short story

When I opened my eyes, I was in the car. But I was shocked to realize that I was not driving it. That man with some traditional cap and black jacket was on the driving seat. I remember, a few moments before, I was the driver and they were the passengers with me who told me to drop them on the next stop as their car was not functioning properly.

Trying to refresh myself, I changed my posture. The three men around me murmured something to each other in a language that was alien to me. I understood nothing. Before I could say something, I observed that I was not familiar to the area where we were!!! Although I myself was a driver but I had never traveled on such strange roads. These feelings agitated me. I at once screamed “who are you and where you are taking me to???” at this immediate reaction one of the men took out his pistol and told me to stay quiet. I felt myself impotent and didn’t know what to say & what to do… even I was not in my senses properly. I tried to comfort myself with a thought that I’m dreaming. But it was wrong. After traveling two more days, I was sure that I’m kidnapped, but for what?? I was not rich, not educated and was carrying no valuables with me….

Cluster of thoughts occupied my mind. Most dominant was about my parents. They both must be waiting for me to bring some money for the next meal. What they would be doing without me?? I was tired, scared, hungry, and tense. After a very long drive, we entered a deserted area where the roads ended. I could see no human being around. We reached a building that looked old. They greeted some men there and brought me to a huge hall where there already were so many people tied to the walls with chains and ropes. I never even dreamt such a scary scene. I was also tied there and imprisoned along with others. All the individuals were pale, weak and their eyes were hopeless. I could not guess what will happen. I missed my old good times when I was free; noise of the horns, cars, roads, dust, smoke, my companions and above all, my parents. They would die without me.

Some of the boys told me that they will sale us in a market, some predicted that they will get our body parts, our blood, sale them and kill us. After spending seven months there, I was use to with that life. I was now one of those chastened prisoners. All the time we were kept tied & released only for few minutes when we were offered food. Once I didn’t eat it so I was badly whacked and was forced to eat. They didn’t want us to die. After that I never left my meal. Along with all other things, I kept findings the ways to get out of this trap. I could see no hope but still I tried to vacillate my mind.

One day when we were given the dinner, I finished it as soon as I could and then I loosely fastened my chains acting as if they are so tight. When they came, one of the men asked me: “Are you done with it?” I moved my head as an answer. He took the plates and went, when the second man came, he thought the first man did that harness as I simulated that I’m tied tightly. They returned contented. I didn’t tell anyone around me and contemplated the whole scenario to make an escape. Finally I did it. It was a sheer, simultaneous action. I did it very wisely but the biggest problem was that I had no acquaintance to that area. I knew they will chase me on finding me absent. The only thing I did was that I had been walking all that night about four to five miles I had nothing else in my thoughts except to walk, walk and just walk. I reached any forest when I observed a beam of light moving towards me, becoming brighter and brighter. It startled me. I knew they are my enemies. At once I could find no place to hide myself but soon I found a hollow hole, like a ditch under the root of a tree. I jumped there ignoring stones, snakes, horns, pebbles etc. after a while they reached there and searched me like greedy dogs. My heartbeats were fastened and vigorous and I was sweating and trembling with fear.

I held my breaths when one of them came near me, his arrival menaced me. I was sure I’ll be caught. But if I will be caught, I’ll be strictly restrained on this act of treason and they will beat me badly that I took a frail action in vain. Fortunately, that proved to be an expedient spot for me. I heard their tumultuous discussion that I could not understand. I remained safe. They went back after trying every effort to search me. I remained there for about three more hours, and then after coming out, I again started walking. I traveled all the night on foot till the sunrise. I walked six days with same routine; hiding during days and walking at nights.

One day, I was drinking water from the tube-well in some fields when I saw a human being. He was already observing me. He got scared at once but then he came near me. He had a strange expression on his face, I was looking scary, I know because my hair and beard grew extra long in past days. He talked to me in that same language. I tried to explain him everything. He took me with him, provided shelter, and gave new clothes and food. He appointed me as a caretaker for his cows. He warned me not to run away. He was nice, much better than them but trapped me in another way. He took advantage of my being in trouble. He knew I know nothing here. Now I was bound there!!

I spent seven months with him. He told me that he wants me to marry a girl who was also his servant and wished that I stay with him for the rest of my life. I didn’t know what to answer. That night I saw my parents in a dream. They were in a very bad condition and were crying for me. The very next day, I started crying in front of him like a helpless child. I requested him to meet my parents at least once, and then I’ll return and obey his orders forever.

He was convinced. He turned kind, kissed and hugged me in sympathy. I felt very much relaxed. He said “I won’t send you on your own as you know nothing here”. He called upon someone who seemed a responsible and wise man, now he was appointed the responsibility of my safety. His name was Rasheed. I told him my address. He took me to any fruit market. They were loading peach on the trucks to send in other areas of the country. He met a driver there whose name was Qadeer and told him to drop me home. He noted down the truck number, departure time, etc for his satisfaction. And now I started my journey, heading towards my home along with Qadeer and Nasser as my companions. I was now hopeful that I’ll reach my destination with them. After about four hours drive, we stopped for refreshment; there the driver started observing me very keenly, with strange eyes. I got scared and felt uncomfortable. He at once pulled a question: “Are you Aslam??” I was moved. I turned my face up and looked at him in astonishment. He repeated “Are you Aslam. The driver Aslam who left his parents??” I said “Yes, how you know me?” he then told me some things to remind me the old good times but at the same time, he started cursing me badly that why I didn’t care for my old, weak and pitiful parents leaving them alone to cry for the rest of their life….
“I can’t explain you everything at once. I think its enough to tell you that I was kidnapped. Just take me to my home, my parents. I had been willing to see them for so long, I can’t wait anymore.” He took the truck direct to my home. I was observing every street, each corner, all was same, I felt as if I never went away. We reached home. Although I was dying to meet them, I could not strengthen myself to put up my hand & touch the door. I could not even stand directly facing the door. He knocked the door for me. My heart was sinking. After a sufficient time, my mother opened the door. After saying salaam, he informed her: “I’ve good news for you!!”
“No news is good for us until or unless our son wont return” she replied
“If I say he’s back???” she opened her eyes wider and stepped out of the door, looking around. I was standing there, having eyes and cheeks filled with tears. I could not move as if I was paused. At once, like a jerk, she took me in her arms very tightly. She was shaking me as if trying to make herself sure of my arrival. But I was cold and still She screamed loudly “my son is back!!” listening her screams, my father came out too. He had also turned very weak like my mother. They both turned mad for me. They could not decide how to react. They were not leaving me as if on leaving my hand, they will lose me once again….

That day I started my life once again. It was such an epic event in my life that I wanted to share and discuss with my posterity.

Socking experience

I returned home at about 11pm. My brother was also with me. After having dinner, I decided to try the new dresses, returned by the tailor that evening. I locked my room and opened the handbag kept on my bed.
While trying the dresses, I felt a very nice, attractive and strange smell in them that soon filled my room. Even the shirt I sent as a design was also filled with that fragrance. Although it was very good and relaxing but I didn’t like that the tailor has perfumed my dresses.
Well, after trying them one by one, I unlocked the door and went out to put the dresses in my wardrobe. But on opening the door, that fragrance filled my mind. It was stronger now. I just felt as if someone has thrown a bunch of flowers over my face or sprinkled a drum of perfume on the floor. But it was really attracting me. I liked it badly. But at the same time I got scared because I heard that when the souls of good and noble people visit their homes, those areas get filled with the smell of roses.
I was sure the same was happening here. AT that time we were only three individuals in that big home. Me, Bare Abu & sadaad. They both were sleeping & I was scared. I gained some courage and reached there to put the dresses but unfortunately, I had no potential to come back alone in the room again. So, I went straight to my brother. And the fragrance was following me. I told him, “Sadaad!! Get up Sadaad. I’m scared. Come & sleep in my room.
It’s not easy to convince him. He kept saying “tm jao Na, me AA jata Hun. Tm jao to sahi, me tumhare piche piche AA raha Hun bus.”
But I could not do that and as he’s younger than me, I didn’t want to tell him that I’m scared. Although he’s brave but I knew if he will be scared too, I’ll die. I told him that I will take his blanket, just get up and follow me to the room. I had to wait there for about three minutes. While coming back, I felt that the strength of the smell was reduced and surprisingly, there was no smell in the room at all!!!
I was tired, so I went to my bed. He turned on the computer and started viewing videos at utube. The next morning, when we woke up, I unfolded the dresses again to check the smell & as it was expected, there was no fragrance, not at all & no one can say that the dresses were perfumed. At that time I told everything to my brother that why I disturbed his sleep. At the end we concluded that it was a Thursday night so, something really happened.

my first writing ever

Most of the people agree that we meet some people in our life that we can never forget. It happened same with me. The person I can never forget till the last day of my life is one of my teachers. She is one of those teachers who helped me to start my career. She was my tutor. I used to go at her home for tuition. Her qualification was just metric.

No doubt, she is very different. Her thoughts, her actions and even her appearance!! The main attraction in her personality I can seek is her cruelty she used to beat the kids badly. But at that time this was the main thing which brought me away from her. I always used to cry when I knew that it’s the time to go there. It was my daily routine. Her name that I know is Miss Guddo!!! I’m still unaware of her real name. She is a very short heighten lady and more than that she is very very very fat. The only technique of teaching she applied was to beat the students as much as you can. I still remember her cruel tricks to give pain to the kids.

I was beaten very badly even on the first day I went there!! Me and my cousin we were wearing the same frocks and she thought I’m hajra. But unfortunately it was me. She has beaten my cousin with the leaves of banana tree. At that time I hated her and always cried whenever someone recalled her. She was the source to create fear in me. Most of my family members made jokes that if you won’t do it, we will take you to Miss Guddo. And at this stage of my life, I have got the potential to realize that she can’t kill me. She’s also a human. But still there is some sort of fear somewhere related to that name.

I remember that once I was unable to learn some spellings in the given time and as a result I was beaten very hard, very badly that my head strike the bed and my eye get swollen. That day I remember that my grandmother went to her to ask what she has done… and fortunately that was the day when I got relief from her because my parents actually realized that why I used to cry and hide myself before going there. I can’t say that she built up positive image of books in my mind at that age. But I respect her because may be at that time I needed such a teacher.

Almost all of my family members know her. They make jokes on her. She lives in sheikhupura just besides the main police station in civil lines. Her sister is teaching at my school. She can be searched and met easily.

. . . . Continued

They both were sitting in a balcony of the new block that was recently
built in the university. It was winter. Although sunlight was falling
over them, they still were feeling cold.
"i always ask you the same thing. So you have to tell me today. I am
your friend. I don't like it when you're sitting always sad while lost
in thoughts. Its my promise i'll never disclose it to anyone. Trust me
saira"
"i've no objection on sharing with you or even anyone but the truth is
that i feel being silent and less talkative makes your life better and
when we start sharing our feelings, it proves to be worst. So i'm so
scared now. I'm trying to change myself. And i believe Allah exerts
that much pressure on you that you can bear. So i need to be sure that
i really am that much strong girl that these things are normal for me"
"you're just talking rubbish. And if you really consider me a friend,
tell me everything now!"
"you're insisting me so much. So i'm going to tell you the biggest
issue related to my life and the fact is that you need to be very
patient for to listen that"
"will you please start?? I'm all ears being a very patient girl."

saira remained silent for a while and then after after taking a deep
breath, she explained:
"although i'm a very reserved person but i was so much interested in
the new friend finder service of telenor and one day, i registered my
name there. I had little converstations with many people but to be
true, i felt no attraction in it. It was nothing special for me. The
days kept passing and one day, i talked to a boy. Whose name was
veeru. My memory isn't that sharp so i don't remember the exact date.
What i can remind is that it was the month of ramadan. And my birthday
month i.e. September. More than half of it was passed because i
remember that 16 (my birthday) was passed and i told him that
yesterday or the day before yesterday was my birthday and he wished
me. Secondly, i'm not exactly sure who initiated that talk. But still
i guess he was the first one to start it." her eyes were stuck at one
point. And she kept telling her secret.
"well, the days had been passing happily and we became good friends. I
remember that i promised myself from the very first day to be truely
sincere friend with him. I told him no lies. Depicted me what i was.
Discussed each and every aspect of my life with him. Both the most
beautiful and the darkest ones too." she took a deep breath once
again. And this time she looked depressed. Nida kept listening
silently as if she was deeply concerned to know that story. She said
nothing yet as if she didn't want to interrupt her.
"day by day, i got involved in him. There were many reasons of
attraction. First of all, i wanted to have a best friend with whom i
can share everything. May be because i had no other friend or
boyfriend and he was the only one in my life, so i was most involved
in him. Secondly, he was interesting. I don't know how he grabbed my
attention. He was knowledgeable. The best thing was that he shared
knowledge all the time. It was a big revolution but its true that i
started writing his text messages in a diary. I loved to do so. It was
the most important part of my life then."
As she was telling all the details, her face turned more and more
serious. Later, she herself admitted it.
"i know thinking about your past makes you sad. Its very true that the
happiness spent in past sometimes seems sorrowful when you miss it. I
am sorry. I don't think i should continue. Let us leave it here
please." saying this, she got up and stood on a nearby stair as if she
really doesn't want to recall all those details.
"But promise me you'll be telling me more. I want to know that"
requested nida while holding "saira's hand from her back.
Ok. I will" saying this, saira moved further as if she's trying to
hide her face.

Story

"Why don't you tell me the whole story openly?? You should have no
fears saira. Just share your troubles!" asked nida in a very humble
tone trying to convince saira that she should share the hidden things.
"I don't want to discuss that topic ever again. Please leave it. It
starts pain whenever i think about it" was her reply. Her voice
depicted she's actually lost in those thoughts and unhappy

Update

There's so much noise in my room at this time. . . Something bad
happened to my friend. It happened the same with me. I can understand
her feelings but unfortunately, no one can comfort her in such a
situation. This's so sad. I pray to Allah that her wounds heal soon.
Amen

naming my friends