tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86497575041944054692024-03-08T03:06:05.029-08:00Hamza Hassan SheikhHamza Hassan Sheikhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05841099954427030911noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8649757504194405469.post-26287356098046658872011-01-25T02:24:00.000-08:002013-08-05T12:44:02.916-07:00DIM LAMP<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
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She was
standing outside a hut on the cliff. The last rays of sun were declaring the arrival
of the evening with dim gleam. With the puffs of air, the dancing waves were frolicking
with the rays of the sun. The hut seemed pleasant from far away but the people
leading life in this one knew that how terrible it was? She was alone; her eyes
were seeking someone in the vast ocean. She saw towards livid sky, the tired
birds were returning towards their perches before dark night but she was not
free and it made her gloomy. She was thousand miles away from her roost. Though
she could move freely from place to place, yet this freedom was equal to
salvation. She knew that she was a part of a mafia but she was compelled to do.
She was silent just because of Hamu’s love. Hamu was a prisoner too. His name
was Hamid but she used to call him “Hamu” with love. Both of them tried to
escape but failed. Hamu used to work for Saith over sea and come back at night.
The loneliness of a long day increased her boredom and she was trapped in the nest
of meditations. She belonged to a prosperous family and now this hut was her
fortune. Just few memories of childhood were saved in her mind about her
parents and home as well she remembered that she was kidnapped. Long time had
passed and now memories too, were vanishing away. They were living like the
beggars so that no one could be suspicious about them. The day crept away
gradually; she rose up and came out of the hut with a lamp. Many little boats
were dancing with the waves. Her eyes were in the search of someone. The smile
danced on her lips and all her weariness faded away when her eyes fell on the
boat of Hamu. She kindled the lamp and put it on the edge of the rock. As the boat
touched the rock, Hamu came out and tied it with the stones,</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“How are
you?” He enquired.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Fine…” She
smiled.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Did you get
frighten today?” Hamu asked affectionately. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“No… now,
what to be terrified… more than half life has passed in these rocks.” Her voice
lowered down with disappointment.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
He went into
the hut and lay down for some while. </div>
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“Is there no
dinner tonight?” His voice roared in the darkness.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“There was
nothing to cook.” The pain ruled her face.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“I bring in
something from the coast.” He rose up and went towards the coast.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
The rush of the
people had come there to enjoy but he was charmless from this enjoyment. After
dinner, Shazi set two beds outside the hut and they laid down.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
The beams of the
moon were glistening and the forceful waves of the sea were ending up after
crushing with the rock. There was no drowsiness in his eyes. Neither had he any
interest in the moonlight nor in the galaxy of stars. He was maddening about
his disgust by Saith. He was lost in the fancy. </div>
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“Who has
filled this box?” Saith shouted hoarsely.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Sir, Hamid” Someone replied.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Hamid” Saith
cried again.</div>
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“Yes, Sahib”
He came in front of him.</div>
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“Don’t you
know which box has to be sent where, and who’ll wrap it with the grass?” Saith
yelled at him and a forceful blow hit his face. He got angry but remained calm.
</div>
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Early in the
morning, he went away and at the evening got back.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Tomorrow
evening, they will arrive.” He said.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Ok, I will
be ready.” Shazi replied shortly.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“But I want
to do something this time.” He said decidedly.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“What
happened?” She enquired. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Yesterday,
Saith has disgraced me, I want to take revenge.” His voice burst into anger.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Do you know
its punishment?” Shazi warned.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Ya…” He
replied.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“What is your
opinion?” He asked.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“I am your
maid and your decisions are always mine.” She looked at him with love.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
He dined and
went towards the beach. He stepped towards the office of the coast guards.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“What is the
matter?” The security guard asked.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“I had some
information.”</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Right, come
in.” The security guard said and he
accompanied him. He informed the officer secretly and got back.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Tomorrow
will be the final day.” Hamu’s accent flared up with revenge.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Perhaps, we
may get freedom.” Shazi spoke hopefully.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Tomorrow
morning, I will leave away. In the dusks of evening, Saith will arrive with the
boats. You will have to identify the way as usual and the police will control
the matter…but take much care of yourself.” He stressed on the last sentence.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Yes I will,
but why are you looking so confused?” Shazi smiled.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“I don’t know
why my heart is perplexed.” He said sadly. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“You are
always in panic, control on your heart.” She laughed. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
This pleasant
laughter was not less than the fragrance of the roses that changed the autumn
into the spring. He too felt happy. Tonight, she had laughed after a long time.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
The Milky Way
was playing hide and seek with the waves and the moon was smiling on their fate
in the mid of glittering galaxy. He felt pleasant. Soon drowsiness took them in
its lap. When their eyes opened in the morning, the rays of sun were spread
out. He was much worried and did not want to leave her alone. He gazed Shazi
and rowed away the boat. She bade him farewell with a smile, standing outside
the hut. When Shazi went out of his sight he felt, as his seeing was lost. When
the boat touched the other bank, his thoughts dispersed. He tied up the boat
and went into a muddy room in the dunes.</div>
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The
loneliness of the day was creeping slowly and she was gloomy. The sun was
shining and its rays were straying in worldwide and were alarming the end of
the day. Seeing the stray rays, she thought; </div>
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“The sun
enlightens the whole universe but never lets just a ray to stray in the
darkness of the night while a man cannot protect his few rays.” Her fancy at
once captured her home.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
The sky got
red and the sun was setting down with its little rays to end up a long tired
day. When the sun hid behind the black veil, she went into the hut and came out
with a lamp. Her eyes were focused on the sea. She saw some boats rowing in a
queue and red flags identified them. A man was waving a handkerchief standing
on the brink of the front boat. She waved her <i>Dupatta</i> in the blowing breeze and then entangled it in the stones.
Kindling the lamp, she kept it on the edge of the rock. As the boats drew
nearer, her palpitation disordered. The darkness overruled the night. The
luggage was being unloaded and she was thinking about Hamu but her fantasy
dispersed with terrible firing of weapons. The firing remained in practice for
a long time. Saith was killed but bullets also pierced her fragile body. The
rock was adorned with the corpses.</div>
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Hamu’s
throbbing was upset and he was on his way to be back. Unusually, the waves were
rushing tonight and the dashing of oars in the water was playing music. His hands
were trembling and the oars were slipping again and again. He was much away but
the powerful lights on the rock as well as the lights of the boats surrounding
the rock made him able to see. The lamp was breathing its last.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Why is the
lamp dim…?” He became careless and his hands revolved restlessly. In the
meanwhile, one of the oars broke up and he fell into the sea… He was a good
swimmer but unfortunately, the waves did not avail him any chance for safety.
Before getting attention of the coast guards or shouting for help, the cruel
waves made him a prey of the doom.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
There was a
smile on the lips of Shazi, the smile of success. Both lovers had started a new
journey. When the waves smashed with the rock, it seemed as these were assuring
Shazi about Hamu’s love as the ambassador. The waves surged, the night crept,
with draughts of the breeze, her <i>Dupatta</i>
fluttered like the wings of an imprisoned bird, but dim lamp shimmered in the
dark with luminous love. </div>
</div>
</div>
Hamza Hassan Sheikhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05841099954427030911noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8649757504194405469.post-22800036262834313582011-01-25T01:55:00.000-08:002013-08-05T12:43:45.062-07:00THE IMPERFECT PORTRAIT<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
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<br /></div>
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There was
hustle and bustle in the art gallery but she did not come yet, for whom I
exhibited my paintings, dreams, life as well as myself. The people were trying
to judge my secrets from these portraits. From a long time, these were hidden
in my core. She elevated my work by her support. I was hearing admiring and
criticizing sentences but my hearings were anxious to hear just one sentence
from her lips whether that might be criticizing or appreciative. In her wait,
my glimmering eyes became dull. With smiling face, I kept on standing on the gateway
to greet her but my smile dispersed and I had to come back with trembling pace
having no glimpse of hers. The famous businessman Mr. Hameedi was watching a
painting and his voice captured my steps.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Hello! Mr.
Raza, your paintings are outstanding, you should exhibit these in London or
U.S.A.” He said pleasantly and I smiled unwillingly.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“It’s…
because of yours…. support and God’s almighty that I hit this fame.” I patched
the broken lines.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
Few steps
ahead, film star Miss Tara was fascinated by one of the portrait. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Hello! Mr.
Raza.” </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Hello! Miss
Tara.” With reluctance, I posed the smile.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Mr. Raza,
it’s a fantastic exhibition, you know…I am very fond of these pictures.” She
talked in her unique style as usual. All were my guests and I could not leave
them alone. Though I desired to burn all these portraits and flee towards a
forest, where there should be a deep calmness. I was upset, my eyes sans sight
and the body shivered. I rang up her many times but no response. The sun went
down in an unknown valley and the evening set in. I turned back excusing for
sickness. Many guests were expected tonight but my joys vanished like the foam
on the water. The commending and criticizing sentences were echoing in my mind.
I dialed her number, the bell went on ringing but no one attended. The night
crept away as a turtle.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
The other
day, I wanted her presence here at every cost. Early, in the morning, I rang
her again. Any stranger picked up the phone. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Hello!
Who…?”</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Is there
Miss Sidra?” I enquired.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“No, she
didn’t come here at night. She is out of the city.” I was replied and I put down the phone. My
heart was displeased from the beginning of the day. All the criticism and
comments, each and every conversation I heard but my hearing remained deaf to
hear her. At night, with bated breaths and shivering legs I arrived home. I
laid down dismal and then my eyes opened at dawn. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
I was busy to
get ready for the office that the doorbell rang. She was the bell-ringer while
I was the attendant. A frown appeared on my forehead. I turned back and she
accompanied me,</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Do you
behave so rudely with the guests?” Her soothing voice dominated over my senses.
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“No, I behave
rudely with the cheaters.” </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Cheater…”
She was shocked.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Yes, cheater,
I exhibited my work, spirit and dreams; just for you as my special guest and
you didn’t come.” I said emotionally.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“But I have
not deceived you.” She replied.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“But you had
promised to come.” I told.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Raza...!
Please try to understand. I didn’t come because of some problems.” She replied
humbly and her face was red with regret. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“What’s the
problem?” I asked scornfully.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“It’s very
personal.” She spoke coldly.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Ok, sorry
for interference.” I replied angrily.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
For a long
time, there remained silence and her eyes were fixed on the portraits in my
home. She sat on the sofa while I kept on standing in the hall. Then her voice
echoed,</div>
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“Raza...!
Sometimes a person is trapped in such ailments that he can’t get his place in the
society and I am one of those.” She became silent for a while. “You are my
friend and a friend always forgives, I hate large gatherings of people because
my heart’s wounds become green and it’s intolerable for me therefore I couldn’t
attend the exhibition.”</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
During all the
conversation, the expressions of misery were apparent on her face. She had left
away but I remained upset for a long time. With deserted heart, I reached the office
and first of all, I dialed her. She attended the call and chatted laughingly
forgetting all the glooms. She left a lot of questions for me and I kept on
thinking about her depravations for a long. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
Three years
before, we happened to meet. She was my classmate in Fine Arts. She was a
fashionable girl, going for long drives and a proud smile on her lips. One year
passed silently out of two years course. She became attractive towards my
portraits. One day we had an outdoor tour. I was unaware of the surroundings
and was busy in painting the landscape that her voice echoed in my hearings. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Your hands
have magic.” </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Thank you.”
I thanked.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Please
accept me in your apprenticeship.” She said pleasantly.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“I am student
myself what will I teach you?” </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Just to
write the name….” She replied jokingly and we both laughed. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
Afterwards I
began to support her in painting and we became fast friends. The days became
playful and the life began to borrow the colours from different moments. The
days passed together, walks in the evenings and after a dinner; she used to
drop me on my flat. Then onwards, the night used to pass in phone chatting. The
life was full of frolics that there happened a severe accident that not only
distressed her but I too was bitterly disturbed. She was admitted in the hospital
for many months and I left no effort to serve her. Her attitude and figure was
changed. She was dispirited and her jolly face turned into gloomy one. I tried
to heal up her miseries with encouraging words and got her out of this
troublesome. When the life set up on the normal routine then I continued my
paintings again.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
She offered
me for an exhibition, booked the gallery, made the paintings decorated by her
servants but she did not attend the exhibition. In our long lasting friendship,
she left me alone for the first time. I was in meditations that clerk’s voice
interrupted;</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Sir, office
time is over.” I startled half an hour had passed over and the file was opened
before me as the same.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Complex…No…such
a jolly girl can’t have a complex?” Once few class fellows met me but I did not
believe on their opinion.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“No, such a
girl can’t be a psychiatric …?” I rejected all.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
I thought a
unique idea and decided to paint her portraits. After her permission, I began
my work. When the portraits completed, I exhibited those at my home. These were
15 in number in different poses. She unveiled each picture with her hands. The
joy was glittering on her face and she was thanking me again and again. In the last
portrait, I had painted her full figure. Sensationally, she turned her hand on
the painting and all her joy vanished. Her face turned pale and the eyes became
wild. She carried the brush from the canvass and cut the right leg. She drew a
long line harshly and it seemed like the sticks in her right arms. She saw
towards me and cried wildly,</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Stupid
artist..! The imperfect portrait is perfect now...!!!”</div>
<br /></div>
</div>
Hamza Hassan Sheikhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05841099954427030911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8649757504194405469.post-29477853800865839712011-01-25T01:47:00.000-08:002013-08-05T12:46:32.613-07:00DOCUMENT<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
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As rain
started, she stepped fast but in spite of much effort when she reached her hut,
she was wet. She threw the bundle of gathered papers in a corner of the hut.
She was fumed to see the papers outside the hut, which had been pierced to be a
part of the land. She was fret that her hard work of weeks ruined within the moments.
These papers were accumulation of her entire life. If there would not be these
papers, she too had no existence. She was displeased for a long time. She
rinsed her clothes to lessen the intensity of cold. Outside, it was raining
heavily. The flood of water was flowing towards the canal with smashed papers.
She was afraid that neither the parents had arrived nor the vagabond brother.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
She was
living in a hut in the forest with her parents and brother. It was a desolate
place in between the city, which because of herbs and groves had turned into the
forest. Nearby was a canal, which fulfilled their daily necessities. The
atmosphere was heart soothing. All around was verdure and the twittering birds
rejoiced their ears. Her father usually used to go to the neighbouring poor
populations and he was dead drunk all the time. All day her brother sauntered
with the vagabonds and came back at night to sleep. The mother begged from door
to door while she used to collect rough papers from the heaps of filth. Then
she converted these rough papers into paper-boats, airplanes and other toys.
After selling these, she collected rupees, flour and other eating material. The
whole family was filling the stomach on the earning of both mother and
daughter. Her paper-art was popular among all young and elders. The paper was
only intention of her life. If she watched the paper anywhere then like a mad
she at once pounced on that. She was dejected to see the papers that were wet because
of raining. Though she was amused on the raining but for the first time her
heart was dispirited. The raining became slow but the papers had flown away.
She glanced at the flowing water, in which children played with her hand-made
paper-boats but her childhood was colourless from all these joys. She was happy
with the gaiety of children when they used to play with her hand-made toys but
as her eyes fell upon the smashed papers, all her imaginations dispersed away. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
As the raining
slowed down then she saw her mother coming drenched. She helped her mother to
come into the hut.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“All flour is
wet.” Her mother said, “Have you eaten anything or not?”</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“No Mother.”</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Oho, I have
not brought anything.”</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Yes, you are
just anxious to fill your stomach.” She babbled.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Idiot...!
You always bark.” The mother pulled a long face.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
The mother
changed the dress and put wet clothes aside. She slept wrapping up an untidy
and an old blanket. She watched her mother angrily for some while then moved
towards the canal. The water was falling in the canal like a cascade. She began
to rejoice, after some times when she felt cold, she came back in the hut and
slept up. Both kept on sleeping until night. When she got up, she separated wet
flour and kneaded it for the dinner. She baked breads but for a night long,
neither the father came nor the brother. She took the meal, gave to the mother
and then became busy in the paper-art. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
The next
morning, all things were dried. She put those in a basket and went towards the
city. When she reached there, all children surrounded her and put different
demands before her. Within moments, all the toys were sold and she turned back.
She was in meditation that the coming day she would have to sit in the hut.
Because of last day’s rain, she had no hopes to get the papers but she wanted
those at every cost. She was stepping towards the hut that all of sudden she
saw a person who was overhauling his motorbike and there was a bundle of office
files on it. What did she know that what the file was? Her concern was only
with the papers. She wished to get those files. Her eyes were fixed on the files
like a greedy cat. She hid behind the herbs and began to wait for the person to
get out of the way. Few moments later, he went towards the canal to bring in
the water. It was a golden chance for her, she swooped on the file. After
stealing the file, she was much cheerful. Unaware of the fact that what would
befall on him. When she reached the hut, she was out of breathing. She lay down
on the bed senselessly. After while, she rose up and began to make different
paper-toys. The other day when she was going towards the city, accidentally she
crashed with a car. The basket fell down from her hands and the things
scattered here and there. She rose up angrily and said to the driver;</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Are you
blind? You are not the owner of the whole world.”</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Sorry.”</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“What do you
speak? Oho.” She chattered. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
She gathered
all the toys and went away. The man was surprised to watch her pretty toys. He
kept an aero-plane, which she had left in a hurry. In the first glance, he
became admirer of her art who changed the rough papers into a piece of an art,
magically. He saw all around but she was out of the sight. Now he often visited
there where he had met her. Gradually, he became aware of her timings. Now whenever
she went towards the city then she happened to meet him anywhere. As days
passed on, the gentleman trapped in the nest of her love. Neither she was
beautiful nor had any etiquette. If anyone would have instructed her then she
would be well mannered but her innocent face always deceived the people. Few days later, the gentleman began to buy
her toys. She argued with him many times that, “I make these toys for the
children, then why do you take these away?”
The gentleman told her that he worked in a Children Welfare Organization
and bought these toys for the children.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
With the passage
of time, the gentleman lost his self in love’s mire of her fascinating figure.
He began to feel himself incomplete without her. After severe emotions of
heart, the gentleman brought her into his palace marrying her, a day. The
reality revealed to the gentleman in days, whom he considered dumb, she was a blunt.
He had to listen a lot. Whenever she found any paper at home that was changed
into a piece of an art. Within a week, all rough papers at home were changed
into art and whole house was looking like a paper-palace. The gentleman was
puzzled. One day he came back from the office then Mrs. was not at home. The
servant told that she had gone out with a basket full of paper-toys. He flared
up that the wife of an officer had gone to sell the toys. As she returned, he caught
from her hairs and roared.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Stupid!
Which facility you don’t have here?”</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Everything…”</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Then what
need to do this vulgarity.”</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“It’s not
vulgarity. It’s my life. To fill the belly is not enough. It’s my art.”</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Filth is filth,
whether take it in a palace.” The gentleman shouted.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Filth was
happy at its place. You proposed me!!”</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“You may
leave it.”</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“I can’t.
It’s my spirit. If I don’t make these, how may the children play? I have done
this work my all life. I am not ashamed of it.”</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“The wanderer
of streets is never at ease at home.”</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“I don’t know
anything. As I have passed my past life, same as it will be passed.”</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Then get out
from my home.”</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“All right…” She replied relaxed, put all the things in
the basket, and got out of his home. She rejected all gold and silver, because
her soul was in the art. She reached back, decorated all the toys in her hut
cheerfully. This hut was her whole universe. The other day, she went towards the
city. In the way, the gentleman was
waiting for her. He came out of his car and spoke angrily,</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Take your
divorce document. I have divorced you.” She took that paper quietly and within the
moments changed it into a piece of art.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Keep this
paper with you. I have lot of papers. This boat will support you.” She held a paper-boat
in his hands and disappeared in the streets with the rush of the children.<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"> </span></b></div>
<br /></div>
</div>
Hamza Hassan Sheikhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05841099954427030911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8649757504194405469.post-8102937544749569752011-01-25T01:39:00.000-08:002013-08-05T12:47:19.920-07:00INSURANCE<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
Carrying the file
of documents, he had been wandering round the roads of the city for many
months. After completing his post-graduate, just a good job could secure him as
well as his whole family. The gleam of hopes in the parent’s eyes teased him
while the wistful faces of brothers and sisters made him crazy. All past dreams
of the university vanished. First, he had to support his parents as the eldest
child among the big family. He was busy to materialize his dreams. With the passage
of time, the disappointment surrounded him like a web. Sometimes there was no
school fee of the brother and sometimes the sister had no books. He had lost
his identity, seeking the solution of all these problems. At dawn, he used to
go to fulfill his dreams and came back at the darkness of the night, so that the
luminosity of the hopes in the parent’s eyes might not be dimmed to see him. He
was fed up to appear in the tests and interviews. Everywhere the seats were
already reserved. Now he began to feel as he had committed sin to get
education. It would be much better that he would have worked in any workshop so
that today he might be able to earn some pennies. He often used to think that he might become a
waiter in a hotel or a salesman at a shop. He was unable to fulfill the dreams
of his parents who wanted to see him on high rank. He was tired of daily
throttling of desires. When he faced his desperate parents then he abhorred
himself. His heart frightened to see expectant faces of his brothers and sisters.
Hatred created in his mind against the bundle of documents. He was waiting for
any miracle, which might turn out his circumstances. He was trapping in the bog
of poverty day by day and the hardships disguised like a dragon.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
One day, he
received a parcel by post. In the first glance, he was delighted that perhaps
it was any call-letter for his job. Seeing the name of the father on the
envelope, he handed over it to his father. The eyes of the father gleamed after
reading it. He judged the hidden feelings in those eyes and asked courageously.
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Father,
what’s the problem?” </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Nothing, it’s a notice.” </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
“Notice, about what…?” He
startled. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
“Some years before, I had deposited some money
in an insurance scheme on your account. I had thought it would be helpful for a
rainy day but who knew that in future we wouldn’t be able to pay its installments.”
The pain in father’s voice ended up after crushing with his ears and a tremor
ran through his spine. He felt himself guilty.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“Father...! Don’t worry. I will meet them
tomorrow that they may avail us some days.” He said with hopefulness. Next day,
he took all information from insurance agent. Explaining the rules of policy,
he said,</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“You will
have to pay five thousand as an installment up to five years constantly. After
twenty installments, you will be paid half million. Yes, it is possible that
you can take back your twenty five thousand after five years. Otherwise, if
suddenly you…...” hearing the last option of the agent, he became conscious and
his eyes glistened.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
With
the break of the day, he got out of his home with an unknown joy. He was
stepping along the road. The smile danced on his lips seeing a distant
vehicle. Suddenly, he spilt and fell
down on the road. The crackling sound of brakes roared and he became a part of the
road covered with the blood.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
His sudden
death was wailed for long. After some days, the agents of insurance company
reached his home and according to rules, they put cash of two Lac on the fist
of his father, which was the insurance of his life. </div>
</div>
</div>
Hamza Hassan Sheikhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05841099954427030911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8649757504194405469.post-20498333267694746272011-01-25T01:36:00.000-08:002013-08-05T12:48:10.283-07:00PITCHER<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
The potter
gave the final shape to his new creation and touched it with wet hands to make
it smooth and fascinating. The wet clay hands slipped over the pot and it got a
new shape. His face glistened with joy and satisfaction was apparent on his
face. He stopped the wheel and put down the pot from it. He again looked it
with the joy and put it outside in the sunshine to get it dried. He moved
towards the other pots and checked them whether those were dried or not. He
clinked the dried pitchers and the pots to be assured about their durability.
The surface of the pitcher was soft and the voice of clinking echoed from its
mouth. The jingling sound waved the feelings of pleasure in his body. He threw
the extra potsherds in the corner to clean up the yard. One of those potsherds
crashed with a pot, the deep sound as if a well echoed from that one and his
heart soothed up to hear that sound. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">
He
wandered in the yard that was full of pitchers, plates, dishes, cups and
clay-toys. The small bulls, cows, parrots, sparrows, lions, tigers, bears, and
eagles were before his sight that he made with that clay which used to be extra
from the pots. He baked them in the furnace and then polished those. He collected
the feathers of the birds from the jungle and dyed those with different colours
to create gorgeous beauty in his toys. These colourful toys were attractive for
the children. He decorated those in the front showcase to beautify his shop. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
He touched
everything and felt a charm, as these were his siblings. The hard work of years
was lying in front of his eyes. Every thing was glittering in the sunshine and the
rays of sun dazzled each eye that fell upon toys. He gathered entire potsherds
in a corner of his backyard. Those baked potsherds were not less hard than the stones.
He mostly threw away those potsherds on the heap of garbage and small boys of the
village collected those potsherds to use in their games. His potsherds were
mostly used in a game in which seven to eight potsherds were put in an order
then a person hit with a ball. The members of the first team made these in the
same order while the others beat them with the ball until those were not
arranged in the same way. Sometimes, he used to visit the playground of the village
at the evening and be jubilant to see the clever and active boys playing with
the broken parts of his pots. At that moment, he felt proud that each part of
his hand-made things was useful in different ways. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
He kneaded the
clay to make some new pitchers. He put a ball of clay on the wheel and began to
mould it into a pitcher. His eyes were fixed on the clay and the hands were
moving magically. The muddy water was rinsing from his hands and falling down on
the land while the pitcher was getting a new shape. He made the lower part of
it but not for a while, his eyes blinked. He kept on moulding the clay and his
hands kept on wetting with the water in the bucket. His hands were full of mud
and it seemed as those were also made of clay. The poor artist was deepened in
his art to present his new creation in a unique way. The pitcher got a shape
and he made its hollow big belly to fill as much water as it can. He put more
clay to make its round neck. His wet magic hands kept on moving on the pitcher
to make its surface smooth and muddy. He finalized his creation and stopped the
wheel. He cut its bottom with a knife from the wheel, put it down and kept it
in the sunshine. For few days it kept on drying in the sunshine then he put his
new dried pots in the furnace and kindled it to make his all pots more dried
and baked. He wanted perfection in his every creation. For a long, those kept
on baking in the fire. After cooling down the furnace, he separated the pots
and pitchers, one for domestic purpose and the others for decoration. After
making two groups of his all pots, he polished both. He sent the domestic ones
to be sold in the market while gave the others to his pupils to convert those
into the decoration pieces. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
He was
considered an expert to make decorated pots that were adorned in the drawing
rooms of elite class, who presented themselves much art-loving. But he was
always paid so much money that he was able to lead his life hand to mouth but
he had no concern with money, he wanted to serve art and wanted to be alive
forever. The flowers and the landscapes portrayed on his pots attracted each
art-loving eye. The colourful cups and the plates were the reason of his fame.
The pitchers decorated with small colourful crystals were also an art of his hands.
Along with these decoration pieces, he was famous for his domestic pots as
well. His pitchers were the most popular among the swimmers of his village. His
hand-made pitchers were termed to be much helpful in the swimming and the
swimmers used to buy the pitchers from him. They put the pitcher inverted on
the water, the air used to fill up in the pitcher and it helped the swimmers to
swim on the surface of the water. Most of the swimmers used to sit or lay on
the pitcher putting it under their waist or belly and crossed fast brooks and
rivers. He himself was an expert in swimming and had won many swimming
competitions in the surrounding villages. When he was young then he trained the
youngsters to use a pitcher for the swimming. He took them to the river and
taught them the tricks of swimming. The young girls of the village also used
his pitchers to safeguard themselves from the waves of the water. He was
popular among all. The children liked him for toys, the women visited his shop
for the sake of pots and the men were eager to buy his pitchers for the swimming.
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
The summer
was ahead and he was making new pitchers so that the people might be able to
drink cold water as well as the swimmers might fight with the rippling waves of
the water. The water level of the river rose up in every summer and was a
reason of joy for the swimmers. He availed them the pitchers and the praising
words of the swimmers ran a new passion in him. He remembered the days when he gave
the tips of swimming to others and he was considered as a master. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
Within days,
he made many pitchers and now the yard was full. There was no television in the
village but the people visiting the city used to inform others. He heard the
news that this year due to heavy rain, the river was on flood. He also visited
the banks of the river then the water was at its full swing. The radio had also
announced the news about the danger of flood. His heart trembled to hear the
news. The water began to rush with the banks to create any rift. The young men
of the village were strengthening the bank so that the water could not destroy the
village but the water was much ranged and its angry waves wanted to swallow
everything. The people started migration to other safe places but he was not
ready to leave his full yard. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
The night was
ahead and all night there was hustle and bustle all around. It was first night
of his life in the village that was so much noisy and disturbing. The people
kept on migrating while he kept on waking all night long. At morning, the whole
village was empty and the people were shifted to other places. His heart was
grieved because of the lonesome village. He went to the yard again, touched
everything and felt a new life in the depth of his being. He felt as all his
toys became alive and wanted to share his feelings. All the pitchers wanted to
flow him away from this place but his heart was not willing to leave the yard.
Here was lying his hard work of the years, his life, his art and his culture.
He peeped outside in the street then the last running man said to him,</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“The
government has announced that after an hour the water will enter in this
village. Uncle! Save your life. Let’s move….” The man said sobbingly and caught
his arm to drag him away. He jerked his arm and said:</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
“I am not
coward like you. The village needs us I’ll stay here.” The man ran away but he
kept on standing there. He looked towards the sky then the black clouds were
ready to shower. He became anxious and started to shift his pots under the
roof. His hands were trembling and the eyes were wet. The drops of rain started
to quench the thirst of the land. The pitchers and the pots began to imbibe the
raindrops. He heard the rustling of water and a wave of terror moved through
his spine. The water was gushing towards the village crushing everything in its
way. He climbed on the roof to view the situation then he saw the water all
around. The old muddy walls of the houses had been demolished. The roofs were
floating and the vagabond dogs were running madly to save their lives from the
cruel waves of water. The animals left behind in the village were also running
in the streets to get themselves saved from this disaster. He conjured from God
and in due time the water entered in his house. He jumped from the roof to stop
the water but it was not dependent upon his permission. The pots and the pitchers
began to float on the surface of the water. The colours of birds mixed with the
water, his eyes shed tears and heart’s beat was out of order. His each creation
was melting down to become the clay. Still he was counting the colours of the birds
that suddenly the wall of his weak verandah fell down with a booming blast. The
pitchers, the pots, the plates, the dishes and all the toys cracked with a loud
sound. Some pitchers broke, some floated on the surface while few drowned.
While the birds were drowning in the water, he felt as those flew up towards the
sky scattering the colours like a rainbow. His body was drowned in the water;
he caught a pitcher and tried to swim but all decisions of fate were against
him. The pitcher was already weakened with the falling off the walls. He could
not control over the pitcher and it slightly slipped under him. The master of
swimmers forgot all tricks. The water entered in the pitcher and the rushing
waves of the water swallowed him. For the last time, his hand rose out of the
water as he was also trying to fly. After flood, his corpse was found, lying in
his own yard. His small hand-made birds were saluting him on his devotion for
art. The broken pots made a safeguard around him as those did not want to lose
their creator.</div>
</div>
</div>
Hamza Hassan Sheikhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05841099954427030911noreply@blogger.com0