When Pinky Broke My Heart

Urstruly,

After reading the true story ``White Charade,`` I was compelled to read all of your articles. Needless to say, this article too had a deep impact on me.

Just like the previous article, I felt sorry for Karachi. Somehow it seemed like an innocent child raped and molested till it became unconscious. The rape and abuse goes on unabated. Even though I am a born Punjabi Lahori, Karachi is my home. I came here at the age of 5 and ever since I have loved Karachi for all that it has given us. I have always hated those who have spit on its face and done everything to give it a bad name.

I know there are a lot many people like me. Let`s come out and do something for our Karachi, our home. Probably you could start by writing something that appreciates the beauty of this city and all that it has to offer. Probably this might stop the exodus of the educated class of this city to land of opportunities.

Save my Karachi please!

UsrTruly,

yara, it was so very horrifiying. I can swear my heart didnt beat untill i finished reading the last line... or atleast thats what it felt. I could myself feel the still eyes of that Namaaloom staring, see his mutilated corpse lying in front, and hear the cheers of the world all the way.

Greetings,

anNy, Pat.

Wow.. 17-18-19-20.. interesting years of my life they surely were..

I had struggled out of O`levels, I was debating whether A`levels was worth it, or should escape Karachi.

If I rummage back into certain figments of my imagination, (only for the fact that, that is how I tend to deal with certain phases of my life), I find it very hard to cope with life. I made a few mistakes, I let my friends make a few mistakes.

I remember shots being fired and I pinching myself to snap back to reality. It was too late, I almost hold myself responsible for that friends death. It was a close call for me. Death had come knocking on my door.

I guess I was faced with a big decision, what`s life worth to me and how do I plan to make the most of it?

I saw a mother screaming and I saw his sisters yelling, I could hardly believe my eyes, I saw this mess on the big black gate in the scorching June afternoon, ``is that what the inside of one`s head really look like?``

I had my Ad Math Paper the next day, I am not sure what went on the next couple of weeks. I kept my mouth shut.I started my O`Levels with a very different attitude towards life, and I walked out of school with my head upside down.

Since then, my only wish is to make my life worth it. I owe it to my friend, I owe to my Parents.

I worked at a Darus-sukoon for a bit, mentally challenged individual`s helped me understand life to some extent. My uncle was a Mongol child. -- I found the effort to give my SAT`s and escape Karachi, but now only want to be back.

Your efforts will pay off inshallah.

After a point, life only gets better.

Cheers

NONONO!!!

I was NOT being sarcastic sir...

let me tell you how you`ve made a difference...today I and 5 friends are going to buy all the bun kababs, chocolate flavoured Milo, Kheer(its good for growing children) and Fries(aloo is good for them too..and its easily digestible)We will then go to all the slums that we can(keep in mind we are 18, 19,20 year olds)2 hours before iftaree and discreetly give our goodies to all the needy people that we see on the streets. We have decided to forego those delicious looking Armanis,our waxing,the nice iftaree deals and internet hours all of this month... we will put our money into milk and kheer...why? because of your post..it triggered something within all of us..we dont know how well it will go or if we`ll even make a diference..but the point remains..your one act of selflessness has inspired me and 4 more who are normally too busy doing their nails or complaining about incomplete assignments to be submitted in their 48,000 a semester schools..who knows how many more you`ll be making a difference to through us?

anNy

Dear Samuel (re. 195)

It was as heartening to read your hope-filled message as it was heart-rending to to reminded therein of the poverty that surrounds us back home. Thank you for providing that jolt to our complacent consciences.

Toward the end, though, you seemed to despair and say ``...I feel disgusted at times when I realize I am in no position to make a difference or bring a little change to some unfortunate`s life.``

Sam, have you heard the story of the little boy on the sea shore throwing beached starfish back into the sea?? Well, in case you haven`t, I`ll recount it for you...

A man comes up to the boy and says, ``Hey kid, what`re doing? There`re millions of them on the beach.. you don`t really think your throwing a few hundred back is going to make a difference, now do you?``

And the kid, tossing another one back into the ocean, replied ``Well, sure made a difference to THAT one!``



Do let us know how you plan on making a difference `someday`. What are you doing in the US?

If you care to, please reach me at postmatser@yahoo.com (note the spelling). We might have a lot in common.

Best regards,

Pat

anNy,

you`re absolutely right, I cannot possibly make the tiniest difference.. I do not consider that episode of much significance either, nor did I intend to speak of it to claim attention to any services rendered.. you missed my point completely. The incident only made me think of the greater need that exists

My response to Zahra and Urstruly was not talking about my little episode.. it was not about that at all.. it was about the fact that we`ve lost our sanity in the scheme of things.

Your sarcasm was however duely noted, i expected alot worse, but regardless, the respective responses never fail to amuse me.

On a more personal note, yes I am making a difference, I sponsor a child in Pakistan every couple a months, I invest in our local markets and help contribute towards the promotion of our local industries overseas. I help generate revenue in FOREX, that keeps our pathetic dwindling reserves going to some extent.

Try and understand the idea behind speech, and not take each concept too literally.

Cheers

sorry..that will be samuel not sameer

Deja Vu...cinammon roles are 105 each no? 115 with toppings i believe...

Mister Sameer..everytime i go to that place i eat food worth more than what all those roses cost...then i go sit in my nice lil car with those lil boys you talk about telling me how lovely i am and if id please buy a rose..i ofcourse look down my pretty lil nose at them...bequeath a smile upon them when im in a really good mood and then sail off into the sunset

yes sir...uve made a difference..one helluva difference

Zahra,

You`re right, I did intend to cover all surface area possible. I know the difference between the two concepts well, but at the rate we`re going why leave out the issues we have amongst the sects, and to be honest, I was being a little sarcastic too. Perhaps it was too subtle.

Again, I completely agree with you that there is nothing to be sad about the fact that we have provinces and that we belong to them. But provinces were not made or outlined to differentiate amongst ourselves, to the extent we tend to, in this day an age.

The concept one holds of each other, in Pakistan of being from Sindh, Punjab, Baluchistan and NWFP is very uncivilized from the one that was intended.

Our hate or disgust for each other in Pakistan seems to stem from the fact that one is from Sindh or Punjab. That`s my issue with the idea. Our provinces and the people from them should be a sense of pride for each respective individual. Instead we hold it against each other.

I have no insecurities amongst respective`s, nor do I feel sad that we belong to certain areas of Pakistan, yet when we label each other in disrespect by referring to them as a native of a province, is when the idea loses its meaning.

I call myself a Pakistani, I was born in Karachi, that would make me a ``Sindhi`` right? - Wrong, my parents being from Northern India, I have been labeled as a ``Mohajir``.

As for the US, it is truly a grand achievement. What you see as United State of America is not just a country, but it’s a continent almost. It stands united with its 50 states in Unision. Compare that to Pakistan. One, it would be very wrong of you to compare Pakistan and the US in any context, two Pakistan is smaller then Texas, it`s existence a short 50 Years, if you put it next to giants like the US, you wonder what went wrong? Nothing went wrong, it`s just a very unreasonable comparison to put forth. United States is over a 150 years of age. It unites 50 states under one constitution and one president (which was debatable until recently of course.) Why does it not sputter and spasm to a stop every 10 weeks.



Perhaps over time it has concluded that it must be responsible for the people it bears. Perhaps the platform it has built itself upon is a steady one. Perhaps the government and state leaders do understand and realize that they stand responsible for the basic needs every individual has a right to.

Yes, you do have homelessness, poverty, drugs, alcohol and what have you, addictions and abuse. But it`s the ratio and proportion that is important. We have similar issues, but we seem to be just overwhelmed by money and power. We have very little of both, but that very little is held in huge ratios by very few people.

Thus we have dissension among ranks, and complete anarchy on a moment’s notice. People in Karachi, Lahore and other similar cities feel they have nothing to lose. Nothing to look forward to, nothing to build upon and no one to care about.

We cannot even provide every citizen of Pakistan with food, water and shelter. Health and Education are another ball game altogether. How does one then expect anyone to be satisfied with themselves, let alone each other.

Urstruly asked me my points of view or ideas to improve us.

This response becomes lengthier by the second, but about a year back I was home for a visit after about 3 years. I discovered this interesting place called ``DE JA VU`` in Karachi. I was most intrigued, and decided to have some ``coffee`` there.

Upon arriving there, I was approached by this tear-stained little man, in a pair of torn oversized blue faded jeans and a T-shirt that stood out for it had the ‘Super Man’ insignia on it. He held up a bunch of long stem roses and said, ``Piyari Baji ko dua doonga, lailo bhai.`` (I`ve been told I can be quite a basket case at times), but this little man was convincing enough and after a bit of pondering, I bought two stems from him and gave him perhaps 50RS. And asked him to get some food. – His eyes shone, perhaps there was still some hope.

As I left that place, which was a pleasant interesting one for sure, I was approached by not one, but a handful of those little men. Must be ages between 5 and 10, not more. Each held those long stem plastic covered roses and had the same chant to their tongues, ``piyari baji ko dua dangay``. Well ‘piyari baji’ or not, she wasn’t getting a gazillion roses and I certainly wasn’t going to buy the lot. I struck a deal, I got them some food, (Cinnamon Rolls) from `De Ja Vu` and milk, they sat and feasted over the much dreamt of food article they held in their hands.

I do not boast of my insignificant donation to our society, but it makes me wonder how little it really takes to some times satisfy a genuine need.

The satisfaction on their faces seemed to be more, then had I given them 5 or 10 RS. They were simply hungry.

We have our government spending 70% of our budget, but we cannot come up with enough food shelters to ensure that our fellow residents don’t sleep on empty stomachs.

You and I and everyone else stand equally responsible for providing such a need. But I do believe the government is obligated to do so. Perhaps we could start from that and see where we go.

You`d be surprised how much an individual changes on a full stomach. Our ability to decide, to be patient, to speak, to reason, to understand and to forgive, can change and can improve depending on our health, our emotions and our strength to go through another day.

Surely, I do not suggest hunger resolves all issues, but it’s a start. Nor am I saying that there is no one providing such needs. I know Edhi Welfare does, and I am sure others do too.

But that’s just a tiny portion. Our needs our few, but our wants keep growing and we seem to have forgotten why we`re here in the first place.

I`d hate to be labeled, but I feel disgusted at times when I realize I am in no position to make a difference or bring a little change to some unfortunate’s life. I do however intend to, but for the moment I`ll have to be patient, for talk is cheap!!

Regards,

Samuel.

Just read the piece. Briliant writing-- poignant and moving!

Do keep writing.

regards

anNY #187 Glad you liked the post. The internet is truly a unique medium - you may discuss experiences and thoughts that are quite personal with total strangers. How we use it is up to us.

Urstruly,

And how can you speak on behalf of others? ``We should not scold or scorn ali1.``

And how come you don`t get picked on for doing that by Zahra?

Thats unfair!

Urstruly:

You have been repeatedly using an expression that`s a misrepresentation or probably it seems to me that way. This is a discussion board! Discussions can include: arguments, counter arguments, cross examination, hotheaded views, controlled emotions, harsh thoughts, cynicism, sarcasm, humor, deep sarcasm, praise, and etc.....

No one is scolding and/or scorning anyone here. At least, that`s my take. If you think differently, then you may have a point using ``scorn and scold`` ten million times.

Just a thought!

Urstruly,

Let Miss Zahra know that I am feeling quite well!
And the reference to the two posts provided by Zahra referred to Mr. Bilal Ahmad...

Also, tell her that her post to samuel was well written and strikes at the core of ethno-politics in Pakistan!

Thanks.

Sadhna:

I think you are hinting towards the idiom -- birds of feather flock together? Fairdinkum is not feeling well, so he is all over the place. I did not mean Mr. Ahmad at all. I am also clueless why was his name brought up in this chup`qalush?
Then, Fairdinkum is Fairdinkum[producing clueless arguments here] Although he wrote a fairly knowledgeable response to Solitude`s post previously - must be under the weather!


Urstruly:
Please let Mr.Dinkum know that your brief ``candy sermon`` was gender specific. Ok!

I am not into candies, but if you insist then I will go for ``Marzipan.`` When ?

Take Care,

Samuel:

[Clearly, you`ve triggered an interesting dialogue amongst our beloved ``Sindhi`s, Punjabi`s, Mohajir`s`` .......perhaps we could get into Shia`s and Sunni`s too. ]

Correction -- Regions are different from sects. Sects are united by common beliefs, regions aren`t. We can have Shias in Punjab and Shias in Sindh. So don`t confuse the regions with the sects. I think your intention was to bring forth all the sensitive issues than anything else. Correct me, if you meant otherwise.

[Get over it, Yes, we do have these provinces, Yes we do belong to them and Yes we are labelled and identified through them. It a sad fact of life, but its not the end of the world. ]

There is nothing to be sad about it. You cannot take out the provinces from the map. Can you do that to any country? People in Southern United States have their own dialect, and that very much differs from other parts. When you meet any one of them, they are very comfortable talking about their origin/state. In fact, they initiate a conversation with that - a secured attitude! At least, that`s been my experience. In our case, why should we start feeling guilty? The problem occurs in political scenarios/power tussles, when people start associating the origins with the politicians/bureaucrats. In the above case, if the politician was unsuccessful/lost the game/disappointed the masses, he/she would be cursed for his/her origin than being blamed for his/her incompetence. What`s this? Some kind of exercise for the day of judgement? Ridiculous!

Lastly, people from one region should talk to the other region, but they ought to keep in mind the unique features of that region. Haven`t we heard that love begets love and respect begets respect? If everyone walked and talked the same way in a country, that place must be very boring and gloomy. A rainbow is never appreciated for one shade or the intensity of the other. It`s the combination that maketh it stand out. My thought!

Take Care,