In Pakistan, 2025 dawned tangled in a war of issues. Do we want to see Pakistan like this? Did anyone dream of such a country in 1925, a state where the British would not rule, where Hindus would become, Mahajans would not stand on their heads for usury. Is this all for which our elders sacrificed their lives, wealth and honor. The sun of January 1, 2025 spread its wings and saw the sit-in in front of the Quaid-i-Azam’s mausoleum. “Why are they sitting?”
“Actually, our country has noticed.”
“Whose sight did you see?” And why?
“Earlier, our country was developing a lot, even made the atomic bomb, the news of the development here was not digested by the enemies, they looked like look at it. How are the fights going? Earlier there were few quarrels due to the founder Tehreek-e-Insaaf, now they have started.” A story was narrated in very innocent short words.
“How do you think we could have saved our country from the evil eye?”
“You believe the evil eye, don’t you?” It is that an evil eye can topple a standing camel.” He seemed to doubt his own statement. Considering his age, respect was also necessary.
“Yes, of course. This is it.
“When Pakistan was formed, I was five years old or a little older than that. But I remember that we were very poor people here in India. Our father was a Mali, an Englishman or a Hindu. But he was not a Muslim, my father would come to my mother every day and say, “We will go to our country and do business.” We will get out of the slavery of the British, we hardly had money to eat.” I used to say to my father, “I want a doll, son! Pakistan is going to be made, I will go here and give you everything.” Then Pakistan was made, how did we come here, I was small, I forgot many things, only mother used to keep me close to her. I also had two elder sisters, father had married them at a young age for fear of bullies.
“How did you come to Pakistan?”
“My brother-in-law. He was my uncle’s son, he worked at the lorry depot, he probably arranged everything. All I remember is that it was such a sun and such a cold wind was blowing, I was very hungry, I was crying, my mother had put a nut in my mouth, I still remember the taste of it. As if someone has cooked a lot of green grass in water. Some salty, some bitter, very strange. But thankfully, the one above had opened some doors.
“Do you remember what place that was?”
“I don’t know, but I heard that there is only Pakistan. There were fields all around, then I fell asleep, when I woke up it was probably a camp. There were a lot of strangers, me, my mother and Baji’s daughter. She used to cry a lot, she was only two or three months old, my mother used to tell me that once her father i.e. my brother-in-law wanted to strangle her, because her crying would have alerted her enemies and killed them all. But my sister-in-law cried a lot, made vows, and then went and melted the heart of this Namanade.
“How can someone strangle their own children?”
“So it’s not happening today?” She smiled sarcastically. At that time, we were all one, all Pakistanis. Who could even kill their children to save the lives of their siblings. We were neither Shia nor Sunni. Neither Punjabi nor Pathan. We were just Pakistanis.
“Now how do you feel seeing your Pakistan in this condition?”
“Looking and what? My country was not like that, I remember. A little girl came outside our camp from nowhere. Gori Chatti was very cute. Her brown hair was covered with mud and she was crying, I told Amma to keep her with me. Amma said, “No way! This is the daughter of Delhi people.” Her mother must be getting worried. Then Amma took him and searched and pretended to be with his mother. At that time there was no language, no color, no race. Just everyone was each other’s friends, all Pakistanis, there was one pain and happiness that we are in our own country.
“Who is watching our country, tell me?” Curiosity was raised.
“They are the ones who find our development bad, who don’t like Pakistan.”
“Who do you mean?”
“Those who want Pakistan to be destroyed.”
“But the name of Pakistan is the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.”
“Son! These disputes are not for religion, they are for land. What happened in Palestine? What happened in Syria?”
“You say that you have not seen the shape of the school, then how do you know all these things?” Their analysis and comments were increasing.
“Wisdom is also something, God has given wisdom to everyone, but many sell it, some for a little money, some for their own purposes.” Some want a title, some want a name. They sell everything and settle down and look is eating our unity, justice and common sense. Envious people are following us, everyone knows what evil eye and envy are, but still we are busy digging holes for ourselves.
“What should be the treatment?”
The wrinkles on the old face deepened. He looked at his rough hands, which were getting stuck in people’s dishes.
“Son! I had seen the darkness on my father’s face, such a darkness that you should not ask. That fear, that fear, he had worked for these non-Muslims all his life, but he was afraid that now they would kill them all. The name of Pakistan used to shine on his dark face. He was true, he died after coming to Pakistan. We have to be honest. Lies and greed, injustice are all happening here. The venomous evil eyes of these tyrants on him. Think of it as a double loss. If the heart is true inside, then no matter how much mud you pour on the outside, there will be peace inside. We need peace from within, son.
Dilu Mai was gone. A great thing was said in simple words, where is the truth in us, it has to be watered that only by its cultivation we can avoid that its branches spread cold shades far and wide. Then no one’s evil eye can spoil anything of this pure land.
