instead of B.Sc’s (Bachelors of Science) degree. They didn’t come to any conclusion.
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All of sudden an idea came in Javed Ahmad Siddiqui’s mind that he should go to England. He didn’t complete his B.Sc or Technical diploma. Qazmi tried to convince him a lot that don’t go to England leave this idea but Siddiqui had such a personality, whatever he decided once, he did it. This was his final decision. He got England’s visit visa by using some contacts. Now he was getting ready himself to go to England. Qazmi completed his M.Sc. and now he was running to and fro for the job but Siddiqui was leaving Pakistan without completing his education. Both of them planned many things for their better future, they had many dream. Qazmi’s dream was going to become true soon because he completed his education. His dreams were very common as an educated and young man has like him, decent education, nice job, home, wife and kids. On the other hand Siddiqui wanted to earn a lot of money. So for his dreams he used to plan all the time to earn money through some short cut. That’s why he didn’t concentrate on his studies. He didn’t complete his B.Sc. and Technical diploma as well. Now he was going to England.
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Everyone came to the airport to say good bye to Siddiqui, even his fiancé. Other than his family, Qazmi came to the airport as well. Siddiqui took permission from everyone because he was getting late. He was leaving his family, his best friend as well. He showed a lot of hastiness to go England. His mother encouraged him and advice him that when he feel financially little bit stable than he should take Tasnim as well. Finally everyone said good bye with blend of happiness and grumpiness.
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Javed Ahmad Siddiqui’s some uncle who wasn’t close relative was living in London for last many years. When he arrived at Heathrow airport, he phoned him, and uncle who wasn’t closely related to him said which train is right for him to come to his home. He did as his uncle said. When he arrived at their home, it was dinner time. All of them had dinner together than his uncle loaded him in his car and stopped his car in front of some house. Now you will live here, as long as you want to stay. Javed got very impressed of his uncle’s deep wisdom, who wasn’t closely related to him.
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It has been few months that Javed was living in London that he found job. As he found job he started giving rent and mess bill to the people where he was living. Javed came to London to stay here permanently but he didn’t mention his future projects to his uncle who wasn’t his close relative. Because coming from airport to his home he knew each and everything. You can say it was Javed’s cleverness or luck that he found a girl, who accepted to marry him. He gave details about his family to girl’s parent. As her family migrated to Pakistan after partition and afterward they migrated to England and on the other Javed’s family migrated to Pakistan from India during partition. Javed was lucky enough that he got married with this girl while his visa was valid. Otherwise he would have gone to Pakistan. Then it’s a long story to come back from Pakistan. For this situation Mirza Ghalib said very well,
“Kaun jeta hay teri zulf kay sir honay tak”
After marriage Javed started living in that girl’s house. That girl had her own house and she was working in a bank. Both of them were living happily. For Javed, Rahela was the most beautiful girl of the universe. Why she shouldn’t have been, because of her he got the permanent stay in England. As Javed got indefinite stay’s stamp on his passport, he got shocked and he shouted madly, that I have got permanent stay in England. Rahela was pregnant so there were no plans to go to Pakistan. During this span of time Javed’s uncle came to know that he has got permanent stay in England, which means indefinite stay, who wasn’t closely related uncle, he became his closely related uncle. He used to come and see Javed quite often. Javed started his small business and he passed the driving test and bought a cheap car as well. It seemed like that that Javed is madly in love with Rahela but in fact he was only person who knew and God knew what his plan was. He was like prime number, which is divided by one or by him. God gave him daughter which is called rehmat (blessing of god). It looked like that he was very happy but in fact he wasn’t happy. For Rahela marrying with Javed was like living in paradise. During this Rahela left bank’s job and Javed was tired of doing this small business. So they planned to go to Pakistan.
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When they arrived at Lahore airport, Qazmi his wife and kids came to receive them. Javed’s parent came as well but his fiancé didn’t come. On the other hand Rahela didn’t know that that Javed is engaged in Pakistan. All of them welcomed Javed, his wife and little Janain. On the way to home Javed related his whole story to Ahmad Nadeem Qazmi.
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Jawed, Rahela and Janain enjoyed their parties and invitations for one month’s time. This one month passed very fast. Like this the day came, when they were supposed to be leaving. Everybody said good bye unhappily, everyone was sad but they had to go. Anyway Javed promised them that he will come back soon.
At last the aeroplane’s painstaking long journey ended. As the aeroplane’s wheel touched the runway of Heathrow airport, little Janain woke up. They passed through immigration counter, than they took their bags and came out of the airport. What they saw that Javed’s uncle, who wasn’t closely related uncle and because of indefinite stay he became closely related uncle, was waiting for them. He phoned Pakistan to know about their flight that at what time they will be arriving at Heathrow airport. So that’s why he came to receive them. Javed thanked God that they are going home but on their way to home, their uncle said, have dinner at our home because you people are very tired than you can go home. Javed liked the idea. They had dinner at his uncle’s home and after dinner his uncle dropped them at their home.
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Javed got British passport. He was very happy. As it was like that that he has passed the exam of B.Sc. or he got some Technical diploma. As Javed got passport, he heard news that his father isn’t doing well in Pakistan. So he had to go to Pakistan alone. Rahela was madly in love with Javed. She trusted him completely. She never ever even thought of it that Javed got British passport after marrying with her. As now they had daughter as well so she was dam sure that there is nothing wrong. She gave him permission happily. She said I respect your father like my own father. You should go, nothing gonna happened to him.
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Javed tried his level best to convince his fiancé’s parent, in the beginning they weren’t willing but finally they accepted his proposal. He explained them; he got married in England just to get papers because I wanted to stay there permanently. This was the only way to settled there and I have children from her because if I wouldn’t have baby from that girl, it would have been almost impossible for her to believe me that I am in love with her and I am not marrying her for documents. He told them that he never gave her chance to let her know that what I feel inwardly.
At last Javed got married with his fiancé and his father, who wasn’t feeling well, was okay now. So like this after passing one month in Pakistan he left his newly married (second wife) and came back to London. This time Rahela and Janain came to receive him at the airport. Rahela cried a lot, but she was helpless. He convinced her that my ex fiancé’s father had heard attack. If I wouldn’t have marry her, than he would have been died. I would have been feeling that I killed him. I didn’t want to pass my whole life in agony and pain. Even though if you believe it or not, you are the only person in this whole world, whom I love. Rahela was listening and looking him like a mannequin.
Javed started working again and Rahela left the bank job. Now she used to feel sad and alone. She trusted Javed and believed him what he said because Javed never should such an attitude with which you feel that he was change person. She convinced herself that he lives with him
One day Javed said to Rahela that if I give you divorce and so like this you will be allowed to claim single parent benefit. Where we are living, you can claim the rent as well. we will live in this house without paying any rent and whatever we will save, that saving we will leave for Janain’s better future. Rahela accepted his idea and he gave her divorce. According to Javed it was divorce on papers which was in reality a divorce. Like you do paper marriage but in fact it’s a real marriage but you consider it as fake marriage. So she got fake kind of divorce. In European law it doesn’t matter the husband and wife are living together or not after divorce. According to papers they are not married and like this wife can claim single parent benefit and if husband or divorcee can apply benefit if he likes or if he doesn’t have any job. Usually there are more chances to get council’s house for single parent. After doing all these arrangement Javed started going to Pakistan a lot. According to British document, he was jobless but he started enlarging his business in Dubai. Until now Javed became a rich man. According Pakistani standard he was crore patti (millionaire), and he was patti as well twice (patti mean in Hindi husband). Rahela didn’t know about anything, about Javed’s property and money. She used to pass her time in thinking about Janain’s future. What could she be doing in her life? Javed tried to convince Rahela many times that he will give divorce to his Pakistani wife but during this period he had two daughters from Pakistani wife respectively.
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Janain was old enough. She was able to judge about good and bad things. His father bought house for her that when she will reach at marriageable age, he will give her as a gift. On the other hand he bought two houses for his daughters who were in Pakistan. The price of both houses was five million each. Both of them had British passports but they didn’t travel to England until yet. Because Javed never wanted that they take the bad influence of British culture and society. As he was living in England and he got married with British girl just because of documents, it’s not he liked this culture. He always took extreme measure not to know his inner feeling anyone. Otherwise it would have been perilous for him. For Javed time was passing very fast but for Rahela time was moving slowly. For her, she was living her life like permanent punishment or penalty.
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Javed tried his level best to convince his daughter for marriage but he wasn’t allowed to force her according to British law. The only reason that Janain didn’t want to marry was that she didn’t want that history repeats itself. She didn’t want to live the life the way her mother was living. What happened to her mother, same thing could have happened to her as well. On the other hand the daughter he had from Pakistani wife. They got married. His both son in laws knew that these girls have British passports so they persuade them to go to England. There is no life in Pakistan. So finally they came to England one after another.
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Janain was worried about her step sisters because their husbands got British passports and both of them were divorced by their husbands. One of them started living with a Jamaican guy and other lost her believe on men. So she started living with a girl. Janain got shocked and surprised that she grew up in British society and her sisters brought up in Pakistan but the things are opposite. I didn’t take bad effect of this culture but on the other hand my sisters who grew up in Islamic country and culture; they adopted European culture without hesitation. It took seven years but Janain felt that these things happened very fast.
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Javed had severe epilepsy attack and he became permanent guest of hospital. The daughters he had from Pakistani wife they never came to hospital to see their father but Janain used to come to hospital quite often. He had everything in hospital. Every comfort was available but his eyes used to look for his kids. Janain was different. She used to come to hospital to look after his father. Javed’s hand was unable to be together but through his eyes it was quite clear the he was begging for forgiveness from his wife and daughter. It was impossible for him to bring his wife’s youth back or to buy affection for his daughter; even he would have spent his all money which he saved. Even though his wealth couldn’t bring him health which he had. His all planning and cunningness were useless for him.
One day Janain tried to feed some soup to his father and his father’s head turned towards downward. The soup came out form his mouth. The only words came out from Rahela’ mouth were,
“Javed, in your whole life you saved money. I wish if you could have spent some time for your daughters’ up bringing than your thrice daughter would have been next to your bed”.
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Badante
I know Shanti from last six years. I am living in Arezzo from last six years that’s why it has been six years that I know her. Shanti is a Srilankan lady and she is Hindu by religion. When I heard about Shanti that she had heart attack I got shocked because whenever I saw her on the way, she used to walk very swiftly. This means I found her all the time fit and sound. At the moment Shanti is in Arezzo’s hospital called San Donato. It’s quite possible that they send her for further check up to Siena or Milano. I pray for her that she get well soon.
First of all I would like to tell you what the meaning of badante or colf is. In Italy if you look after any handicap person, old man or anyone who is mentally ill is called badante. On the other hand babysitting and domestic job is some kind of badante. Even if you look after a dog, you are doing badante’s job. Now let’s come to the real topic, about Shanti. Many years before Shanti came to Europe after facing many difficulties. Finally she came to Italy and settled here. In the beginning she had language problem, she didn’t have any place to sleep, she didn’t have any job, and she didn’t have documents. She had to face all these problems on her own. She wasn’t the only person who had these problems. In these European countries there are many people who live here without documents. And they waste their many precious years and time to get documents. I would like to clear one thing here, the people who come to Europe and they pay five lakh rupees, which are half million. They think they have done great revolutionary work; in fact it’s not like that. When they come to Europe, they always keep one thing in their mind that in European countries they have document system. It’s not like our countries. There is no control. You go to any place, you find job and start working. If you come to Europe on tourist visa or student visa or for business than your situation is different. If you enter in these countries illegally than your status is different. If you enter in any European country without documents, it means you are illegal in this country. According to their law, you are living here without documents. Every European country has its own laws and legislations but if you don’t have permit of stay or work permit than you are clandestine here. You are illegal here. It’s not like that that you will enter in any European country, as you will arrive here, you will find job, and you will get documents. The first thing you need, when you arrive is shelter, than job, than documents. There are many ways to get documents. Like you find some girl and marry her, you apply for asylum or that country where you are living illegally, they open their immigration.
I was talking about Shanti. Shanti faced all these above mentioned problems. Shanti must be fifty years old. She had slim smart stature, ordinary face, colour dark, short or you can say squat. She had small eyes and she can hardly open them, around her eyes there were dark black marks, which were because of sleeplessness, stress and restlessness. She used to walk very fast, there was a lot of agony and woe is her voice.
When Shanti came to Italy, she had some co- national, who was settled in Arezzo. Unfortunately she came to her. As in those days accept England, in every European, police used to check documents and which still in practice. Police has the legal rights to check anyone either Italian or foreigner. Her friend harassed her that in Italy police control a lot so you shouldn’t go outside without any purpose. Shanti was very coward lady, she respected her advice and she never spoke with anyone, she never left home until unless she had to. She used to clean house, cook for her friend and she used to mend small silver chains at home, that’s how she used to make her living. During this period, Shanti’s co- national found a domestic job for her. It was a house of an old man and old lady. Shanti started living here. They gave her a small room. She used to clean their house, she used to cook for this old couple, and in return Shanti had shelter and food. It has been one year that Shanti was working here. She didn’t know this thing that her friend was collecting her salary from this old couple from last one year. Shanti was thinking that she is illegal so she can’t ask them for salary. During this period that old lady’s husband passed away. So Shanti had to do less work, so they reduced her salary. Now Shanti was able to speak broken Italian. You can say scarcely. She started going outside. She saw outer world. She started meeting with different people. She got acquainted with people. Shanti was very reticent and hard working person. She found a job as a baby sitter at some other place and she left her another co-national with this old lady. But she didn’t do the same thing what her friend did to her.
Where Shanti was working now, they were very rich people. They had big villa. They had a shop in Arezzo centre just to pass the time. So you can say hobby, although they didn’t need this. Shanti was getting handsome salary, she used to eat healthy food, expensive clothes but Shanti didn’t work here for a long period. The reason was their children. They didn’t like her because she was dark or you can say black. These kids wanted a white skin baby sitter. So they found a Polish girl through an international recruiting agency. So Shanti had to leave. Shanty knew about this so she had words with someone. She found a job in retired army officer. Who didn’t marry. He had arthritis problem. He was unable to walk. He used to pass most of his time on wheel chair. At night Shanti used to put him on bed. Over here Shanti had to stay with him for twenty four hours. Sometime he used to ask her for glass of water, or used to go to toilette. He used to call her by ringing bell which he had next to his bed. Shanti was very happy here because she had seen more problems and difficulties before coming here. It has been two years that Shanti was in Italy, Italy opened immigration. This retired army officer was a gentleman and kind. He submitted Shanti’s documents and paid her tax as well, which is called contributi in Italian. Why he shouldn’t have done for her. Shanti was very nice with him. She used to do everything for him. Sometime she used to share bed with him to make him happy. Shanti was afraid, if she refused to this, what he wanted; it’s quite possible that he won’t help her to get documents. One thing Shanti didn’t know that if he will ask for rejection of her papers, she can sue him. Like this she will be eligible to have six months Permesso di Soggiorno (permission of stay which means you are allowed to live legally and work as well). And she will have found another job. Shanti didn’t do anything like this. Exactly after one year, prefettura di Arezzo has given her Permesso di Soggiorno. She was very happy. She knitted many dreams. That she will go back to Srilanka. She will see her kids. She will take her husband to hospital for proper treatment. She used to think about these things many times. Now it was possible. She spoke with that army man. He said there isn’t any problem. I will give you only one month’s leave because; because of you I have comfort. Remember another thing find some nice lady or girl for one month, who will stay with me in your absence. Shanti said, "I will do exactly what you are saying". Shanti still had few days for leaving to Srilanka.
One day early in the morning Shanti pulled the old army man wheel chair and brought him to Giotto Park. She stopped the wheel chair close to small lake, where there are always two beautiful white swans. She pretended that she is giving some feed to swan and those swan came towards her. All of sudden Shanti squeeze her hand, placed it on her heart. She fell on the floor. That old army man starting thinking that how he can help her. He himself was handicap. Few people were passing from there. They saw this scene and called ambulance. They came and took Shanti to hospital. They left that army man to his home. They left a nurse with him until unless there wouldn’t have been other arrangement.
Now the problem in this matter is that INPS will help Shanti or INAIL. She will get salary or not. According to rules its infortunio (accident during work) but we can’t say anything about Italian law. What they do with Shanti’s case. I pray for Shanti she should get well soon because if your health is fine, you can work again and you can earn money. But one thing is for sure that Shanti won’t be working as badante because heart patient himself needs a person. How can he look after someone else?
Maria
Ecuador is very poor country of South America. The people of this country they speak Spanish language because it was under Spanish control, in simple words you can say it was Spanish colony. Spanish people looted everything from here, they took their treasure and on the other hand they treated their women very badly. I call it brutality and violence because rape is small word for this. Maria belonged to Ecuador. She was born in small and backward town of Ecuador. Where there wasn’t available clean drinking water, if I talk about food, its luxury for them. Not even she was living in backward town; even there was poverty and backwardness.
Maria started prostitution, when she was very young. Not even Maria, her younger sister was doing the same job, even though her two younger brothers were in the same business. They used to earn some money buy sexual relationships, even though they were living hand to mouth. Their father used to drink alcohol whole day. He used to pass his most of time in drunken position. Whenever he used to come back to normal, he used to beat up his wife. Sometime if he had good mode, he used to have sex with her wife openly. It happens many times, Maria and Sonia came home, they saw their mother and father right in the middle of the court yard having sex each other. But their father never bothered that his daughters have seen them. Now Maria and Sonia used to give a dam about this. Their father used to think about his alcohol and if he ever had some extra money he used to spend that money in bingo.
Maria had first baby, it was boy. His father shouted a lot. If it would have been a girl, she would have been earning money for them. He didn’t even ask her daughter that who is the father of this child. Even Maria didn’t know about this because there wasn’t any system of checking D.N.A. Maria was madly in love with his son, Jozay (Spanish pronunciation is Khozay) was very beautiful. After few months Sonia gave birth to a child. Before these two sisters used to feed their family by selling their corpses or you can say by prostitution. Now they had to work very hard to feed their kids as well. They were already living hard life, now it was worse. Time was passing slowly. Maria got pregnant again and she gave birth to a child, this time it was a baby girl. Maria’s father was very happy. He used to drink a lot but today he drank more than before just to celebrate this good news. He drank, he danced a lot, and he babbled and shouted like he was mad. When he felt that he shouted a lot, he went to his wife. Now they had three kids in their house, Jozay, (Khozay) Shanzay and Sanchay. Thrice of them were very beautiful. Now Maria starting thinking that their kids shouldn’t have future like Maria and Sonia. So she decided to do something for this. Her efforts showed some results. She found some agent to take her Italy. She left Jozay and Shanzay in her sister Sonia’s custody and promised her that she will arrange something for her so she will call her Italy as well. Her parents shouted a lot but later on they gave her permission when she promised them that she will send them more money than here. The agent who was taking Maria to Italy, he told her that she will be working as a nurse. Maria wasn’t interested that what would be the job. She was happy that she was going abroad for the betterment of her kids. Sonia gave her complete satisfaction that she will look after her kids if she will send her money regularly and she will arrange something for her in Italy as well. She accepted her condition.
For Maria it was very hard to leave her beautiful kids, she said good bye to them went with agent. When she arrived at the airport, there were other girls as well. More or less all of them had same story.
After tiring journey, they arrived at Italy’s capital Rome. They landed on Fiumucino airport. For them it was new world. They travelled from South America to Europe, it was tiring journey. Due to weariness they were unable to understand what was going on. When they came out from the airport, agent’s person was standing with bus. He loaded all these girls in bus and bus started. After four hours tiring journey they arrived in Tuscan city called Firenze (Florence). He transferred them in a cheap hotel. During their journey their agent told them that a flat has been arranged for them. When they will move in that flat, they will start their job.
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The first thing Maria did, she phoned her parent and asked about her kids. She indicated and signified her sister Sonia to look after her kids. After saying this she disconnected her call. Their passports and other travel document took their agent and told them for office use he will need these documents. They didn’t have problem of understanding Italian because there was a lot of similarity among Spanish and Italian.
After two days stay in hotel they were being transferred in a flat. Now they were little bit acquainted of each other. That night their agent came to their flat and told them that he has arranged their jobs. The van is waiting for them. He gave them dresses as well. He said to them wear these costumes and do your make up properly. When these girls wore these dresses, they got shocked that in Italy nurses wear these types of dresses. Anyhow they did what their agent said. They were ready, than came to van and sat inside the van. The driver started the van and it was flying on the road. They came out of city and they entered in environ of city. Finally they were in out skirts of city, where there was nobody. There were few buildings. He started dropping girls one by one after a little distance. The last person he dropped was Maria. Until yet Maria was well aware that what kind of nurse she is.
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It had been two years that Maria was working as prostitute in Florence’s industrial zone. During this period she regularly sent money to Ecuador. Even though to earn money she used to work very hard but she didn’t care about this. With the passage of time Maria came to know that if you want to live in Europe, you need proper documents which mean legal documents. In Ecuador she never thought of legal or illegal thing. She didn’t know anything about these things. The only thing she knew that people go to Europe and earn a lot of money. Now she was able to speak Italian language as well. There agent knew that these girls aren’t suitable for this job after two or three years. So he used to bring new girls one after another.
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After little effort Maria found a job to look after a handicap cum old man. He had two children, daughter and son but they were very busy in their lives. They didn’t have any time to look after their old father. This old man had his own house. Maria was living with him. Maria found after a long time a decent place to sleep. One portion was in use of that old man and other portion was in use of Maria. Maria was very comfortable here. All the bills like electricity, gas and water used to pay that gentleman. Even he used to pay money every week to buy grocery as well. Above all Maria used to get salary per month as well. Her salary was her saving. She saved enough money to pay agent to bring her sister as well to Italy. She was waiting for the right time. Her kids were studying in good schools. Now their grandparents were very happy with them because Maria used to send them enough money for kids and for her parent as well. Maria never ever dreamt about this life which she was living now. She used to look after that old man as good as possible. First time in her life she thought that she is human being as well. She started looking after himself like about her hair style, her dress. Whenever she used to accompany that old man to bazaar for shopping, people used to look at her like she was someone very special. Lots of boys tried to stop her to speak with her some of them gave her their mobile number and address but Maria wasn’t interested in these things. Maria knew what they want and she was sick of all this. Now she was looking for someone who will really care about her. One day someone told her, that if you want to live in Italy, the most important thing is permesso di soggiorno (permit of stay). Where she was working, she spoke with that gentleman and he said, I know nothing about these things but I will ask someone about this because I know you are working for me illegally, if someone will knew about this they will do fine to me. He wanted to help her. He gets all the information about this and told her that there is only one way. If Italian government opens immigration than she apply for the documents and she can live in Italy legally.
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Those days, Maria heard that people were whispering about immigration, that Italian government has decided to open immigration and finally they did it. As Maria heard this news she paid money to agent and he brought Maria’s sister Sonia to Italy as well. When Sonia saw Maria’s way of life, she got flabbergasted. Both sisters submitted their papers. Maria’s papers submitted that old man for whom she was working and for her sister; she asked someone and paid him. During this period she used to send money to Ecuador regularly. Jozay, Shanzay and Sanchay were growing rapidly. They were good in their studies as well. Their parents were very happy and their two little brothers were enjoying their life with money which these sisters used to send them. They never even thought of it that to earn money their sisters work very hard.
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When Maria came to know that that she is pregnant, she wasn’t upset but when she told that gentleman whom she was looking after, he got annoyed and he said if somebody will knew about this that this is my baby, than it will be problem for him. I can’t give my name to this child than there are legal technicalities about property papers. He said my son and daughter won’t be happy as well, so you waste this baby and go to hospital for abortion. Maria went to the hospital for abortion but it was too late. Maria didn’t get any answer from questura about her papers which she submitted. While she was worried about this, Sonia announced that she is pregnant as well.
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Baby’s birth’s day was coming closer and that gentleman was becoming upset day by day because Maria wasn’t legal yet. It was quite possible that Italian government could have refused to give her permesso di soggiorno. Finally she gave birth to her baby. The kid’s face was entirely different. He had similarity neither with father nor with mother. He had his own face. Maria gave him name Buonafortuna, which means good luck. According to Italian law and legislation this child was neither legal nor illegal. As Maria had submitted her papers so she had medical card and she had facility of medical so she didn’t have any problem before and after the birth of child for medical treatment. Now the problem was child. If they could have checked his D.N.A. than it wouldn’t have been any problem they would have discover it straight away who is the father, as the father was Italian so he could have citizenship. As Maria was living happily because of her datore di lavoro (the one who gives you job) so she didn’t take such an action. She respected him. He used to give handsome money to Maria and for her child. So Maria used to manage everything very nicely. She used to look after her child that gentleman; she left no stone un-turn to look after this gentleman.
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Italian government starting giving papers one by one. It was like almost, someone was getting permesso di soggiorno every day. Maria was waiting for her documents and she was planning about future. Suddenly that gentleman became very sick and ill the one she used to look after. With a small span of time he died. Maria thought for a while someone has ruined his life, she is homeless. She felt not even in Florence, in Ecuador as well she is homeless. She didn’t have document as well until yet. As this gentleman died, his son and daughter came for the funeral rituals. When these things were being completed, they told Maria that they are very sorry but after their father’s death this house where you are living is their property. So they want to sell it and the money they will divide half each so you find yourself some place to live. Her contract was terminated as well so legally he wasn’t allowed to live here. Maria went to CGIL and she went to Caritas as well, she knocked every door where she thought that she will have some help but nobody helped her.
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Maria found another job and she found a place to live as well. Her little sister started living with an Italian boy. Sonia got pregnant once again but she didn’t keep this baby. Maria related her story to her sister but she refused to help her as she knew everything but she became so selfish after coming here. Sonia said I can’t do anything for you. So now Maria was unable to send money to Ecuador. She was worried about her kids. If she wouldn’t send money regularly than her parents would put her kids on the same track which she never liked. Before Maria used to bribe her parents, now her two brothers lost their self respect. They were young but they used to ask Maria for money. Above all they started drinking alcohol and started going to bingo. Maria used to manage these entire things on her own. On the other hand she was worried about her kids’ papers. She was still illegal because she didn’t get papers yet.
Italian government announced the people who have problem with their datore di lavoro (the person who gives you job), or they aren’t pursuing their case, or if they died, they will provide all those people, six months permesso di soggiorno and with that permesso di soggiorno they will have to find some other job or any kind of work contract. They news was good news for Maria but the problem was her child. What she should do. She went to different offices but nobody gave her appropriate answer. There wasn’t any kind of law about her situation. There was only one way that she should take her kid to Ecuador and apply his paper from Ecuador which is called recongiugimento fimiliare. The problem was that how she could explain to Ecuador’s embassy in Italy that she doesn’t know the father of her son. (As she knew).
......................................
At last that day came and Maria got permesso di soggiorno. So from now on she stopped living the way she used to live. There was a lot of scariness in her life before which wasn’t now. She had some saving. As her paper work got completed she decided to go to Ecuador. She had some money and she borrowed some money from her friends.
Maria was going back to Ecuador after five years. Her son Jozay was twelve, her daughter Shanzay was eleven now. She went to Rome from Florence. Than after a tiring journey she arrived in her country Ecuador. She took taxi from airport to her home. When she arrived home, her home’s condition was very bad. Mother and father were very old; her father didn’t left alcohol and bingo. Now he used to go with his sons. As they were short of money so they forced these three kids to work. Now Jozay, Shanzay and Sanchay were doing the same job as these two sisters used to do. Now when they saw Buonafortuna, they shouted a lot. Maria said now he will stay with you as well. They got annoyed. Maria asked them why these kids stopped going to school. Why they are doing this dirty job. Her parents didn’t give her proper answer. Maria’s life was full of pain and agony, she accepted this as well. In week’s time she came to Italy. She found a proper job. She used to work twelve hour a day. According to Italian law she must have appropriate annual income to bring her kids to Italy. She completed everything; she fulfilled all requirements according to Italian law. She applied their document in Questura. When she got no objection certificate which is called nulla osta. She sent that paper to Ecuador. When they got visas from Italian high commission in Ecuador, she went to Ecuador to bring her kids to Italy. As her kids arrived in Italy, she sent them to school. She left her parents, brothers and Sonia’s daughter Sanchay on her own. She stopped sending money to them. As she came back to Italy from Ecuador with her kids she stopped seeing her sister Sonia as well. She gave her all attention to her kids. Now Maria is living a peaceful life in Florence city but sometime she thinks about her past, she screams. She faced so many problems, after having all these disasters she took her kids out of that dirty life which she had.
Abdul Hamid Manghar
Abdul Hamid Manghar was wearing excellent designer Italian suit and beautiful matching tie and he was looking like a prince in this governmental meeting. He was accompanied with his secretary as well whom he used to call munshi (assistant). It had been few months that Abdul Hamid Manghar won M.N.A.'s (Member of National Assembly) election. During his election campaign he spent money like water. He belonged to some village of Sargodha and he was the biggest land owner of his village but he never forgot that he used to sale things on Italian beaches which was called in their language, "mare lagana". In this party there was every kind of people. Manghar found a beautiful and elegantly dressed up lady. He went close to her and started talking to her. Manghar's Urdu accent was very beautiful and excellent but after a little while, unintentionally he said, "wal jado assi marey landay san" which means, when I used to sale things on the beach, his secretary indicated him from the back to change the topic. This was one of the fault of Manghar’s personality and the second thing he has, you can't say it's week point or fault, because the society where he was surviving, it wasn't a bad was that he was alcoholic. The bad thing with Manghar was that when he used to drink a lot, he used to say stupid things and his secretary was scared, if he will say something stupid or weird than it will be very difficult to handle the situation. It will be very easy to discover for the people, in reality what Manghar is. Other than these things Manghar had many qualities. His general knowledge was excellent. He passed his whole life in reading digests during his spare time. He was unable to write Urdu but he knew to speak and read Urdu. He was very good in Italian that good that while he is speaking Urdu if you don't see his face you will feel that some Italian is talking to you. Manghar had good command upon literature because he was fond of poetry. He memorized many ghazals and poems of many poets. There were very few people who knew about Manghar’s past but since he entered in politics lots of people were curious to know about him, who he was? They all knew about him that he had the business of diamonds and he still has the same business. Behind his success, was his secretary? He used glued with him and used to indicate him time to time because after drinking a lot of alcohol it was nearly impossible for him to control himself, so this was his secretary's job.
Manghar became very famous in National Assembly, the one reason was that the way he used to dress up and second reason was the selection of perfumes he used to wear. He was very dandy, sweet and soft spoken and his way of conversation was very catchy that people used to go towards him unintentionally.
....................................................
It had been few years that Maila Khan stepped in the world of journalism but she was at the height of popularity in short span of time. She used to take the full advantage of her beauty and femininity. The one reason was that she was journalist and the second reason was that she was woman, nobody dared to stop her where ever she had been.
Maila wrote many shocking stories. Cunning and shrewd people used feel confuse and baffle in front of her. God had given her special kind of electrifying lightness in her eyes. People used to forget every after seeing in her eyes like she spell bound them or mesmerize them. These days she was thinking to write something about Abdul Hamid Manghar. Some notable political figures tried to bribe her to expose Manghar but she refused to accept their offers because she was herself curious about Manghar and she wanted to discover it. This was first time in the history of Pakistan that a very smart, handsome and sweet spoken M.N.A. got the seat in parliament. He was physically very fit, he didn’t have big belly like other parliamentarians. Maila Khan was very much obsessed of Manghar's personality but she didn't want to indulge herself in these kinds of things because she was the only earning hand of her family. She didn't have any brother and her father was drug addict. It was only her who has the responsibility to arrange marriages of her younger sisters; she was care taker of her family. Even though, she was responsible to provide money for her father’s drugs. Anyway between Manghar and Maila there was twenty years age difference.
It was very hard nut to crack, but with a lot difficulties Maila got the interview’s time from Manghar's secretary but the condition was that that she will take interview in front of him. Maila Khan accepted the condition.
.....................................
Maila had quick look at her dress, hair style and carrying purse she hastily entered in Marriott’s coffee shop. She wasn't upset at all because film stars and politicians aren't punctual about time. Manghar sahib was totally opposite. He was there at exact time which he had given for the interview the reason was that that he was on time because he was waiting for Maila from last half an hour which means Maila was half an hour late. Manghar's secretary was cursing Maila inwardly. As Maila entered, she said sorry, Manghar stood up in respect of Maila. Maila got stunned and looked at him shocking.
Maila said with mixed feeling of astonishment and fear:
"Please be seated Manghar sahib".
Manghar said with a lot of gratitude and humbleness, "After you".
Maila had a quick look at her dress and grabbed her purse and she sat on a soft sofa. Before starting interview she checked everything, mini tape recorder, pen, papers, everything was there, only thing was missing, "Photographer" he didn't arrive yet. Maila placed her mobile phone on the table just in case, because she could be receiving any call at any time. Manghar was watching all this like a silent spectator. Finally Maila switched on the mini tape recorder and asked her first question, "Your full name"?
"Abdul Hamid Manghar".
He hardly responded first question, his secretary's mobile phone started ringing, and he waved to stop the interview and went to the one corner of the coffee shop to listen the call. After hearing the call he came towards them, head down and addressed Manghar sahib, "Sir my mother isn't feeling well, so I had to go. You tell this lady, she can come for the interview some other time".
"Okay my dear, I will tell her to come some other time, you go, if you need my help, I can come with you".
"No sir, I will handle the situation".
These were his last word and after saying this he left them.
Maila took everything back, the way she settled them on the table. Manghar said, "Bibi (it’s a word we use for respect of woman not to address her by her name) what are you doing"?
Maila responded sadly and hopelessly, "There will be no interview now".
"It's all right; at least have coffee with me".
"Jee, I don't drink coffee".
"Some soft drink or".
Maila thought for a while and she decided to sit down.
"Okay I will have some soft drink".
Manghar said in his regional language to his body guard, to stay away and called the waiter for special order.
Maila was thinking inwardly that Mr. Manghar must have booked a room in Marriott and it's quite possible that he will force me to go with him to that room and than ......than....after... ...millions of thoughts came in his mind in that small moment. After a little while waiter came and placed their order on the table and went away. Maila thought after having soft drink she will leave this gentleman.
Manghar broke the ice,
"Bibi I heard about you that you are very good journalist. You write true stories about people. Do you write short stories as well"?
Maila stopped her hand which was going to pick up soft drink.
"Well actually.....I never tried, to be honest with you......never thought about this". She controlled herself and said, "Manghar sahib, do you read short stories"?
"I used to read with great passion but now I don't find time".
"Your favourite writers"?
"Manto and Giovanni Boccaccio".
Maila got baffled and puzzled as you say in Persian "angusht ba dandan" which means you put your finger tip in your mouth. She tried to hide her perplexity and said,
"You read poetry as well"?
"Before I used to read a lot, either poetry or prose but since I am in politics, I don't find time".
"What was the reason, you started politics"?
“There are two main reasons, one is, my people forced me and second thing is wealth".
"You didn't have any passion for politics"?
"No not at all".
Maila saw that after a little while there was special change in Manghar’s voice. She didn't understand what the reason behind this was, but it was astonishing. The different thing was, waiter used to bring some soft drink for him one after another.
"What you used to do, before joining politics"?
"Right from the beginning I was business man and still I am a business man".
"What is your business......Sir"?
"I have diamonds’s business".
"So you are doing this business right from the beginning".
"No, before I used to sale fake diamonds than I started selling real ones".
"Wal jadon asi maray landay san (when we used to sale things on the beaches of Italy) at that time I used to sale fake necklaces and fake diamonds as well".
"I didn't understand where you used to sale"?
"Sheshelia".
"Where is this Sheshelia"?
"Bibi, you don't know it's an island of Italy".
"Oh! Sicily.....when"?
"It's an old story"
"How old"?
"Something like thirty or thirty five years old".
"Manghar sahib, can you tell me thoroughly".
"I was little, something like sixteen or seventeen years old. I escaped or you can say ran away from home. After a long and tiring journey I came to Sheshelia (Sicilia). Over there I didn't have place to sleep, nothing to eat. A guy taught me how to make toys of straws. Like this I started earning money to have some food and shelter. Sometime I used to make good money and sometime I used to live without money. Over there people started calling me telion wala (The man who makes straw's toys). In our language tela means straw. Like this other people started coming to Sicilia and it became like a group. Teli group (the group of straw's toys maker). The people who were in our group, most of them were from our village and I belong to that village as well. We have seen very hard life and time. There I started drinking alcohol. Before I used to drink alcohol and now alcohol drinks me".
"Why you started drinking alcohol"?
"Bibi, I was very young, I didn't have much sense and the main reason was that it was nearly impossible for me to sell straws’s toys to naked and half naked people. After drinking alcohol, I used to feel less shame and feel courageous as well. Otherwise in normal condition it's not possible for young boy to face this kind of situation. After selling these straw's toys, I started selling fake and forged pearls necklaces and things like these. Now I was very well trained and confident, I was able to sale dust as well. I did this work for ten years and then I came back to Pakistan. I reconstructed my house which was a muddy house. I saved some money. Bought some land. Then one day I decided to go back to Sicilia. I gave money to agent and went there again. I again started selling garlands, fake pearls and things like these. In 1987 Italy opened immigration first time. We people got papers, like this we were allowed to travel without agent. During this period I got good command on Italian language".
"That's how you have interest in literature"?
"Bibi the main reason is digests. I used to read all kinds of digests. I used to pass the train’s long journeys, reading digests and when we used to have less business, we had only two hobbies, alcohol and digest".
"When did you start selling diamonds"?
"I told you that I became a very good salesman like I was able to sell dust as well. Like this I started selling fake pearl’s necklaces, telling people they are real one. When I earned a lot of money I entered in this business, I mean diamonds's business. During this period I met with Belgian Jew, he was diamonds’s merchant. God wanted to change my life. He said, you sell my fake diamonds, but sell them by telling the customers they are real. He told me that there are very few people who can judge the fake and real diamonds. Sometime the diamonds detective machine can't judge diamond is real or fake but that Jew had such quality that it was impossible to deceive him. As I started working with him, I felt a lot of change in my personality. He told me what to wear and which the good perfumes are. But behind my success, it's not I did this in one day; I worked very hard for thirty or thirty five years continuously. The money I have, I have earned on my own. I never robbed anyone; I lied a lot but never snatched someone's money. My great grandfather didn't leave any land or wealth, not even government allotted me some land or property. Whatever I have earned, I have earned with hard work, and I used my brain. Since I am in politics, I have seen how these politicians suck public blood. They robe them. They play with people and with their respect. If you look at these politicians, you won't find even a single person who would have earned money by using his brain or hard work. Their great grand fathers left wealth and land for them like that they got this position. Even though they take degrees from Oxford or Harvard, they will remain landlords, waderas".
"What about education".
"Bibi, I am illliterate. I have completed my primary education that's how I can speak and read Urdu. I have learnt Italian properly".
"I would like to ask you last question if you permit me".
"Why not".
"Why didn't you get marry until yet"?
"Bibi, I didn't find girl of my type, to be honest with you I didn't find time for this. My other brothers and sisters, all of them are married. My father isn’t alive and my mother is widow. Now I look after my mother".
"If you will marry with someone, your wife will be looking after your wife".
"You are very right but I love my mother a lot, for me it will be very difficult to divide love between my mother and wife equally. After all I am human being. You can find many wives but you know mother is mother".
Maila hardly control herself. If she was alone, she would have been crying. The one who she wanted to expose; he was such a nice man. Maila destroyed the cassette and tore all the points which she wrote on the paper.
While she was tearing all these papers and she was suffering from some severe mental destruction, she heard the voice of photographer,
"Sorry Maila, I am late. While I was coming, editor sahib phoned me, it was an important event, and I was covering that event, that's why I am late".
"Magnum, it's not the first time, you are always late. Anyway I have done my job".
Nun
What name she had, I don’t remember, oh yes her name was Gina Colo. It was very weird name. Her complete name wasn’t what she told me but she abbreviated her name Gina. Colo was her family name. I and Gina met in train.
As I go to work every day at one thirty (1:30). I walk on the busy road Vittorio Venetto of Arezzo and arrived at Campo di Marte. This is the back side of Arezzo railway station. Where there is small garden. This is always occupied by alcohol drinkers. They bring their food stuff with them as well. They come here and sit on the benches which are made of wrought iron and wood. Most of them are gypsy people who belong to Romania. Italian people call them Zingari. Zingaris believe and say that their great grand fathers migrated from India and they came to Bulgaria and Romania. As Romanian and Bulgarian doesn’t need visa to enter in European countries so they come to these countries quite often. They come to Italy as it’s the nearest country for them. Romanian’s language’s origin is Latin so they learn Italian very fast. They have fare complexions and their religion is Christianity so for them it’s not difficult to mix themselves with Italian quickly. It’s my very bad habit when I write about something, I start talking about something else. I become a story teller instead of writer. So I was talking about alcohol drinker. Sometime with these nomads I mean Zingaris you can see some Arabic speaking people like from Morocco or Tunisia. Sometime one or two guy from Pakistan or Senegal as well. These Zingaris always carry their dogs with them. There dogs are like them, dirty and loafer. Whenever I go to station I have to use this passage and I pass from this side. I am always afraid of their dogs so I keep enough distance. These Zingaris think that I am scared of them. They raise their hand and call me sometime and offer me to eat but I can’t stop because I have to catch the train. My train arrives at thirteen fifty (13:50) on platform number 4. It happens quite often that this train comes late 10 or 20 minute late for nearly whole month. This is quite normal in Italy, I mean train delaying. When I step in the train I always try to find a place, where nobody is sitting. As a matter of fact Italian has many bad habits but one is the most that when they sit in the train, they talk a lot, it doesn’t matter its morning, evening, late night, you can say twenty four hours. They speak very loudly and they use their hands and body as well when they speak. They can’t complete their phrases without using their hands. Sometime it happens, the person who is sitting next to them, their conversation causes him headache. But they don’t care. The main and the basic topics of discussion for Italians are clothes, food and sex. Other than these they don’t have any topics to discuss. Clothes, shoes, sun glasses, socks even whatever they use, they discuss about this. What they ate last night. If they had pizza last week, they will tell everyone. If by luck they had chance to have dinner in restaurant, they will discuss it for months that we had dinner in restaurant. About sex not even men, women are one step ahead, they discus it contentedly and gleefully. If they had some love bite they won’t mind of showing it.
Anyway I always lose the track. So like everyday I stepped in the train. Like always I found a seat where nobody was sitting. I positioned my famous bag which I always have, on seat next to me and two seats in front of me were empty. I took out my book Genome written by Matt Ridley, as I wanted to open it, a very melodious voice stroked with my ears. I felt that someone played some mellow music. I raised my head; I saw a slim smart girl was asking me permission to sit on one of the seat which was in front of me. Or you can say she was asking me that if this seat is vacant. Her accent of Italian language was different. I responded happily, “Yes yes”.
If there would have been someone else instead of her, I wouldn’t have shown this much joy. Especially if that would have been some male because of his mal company my one hour would have been in waste and which happens quite often.
As she asked, she fixed herself on seat, I used word fixed because I was travelling in first class because the first class compartments are little bit better than second class and seats are more comfortable. In regional trains the seats are not that comfortable and they are a bit hard. We travel reluctantly in these trains because we don’t have any choice.
So what I was saying, she sat in front of me. I was pretending that I am reading book but in fact I was staring at her as it’s my very bad habit. As she sat, she placed her purse on the seat next to her. It was written on it in big alphabets D&G, which means Dolce and Gabbana. Dolce&Gabanna are famous Italian designers. They are two friends. In the beginning they launched clothes but now they make everything.
Anyway I had complete look of that girl from head to toe. She was wearing very beautiful round shaped shoes which are called ballerina shoes and usually they are without heel. They are ballerina because ballet dancers wear these kinds of shoes. Her feet which were naked I mean out of shoes were very beautiful. When I raised my head above ankle, I got pleased because she had shaved her legs with such delicacy and accuracy if an ant would have walked on these legs, that ant would have slipped. I call these kinds of legs “margarine legs”. Her legs were very soft and shinny, I wanted to touch them but it was impossible. The speciality of her legs was that there were no marks on her legs. They weren’t dark or white. It was very beautiful complexion. I raised my eyes little further than I noticed that she wasn’t wearing mini skirt but it was more than mini skirt. She had tied her skirt on her hip; I would say the hip bone. She wasn’t wearing skirt, she just covered her that part with this piece of clothes I would rather say and it was called skirt. As she was slim smart so there were no signs of fat on her body. From waist up to navel even up further there was a line which you can have after doing a lot of exercise. Other than this line her six packs were prominent on her belly. They are called abs as well. She was wearing as upper a floral pattern thing. You can’t call it shirt or t-shirt. It was a piece of cloth which she was carrying on her body. It had very thin strings. With these strings, there were strings of her bra which were visible as well. Anyhow the bra’s strings were transparent or made of some plastic stuff. These both strings were very fascinating on her shoulders. She had very good figure but she had such kind of push up because of them her breast was looking robust and a bit bigger than her size. Than her collar bone was very beautiful and then there was a very beautiful line which was entering in her breasts, I mean she had beautiful cleavage. I don’t know what you call in Urdu. Now I come towards her face. After her collar bone, I saw her beautiful neck. Her hairs were blond. You can’t say they are yellow or golden I should say blond. They were very silky and straight. A little bunch of hair was laid or her chest and they were coming from back of her neck. That bunch of hair was moving like a snake of her chest because she was breathing slowly and due to this the movement her breasts were visible and prominent. Still that bunch of hair was moving. Her face was hidden behind book which she was reading. I tried to read the title of book but I didn’t get what was the title. Now I wanted to see her face. Habitually I tried to invent excuses to speak with her. I was thinking what I should say. I was knitting ideas in my mind; I heard some musical and melodious voice. When she spoke, she removed that book from her face. The word beautiful is very little and ordinary for her. If I would be a poet, I would have written ghazals and if I would be a painter, I would have painted her portrait. From her face it was clear that she isn’t Italian. Face was clean, forehead wasn’t that narrow that it seemed ugly and wasn’t broad seemed weird. It was appropriate. Her eye brows were plucked very nicely and between eye brows and eye lashes she painted this part with some light eye shade, I think it was light purple. She used mascara for her eye brows to show them bit longer although they were already beautiful, thin and long. Her makeup was very light. If you have a deep look than you can understand otherwise it was difficult to judge. I think she used some special kind of foundation cream due to that her face was little pinkish. Her lipstick was very bad. It was exactly colour of her lips but it was very glowing and shiny. Due to this her lips seemed like wet and lustrous. Her eyes, nose and lips everything was very beautiful. Above all when she used to speak, dimple on her both cheeks used to appear. I was telling you that she spoke with me in Italian language she asked me,
“Are you Italian”?
I responded her swiftly, “God send me to hell if I am Italian. I am Pakistani. God wanted to give me some punishment, so that’s why I am in Italy”.
She started laughing and she said laughingly, “I am not Italian as well”.
I asked her, “So where you from”.
She said, “My father is Hungarian and mother is Romanian”.
I said, “My father is Pakistani and mother is Pakistani as well”.
She laughed again and said, “Your sense of humour is very good”.
I said, “I am an unknown short story writer. So I invent new things”.
She said shockingly, “But you were reading book on genetics”.
I said, “I have addiction of this subject”
Now I knew that she was looking at me
She said, “I like cloning but now I don’t read”.
I asked her curiously, “Why”.
So she said, “Now I don’t find time. I have started this book but I am unable to finish this book”.
I asked her, “What is the title of book and it’s in which language”.
She said, “It’s in Romanian language and it’s the story of Vlad Tepes (Zippish)”.
I asked her, “Who is this Tepes (Vlad Zippish)”?
She said, “You heard the name of Dracula”.
I said, “Yes off course”.
Then she said, “This is the story of that Dracula which you have heard. As you are short story writer, it doesn’t matter you aren’t famous but if you will become famous someday than you will mention this story somewhere in your short story”.
I said, “Oh yes, why not, I have heard that Dracula was from Transylvania and he used to drink blood of the people”.
She said, “This isn’t true. These American made film about him and they have done wrong publicity about this gentleman. Dracula who was in fact Vlad Tepes (Zippish), he was the king of Transylvania. It’s something two hundred years old story. During his reign there wasn’t crime in his kingdom. There were no thieves. The whole country had peace and calmness. Even you left a bag full of gold, nobody ever dared to touch it. Vlad Tepes (Zippish) used to give severe punishment to thieves. He used to fix a piece of wood in their arse hole the people who used to steal or do robbery. So everyone was afraid of these kinds of punishments. One day it happened like this that he went for the battle with his soldiers. Somebody gave news about Vlad Tepes (Zippish) that he died during battle. His wife believed what she heard. She went on the roof of palace and she jumped from there and committed suicide. When he came back from battle and he heard the entire story, after hearing this he felt very bad. After this he started wearing mourning dress, always black”.
After hearing true story of Dracula, I got flabbergasted and I said shockingly, “Is that true, what you told me”.
She said, “Of course it’s true”.
This whole story was new for me. I asked her, “What’s your name”.
She said, “Gina Colo”.
I burst into laugh. She got it, why I was laughing. In Italian language culo is bum but in Romanian language it’s a family name, only the spellings are different but the pronunciation is same.
She asked my name. I introduced myself.
Finally I asked her that question which was in mind right in the beginning and I was so curious to ask, “Are you a model because you are very beautiful. If you aren’t than you can become”.
She said, “All Romanian girls aren’t that lucky that they become Seradova (Seradova was a Romanian girl. She came to Italy and she was lucky enough and became a famous Italian model).
I said, “It’s not like that”.
I inquire her further, “You come here for studies”.
She said, “No I am call girl of higher level, in simple words I am prostitute. I sell myself”.
It was very astonishing for me that she said without any hesitation that she is prostitute, a call girl.
She asked me, “What you do”.
I said, "I vend myself as well”.
She started laughing and she said laughingly, “Are you gay or you are male escort”?
I said, “I am neither gay nor male escort. I do manual work. If I do some job where I use brain, I shouldn’t have said that I sell myself”.
She smiled and said, “You tell things in tangling way. It’s not your fault. As you are writer so it’s quite normal that you talk like this. Oh! If I tell you my story, will you make short story of it”.
I said, “If you don’t mind tell me your story. I will make short story but I am not sure that it will be published someday”.
She said, “It doesn’t matter”.
Like this she started her story,
“How do I look like that you have seen very well because since I sat on the seat, you had a complete look of my every part of body. In fact you started watching me from my feet”.
When she was saying this I was feeling a lot of embarrassment inwardly but what should I do and I can’t stop myself because it’s my bad habit.
I said, “You are embarrassing me. It’s my very bad habit, I mean staring at people. You were going to tell me your story”.
“Okay, let’s start but are you sure you will remember everything”.
I said, “For that you don’t need to worry, you start your story”.
“My story starts from Romania. In those days I got admittance in Bucharest University newly. I was very beautiful so I became very famous in university in a very short span of time. Almost every day lots of boys used to ask me out. As I was studying genetics, so every boy started taking information about this subject. They used to learn the names of famous geneticists of the world. My plan was to do research on cloning, so I used to concentrate upon my studies. So in my dreams I used to meet with Ian Wilmot. Do you know who Ian Wilmot is”?
I said, “Yes I know about him. He has made Dolly by cloning with the help of another geneticist”. (Dolly is the name of sheep which was made by Ian Wilmot with the help of cloning).
She said, “Do you know why is it called Dolly”?
I said, “I don’t know about this”.
So she said, “Famous singer Dolly Parton has big breasts”.
I said, “What’s the relation of Dolly Parton’s big breasts with cloning”.
She said, “If you have read about cloning, they have taken cell from dolly’s mother’s udder and they cultured this cell for cloning. That’s how they made Dolly, so that’s how it’s related with Dolly Parton’s big breasts with udder”.
I got surprised.
She said, “Forget about cloning. I was telling you my story. My dream was to join Rosilin Institute, where Ian Wilmot did research about cloning. I didn’t go there but I met with a person who promised me to take there. He offered me to fulfil my dream. He met with me in a bar. As he saw us, I mean me and my class mates, he said, are you models”?
We said jointly, “No, not at all”.
He took permission from us and came to our table where we were sitting. Why we should be minded of this. Then he said, “If you don’t mind, can I pay for your drinks whatever you had”.
I stopped him but other girls said yes, so I kept quite although I didn’t like it. During conversation he told us that he is Italian guy and he has passion of photography, for his passion he travels from one country to another. We believed him. I presumed it quickly that he is interested in me.
I said, “Let’s come to point”.
He said, “I want to do your photo session. I will give the price you want”.
My both friends were looking at my face.
I said, “I want to study in Ian Wilmot’s Rosilin Institute. Will you be able to pay all the expanses”?
He said, “Yes”.
Until yet whatever we dialogued or discussed, we thought it’s all for fun. Anyway he promised to see us again. He gave us his visiting card.
I said, “We are student of genetics. We don’t have enough time”.
He said, “I know that you are student and you don’t have enough time for these things but your university will be closed for two weeks. You have golden time for this project”.
We got shocked that how does he know all this. He paid for our drinks and left us on our own.
That’s how our first meeting ended.
.............................................
It had been one week, I nearly forgot about that gentleman. I went to the same bar where thrice of us met with that gentleman last week. I don’t want to tell you his name but you can just call him Paolo”.
I said, “I don’t care what his name was. I just want to know how you came here”.
She continued her conversation and said, “I don’t know why, when I entered in the bar I thought of that gentleman unconsciously. If I will see that gentleman, what will happen? While I was thinking about him, somebody placed his hand on my shoulder. I turned my head and I saw Paolo was standing in front of me.
He said, “I knew you will come”.
I said, “Every week end I come here. I didn’t come here seeing you”.
He said, “Forget about these things, let’s go to another table”.
I accompanied him to the next table. We started talking. During conversation he positioned contract on the table. I refused to sign it.
He said, “Take it, read it and answer me calmly”.
I took contract and stuffed it in my purse. He gave me many ideas; he offered me many things like Miss Italia contest, guaranteed job in Italian Television, Italian Nationality and working for lot of advertising agencies. He convinced me and impressed me as well. I sank in deep thoughts and imaginations and forgot about genetics. I took out contract from my purse, signed it and gave it to him.
.....................
“We had vacations from university. I phoned my family that during vacations I am not coming home; I will stay with my friend. According to contract I had to work with Paolo for two weeks”, she said.
I said, “For one week we will shot at different locations and after that I will make short telefilms”.
I said, “You were talking about photo session only”.
So he said, “Look at such and such page of contract, it says about telefilm as well. There isn’t any harm in doing that. That will help you to introduce in add world”.
I said, “Okay, fine”.
We did photo session at different beautiful spots of Romania. Most of my photos were semi nude and nude. I got shocked after seeing my photos. I didn’t know that that I am that beautiful. My body has such marvellous curves. I myself started admiring my photos. Then he made a tele film. While he was making this film, we came very closer to each other. He had sexual intercourse with me as well couple of times. Time was flying when we were working together. Two weeks passed very quickly. At last while he was leaving, he gave me packet of photos and it had a video cassette as well he said watch it when I am not here. I saw that film and got shocked and embarrassed. Whatever we had together it was recorded in this cassette. Now I knew that he made my pornographic film and he launched it. I don’t know how many copies he made. I used to cry a lot all day long. I got sick of studying. I was 19 but after this I used seem like a 30 years old girl. I was worried about film, I new thing happened. The calendar of my nude photos came in market. From no on whole university got information and news about my scandal. As I became famous, I was notorious as well on the other hand. I was being expelled from university. One day I was sitting on the stairs of church and I was crying. One priest came to me and he encouraged me and showed me some hope for life.
He said, “You come towards religion. This is the only solution for your worries”.
“Like this I left everything and became a nun. I started learning Latin and Greek in the church. They taught us history and Hebrew as well. I took keen interest in becoming nun. I felt a hope in my inner to live this life once again. The church sent me to Italy for further studies. Upon religious grounds I got permesso di soggiorno. Since I came here I participated in all activities happily and merrily. I passed all the stages. During my stay many things happened with me. So I started thinking it’s better if I would have become a porn star instead of nun. I am doing the same thing as I did for Paolo. The difference was over here in public opinion as was an unblemished and chaste girl. If I tell you the true story than not even I you will be in trouble as well. So I escaped from there. I tried to find job at many places. My beauty was biggest hurdle. The men need only one thing from woman. So like this I started selling my corpse. I mean I became a call girl”.
I asked her, “Have you ever tried to find Paolo”.
She said, “When I came here I tried my level best to find him. I dialled all those numbers which he gave me but those all mobile and fix numbers were false”.
I said, “You could have been doing colf or badante job”.
She said, “They call it colf and badante but you work as concubine. I preferred working as prostitute, like this you earn money and enjoy sex and you have sex with different men”.
I said, “Off course, one gets bore and weary eating pasta everyday”.
When I said this, she laughed loudly. Our train arrived at Santa Maria Nouvella stop. This train mostly stops at platform number 16 not always but mostly. As train stopped, she said ciao ciao and disappeared in public and I started walking swiftly towards my bus’s stop.
Laiba
Laiba came out from Marriott’s swimming pole, she was wearing swimming costume. She spread her towel on one of long chairs which were placed around swimming pole and she slouched down on that chair. Here wet hair, which were in fact black but Laiba dyed them blonde, they were touching the ground, her face and other beautiful parts of body were enjoying the hot sun rays. This is called sun bath in English. It had been few moments that she lied down, her mobile phone rang. She picked up phone irksomely. Her father was on line so she had to listen. She said in very stylish way, “Yes papa”.
“Beta where are you”?
“Jee I was here for swimming but in couple of minutes I am coming home. Tell me what you wanted to say”.
“Nothing special, I just wanted to know about you, how you feel now”.
Papa I am not a baby. I am grown child. I would rather say I am adult”.
“I know that but for me you are still a little girl”.
“Papa, listen to me. I want you to meet with someone”.
“Who is this... could you please tell me”.
“He is my friend”.
“What he does”?
“He studies with me. He has same subject like me, anthropomorphism”.
“Okay you can bring him home”.
“Papa don’t you thing that if some television play is on air or some Indian film. You are inviting him in a typical way, as I am going to marry with that gentleman. He is just a friend. I will bring him home someday”.
“Okay, I am sorry. You can bring him whenever you like. All I need to know that when you bring him just tell me. As you know that I am always busy in my business stuff. Okay beta, I should go now because my mobile phone’s battery in very low”.
Like this their conversation ended.
......................................
Laiba and Mustanir used to stay together in Mohammad Ali Jinnah University like nobody would ever be able to separate them. Above all they were the most brilliant student of the university. While they were studying anthropomorphism, they were that deeply involved in this subject that they were nearly anthropomorphist. For them it was very easy to judge people. Both of them felt that they started liking each other. Grudges, friendship, eating, drinking, criticizing, outfits, books, notes, e-mails, chatting, mobile, these all things clutched them together. It used to seem like that that even wind or air is not allowed to pass through them. Neither Laiba expressed her feelings nor did Mustanir say something about his inner feelings. Both of them were afraid that if they will name this relationship “love” than it will be very typical. As a matter of fact we give meanings to words. If we say love is hatred and hatred is love than to whom we love as I said if we consider love as hatred and hatred as love than we will be saying like to our beloved. “I hate you madly”. The sentence sense, reference and our way of saying will tell, express that we are saying something very sweet and dolce. The sound effects and the sweetness which we will feel in our mouth will be the sign of this thing that the word hatred which we have used and we count it as in bad sense when it will disguise in love’s form. We will be feeling nice after hearing this word. Until yet they didn’t find any suitable and appropriate word for their love feelings. Beside that whatever between them was something which was nice and good?
.................................
Labia’s father Zuhab Hanjral lived most of his life in Germany. While he was working in Milan pizza in Frankfurt there he met with an Italian girl. Zuhab sahib came that closer to this girl; finally he had to marry with that girl because there was no other way. Sabrina Marini belonged to a small town of Reggio Calabria called Catanzaro Lido. She had black hair like Indian and Pakistani girls and her complexion was tan as well. It was very difficult to judge that she was from some European country.
What actually happened, Zuhab sahib used have sex with Sabrina quite often just for enjoyment sake, as Italian people are Roman Catholic and according to their religious canons, having sex before marriage is great sin. If by mistake in your youth you do some mistake like this, you must marry than. You aren’t allowed to do abortion. It’s sin as well. So Zuhab sahib had only one option that he should marry her and he did. Zuhab sahib got married with Sabrina reluctantly but later on he got advantage of this marriage. He got legal documents of Germany. God gave them a beautiful daughter. They called her Laiba. For Zuhab sahib and Sabrina, Laiba was like the key of some fortune and treasure. They worked very hard and at last they bought pizza Milan. Like this they started earning money. They made many branches of pizza Milan in different cities of Germany and the day came that they became the richest immigrant of Germany.
One day suddenly some idea came in Zuhab sahib’s mind and he started investing money in Pakistan. He got success in that as well, as they had pizza Milan’s branches all over Europe now. Money was such an ordinary thing for them. Now Zuhab sahib used to spend his time in Pakistan. He brought Laiba with him as well when she was only 15. Over here after completing her education she had to go to America. It has been five years that Laiba was living in Pakistan. Laiba was fluent in Urdu, German, Italian and English as well. Sabrina Marini was director general of pizza Milan’s all branches.
Marini belonged to such part of Italy where in seventies there was a lot of poverty. She never even dreamt about this that she will become that rich. Same was the case with Zuhab sahib. The time and money changed him entirely. He was very proud and egoist now. He forgot everything that he used to swim in small and dirty ponds of his small village which was in Punjab. Sometime he and his friends used to catch frogs from these ponds. Now he had a big house in most expensive sector of Islamabad called E-7, one can’t even imagine having such big house like him. Now he was thinking to join some political party. Now his name was Hanjral sahib not Zuhab. Laiba preferred to stay in Pakistan because the facilities which she had in Pakistan, it was difficult to have them neither in Italy nor in Germany.
..........................
Today Mustanir and Laiba were in deep discussion. Laiba was trying to convince Mustanir that mankind created God and on the other hand Mustanir was trying to convince Laiba that God created us.
“Look, Mustanir mankind created alphabets, he joined them and like this he created God”.
“You are very right, mankind made God with alphabets but who gave him this sense to join these alphabets, who taught him”.
Mustanir, you aren’t getting. Look, the meaning of God is Khuda, Allah, Bhagwan, Dio, and Dieu. In every language with different alphabets they created their God. What I am saying, if that is right than mankind is the creator of God”.
“But this word Khuda existed before Khuda. God doesn’t need words for his existence. You can’t explain existence of God with words”.
“What you are saying, if we consider it philosophically than you are right but modern science doesn’t accept your logic”.
“You know where science fails exactly at that point the God’s existence starts”.
“I am sick of this Muslims’ philosophy that they try to convince the people about such a thing which one can’t see”.
“So it means you aren’t Muslim”.
“I didn’t say that”.
“It seems like that, anyway I really don’t care. By the way for your kind information Paul Davies and Richard Dawkins, they haven’t found lots of things, like, “chicken came first or egg”.
“The same hypocritical example”.
This hypocrite brought you very good example”.
(Mustanir used a proverb in Urdu which was very difficult to understand for Laiba) so she said, “Mustanir I didn’t get what you said”.
“It’s not your fault”.
“Okay, tell me, when you are coming to my home. I want you to meet my dad”.
“Oh no, I am not coming. I am poor man; your father will throw me out of his house”.
“You are very strange person. You live in your own world. This gonna happen, that gonna happen and you are studying anthropomorphism”.
“Okay my dear, I will come but tell me one thing. Is there any dog in your house because in every big villa there is one dog and you know I am scared of dogs”?
“Okay, I must go now”.
“Khuda Hafiz”.
“Khuda Hafiz”.
.........................
Mustanir’s complete name was Mustanir Suri. He born and grew up in such a family where there was no place for bribery, falsehood, favours and corruption. Mustanir’s father Mustabsir Suri lived his whole life according to certain principles. Mustanir completed his education until yet because he was brilliant student and he always won scholarships for further studies. He was studious and bright and he had plans to go to America for further studies. He wanted to complete his PhD in anthropomorphism but he was still far from his destiny. He used to pay his dues to give private tuitions. Since he got admittance in Mohammad Ali Jinnah University, he used to take special care of his clothing. He used to buy good pair of jeans, coloured and floral pattern shirts from second hand clothing shops which is called landa bazaar in Pakistan. Laiba never thought of it that Mustanir wear second hand clothes (landa bazaar). She didn’t even know what this second hand clothing is (landa bazaar). Anyway Mustanir never cared about this that he wears second hand clothing. He had a genuine excuse and logic that second hand clothes aren’t free. He pays for them.
His father was professor of mathematics in a famous college of Rawalpindi but they were living very hard life because Mustabsir sahib was against giving private tuitions. He used to say that, “I teach my students honestly. I do my job very well so they don’t need private tuition”. He had his old Vespa scooter and it used to take half an hour to start. Sometime his ankle used to injured after kicking the scooter (until now most of motor bikes and scooter starts with kick they don’t have self start igniters). It happened quite often whenever he parked his scooter in college’s parking; student used to puncture his scooter’s both tyres. Mustabsir sahib used to bring his scooter from college to the main road to mend it on his own. He never cried, never changed his principles of life which he had. It happened many times. He never said even a single word. After having all these events he used to come home late and his wife used to scold him because of this. He used to counsel and advice Mustanir as well not to give private tuitions. According to his philosophy, student should study by themselves. Colleges and institutions are open only for this purpose. He didn’t know this that all teachers and professor aren’t like him. Mustabsir sahib’s life was very hard and difficult but he had such a piece of mind which others didn’t have. His conscience never blamed him or he never felt guilty conscience. He was honest and truthful person.
.................................
Laiba’s mother was Italian and father was Pakistani. She had the best of both countries. Like you know in genetics there are dominant and recessive system. So Italian and Pakistani beauty dominated her personality. She had long black hair which she tinted blonde but now from base of her hair, original colour was coming out. So they were blonde and black at the moment. It was exactly like that when you buy babies of breaded chicken. In the beginning they look nice but when their new plumes come out, they look weird. She had light wheatish complexion. Her nose was very sharp and beautiful, as some sculptor carved it with piece of marble. She had blue eyes, medium height and stature was appropriate. Everything was perfect at it place. The best thing in her personality was her smile which made her personality magnanimous. When she used to laugh it used to seems like that that the whole universe is enchanting. Annoyingness never suited her. Laiba was twenty years old but she used to look very younger than her age like people always estimated her age sixteen or seventeen. She had two hobbies, swimming and skiing. For skiing there were only two resorts in Pakistan. One was little far from Gilgit, called Naltar skiing resort and other was in Malam Jabba in swat so she prefer to enjoy swimming, which was easily available. Anyway soon she was going to America, in America there were many skiing resorts. Many modelling companies offered Laiba for modelling not even in Germany and Italy, in Pakistan as well but she always refused them.
Since Laiba came to Pakistan, many guys approach her but none of them impressed her. It’s quite rare that you find many qualities in one person especially in girl like intelligent, smart, beautiful and soft spoken. You can’t find these things together. Laiba was beautiful, smart, sensible and very intelligent. Anthropomorphism was her favourite subject but she had great interest in anthropology as well.
The only person who left good impression upon Laiba in Pakistan during her stay was Mustanir. He was the only person who never got impressed of someone wealth, dress or these luxurious things. He was the one and the only person in the university whose wisdom and knowledge amazed her. Although she wasn’t one of them who accept defeat easily.
Mustanir was physically very strange. He was enough tall and in Urdu it’s called lamdheing which tall in a strange way. You can say weird. He wasn’t bad looking. He used to grow his hair long and beard as well. He used to shave his beard but for hair cut he didn’t ever found time. The only person in university with whom he had good understanding was Ahmad Hassan Dani. In front of Dani sahib Mustanir never said anything although he never allowed anyone to speak in front of him. The other person who impressed him was Laiba. The reason was that Laiba was bold, blunt and beautiful. University’s all boys senior, junior even professors used to invent excuses to be close with her. Everyone tried to flirt with her but she used to respond very badly one couldn’t even dare to do second attempt but she used to look for Mustanir all the time.
Laiba was in love with Mustanir but she never mentioned it to him. It wasn’t that she was coward or she didn’t have much courage to say this. In fact she was unable to decide that what she was feeling about Mustanir, was it infatuation, love or adoration. On the other hand Mustanir had same feeling about Laiba. Their mental level was very high so they weren’t willing to say each other in a stupid way that, “I love you”. It has been long that they had this kind of feeling about each other but they were unable to give this relationship some name in words.
............................................
“So you are Mustanir”, Zuhab Hanjral said in ironic and arrogant way.
Mustanir’s wasn’t ready for this phrase so he controlled himself and said, “Yes I am the one who is called Mustanir Suri”.
While they were talking Laiba said in way that some bomb exploded somewhere, “Papa I want to marry this gentleman and I think he wants to marry me as well”.
She addressed Mustanir and said, “What you think Mustanir”.
“I think there is no harm in it, but I would like to do this in a proper way. I will bring my parents than they will discuss”, Mustanir responded humbly.
Zuhab sahib felt that some scorpion bitted him off. As his daughter was born in Europe, she grew up there so he controlled his temperament and said in a very decent way, “Okay you can bring you parents whenever you want my son”.
“Papa there is no need of this. It’s me who wants to marry and him as well. By the way I am over eighteen. I don’t need no one’s permission. I was just telling you”.
“I know my love that you are old enough but for everything there are certain rules and regulations. We have our norms and traditions which we have to follow. You shouldn’t forget your roots”.
Mustanir added his opinion and said, “Laiba your father is right”.
“Mustanir you never had that much courage to bring your parents to talk about this. So today I had to say this. I took this bold step”.
“I knew about this but I thought it might be my illusion”.
“Same was the case with me”.
Zuhab sahib wanted to change the topic so he said, “My son what are your plans after completing masters”.
“I have decided to do PhD, if I will get scholarship”.
“Otherwise”.
“Otherwise I will do some research work and maybe I will find some job”.
“It’s my opinion that Laiba should complete her PhD. Then we will take some final decision.
She is going to America”.
“Okay uncle she will go to America and if I won’t arrive home on time my mother will never forgive and exonerate me. So kindly give me permission to go”.
He shook his hand with Zuhab sahib and Laiba came up to the main gate to say good bye to him. Labia’s home was very beautiful but Mustanir’s philosophy was that homes are beautiful because of people who live in them so the buildings made of stones, wood and concrete aren’t beautiful. It doesn’t matter Labia’s father was millionaire and she was living in luxurious and expansive villa. In fact he was in love with her not with her wealth.
........................................
Zuhab sahib recently started political carrier so he didn’t want to do some mistake with which his political carrier which wasn’t started properly could have been ended otherwise for him it was very easy to remove this hurdle from Labia’s life. He knew this as well that this is their infatuation or lust which has youngsters quite often at this age. For him this matter was a bit difficult because Mustanir wasn’t impressed at all of his wealth and pomp. He didn’t show any interest in his expansive villa. He was for sure that he can’t bribe Mustanir or buy him with money, he wasn’t for sale. Like this he would have remove this thorn from his daughter’s life. Even he wasn’t in a position to stop his daughter to do this.
There was only one way to solve this situation was that that he should surrender himself in front of his daughter and start his political carrier. Politics is such an addiction that surrendering in front of daughter’s love is small things sometime they by themselves kidnapped their own daughter and they accept have her raped just to get public attraction. Now Zuhab sahib decided to give their love story a legal form and he wanted to set an example for the public that he isn’t racist and discriminate among class system. Mustanir wasn’t financially strong but he was rich in wisdom and knowledge. He thought that it’s quite possible that in near future he could be helpful for him for his political carrier. Zuhab sahib invented many excuses to convince himself.
For Mustabsir and his family this news was like atomic bomb that their son wants to marry someone and he is going to marry with such a girl whose father is business tycoon.
“My son this kind of marriage doesn’t have good ending”.
“Abba now time has been changed”.
“Beta I know that you are educated person. You know very well what is wrong and right for you. But life isn’t mathematics or anthropomorphism which you study in books. It’s entirely different. I don’t mind you want to marry and I am not against your marriage either. What I am trying to tell you that if we will see you living a miserable life we won’t be sleeping on the bed of roses. I tell you in plain and simple words that this marriage isn’t compatible. You are marrying her for money aren’t you, if I am not wrong”.
“Abba I am not greedy. If I had plans to make money there are so many other ways. By the way if money could bring happiness in your life than all rich and wealthy people would have been living happy and peaceful life. The only reason is, I like Laiba that she doesn’t have anything like this in her personality”.
“Beta, will you continue your studies or you will leave your degree in the middle as well”.
“Abba we aren’t like Laila Majno (a love story, Majno in Arabic is mad he was Laila’s lover and his real name was Qais). After completing our studies than we will take final decision”.
“Beta I want you to complete your Doctorate. I think there are few people who have done Doctorate in Anthropomorphism. I will be happy if you go for advance studies and it’s quite possible you will get some job in Muhammad Ali Jinnah University”.
“Abba I have the same plans. Let’s see what Khuda (Khuda in Persian language is for God) has decided for me”.
“Beta I have told many times that Khuda is Persian word so you should always say if Allah wanted or if Allah liked for me”.
“Okay Abba, Khuda I mean Allah doesn’t care about these obligations”.
“Okay beta I don’t want to start new discussion with you. I must go; I have to do many things. Allah hafiz”.
..................................
Laiba stopped her car at the corner of the street and said, “Mustanir if we keep these streets neat and clean. I will be feeling that I am roaming in the streets of some small town of Reggio Calabria”.
Mustanir’s said astonishingly, “So the streets of Arya Mohallah (alley) are like the streets of Italy. It’s honourable thing for us”.
Laiba got Mustanir’s irony and astonishment and said, “I was dam sure that you will said something ironic about my comparison”.
Mustanir’s didn’t want to upset her so he said, “I was just”.
“Okay what you just”.
Laiba didn’t complete her phrase and their dispute ended. They started walking towards Mustanir’s house. While Laiba was walking she was observing streets which were around her. Some car were parked, some water buffalos were eating fodder.
Mustanir opened the door. Even though their house was old but very clean. Mustanir’s mother was an old fashioned lady but she welcomed Laiba whole heartedly. There wasn’t such a beautiful girl neither in Mustanir’s maternal family nor in paternal family. She was looking at her in her imagination as a daughter in law. All of a sudden they heard a voice that someone is parking and switching off his Vespa scooter. Mustabsir sahib entered in the house. Laiba bowed her head and said “Aslam-O-Alayum”.
He said, “May you live long my daughter, what you think about over Mohallah”?
“It very beautiful”, she responded politely.
“My dear wife, make something to eat. So beta you are studying Anthropomorphism”.
“Yes uncle”.
“Oh my dear don’t call me uncle. I feel that I am old”.
“Okay I call you sir”.
“Don’t call me sir because after hearing this word I feel that we are still slave. Its better you call me uncle. Anyway beta, tell me about yourself. You are living in Islamabad since your birth or you are migrated from some other place”.
“Uncle I think Mustanir didn’t tell anything as he has this bad habit because he thinks that these things aren’t very important”.
“Beta to be very honest with you, these things aren’t important for me as well but as you came to our home first time so I was just giving company”.
“Uncle my father is from Punjab, my mother is Italian and I was born in Germany”.
“Beta you speak Urdu very well”.
“Abba she can speak German, Italian and English as well fluently”.
Laiba liked tea’s serving style of Mustanir’s mother. In the middle of veranda there was very beautiful wooden table and it was covered with beautifully embroidered cotton table cloth with coloured cotton threads. She brought tea cups in an antique bronze tray which had beautiful floral decorative carving. She placed things one by one like pakoray, smosay, shami kebab, chutney, after seeing all these things Laiba’s mouth filled with water. Inwardly she felt a lot of pride for this respect which they gave her like VIP. Until yet she lived like A class life. The home which is called home is not made of wood and stone, it’s made of people who live in that, she was seeing home that kind of home first time in her life which one can imagine. She didn’t know the inner feelings of Mustanir’s mother what she was thinking about her.
As she was busy in observing their home, Mustanir’s mother broke ice and said, “Beta you didn’t bring your mother with you”.
“Jee, she doesn’t live here”.
“Then where she lives”?
“Jee, in Germany”.
Mustanir tried to clear her situation and said, “Ma, her mother take care of their business in Germany and father, he lives here”.
Mustanir’s mother didn’t get what he said. As she would have asked him some other question, Laiba took permission. Everyone forced her to stay a little more but she didn’t accept it.
“Okay uncle and aunty, kindly give me permission to go. It was such a pleasure to see you people. I should go now”.
......................................
Mustanir didn’t get acceptance letter for his scholarship and Laiba went to America for PhD. She forced a lot Mustanir he should come with her, she will pay his dues as well. Even though Hanjral sahib forced him more than Laiba but he didn’t accept their proposal. He was from middle class but he had a lot of respect for himself. If Mustabsir sahib would have used his contact, it could have been possible that he has had scholarship but his father wasn’t one of them who use their contacts for their own interests. For him merit was and is everything. So Mustanir decided to join M. Phil’s classes in Pakistan. On the other hand he said good bye to Laiba warm heartedly and with a lot of good wishes but inwardly he was very sad.
They used to e-mail each other every day, used to chat on messenger, used to write letters, talk on telephone for hours. They had millions of things to discuss. With the passage of time their e-mails reduced, now Laiba used to be on line rarely. She started writing fewer letters. Due to this Mustanir didn’t concentrate upon his Mphil but finally in three years time he completed his Mphil. University offered him job which he accepted happily. Suddenly he heard news that Laiba is coming back. He was very happy inwardly but he was thinking why he got annoyed with Laiba he knew that
,تعلق اس طرح سے توڑا نہیں کرتے
کہ پھر سے جوڑنا دشوار ہوجائے
(You shouldn’t break relationship in such a way, if you want patch up with person than its difficult to do it)
In fact there wasn’t anything special among them. In fact Laiba stopped responding his e mails. So Mustanir got aggravated. He wasn’t one of them like
قطع نہ کیجئے تعلق ہم سے
کچھ نہیں تو عداوت ہی سہی
مرزا غالب
(Don’t break relation with me, if there isn’t anything among us than be angry with me)
He didn’t want to degrade himself. He didn’t want to hurt his prestige and reputation. He showed attitude as she showed to him, even though he didn’t go to airport to receive her. At last he convinced himself and phoned her. He spoke frankly with Mustanir like nothing happened among them. After having little talk with Mustanir she was in university next day. Now Mustanir wasn’t student he was professor. He got shocked after seeing Laiba. She wasn’t the same Laiba as she was before. She was like withered flower. She was very weak. At first sight he didn’t recognize her but later on he identify her because of her voice.
He gave her a depressing look and said, “What is this Laiba”.
“I couldn’t bare loneliness, I missed you a lot that’s why I am like this”.
“How was American journey”?
“Wasn’t bad at all, but soon I will be leaving for Germany. I have little time, rest of my life, I will pass in Germany”.
“What do you mean”?
“I have blood cancer”.
“Laiba you are very cheap and mean, you didn’t tell me, you thought that I am in love with you because of your beauty or wealth”.
“I wish if you could have been like this but the tragedy is this you aren’t such kind of person”.
“There is cure for this. I mean in America or in Germany”.
“If there could have some cure than my father wouldn’t have been that much sad. By the way I am going to Germany in few days. My father will accompany me”.
“Then why you came to Pakistan, you should have gone to Germany from America”.
“Some special force brought me here; I think I wanted to see you before I die”.
“So genetically you are still Asian”.
“If not completely, biologically, I am half Asian”.
“I wish Laiba, if I could have gone to America with you. It’s quite possible that couldn’t have this blood cancer. I am so stupid that I became slave of my morality and ethics”.
“Mustanir, what is written in our destiny it’s going to be happened? You tell me about yourself. How is your professorship”?
“For the time being I am lecturer”.
“You still have this habit of interrupting in the middle”.
“And you still speak wrong Urdu”.
After this dialogue both of them started crying.
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Zuhab Hanjral and Laiba both of them were waiting for their flight at Islamabad airport. Hanjral sahib took out his passport many times and look at it. He might be thinking that this burgundy passport gave him such sadness that he is going to Europe to bury his loving daughter because her mother lives in Germany.
As Hanjral sahib sat in aeroplane, he felt that he is leaving his homeland first time in his life. He was in such a condition, he was neither alive nor dead. He was looking at his daughter. Now Laiba started losing her beautiful hair. If one has a close look she was partially bald.
As they arrived at Frankfurt airport, the airport management arranged everything for her; from airport they took her to hospital and admitted her.
Now Sabrina and Zuhab used to pass their maximum time with her. Days were passing very fast. She was moving towards her death. Sabrina and Zuhab sahib made that much money that it was enough for their seven generations but with that money they were unable to save their daughter’s life. Labia’s condition was becoming worse and worse day by day.
Hanjral sahib became very humble and down to earth as he was very proud and never looked down. He never helped anyone; he always used people for his own purpose. He used to suck worker’s blood and he used to treat them very bad but now he used to look at his credit cards and European Union passport and things like these, Oh, alas what I have done. As days were passing Hanjral sahib’s condition was getting worse. When few days left he started hitting walls with his head, on the other hand Sabrina controlled herself. Mentally she was very busy. Even in hospital she was on line to control her business via internet and mobile phone.
When last day came, Hanjral sahib burned his passport and credit cards and started babbling and left the hospital. Zuhab sahib became mentally ill and Sabrina Marini started living with new partner of pizza Milan.
Will Power.
This is the story of those days, when I used to work on a busy road of London called Fulham Broadway. I used to work in a shop. You can’t say it was shop, in fact it was a store or you can say mini store where they had everything. I mean food stuff; even they had a section of cosmetics as well. The shop owner was from Rawalpindi, where I belong. When I started working for him, I felt very strange because I never did manual work in my whole life. So in the beginning it was very difficult for me to manage. But I started working honestly there. When they came to know that I am educated person than they started treating me nicely. To be very honest with you the person for whom I was working, Javed sahib was very kind person. His nephews became my friend as well. I don’t know what so special they saw in my personality, they never treated me badly even though they were very ill mannered and rude. We used to go to discotheque together quite often.
My daily job was to bring things from the basement of shop and to fill the empty shelves, like drinks and stuff like that. Other than this if anything in any section, if the shelves were empty I had to bring to fill up the shelves. Above all cleaning the shop was our duty as well. There was another guy who was working with me. Javed sahib and his wife’s nephew they were permanent worker of this shop.
I used to take train from Neasden railway station used to get off at Earls Courts to change the train. From Earl’s courts I used to take train for Fulham Broadway. In six months time I got acquainted with two people than they became my friend. The one was Nadeem Fazil Khan, who was from Birmingham. He was working next to my shop (I mean where I was working), in a some Patel’s pharmacy as a pharmacist. The other person was Rajniti Singh. He was living in London from last forty five years. He forgot a lot of Hindi. He used to buy two things regularly, Weetabix and The Guardian news paper. Raj sahib used to say that, Guardian is like my breakfast. If he doesn’t read Guardian news paper, his day doesn’t start. He was reading this news paper from last forty five years. In the evening he used to give me that news paper after reading it. I used to read that second hand newspaper. Politics I never liked it so I used to throw rest of the paper accept the cultural, art and literature stuff. I used to keep it with me. as I was and I am fond of literature and fine art so if I have ever seen something related with art, culture, literature and fine art I read it. Apart from these things I used to take interest in fashion page as well. My salary wasn’t very good but you can’t complain. I used to save some money and used to send it to Pakistan and I used to save little money as well. That money I used to use for some important task. I was that much happy working in Fulham Broadway that I used to feel that I am living in this area since ages. I used to have one day off. On that day I used to go to my brother’s home. I used to stay at my brother’s place and then on next day I used to come to Fulham Broadway direct from his home.
I have great passion of reading and buying books. When I was in Pakistan, I used to buy old and new books. I bought whatever I found interesting. I didn’t stop this hobby even here. Where I was working there was a place called Jar din place. There was a shop where they used to sale second hand things. They used to keep books as well. I used to buy books only. In the beginning I used to buy books like novel, poetry, history and religions of the world. When I got acquainted with Rajniti Singh, I started reading books on popular science. On top of the list was genetics. Now in my room which was very small the books about science started increasing slowly. Other than these books, I started buying New Scientist regularly. I was that much addicted of genetics; people started calling me D.N.A. Nadeem got surprised of my hobby. He got more shocked when he came to know that, I know French language as well. The most astonishing thing for him was, when I told him I am illegal in this country. Although it wasn’t very strange thing because in London most of the foreigners are illegal.
Other than books, my other passion was music. 95.8 Capital F.M. was the part of life. The best segment of this F.M. Radio was the segment of Steve Pank. Doctor Fox was good as well. When I used to enter in the shop at 1 “O” clock, I used to start listening 95.8 Capital F.M. radio. Until 11 “O” clock in the evening I used to listen. We used to close the shop at eleven so we used to switch off the radio at eleven. It wasn’t like that that it was the end of music. When I used to arrive at home, I used to switch on the radio. At night at home I used to listen, Melody FM, Kiss 100 FM or Jazz FM. I had very good collection of ghazals as well. I used to enjoy with these ghazals as well. When I started working, in the beginning I used to have day off on Thursday. I used to finish my work on Wednesday and from their I used to go to some discotheque. Then they changed my day off and they started giving me day off on Saturday. Now I started going to discotheque on Friday night. I think that I haven’t missed any discotheque of London. I had a complete list of all discotheques of London which had their addresses, dress codes, timings and entry fee. I was fond of music and dance so I used to enjoy for four or five hours dancing and listening music there. There were lots of people who were interested to go to discotheque with me. The only reason was that that I used to dance continuously and I was good dancer. I learnt a lot dance in discotheques by watching other people.
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Now let’s start the real story. Javed sahib sacked his wife’s nephew dew to some personal reasons. It’s not very important to tell the reason as I knew but when he left the shop, Javed sahib gave me the keys of the shop and said now you are the responsible of this shop, so from now on you will be the one who will close the shop. Now I was responsible for everything like if anything is short, or anything to buy, the stock in the basement, cleaning the shop, I was responsible for all these things. So it was my job to close to shop and check the cash as well. As I had the keys of the shop so it was great responsibility. I was cashier cum manager. I used to leave till cash when I used to go for dinner or when I had to go to wash room. So like this the customers used to see my face from 1 “O” clock till 11 “O” clocks in the evening. When I used to find some time; I used to put wines and beers in the shelves. In this mini store, used to come many people every day. Every person had history but one old lady impressed me a lot.
I call her old lady because she was above seventy but in England even in all European countries seventy isn’t old age or you can’t call them old. Any way I was talking about that old lady. She wasn’t taller than five feet but she used to wear high heel shoes and because of them she used to seem taller than her actual height. Her hairs were short up to her shoulders but she used to comb them always very nicely. Her hair were neither black nor white, they were grey. When she used to walk on the road under sunlight they used to glitter and shine in very particular way. Her face was full of wrinkles but her wrinkles were very graceful. Her features were good. If you keep her features in your mind and just dream about that lady how she should have been in her youth. She must have been femme fatal. She used to wear skirt usually. So I used to see her calves, on them it was easy to see the signs of her old age. She used to wear expansive shoes and she used to wear skin colour socks. Her English speaking accent wasn’t like English; she must have been from Scotland or Ireland. As I was living in London for some years so for me it was very easy to judge the accent of the people. The Irish and Scottish accent was different, Liverpool’ accent was different as well. It was quite clear to judge where do they belong. The people of South Africa, Australia and New Zealand they all have different accent. About American accent, everyone know, there is no need to tell.
When I used to fill shelves instead of working as cashier, in those this lady used to come regularly but I never spoke with her. My job was whenever she used to come in the shop I used to take eight cans of Guinness draughts from the shelve, put them in a bag and give them to that lady. She used to pay for eight cans and she used to leave the shop in a blink of eye. I used to have little chat with her but I was afraid that if I will continue my conversation with her, Javed sahib will be annoyed because I wasn’t working for him legally and I didn’t have document as well, I mean I didn’t have permit of staying in England. So I always tried my level best not to do something weird or strange.
It wasn’t only me, two other people who were working in this shop were curious that this lady is very decent but she drinks eight cans of beer. Until yet I didn’t know anything about the different brands and varieties of alcohols. I didn’t know even this there were many brands of beers. I used to think any think which contain alcohol is called wine.
One thing I forgot to tell you about that old lady, when she used to speak, her teeth used to move. In the beginning I thought that she has some problem in her gums but I came to know later on that she had false teeth. I didn’t know a lot about that lady but I was inquisitive and curious about her, even Javed sahib and his nephews used to feel strange about her as well. As in Europe alcohol selling and drinking isn’t odd so nobody bothered about this. As she was very old so everyone was curious that she drinks eight cans of beer every day. By the way in England eighty and ninety year’s old people drink one bottle of whisky and brandy every day. One example was Jefferson. He worked for royal navy. He lived in India before partition I mean before 1947. He was great fan of India. He was eighty five years old but it was impossible to free one’s wrist from his grip. He used to hold wrist very strongly. He used to drink one bottle of Bells whisky everyday and one packet of twenty cigarettes. He used to say that, the secret of his good health are these two things. The doctors they talk rubbish.
Like this I started knowing about alcohol. What is the difference between Whisky, Brandy and Cognac? What is the difference between Jin, Rum and Tequila? Others were Old Baileys, Period, and Ricard. Beer has its own varieties. Draught, Pilsner and Bitter these all were different. Guinness Draught is very powerful beer. It contains a lot of iron in it. In the beginning they used to use it as a medicine for the patients to provide them iron. I don’t call it ferrous because people don’t understand this word because it’s Latin word so I prefer to call it iron. If I say to someone that he is lacking ferrous in his body he will be shocked but if I will say that he is lacking iron in his corpse than there will be no problem. One thing I knew that this lady has shortage of ferrous I mean iron so she drinks eight cans of Guinness Draught everyday just to provide her body the right quantity of iron.
During my job I used to keep myself happy and gay used to move my body like I am dancing, so like this I used to keep myself busy in my job. My style was very strange for customers. They all were shocked and amazed that what special felicity has this person that he is always happy and he always keeps smile on his face. When I used to ask some customer that how are you, he used to respond me “surviving”. This means I am just alive. He used to say surviving in such a way that he will die the very next minute. I used to tell them if you have shelter, clothes and food than it doesn’t mean surviving. It means very good. I still believe on this philosophy.
I still had curiosity to know about this lady. I found this opportunity to know more about this lady when Javed sahib asked to serve the customers as a cashier on till cash. The other boy who was working as a cashier, Javed sahib sacked him. Now I used to see her coming on the road I used to say loudly to Atif that bring me eight cans of Guinness draught. We used to have 33 litre can of Guinness Draught and most of the time we used to have large can of Guinness Draught at same price on special offer. It happened quite often that I didn’t find that can so because of she used to get annoyed of this but she never refused to buy Guinness Draught from us. Whenever she used to come to our shop, I used to say something to her. Sometime I used to say something about her hair style, sometime about her skirt, some about her rings which she had in her fingers. She knew that I just have a laugh. She never knitted her brows albeit she used to enjoy my conversation. Once just to make her happy I proposed her to marry with me. She started laughing loudly and said, “I got married thrice and the speciality of these marriages is that----- I divorced thrice of them. I mean I left them. These three rings remind me that what I have done it wasn’t and it isn’t wrong”.
Like this we used to talk and she used to tell me something new about her life. I never had that much courage to ask her why you buy eight cans of beer. It was against manners and ethics. Anyway drinking beer and alcohol in European countries isn’t a shameful thing.
I used to go to my shop where I was on working on Friday, a little earlier because Javed sahib had to go to mosque for Juma (Friday) prayer. I came to know later on that the main reason of Friday prayer is to see other business men and after prayer they used to discus about business that where they find cheap beer and alcohol. So like this one Friday as I was at the shop a little earlier, I saw that old lady she was running towards my shop. It seemed like that that she is in rush. She entered in the shop and said, “Can you do me a favour”.
I said, “Tell me if I can. I would love to do this favour for you, if it’s possible”.
So she said, “This is my address. I am going out of the city for three days. If you deliver eight cans of Guinness Draught at my address for three days”.
I said, “It’s not a problem”.
I said curiously, “you are going out of city, than why these cans of Draught, for whom”?
So she said, “These are for my son. He doesn’t have his both legs. I don’t know how long he will live but one thing I know definitely he is still alive because of these eight cans of Guinness Draught”.
I was in a condition like someone has squeezed every drop of blood from my body. I got stunned and I was standing in front of her like statue.
She said, “What happened, you can’t do this for me”.
I said, “Why not”.
She said, “I am in hurry. You can take money for twenty four cans. Where I am going, if I will be late than you will have to deliver cans on that day as well. I will clear your debts when I will come back”.
I gave her money back and said, “When you will come back than I will clear everything”.
She gave me such a look that she is saying thanks. She left the shop after this. I kept her address in a safe place. I asked Atif to come at till cash; I took eight cans of Guinness Draught and went to the address which she gave me. I found her home with a lot of difficulty. The address she gave me, at that place all residents were physical handicap. I rang the flat’s bell. Once, twice, thrice. When I thought I should leave I heard a voice, “Come in please”. I answered him when I was standing outside than I pushed the door slightly and entered in his house. As I entered inside, I had a quick glance. In this room there was everything which was suitable for handicap person. Other than what he had in his room that gentleman had a long stick in his hand which was according to me a very useful thing for him. It was a luxurious flat. This gentleman had same features like her mother. Physically he was alright but he didn’t have his both legs up to knees. I was very curious how this gentleman would be using his wash room. How he must be washing himself and using toilette. Due to some reason I had to go to his wash room. There I saw it was made in such a way that it was helpful and made appropriate for a handicap person. I took permission from this gentle to leave. He said, “I am very sorry that I can’t offer you something to eat. Take these five pounds and eat something”.
I refused to take money, said good bye to this gentleman and took my way towards shop. I did this for three days and on forth day that lady came by herself. She cleared all the debts and thanked me a lot as one could. I told her if you have problem like this next time; you can call me on shop’s phone number. I wrote down the shop’s phone number on a piece of paper and gave it to her. She kept that piece of paper in her purse.
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Now I was enough acquainted with this lady. I respected her a lot and I appreciated her courage that this old lady has strong will power that she was looking after her handicap son like a little kid. Now my condition was like that if I don’t see her I used to feel strange that something lacking in my life. I used to see her; she used to tell me that I came this morning and took eight cans of Guinness Draught. Now in our shop everyone knew that this old lady buy eight cans of Guinness Draught for his handicap son. Like Javed sahib, Atif and Javed sahib’s nephews as well they used to come once in a week.
Time was passing that lady used to come like this to buy cans of beer but then suddenly she disappeared. We thought that she is no more, I mean deceased. I thought many times that I should go to her flat and ask her why she doesn’t come but it was a little bit awkward. So I stopped myself doing this. It has been long time but one day I saw her, she was walking across the road. I called her but she didn’t hear me. I asked Atif to come on till cash and ran towards her on the road. When she saw me she felt gladness. I asked her about her son, I saw dampness in her eyes. She told me that he is no more in this world. I felt very grumpy and sad. I asked her where you were, I didn’t see you since ages. She said, I don’t live here anymore. I just came to London for some personal affairs. I asked her why you didn’t come to our shop. She said, my son’s memories were related with Guinness Draught. As you know about this. If I would have seen you, I would have been thinking of my son. So it would have been difficult for me to control myself. I was purposely walking across the road but I should appreciate your deed of kindness you saw me and came out from the shop and stopped me. Honestly speaking in this materialistic world especially we Europeans, we don’t care what’s going on with other people. Okay I must go now. These were the last words she said and took her way but I felt that the bells are ringing in my brain.
Picnic.
Unexpectedly the London’s weather was very nice today. It’s quite rare in London that you have sunshine for two days and it doesn’t rain. Everybody knows that London’s weather is called gray weather, as weather was nice and it was bank holiday as well in London. Atta Sakhi was sitting on black leather sofa; he jumped when he heard weather forecasts. He just came back from work. He took off his socks and inserted them in his shoes. Stinky smell of his socks was entering in his nose. The reason of these stinky socks was that they weren’t washed since long. It was his believe that if I will wash my socks, I will have to put them in washing machine and washing machine consumes electricity. If I will use washing machine to wash them than electricity bill be higher. It will consume water as well and one has to pay water bill as well. To wash clothes you need washing powder and nobody was allowed to put washing powder in machine without his permission. They had special kind of spoon to put washing powder in machine and the advantage of that spoon was that one can’t waste washing powder. Atta Sakhi was the master of all misers. It has been forty years that he was living in London. He had two houses which were called according to Pakistani Londoners’ language “Freehold”. Which means their mortgage was paid. He already estimated their price as well. According to Pakistani currency the resale value of these two houses was fifteen crores (150 million rupees). Other than these houses he has many shops on rent in London than he was owner of a lot of property in Pakistan. If you start counting his wealth, you will be shocked that it’s enough for seven generations but he used to feel a lot of pleasure to be a kind of miser. He used to get pension from two different places. He used to get social security by some trick. Apart from all this he was working at some shop illegally without paying tax. He used to earn nearly 1500 to 2000 thousand pounds per month. He was in love with money more than his life. He never felt whiff and stink of his socks. He used to feel perfume of saving from his socks instead of stink. Like the pleasant smell of pounds. He used to take shower once a weak like this he used to save water, soup, geezer and the electricity. For him it was unbearable wastage of electricity. I started telling you something else instead of Atta Sahki’s story. He jumped from his sofa because he had one day off. After watching and hearing weather forecast he was delighted because they showed tomorrow there will be sunny for whole day. Weather was nice today and it’s was bank holiday as well but he went to work to earn double payment. As he was sitting on sofa, he said from there to his wife, “Begum tomorrow we are going for picnic”.
Begum got shocked that her husband is talking about spending money. He continued conversation with his wife, “After having my dinner I will go to my special petrol pump. At that petrol pump they don’t add anything in it. They have pure petrol and they are five pence cheaper than market”.
His wife responded him from the kitchen “But that petrol pump is thirty five kilometres far away from here. You will consume petrol as well”.
He said, “It doesn’t matter, if you use pure petrol it’s good for car’s life”.
Begum asked him further, “What’s so special in that petrol pump”.
So he said, “Begum, from there, parliament members filled their cars’ tanks, so there is no chance of impure petrol”.
“But in London who does these kind of things, nobody mix anything”, his wife asked him curiously.
Sakhi sahib said in way that he wanted to convince her, “They do this kind of thing everywhere, London isn’t special”.
After this, dining table was being decorated with dinner. Sakhi sahib washed his hands slightly and started eating. When he saw coca cola on dining table he shouted at his wife, “Why you needed to buy this expansive coca cola. This 2 litre coca cola costs 1 and ½ pound. I told you many times you should always buy cheap coca cola. Its 2 litres cola costs seventeen pence. Now there is special offer on that it cost thirteen pence”.
Begum said, “I have been to that shop but shopkeeper told me. We ordered one container but we sold it quickly”.
“You must have taken out from store; we have some bottles in store”.
“That’s no good. I saw sugar at the base of the bottle and black water was floating on the top”.
“Begum you are still stupid, you can shake it and drink it. These things, if you don’t open them they don’t get expire. Oh I forgot to ask you, where are Hatim and Batin, I don’t see them”.
“They are gone for Isha (the last prayer of the day) prayer”.
“When they will have their dinner”?
“They were telling me that they will eat donner kebab or fish and chips from city centre”.
“Begum I told you many times, always care about these things. It’s wastage of money. Everything is available at home, flour, and sugar even coca cola”.
“O! Leave this topic, one shouldn’t be that avarice”.
“Begum you don’t know, if someone spend money like this, Qaroun (Qaroun was an ancient king. he was very wealthy man) wealth will be finished”.
“You always scold your children, they are married now”.
“Anyway when they come, kindly tell them that tomorrow we are going for picnic”.
Sakhi sahib had his dinner quickly and went outside to have a look of his car’s condition.
Suddenly his ears heard a loud voice of his wife, “There is phone call for you”.
He responded her from outside, “Tell him that I am not at home”.
“It’s your elder brother’s call”.
Sakhi sahib came back home swiftly and hold the receiver and started talking. This was his bad habit that when someone used to call him, he used to talk for hours because he knew that he isn’t the one who will pay the bill. Finally he finished his conversation and placed back the receiver on the cradle and said, “It’s amazing tomorrow bhai Jan (elder brother) is going for picnic with his kids. He especially phoned me to tell this. And listen they are making smosay pakoray and chapattis. You make something as well. I mean prathay, add something with them. Make some finger chips and shami kebabs. We must have enough food for lunch and remember one thing on the way back we will be hungry so the left over we will eat as supper cum dinner. You know that food stuff is very expansive at picnic spots. Remember to take a big box of two litre bottles of water. Keep in mind to take some small empty bottles of water. It’s difficult to carry big bottles of water everywhere. I must go now. When Batin and Hatim come kindly tell them to be ready for picnic. Don’t forget to tell them they must wear such kind of clothes which one doesn’t need to iron. As you know electric iron consumes a lot of electricity. Electric meter runs very fast. It will effect on electricity bill as well”.
“Will you go or you will keep giving me instructions”.
“Okay my darling I am leaving, before you used to die to talk with me and now you want to get rid of me”
“It was different before”.
“And now”.
“Now khuda hafiz”.
After this he closed the door.
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Early in the morning in Atta Sakhi kitchen’s, light was on. Few things were ready for the picnic and rest of the things, his wife was preparing. Atta Sakhi went to the shop to buy cheap coca cola but that shop wasn’t open and container didn’t arrive yet. Sakhi sahib waited for four hour and then he got coca cola he wanted. It was 10 “O” clock in the morning. Everyone was waiting for him like his wife, sons, daughter in laws and their kids. They heard the voice, Sakhi sahib switched off his car’s engine. As he came everyone started putting food stuff in the car. When they left home it was 11 “O” clock. Until yet nobody knew that where they were going. When they left home Sakhi sahib told everyone that we are going to Brighton. He told everyone that he knows such a road they won’t need to pay road tax. It’s a long route but we will save road tax for four cars which is forty pounds. So you will have to follow me the road I will use. To go to London one needs one hour but the route which he used it was very long and there was a lot of traffic. So when they arrived at Brighton it was 3 “O” clock. When they reached Brighton everyone’s condition was very bad because of tiredness. Now Sakhi sahib raised another problem. He told everyone that he knows one place there is free parking. So everyone restarted his car and they started searching free parking. After one and a half hour they found free parking. Now they had to walk up to beach. It was nearly two kilometre walk. Everyone was loaded with mineral water bottles, pakoray, smosay, whatever food stuff they had. They had mats and cheap coca cola as well. At last they arrived at beach after one hour tiring walk. They extended mats and decorated food stuff on it like cheap coca cola, chapattis, prathay, smosay and pakoray. The prathay and chapattis became wet because they were in hotpot. Finger chips, shami kebabs, pakoray and samosay were not in eatable condition. Coca cola became shakar cola (it’s drink which made of raw sugar). Everyone was badly hungry so they ate what they had. They finished everything. When they had their lunch, Atta Sakhi announced that the cars are very far so it will take too long to go to cars. So we should leave now. Unwillingly they accepted what he said. They threw plastic bottles and papers and wastage in dustbin and folded the mat, their whole caravan started walking towards’ their cars. As they arrived close to their cars they thanked God because it took them one and half to came back. So they started their cars and took their way towards home. When they arrived home it were 11 “O” clock of night. Batin and Hatim took their way to their home with their families and Atta Sahki’s brother went to his home with his family.
Love
Before the birth of Jesus Christ something like seven hundred years before, a poetess born on Greek island called Lesbos. Her name was Sappho. Her poetry was about women. The reason she wrote poetry about women because she loved feminism. She wasn’t interested in opposite sex. She always enjoyed company of same sex I mean females’ company like herself. It has been two thousand and seven years and lots of people doesn’t know about this, that Lesbos is Greek island and Sappho was born there. Because of her birth place even now a days the girls who make relationship with females or with same sex we called them lesbians.
When I was telling this historical fact to my friend Alap Arslan, he got shocked that a word has that much historical background.
He said, “Tourani, why these women love other women”.
I said, “Like men love men and boys love boys similarly women love women and girls love girls. Arslan you read genetics, you must know about it, it’s related with genetics. You know homosexuality exists in our genes”.
“Tourani, I have read genetics but to explain these things I don’t use science or fine art as a reference. I don’t know what kind of hobbies you have, genetics, philology, and so many other things. By the way there must be lesbians in our country”.
“This is quite natural thing as people call it unnatural thing or act. According to genetics it’s a natural process”.
“Tourani this genetics made you crazy”.
“No Arslan, you are wrong, genetics didn’t make me crazy albeit it opened many parts of my brain”.
“I don’t know which phases have been opened. Okay just prove it, the genes of homosexuality exist in which chromosome and how they transfer in another person”.
“To be very honest with you I don’t know exactly about this but I know one thing that the genes of cancer and heart diseases exist in 13th and 19th chromosomes”.
“How can you say about this so authentically”?
“Because I have read about this and they have proved it few months ago”.
It happened many times that Alap Arslan and Tourani’s discussion ended without any conclusion, at last they had to leave their topic of discussion. Even today love of female with female didn’t end to certain conclusion. So Arslan took permission to leave.
....................................
Alap Arslan went to Australia to complete his education. Over there he got married with Australian girl. He started living there permanently. Suddenly he felt home sickness so he decided to come back to Pakistan. One day Arslan and his wife Kathy were busy in some bazaar doing some shopping, unexpectedly Arslan saw some known face. He got shocked. His wife got surprised as well what happened to her husband. Until yet many things shocked her, but this was new thing. Arslan thought the person who is sitting in restaurant is Tourani. He turned around went to that gentleman and asked him, “If I am not wrong your name is Tourani”.
Tourani heard his voice and said, “Arslan sahib, it’s me Tourani”.
Arslan introduced him with his wife Cathy.
Tourani said, “This isn’t the right place to talk, let’s go home”.
Arslan said, “Not now, we are in hurry. You give me your number, I will call you”.
Tourani swiftly wrote his home and mobile number on piece of paper and gave it him. Arslan folded that piece of paper and placed it in his pocket and took permission to leave. On the way back to home he told his wife Kathy about Tourani. What type of person he was. What is he now? Kathy didn’t get anything. She was listening quietly Arslan, what he was saying.
Arslan pressed the bell of Tourani’s house. After a little while Tourani came out form his house. His hair were withered, he didn’t shave for many days. There were black circles around his eyes. He was looking older than his age. It seemed like that he is passing through some agony and pain. Maybe he has become some poet or philosopher. Or maybe he has become revolutionist. In a little span of time many questions raised in Arslan’s mind.
Tourani said, “What are you thinking. Won’t you come inside? It’s not the first time that you are coming to my home”.
Arslan entered in his house. Tourani’s mother was standing right in front of him. He said, “Aslam o Alayum”.
She said, “Wa Alayum Aslam. You live long my son. You didn’t bring your wife with you”.
“No, ammi (mother). I am seeing my friend after such a long time. I thought we will talk freely without her. After saying this Arslan and Tourani went towards’ drawing room. As Arslan sat on sofa the first question he asked was, “Tell me how your genetics is”.
Tourani said, “We will talk about this later, tell me, would you like to have tea or you would like to eat something”.
“Yar (friend) Tourani I will have tea first than I would like to eat something than again tea”.
After hearing this Tourani went to ask his mother to make tea. When he came back, Arslan repeated his question again.
Tourani said, “Yar this genetics stuff is all rubbish, I don’t like this subject”.
“What about genetically caused diseases and habits, what happened, everything is finished”.
“Yes yar everything is finished. You tell me, how is going on in Australia. Everything is okay? I heard about you that you went there for studies and then you got married there”.
“Yes yar, everything happened quickly. Tell me about you, are you married or still single”.
“You can say yes or no”.
“It means”?
“It means that she is in love with someone else”.
“Then leave her”.
“I want to leave her but she doesn’t want to leave me and she doesn’t want to marry, she can’t do it either, she just wants to have friendship”.
“Why she wants to have friendship, if she was in love with someone else than why she got married with you”.
“Arslan to be honest with you, friendship is an excuse; she is madly in love with that someone”.
“Your family know about this”.
“Yes everyone knows”.
“What you have thought”.
“I don’t know what should I do, I think I should leave on her own and I commit suicide”.
“You have any physical relationship or”?
“You are talking about physical relationship; she doesn’t even allow me to touch her. She says that don’t touch me I am someone else property. Every part of my body belongs to that someone”.
“And he loves her as she loves him”.
“Not he, she”.
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