4th Edition The Reflections Author Rizwan Ahmed Memon

Facebook.
com/RizwanAhmedMemon
Facebook.com/TheRealLearningCenterLarkana
Email: RizwanAhmedMemon@gmail.com
Twitter.com/TRLCL Mobile: 03433846385
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THE REFLECTIONS
http://trlcl.eu5.org
http://RizwanAhmedMemon.blogspot.com
My collection is my reflection. It
attracts and instructs the reader.
Love is perfection; it is my
perception. Man has emotion
that is why he has tension. To
give this expression, man must
have passion. --Rizwan Ahmed
Memon
Your dreams will only be
dreams if you dont work hard
and make them come true. You
define your success by your
perseverance. --Rizwan Ahmed
Memon
Rizwans childhood dream was to change
the world by being an actor. However, he
is not an actor today, but a writer and
teacher of great repute. His writings have
impact on the young and the old. He has
succeeded in changing the world by
teaching and writing.
Rizwan was born in the village of Larkana,
Sindh, Pakistan. He grew up in a village
named Akil near the bank of the Indus
River. When Rizwan was five, his father,
who was a teacher, died. He was raised by
his mother and brother. In his childhood,
Rizwan did not play many games, and he
was not interested in any particular sport.
Starting in his childhood, Rizwan became
a lover of nature. His writings reflect this.
He received his early education in his own
village in government schools. After
matriculation, he attended Government
Commerce College Larkana where he did
his intermediate. For further studies he
went to University of Sindh.
Even though English is not his first
language, Rizwan writes in English. He
developed a strong passion for English
when he was in high school. He says he
thinks in English, he dreams in English,
and English streams in his nerves like
blood. He polished his writing skills during
the four years he went to the university.
There he read a lot and published his first
book online. During his first two years at
the university, Rizwan spent more time on
the Internet and writing than he

did in the classroom. As a nonnative speaker of English, he
thinks his writings need to be
proofread by native speakers
and professional writers, so he
has spent hours on the Internet
with writers and teachers
discussing his writings.
After completing his bachelors in
Computer Science in 2013,
Rizwan returned to his native
village and has dedicated himself
to teaching and writing. He earned an MA
in English, too. He married in 2014. He
has a daughter, Sara.
From his high school, Rizwan has inspired
and encouraged thousands of students he
has taught. He has taught in different
institutes. Previously, he was lecturer at
SZABIST (IMC) Larkana. Currently,
Rizwan is giving his services as a lecturer
at IBA Community College Khairpur. He
also runs his own institute named The
REAL Learning CENTER, where he teaches
English and computer programming.
Since the day Rizwan fell in love with
writing, he has written stories, essays,
letters, biographies, sketches, and poems
that explore many facets of his identity.
All the characters whose names begin with
the letter R are based either on his own
life or the people who were close to him.
People, love and nature are at the core of
his writings.
Shortly after Rizwan became a lecturer at
the age of 23, he published his first book
The Reflections, a collection of stories,
letters, poems, sketches, and essays.
Rizwans blog address is
RizwanAhmedMemon.blogspot.com
TRLCL website address is
trlcl.eu5.org
Rizwan was born on January 1, 1992.
THE REFLECTIONS
To show the value of someone or something, people

use different methods. A writer makes use of a pen to
do that. When a writer wants to write about something
or someone, he has different devices that he can use.
He can write a story, an essay, a poem, a letter, a
sketch, a biography or a text in another format. With
the grace of God, I have employed many of these
forms in my writing. Poems, short stories, biographies,
letters, sketches, and essays have allowed me to
express my emotions through words in different ways.
In this world, many stories die when men die. Not all
people have the ability to preserve their thoughts for
coming generations in such a way that they will exist
even after their death. Everyone sees the world in their own way and has different views
and beliefs. To preserve and share my ideas and experiences with the world, I have put
them in the form of stories, poems, sketches, letters, essays, and biographies.
The ups and downs of life teach us lessons that we were never taught at school. They
stir emotions in us and we act in peculiar ways. Sometimes we open our hearts and say
what we feel; sometimes we find an outlet for our feelings and emotions. Firstly, in my
story category, I have tried to write about pain, mistakes, and experiences of my own or
of others which can be messages or lessons for coming generations. I usually take
characters from my surroundings. Sometimes I allow my vision to go beyond
boundaries and I create characters that dont exist. I was in fifth grade when I penned
my first story in my native language, Sindhi. After I learned English, I translated the
story into it. As far as biographies go, I wrote some about inanimate objects, and also
about a little baby who was born in my neighborhood.
Secondly, there are the letters. I really have never sent a love letter to any girl in my life,
but I wrote many out of my deep emotion of love. Every man on the earth, eventually,
experiences the thing they call love. Only a few people show it; most hide it. I have
shared my personal feelings, the feelings people tend to suppress. However, I believe
one day every secret in the world will be revealed. If they arent, what is the use of
keeping them in the heart and letting them die with us? Some secrets are top secrets
and they really must be kept to ourselves. In June of 2013, I went back to my village
while on vacation from the university. In the village, I had two friends who were close to
THE REFLECTIONS
me, but because of some minor conflicts we didnt talk or meet. I was dealing with
loneliness and pain. This is when I started writing letters. Being away from my friends
caused me severe heartache. In those days, I started to pour my heart out to Angly in
the form of letters. The surprising thing is that these letters never reached Angly until we
married. After getting married, when Angly came to know that I had been writing letters
to her, and that they were in English, she became curious about reading them.
Unfortunately, she didnt speak English, so she couldnt read them. I translated some of
them for her into Sindhi. The things that are related to love never lose their value. These
letters symbolize how deep love can be for someone when that person is away from
you or with you. True feelings never change. True love never ends. When you love
someone, find a way to express it. Life is short, so it should be lived with love and for
love. People say nowadays true love is only found in novels and stories. If it is true, it
means we have changed, not the time. However, I believe there are still people who
love truly.
Whenever I read these letters, my love for Angly is renewed and multiplied. These
letters will impart feelings of healing and peace of mind if you love someone, too. I still
write letters to Angly when she goes to visit her parents. You can and will be able to find
the past, present, and future letters on my blog.
Third, is the poem and sketch section. When I started to jot down the words of my heart
and mind, which came out of longing, separation, and the wish to be with someone, my
poems were created. Poetry can provide such magic of words that even the wizard, the
writer, can be surprised. Sometimes sitting under the Neem tree, sometimes in fields,
and sometimes by the riverbank, the magic of my thoughts and words have surprised
me. All the poems that I have written represent my different states of mind at different
points of time. Happy thoughts come when you are happy, and sad ones come when
you are sad. The sketch genre is also a wonderful form of expression. In it you describe
someone or something in a story-like manner. I have written many sketches on different
people, places and things.
Finally, in the essay section, I have described the values, customs and facts of the
world. Also, I have focused on morality themes and the ethics topics.
Though I have spent years on my work, I still feel that there is room for improvement. I
did not hire any particular editor for proofreading. I am thankful to my international
readers and friends who have helped me with my writing many times. All writers need
an editor to check their writing for content continuity and idea flow. I do not have an
editor; I mostly proofread my writings myself. I am a non-native speaker of English, so I
cannot be perfect. There were times when I felt some of the ideas needed greater
development and more details. The stories and essays sometimes jumped to new
THE REFLECTIONS
thoughts and ideas without completing the development of the thought or idea that was
started in the previous paragraph. Sometimes the thoughts did not flow smoothly form
one paragraph to the next paragraph.
However, I read somewhere that There is time and room for every word, so I hope my
writings will somehow be of some help, inspiration, instruction, pleasure, and
encouragement to all the readers. Read and enjoy my thoughts and make your life
better, if you can.
Ideas, beliefs, emotions, and people change with the passage of time. My pen keeps
flowing, and my fingers keep typing. I create different pieces of work. Anglys love and
friendship have always been behind my writing. Apart from that, the worlds special and
simple people, and all things in it, inspire me to write. Not everyone can play this game
of words. Only those who feel deeply, care deeply, and love deeply can be part of this
game. Angly, my wife, says I am one of those sensitive people who notice everything. It
is a good trait for a writer to have. A writer defines on paper the world around him, his
experiences, and the things he sees. Once those things are written, they outlive the
author himself.
I hope that the work that I have done will be valuable for readers. I will continue writing
while there is breath in my body. I post all my writings on my blog. Anyone can visit the
blog to read new pieces of writing and to stay informed of my activities. The address
is http://rizwanahmedmemon.blogspot.com. All the writings in this book and the works
which I am creating now and will create in the future will be in the blog
With best wishes,
Rizwan Ahmed Memon

Village Akil, Larkana, Sindh, Pakistan
1-4-2015
THE REFLECTIONS
All of your writings are very nice, and they serve many purposes. They help students
improve their English, differentiate between right and wrong, present new ideas, and
provide new ways of doing things. You have a talent for writing! Sultan (Poet,
Karachi)
The stories, poems, sketches, letters, and essays are easy to understand and have
much depth. Moreover, the works in this collection provide models for those wishing to
improve their writing skills. Seema (Housewife)
I think you have a very nice writing style. It feels very different from an ordinary English
style. Your stories feel like insight into something that most English speakers don't
ordinarily have access to, which is good. The characters are interesting. Nina
(Teacher, USA)
These are good stories, filled with positive and inspiring life messages. Asad (Social
worker)
I will say in general, you have a flare for poetry, especially rhyming poetry, which may
be suited for music if you can find someone to come up with a melody to accompany
them. Glenda (Teacher, USA)
I just want to say that youre doing very nice work, and I like the message youre
spreading with your work. Chris (Engineer, Canada)
Actually, its rare for a non-native English speaker to be able to write something like
this. Sandesh (Businessman, India)
Your writing is good. By the way, you have very nice ideas. I wish I could be as smart
as you. I'm not boasting on you. You are a very good writer. Marco (Translator,
Germany)
I think you are a good person. I have never met you personally, but I can perceive your
romantic passionate spirit by reading your delightful stories. Please, keep writing.
Adam (Linguist, USA)
I do really like reading your stories and the fact that you can convey a message so
clearly using a foreign alphabet and a different language from yours actually amazes
me. You are pretty talented. Jack (Student)
THE REFLECTIONS
You are courageous enough to share so many varied thoughts with us, from love to
death and from poverty to education. You have addressed so many aspects of life.
Saeed Memon (Poet)
I am happy for your achievements. You made a real commitment and carried it out with
tenacity and big efforts. I am sure that one day you will be a great writer and people will
remember you for your smart and beautiful ideas. Muhammad Kamil
You have poured your emotions and thoughts into your writings, and so we have grown
to care for your well-being and share your hope for a bright future with your beloved.
Allow me to congratulate you and wish you and Angly well. Jennifer (Teacher, USA)
You are a gifted artist. With your pen, you have drawn love scenes, sad scenes, and
happy scenes in a perfect arrangement of words which have filled your writings with
various colors. Akhtar Jamal (Painter)
The stories in the book are based on themes of love, morality, and life-changing ideas.
They represent the real Sindhi society, where males have been dominant for ages.
They portray the oppression by landlords and their treatment of the villagers. The
stories clearly expose the injustice to women in Sindh. Characters like Robbi and
Reshma symbolize all women of Sindh. Nadir Gramani, (Journalist, Islamabad)
This kind of literature helps the youth of our society to be refined, hard-working, and
selfless. The themes of nature, peace, and harmony remind us of the purpose of our
lives. I recommend these stories to all the students. Niaz Chandio (Educationist)
It is noteworthy to mention that a newly emerged author named Rizwan Ahmed Memon
is no less talented than the previous inspirational writers in the world. His style of
writing, whether it be in short stories, poems, or essays, is beyond compare, and
definitely worth reading. His language is very charming and easy to comprehend. He
properly educates the readers with his extraordinary perception of things. All flattery
aside, his creativity thoroughly kept me amused. Abdul Majid Khokhar (English
teacher)
The Respond to the Story section is not only a reading exercise but also a thoughtful
discussion. Waheed Memon (English teacher)
From Rizwans Inbox
I'd go deeper into the uniqueness of these characters. Tell us more about the feelings
and values of these characters. These stories don't have to have perfect English for
people to enjoy them.
Hi Rizwan. Thank you for sharing the stories. I enjoy the products of your creativity.
THE REFLECTIONS
I've enjoyed seeing you grow as a writer. Keep that pen flowing and the fingers typing
at the keyboard. It's a wonderful form of expression.
I like stories with a moral.
May you and Angly continue to discover reasons to love each other.
May Angly be loved and valued by her new family. May she feel embraced and cared
for. And may you enjoy building a new life together. May you both be filled with courage,
patience, understanding, and happiness. Enjoy the day and this new chapter!
You have an elegant way of expressing yourself.
You are very romantic, Rizwan. What lovely lines to share with your beloved.
Your language is simple and even more beautiful because of the clarity, Rizwan.
Good luck to you and your dear Angly.
This is excellent! Bravo!!!
Congratulations! Thiss wonderful!
I wish you and Angly well. Keep writing. I know its your passion.
Your pieces are sad, sweet, and bitter. They tell about the depths love can have.
These are nice, honest thoughts, Rizwan. You have a good, courageous heart.
I see the shift in your thinking and in your concerns. You are a family man now, and
new responsibilities are on your shoulders.
May you and Angly continue to discover reasons to love each other.
It sounds like you are a romantic person who loves to do very simple things to feel
good.
So sweet and sad. This strikes me as a sketch It's like an artist painting to capture a
moment of life. This is a lonely, desolate point in the narrator's life. It's very well done.
Nice work.
Every one of your poems portrays a close depiction of nature and reality.
I am impressed with the way you deal with other letters and language.
Your poems read like dreams. They are flowing and very romantic. Very lovely
Some flow like gentle water.
THE REFLECTIONS
Your poems are emotionally powerful because of the message of hope and longing
contained within. This message needs to be delivered. I like these very much. Nice job.
Your blog has soothing, natural colors. The visual appeal suits the nature of your
writings.
I love it.
Your writings instill a message of love, harmony, and peace. They illustrate the worth of
life, relationships, and hard work."
"Excellent! You are a genius. Every poem you make is close to nature and is very
realistic."
Your thoughts are pure and clear."
You say a lot in simple words. Your lines are sensitive and touch the heart. This is very
nice work."
Both, the poet and the poetry are very nice.
Your creations ring true and are among the best I have encountered.
You write a lot of heartwarming things."
Even though you use simple words, you use them in a way that makes your sentences
have depth.
I like the morals of your stories. Also, I love the ethics and values you have focused
on.
Exceptional. Your observations are gleaming.
As always, your writing shows depth and character.
This short story is a wonderfully touching and captivating portrayal of the core human
emotions: Tenderness, unabated joy, reminiscence and unending sorrow.
The manner in which you successfully encapsulate the tender but painful memories and
genuinely sensitive sensibilities of Rashid in this story without resorting to tried and
tested clichs is truly commendable.
The progress of this story is smooth and engrossingly seamless, never for a moment
allowing readers to take their eyes off the next sentence. A compelling read indeed!
THE REFLECTIONS
You can download the authors e-books at http://trlcl.eu5.org. Rizwan posts his writings
regularly on his blog http://rizwanahmedmemon.blogspot.com/. The author has spent
many hours maintaining his blog, and he would appreciate feedback and sharing with
others. See contact information below. You can also find his photos and works on
Twitter and Facebook. This book is available in all the bookstores. If you cannot find the
book at your nearest bookstore, please contact with the author on the numbers given
below.
I am very thankful to all the people who helped me with my writing. Their selflessness,
time, kindness, help and generosity will always be remembered.
I dedicate this work to everyone who reads and writes, to my mother, without whose
prayers I would have been nothing, to my students, my friends, my village, and to my
wife Angly whose company and support has given me time to write.
No part of this book may be printed or reproduced with someone elses name. Also,
photocopying is strictly prohibited. You can purchase the book by contacting the author.
Copyright 2015
Rizwan Ahmed Memon
THE REFLECTIONS
0343-3846385
+923433846385
RizwanAhmedMemon@gmail.com
www.Facebook.com/RizwanAhmedMemon
www.facebook.com/TheRealLearningCenterLarkana
www.twitter.com/TRLCL
https://plus.google.com/+RizwanahmedmemonTRLCL
http://rizwanahmedmemon.blogspot.com/
www.slideshare.net/RizwanAhmedMemon
www.scribd.com/RizwanAhmedMemon
THE REFLECTIONS
10
This book consist of 23 stories, 14 letters, 88 poems (including sketches and

verses), and 20 essays.
This collection The Reflections is available at all the bookstores in Pakistan. You
can also find it online through the links provided in the book.
Rizwan spent six years writing this collection.
Book Name: The Reflections

Author: Rizwan Ahmed Memon
1st edition: September, 2015
Copies: 1000
Book Title by: Rizwan Ahmed Memon
Composer: Rizwan Ahmed Memon
All Rights Reserved: Rizwan Ahmed Memon
Publishing Type: Self-publishing
Price: Rs. 200
THE REFLECTIONS
11

Every night we have many dreams while sleeping. When the nights are long and cold,
we often wake up at midnight. Hundreds of thoughts come into our minds, some good
and some bad. We think about our past, present, and future, as well as the things and
people we have gained and lost. Those long, cold nights give us chances to ponder
over our lives. Ramazan, an unmarried salesperson, went through this every night.
One night, as per usual, he was alone in his bedroom. Trying to get sleep, he tossed
and turned on his bed, but he couldnt fall asleep. He got out his laptop and used
Facebook for a while.
Facebook cant take the place of real chat, he said to himself while closing the laptop.
He lay on his bed again and stared at the ceiling. A thousand thoughts came to his
mind. He thought about his childhood and his present days as an adult.
Those days of childhood were the best days. This age of adulthood is dull, he said
softly. He took his touch-screen mobile phone and played his favorite song from his
childhood.
Why dont I dance to this song as I did in my childhood? Where is the entertainment?
he asked himself. He thought about how he wandered the streets with his friends as a
boy.
I laughed a lot at even minor jokes, but now my lips hardly move when I listen to any
joke, he said to himself. I felt happiness when I had only five rupees as pocket money.
Now I earn thousands of rupees, but I dont feel that happy. I wish I could have stayed a
child forever. Where are those friends and jokes? Where is that happiness? Why is
adulthood so dull and colorless? he was still asking himself as he fell asleep.
While asleep, he had a dream. He was in class at his primary school. His English
teacher was giving a lecture. The teacher told them that he was going to talk about life.
The lecturer said, Look, dear students, today you are children; tomorrow you will be
grown-ups. Today your parents look after you; tomorrow you will look after your
children. This chain of life has to go on. You have to make every day count. You have to
THE REFLECTIONS
12
live every day to the fullest. Life has three main stages: childhood, adulthood, and old
age. At every stage we are different. Every stage has its rules, and with every stage we
change. When you are a child, you are interested in toys. You have no responsibilities,
but when you are grown-up you have many. Responsibilities dont necessarily lead to a
colorless or dull life. When you take on responsibilities, you become mature and learn
more about life. You have to look after your parents, earn money, and get married.
Marriage is an important part of adult life. When you are a child, enjoy life. When you
become a grown-up, carry out your responsibilities and do what an adult should. In your
adult life you lose interest in many things, such as toys. After adulthood, you will reach
the stage of old age. This is where you slowly and gradually lose everything, such as
your eyesight and teeth. So spend your youth in such a way that when you look back on
it from your old age, it will make you proud. You should be proud of your past. Dear
children, see the sun; as it rises from the East and it will rise from the same direction
when you are old. Time will be the same; same days, same nights.
Ramazans dream was cut short when his alarm clock started to ring. He woke up and
looked in the mirror. He said three sentences: Make each day count. Marriage is an
important part of adult life. The chain of life has to go on.
Thus Ramazans dream changed his life. He got married to Nazia, his cousin, and he
spent each day as though it were Eid. He looked after his parents well. His parents were
very happy to see their inactive child active again.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Respond to the story:
Why was Ramazan struggling to go to sleep?
What did he think of the Facebook chat?
Where was he in his dream?
What was he told in the dream?
What three sentences did he say when he woke up?
Who did he marry?
How did his parents feel after the new change in Ramazans life?
What is the message of the story?
What impact does this story have on your life?
Do you go through all these thoughts at night?
What changes will you make in your life from now on?
THE REFLECTIONS
13
Some children like to have a cat; others want a dog. Every child has his own
likes and dislikes. Raheel was fond of birds, hens and roosters. He would buy little
chickens and feed them. When they grew and started laying eggs, he would keep those
hens which laid eggs and sell the others. In so doing, Raheel made a lot of money. His
hobby turned out to be his small business.
Raheel never let his hobby disturb his studies. He went to school regularly and
punctually, and he also did his homework on time. Feeding and looking after the birds
was a time-consuming task, so his mother helped him with the birds. People came to
Raheel to buy the birds and eggs. These were his customers!
Raheel would buy his clothes with the profit. After using the money for his basic
expenses, he also used to put a little amount aside. Raheel was in the fifth class when
he had collected a good sum of money, so he used the money to buy a bicycle. With his
brother's help, Raheel found a bicycle he liked very much.
When Raheel finished primary school and entered high school, he began to
notice that his hobby was disturbing his studies. He developed a strong passion for
English and computers, so he sold all his birds and devoted all his time to studies.
Raheel bought his first computer with the money he got from selling his birds and his
bicycle.
Ten years have past since that time. Raheel has become a good speaker and
teacher of the English language, and he has a university degree in computer science.
He believes that if he had not sold his birds, he would never have become a computer
scientist today. In order to get something, we have to leave something, and we must
leave something good for something better.
What was Raheels hobby?
How did he manage to provide time for his studies and hobby?
Why did he sell all of his birds?
What did he buy with the money he got when he sold his birds and bicycle?
What is the moral of this story?
How does this story impact your life?
THE REFLECTIONS
14

Like every child, Reyan had dreams for his future. He pursued them and worked hard to
make them come true. He believed that the way a person pursues his dreams decides whether
they will come true or not.
Life doesn't always turn out the way we plan; this is something he had often heard from
others. However, he believed that no one knows what will happen in the coming time, so one
must plan and try to live life according to ones plans. Everyone has hope. Life can be better
than our expectations, and it can be even worse, too.
He often asked himself, "What is it that makes people successful: hard work, money, or
luck?" The more accurate answer he often found was hard work because he had seen people
who had lots of money, but they were not successful. Instead, they were aloof. Those who are
lucky and get to be successful don't value their success. They don't feel the importance of hard
work. This reminded him the words of William Shakespeare: Some are born great, some
achieve greatness, and others have greatness thrust upon them.
Reyan was in high school when one day his teacher asked him, "Reyan, what is your
goal in life?" "Well, sir I dont have just one goal," said Reyan, "I have many goals and I may
have some more in the future. Let me tell you some I have now. Firstly, I want to get an MA in
English. Secondly, I want to do social work. Thirdly, I want to be an actor. Oh, an MA in
English! That is a good goal, and I like the idea of social work as well. But why do you want to
be an actor?" asked his teacher. "Sir, I want to change the world, replied Reyan. I will perform
in movies and dramas that will give the message of being a good human. I will play characters
that will touch people's hearts and have impact on their lives, he continued.
Unlike other children Reyan analyzed his dreams now and then and pondered how they
could come true. What steps should be taken, and what barriers were in his way of success? He
knew that little decisions that he had to make for his future would have a great effect on his life.
Reyan was not a pampered child. He had to work at his brother's shop in the evening. He used
to look after the buffaloes of his other brother, too. Escaping all these responsibilities was not
easy for him. His brothers, though supportive, never tried to help him get ahead in his
education. They were happy with what they had given him to do. Reyan knew that this was not
something he would do for his rest of the life. One day he said to his brother, I want to learn
English. His brother helped him gain admission to a private institute in the city. This was the
decision that would change Reyan's life forever. This was when he started the journey of his
knowledge. Soon after enrolling in the English institute, he also found a computer center, where
he decided to take a course in computers.
Going from village to the city everyday was hard. He used to travel by van. Those vans
were very broken-down, and sometimes when there were a lot of passengers, the driver made
THE REFLECTIONS
15
all the boys sit on the roof of the van or would tell them to hang on the backside of the van. After
getting off the van in the city, the institutes were still at a long distance, so he had to go by foot.
Out of his passion and eagerness for knowledge, Reyan put up with all those difficulties. In the
morning, he took his computer course, and in the evening he studied English at the institute. He
had a break at noon, so he would offer a prayer in a mosque and had something for lunch. He
also worked at the shop at night and on holidays. Whenever Reyan crossed the street, he was
bullied by country boys and even adults. They would say, There goes the geek! He didnt pay
any attention to them. They used a lot of derogatory words. One day while he was walking, a
person said to him, Hey boy, you are working hard, but there are no jobs in Pakistan! I am not
studying for the job. I am studying for knowledge, replied Reyan. After a year, Reyan had
gained good knowledge of English and computers, so he started teaching. This was a step
which would add to his knowledge and experience. Now he had left working at the shop and
looking after the buffaloes. His brothers didn't say much because what he was doing was better
than what they had given him to do.
Reyan finished his matriculation. It was time to make another important decision for his
future. What college to go to? Should he study science or business? He thought it all over and
decided to go to the Arts and Commerce College to study business. His brother didn't like the
idea of going to a Commerce College, but Reyan made him understand that this was something
he wanted to do. During his college days, he made some other goals for his life such as doing
Bachelors degree in Computer Science from a university. He kept teaching, studying, and
enjoying his life.
After Reyan finished college, where he earned his intermediate degree in commerce, he
prepared for university entrance exams with his friends at the library. He applied to three
different universities. He got admitted to the undergraduate program in Computer Science at
University of Sindh. The program at the university was quite tough for him, but he worked so
hard and made his presence felt. While working toward his bachelors degree, he also pursued
other degrees from other colleges. He earned an MA in English, too.
Reyan now runs an institute named The REAL Learning CENTER, where he teaches
computer skills and English. He thinks the best social work is giving knowledge to others and
educating them. In doing so, he also earns his living. His dreams have come true except for
becoming an actor. He still has a hope. He now has an online life list in which he adds new
goals and marks the achieved ones. He thinks that as long as life goes on, there are dreams.
Some dreams take a long time to come true and some very little. He says he hasnt become an
actor because he didnt take this goal seriously. He still thinks he might go on screen and
become an actor someday. Those people, who once made fun of Reyan, now call him Sir. He
often tells his students that your dreams will only remain dreams if you don't pursue them and
try very hard to make them come true. Everything that we want has its price that we have to
pay.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Respond to the story: What are your achievements? Write a story about your achievements.
What plans do you have for your future? How do you struggle for your dreams?
THE REFLECTIONS
16

It was August 16, 2014. I woke up early in the morning and decided to go to my fathers
grave to pray for him. As I prayed, I saw a very old man, walking with a stick. He was
going to the grave of his wife Sophiya, who had died just two days ago. As he
approached the grave, he burst into tears and cried out, Why did you leave me? Take
me with you. His love for his wife was so obvious from his pain.
I had seen them together since my childhood. They often went to the city on a donkey
cart. Their house was by the graveyard, and Sophiya often brought her buffaloes to
graze. My mother told me that my father used to call Sophiya his sister. Her village was
near our town. My father used to sell clothes in different villages; that is how he met
Sophiya. She was a poor, but brave woman. She wasnt born into a Muslim family.
Sophiya had fallen in love with a Muslim man named Raheem Bukhsh.
Sophiya did everything for her love. She left her home, parents, and her religion. She
became Muslim and married Raheem. After becoming Muslim, her name was changed.
She was named Islaam. They were very poor, but their happiness was not dependent
on wealth. Their love was pure and without reserve. Raheem didnt work much. It was
Islaam who managed to support the house by selling milk. They had five children: three
sons and two daughters.
I still remember how she often complained about her daughters-in-law and said they
didnt treat her well. One of her sons died in a road accident. Her sons sudden death
upset her and Raheem so much. After many years, they recovered from the pain of the
death of their young son. Islaam and her husband decided to sell their buffaloes and
make a pilgrimage to Mecca.
After they had arrived back to Pakistan, Islaam came to our house and told us about the
pilgrimage. Islaam and her husband had become very old, and they could not make
ends meet. Islaam took food from other people to satiate the hunger in their stomachs.
For years, they survived this way. On Eids, Islaam used to come and say, Happy Eid.
In 2014, on Eid-u-Fiter, the Eid which comes after Ramadan, she came to see us. I met
her. I didnt know it was her last Eid. That day, she became seriously ill. She was taken
to the hospital. She was in the hospital for three days, but her health didnt improve. The
doctors said she would not survive. Her husband took her home in the hope that she
would survive, no matter what the doctors said, but she could not survive any more.
THE REFLECTIONS
17
The love and life of Islaam have always inspired me. She sacrificed everything for her
husband and always remained by his side through thick and thin. Old Raheem is also ill,
and suffering from the pain of separation from his beloved wife. I often find Raheem
weeping on his wifes grave. Everything that we have in this world will not be with us
forever. We, too, will leave this world. Sometimes the pain of love makes life, and
sometimes it takes ones life. In life having someone who loves us truly is a gift from
God. A man is mortal. One day, everybody has to leave this world. The only way we can
be in someones heart is through love. Islaam and Raheem Bukhshs life story will
always be in my mind and heart.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Respond to the story:
Who burst into tears on Islaams grave and what did they say?
How had Islaam married Rahim Bukhsh?
Why was their love so strong?
Have you ever seen any couple whose love story is like Islaams?
What is the central message of this story?
How does this story effect your life?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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THE REFLECTIONS
18

Qasim, a ten-year-old boy, always believed in luck. In last five years, he had won
many competitions at his school, including a marathon, singing competition, and a pieeating contest. His father often told him to be optimistic, but also work hard.
One day at his school, the principal announced that there would be a quiz show.
Hearing that Qasim whispered into his friends ear, who was sitting beside him, And I
will be the winner! I hope so. replied his friend. Thinking that the luck would be on his
side as always, Qasim did not prepare much for the show. His parents were looking
forward to see another prize in his hands. The quiz show is nearing. Are you preparing
for it? said his father. Qasim in an annoyed manner replied, Oh, come on, Dad! Let me
play the video game. His father said, What about the quiz? I will win. You will see,
said Qasim. Well, son you better wake up and smell the coffee. Everything doesnt
come without hard work, said his father.
The competition day came and all the students and their parents gathered.
Qasim was nervous, as he was not prepared. The quiz show started and from two
teams the team leader was supposed to answer. Qasim was his teams leader. The
questioner asked, Who gave the speech 'I Have a Dream'? Qasim had not studied his
history book. He remained silent, but his opponent gave the correct answer: Martin
Luther King. On most of the questions, Qasim remained silent, for he had not studied.
The questions were from different subjects from his syllabus. Everybody laughed at
Qasim, and his mom and dad were very disappointed. Qasim lost the quiz program.
At night, Qasim came into his parents room and said, I am sorry. His father
encouraged him and said, You work hard. Do not rely only on luck. His mother further
added, Look son, life is not a fairy tale that has some magic in it, which will fix
everything. On the contrary, life is all about action. If you rest, you rust. Qasim gave his
word to the parents and said he would always work hard and would not rely just on luck.
Did Qasim believe in hard work or luck?
Why did Qasim lose the quiz competition?
What did Qasims mother say to him?
Do you believe in luck or hard work?
What is the theme of the story?
Does the story make you cautious in your studies? If so, what difference will you make
in the future?
THE REFLECTIONS
19

Hoping to catch a big fish, young, innocent Ahmed threw his net into the river with his
little hands. While he was sitting and waiting on the bank for the fish to swim into his
net, he saw light across the levee coming from the city streets and houses. He had
been to the city once. He had a memory in his mind of a school bus, which he had seen
when his father had taken him to sell the fish there. Ahmed was still thinking about the
city, when a fish gave him a start by jumping up and down in the net.
Running like the wind to his boat, he screamed, Mother, mother, look, I have caught a
big fish!
His mother with a smiling face said, Bravo son! You will be a good fisherman like your
father.
At supper time, when Ahmeds mother served him his meal with fried fish, he inquired,
Mother, have you ever seen a school bus?
Um, well, I have seen a bus, but I really havent seen a school bus, replied his mother.
I guess that must be for school children.
Ahmed continued, I saw one when I went to the city with father. There were children of
my age in it wearing strange clothes. Father told me that it was a school bus. Also, he
told me that school is a place where a man they call teacher instructs these boys and
girls.
Really? his mother queried.
Yes, mother. Ahmed replied.
Ahmed kept talking about the city. While Ahmed was still talking about the city, his
mother drifted off to sleep.
The next day, when Ahmeds father was preparing to take the basket of fish to sell in
the city, Ahmed told his father that he wanted to go with him, too. His father told him to
seek permission from his mother. At Ahmeds constant imploring, his mother gave him
the permission.
On the way back to the river, Ahmed said to his father, Father, why dont we live in the
THE REFLECTIONS
20
city? I want to go to school on that school bus with those children.

Darkness was falling and the cattle, making noise with their bells around their necks,
were moving toward the town. Ahmeds father said, See, son, it is now getting late. We
must move fast to get to the river. We will talk about it tonight, when we are in the boat.
Ahmeds father pondered the question as they headed toward the river.
At night, when the three of them were in the boat having supper, Ahmeds father said to
Ahmed, Son, I want to answer your question now. God made this world. He made
Adam, the first human on the earth, from the dust. Eve, the first woman, was Adams
wife. All of us humans living in the world are offspring of Adam and Eve. If we all were
rich, living in cities, studying in schools, no one would be doing the work, and the world
would become unbalanced. So, God made some people rich and others poor to keep
the balance of the world. If we are living here in a boat on the bank of the Indus River in
Akil, it doesnt mean we are inferior or that we are not worthy humans. No, we all are
worthwhile humans. However, God has chosen us to be poor and play our role among
the poor in His world which he runs solo. One cannot have all the joys of the world. We
here living and working on the bank of the Indus are living our life happily. Our source of
livelihood is fish, and we are thankful to God for this.
Ahmed thought it was the will of God that the world is the way it is. He also believed that
it is the will of God that people are the way they are; so he never thought about the city
again. He lived happily and enjoyed fishing and playing with other boys on the river
bank.
Why did Ahmed want to live in the city?
Was Ahmeds desire to get educated wrong?
Who do you think was right, Ahmed or his father?
One has more chances to earn money in the city, so do you think the decision that
Ahmeds father made was right?
How convincing do you think Ahmeds fathers explanation was? Was it just an excuse
to silence the child to get his basic rights?
If you were Ahmed, what would you have done differently? Would you have just played
on the bank or you would have raised your voice against the decision?
You must have seen many children deprived of education, and engaged in child-labor.
Have you ever tried to help them get education?
THE REFLECTIONS
21

Chapter: 1
It was a sunny day. Robbi was so delighted to win the prize in her class for an essay
competition. Her teacher told her that he was sure that one day Robbi would become a
great woman.
Robbi said to her teacher, God willing, I will become a doctor.
The teacher replied, God wills that. I know because He has given you all the abilities
which a successful doctor should have.
Robbi went home and showed her mother the prize. Robbis mother was happy too, but
her father didnt seem very happy about it. Robbis father was a drunkard; her mother
had to pay for her education. Financially, she made ends meet by doing needlework.
Besides going to school, Robbi also helped her mother with household chores and with
needlework.
Years passed and Robbi eventually made it to grade nine. One night Robbis father said
to her mother, Robbi has now grown up.
Her mother said to him, No, she is still young, but why do you say that?
He said, Now Robbi wont need to go to school anymore.
Her mother said, No, she still has to study. She wants to be a doctor.
A doctor, impossible! he said.
She is the most clever girl in the class, why cant she be a doctor?! asked her mother.
Her father replied, Because the time has come for her to go to her real home.
Are you thinking about Robbis marriage? She is still too young, she said.
Well, sooner or later she has to go; the sooner the better. said Robbis father. He
added further, I have already talked to my old friend. He has a son who works in the
THE REFLECTIONS
22
fields, that will be better for her. I dont want to talk about it anymore; thats final.
In the morning when Robbi was getting ready to go to school, her mother said to her,
Stay at home today.
Robbi said, Why, dear mother?
She said, I have a lot of work today and I want you to help me.
Robbi said, Alright, if you say so, I am not going.
So on that day her mother told her that her father was going to get her married. Robbis
heart was torn into pieces. Her mother said to her, It is inevitable. I can do nothing; nor
can you refuse. If we go against your fathers will, we will both be in trouble. So it is
better to be quiet and endure.
Robbis dreams were shattered. She felt a storm inside her, and she wanted to cry so
loudly that her voice would break the sky. She fell asleep weeping and sobbing.
In a few days, Robbis father married her off. Now she wandered aimlessly through life
as if she were already dead.
Chapter: 2
Robbi was only fourteen. She was studying in the hope of becoming a doctor when her
father married her off. She was married to Zaman, who worked in the fields. All of
Robbis dreams were shattered before they could come to fruition. Her husband treated
her as if she was a servant or slave. He punished her, abused her, and harassed her.
He commanded her to look after the buffaloes and cows. She milked them and grazed
them near the bank of the river a short distance from the fields where her husband
worked.
Robbi gave birth to Rabia at the age of fifteen. Robbi and her daughter were weak due
to Robbis pregnancy at a very young age. Early marriage led to many detrimental
effects upon Robbis health. It had been more than a year since Robbi had seen her
mother. Robbis father never allowed Robbis mother to visit Robbi; neither did Robbis
husband.
Days turned into weeks, weeks turned into months, and months turned into years as
Robbi continued to bear all the injustices that her husband administered to her. In rural
THE REFLECTIONS
23
areas of Sindh, a province of Pakistan, it is common for men to treat women in this way.
Very few women raise their voices against the oppression. Robbi would never resist, but
she had decided that she would never let her daughter fall victim to this abuse.
One night, Robbi said to Zaman, Saeen, Rabia is now five. We need to send our
daughter to school. (In Sindhi the word Saeen is used for someone who is admired or
respected.)
School? Dont you know in our village girls are not allowed to attend school? She will
never go to school, her husband replied.
But Saeen, she must get a primary education, at least, so that she can read and write
our native Sindhi language.
I dont like your explanations and answering back. I said she will never go. Now get out
of my sight! he shouted angrily.
Young Rabia was watching and listening to her parents arguing about her from the
window. In her heart, Rabia hated her father because she had seen him beating her
mother many times. One day, Robbi went to graze the cattle, as usual. Normally, Rabia
would stay at home with her grandparents. Her grandparents had never cared much for
Robbi or Rabia because they had been disappointed when Robbi did not give birth to a
boy. On this particular day, Robbi decided that she would begin to take her daughter out
with her to graze the cattle. Robbi had learned reading and writing in Sindhi when she
was a child, and she also knew a little bit of English. She decided that she would
educate her daughter herself while the cattle grazed.
One night, Robbi called her daughter, Rabia? Rabia? Where are you?
Ami, I am here with grandpa.
Wont you let me read you a new story tonight?
Oh, yes.
That night Robbi told Rabia about her plan. Robbi had originally thought that Zaman
would do the same for their daughter as Robbis father had done for her. At least I have
gotten my primary education. I have to do something for my daughter, otherwise in this
male-dominated society my daughter will be deprived of even basic education, she
whispered to herself.
THE REFLECTIONS
24
The next day, as usual, Robbi woke up early, milked the buffaloes, churned the Lassi,
and fed the cattle. When she served breakfast to her husband, she told him, Saeen, I
want to take Rabia with me. She will learn grazing the cattle and cutting the grass. She
is not going to school, so she better learn the household chores.
All right. Keep a close eye on her, he agreed.
After Zaman had gone, Robbi and her daughter left to graze the cattle. Along the way,
she gave Rabia two hundred rupees, which she had earned by selling the milk. The
money was used to buy two pens, (one red and one blue), a notebook, and a first grade
text book from the village general store. Robbi also gave her a palm straw bag, in which
she packed her lunch. Rabia purchased all these things and put them in the bag.
When they reached the river, the cattle started grazing, and they both started the
lessons. On their first day, Robbi taught her daughter some letters of the alphabet of
their native language. For five years they studied in this way; hiding their books from
everyone. Usually, children do their homework at their homes, but Rabia did hers at the
river bank. Rabia eventually learned to read and write the Sindhi language, and a little
bit of English.
Read complete the story at: RizwanAhmedMemon.blogspot.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------True to his nature the man closed one more chapter of injustice with Robbi.
I wonder how many Robbis would yet be killed, sold and kidnapped etcetera! That so
called civilized man should know that the woman is also a human. She breathes the
same way as he does. Her heart beats as his, and like him she has emotions, too. Let
her live her life!
Should Robbi have raised her voice against her fathers decision?
Are men superior to women?
What is the message of the story?
As a male, do you treat women like Robbis father and husband did?
How can women be equal to men in a male-dominated society?
What impact does this story have on you?
What can you say about the authors efforts to support women and prevent oppression
by men through these stories? Write an email and tell the author at this address
THE REFLECTIONS
25
Characters:
Pretto = The father of Parrot
Pretty = The mother of Parrot
Parrot = Little bird son of Pretto and Pretty
Joe = Hunter who takes away Parrot from his nest
Erik = Little boy who buys Parrot from the zoo

Angel = Young, handsome man whom Parrot is sold by Eriks parents
Anglia = A beautiful woman who gets married with Angel
1. The Parrot
At the crack of the dawn, Pretty and Pretto left their nest to find the food. They
discussed the coming of their first child. Pretty said now it will not be long before their
little baby bird would come in this world. She further said, The shape of the egg
indicates that it will soon hatch and let our baby bird out into this beautiful forest. Pretto
added, I am looking forward to seeing my first child. It would bring such happiness.
While flying, they bumped into a field and came down to eat some grain. Then they
went back to the nest. Pretty set on the egg. There they thought of a name for their
child. They decided that they would call their child Parrot.
2. Birth of Parrot
The days went by and the moment Pretty and Pretto had waited for finally came. The
egg cracked and a little weak bird as tender as a bud appeared. Pretty and Pretto were
on cloud nine to see their small lovely child. Welcome, welcome to this amazing world,
THE REFLECTIONS
26
they said to the little bird. The little bird saw them and knew they were his father and
mother. Pretty fed the newborn bird with her beak. This moment was one of the best
moments for the parents of Parrot. They both were thrilled to pieces. Time kept passing
and Parrot was growing older. The parents of Parrot took great care of him. If Pretty
went for grain, Pretto would stay in the nest to look after Parrot. If Pretto went, Pretty
would stay. The feathers of Parrot were also getting bigger rapidly. It seemed he would
be ready to fly very soon.
3. Time to Fly from the Nest
One night the parents of Parrot said to him, The time has come for you to learn how to
fly; tomorrow we will give you your first flying lesson. After hearing that, Parrot became
very ecstatic and anxious to fly. He said to them, So, it will be my first attempt to touch
the sky. How wonderful it will be! Finally, that day came, and the three made their
minds up to go in the early morning. They left the nest and came to an open ground.
There Pretto first gave instructions to Parrot about flying, and then he said him to watch
how he was flying and do the same. Parrot thought it was as easy as falling off a log.
When he made his first attempt to fly, he fell down, he could not move his wings
properly. Then he tried for the second time. Now he was a little more successful. He
tried again and again and each time he performed better and better. Parrot became
very tired. So, they stopped and said it was enough for today. Pretto said to Pretty, Our
Parrot would soon learn to fly. She replied, I think so. Then slowly they came back to
the nest. Late at night the three chatted. Pretty and Pretto decided to go to gather grain
together early in the morning, and then they would go with Parrot for giving him the
second lesson of flying. This was first time that they both were leaving Parrot alone in
the nest. They thought Parrot now could take care of himself very well, and could stay in
the nest on his own.
4. Arrival of a Hunter
In early morning Pretty and Pretto left the nest to bring some grain from the field. They
did not take Parrot because they wanted him to rest and get enough sleep. It was a very
fine morning. The drowsy breeze was blowing, which kept Parrot asleep. The birds in
the forest started singing lovely songs. The shafts of the sun entered the nest and fell
on the face of Parrot and woke him up. Seeing nobody around him, Parrot felt a little
scared, but he took heart. Parrot added to the songs of other birds of the forest with his
own melodious voice. Parrots voice was very pleasant and pure. Near that forest where
Parrot lived with his parents was a small village, and there lived a hunter by the name of
Joe. Joe made ends meet by hunting animals and birds in the forest.
He sometimes sold the animals and birds in a city or kept them for food. On that day,
the hunter had also left to hunt early in the morning. He encountered a dense shadowy
tree; it was the tree in which Parrots nest was. The hunter had a meal and some water
with him. He decided to sit under that tree and have breakfast. While eating, he enjoyed
the beautiful sounds of different birds in the trees. A sound coming from the tree under
which he was sitting drew his attention. That bird has the sweetest voice of all the birds
in the forest, he said to himself. It was the voice of Parrot. He liked that voice so much
THE REFLECTIONS
27
that he wanted to see and catch the bird. The moment he finished his breakfast, he
climbed up the tree to the top, leaving all other nests until he came to the nest of Parrot.
He saw Parrot and quickly grabbed him so tight in his hands. Parrot screamed, cried,
and shouted. Parrot bit the hunter trying to escape, but the birds efforts were in vain.
5. Parrot in a Cage
The hunter took Parrot away to his village. He made his mind up to keep this bird at
home to listen to his songs and beautiful voice every day. Parrot was in great trouble
now. His wings were cut and he was put in a cage. Sobbing and crying, he bore all the
pain. Would he be in the cage forever? This question revolved in his mind all the time.
He had hope. He seemed quite optimistic. He thought someday he would be out of his
cage.
6. Pretty and Prettos Sorrow
When Pretty and Pretto came back to the nest, to their surprise the nest was empty.
They called for Parrot loudly, but received no reply from any direction. They looked for
Parrot in every nook and cranny of the jungle, but Parrot was nowhere. They were filled
with the fear that he might have flown for food and become victim of some giant animal.
The parents of Parrot were very sad and worried. They waited for Parrot for several
days, but he didnt turn up.
7. Parrot Learns Human Language
A year passed. Parrot was well fed and his feathers had grown again. Above all he
learned human language, the natural language. Parrot used to listen and watch the
hunter carefully when he talked to him or with others, and used to imitate the hunter.
Slowly and gradually, Parrot became able to communicate fully in human language.
8. Parrot is Sold
Once the hunter Joe became so ill that he even couldnt go for hunting for several days,
and he ran out of money. He was in great need of money, so he decided to sell Parrot
so that he could earn some money to fulfill his needs. Joe managed to go to the city and
went to a zoo. There he talked to the owner of the zoo. I have a Parrot, who can speak
as we human speak, and I want to sell him. Would you buy it? he asked from the owner
of the zoo. The owner of the zoo saw and thought this bird would be auspicious for the
zoo and will be great source of drawing attention of the visitors. So, he bought Parrot on
high price.
9. Parrot at the Zoo
Parrot was put in a cage again but this time it was in a zoo, for the exhibition and
entertainment of the people. It was almost the same for Parrot, but he felt he was better
in the previous cage, because he had a peaceful atmosphere around him. Parrot was
unhappy there he prayed God to get him out of the zoo.
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28
10. Parrot Gets out of the Zoo

God listened to Parrot. One day a very rich family with a little, innocent and cute boy
named Erik came to visit the zoo. When Erik saw Parrot and talked to him, he forgot to
see other animals in the zoo and spent hours with the Parrot. When it was time to go,
Erik told his parents that he wanted to take that parrot with him. Eriks parents said,
You cannot take that bird home. It is for this zoo. But Erik didnt listen and kept crying
for Parrot, and he even refused to go home without Parrot. So, Eriks Parents had to
buy Parrot and the owner of the zoo sold for double the price.
11. Parrot on Cloud Nine with the Boy
Now Parrot was in very big house, where every comfort could be found. Erik and Parrot
were so happy with each other that they played together, they slept together, and they
ate together. All the time they were together.
12. Parrot is Sold for the Second Time
Since the day Erik purchased Parrot, he stopped paying attention to his studies and
complained about school. Seeing this, Eriks parents decided to sell Parrot within a few
days so that their child would study again. When Erik came to find out about this, he
didnt respond or resist; he told Parrot that his parents were going to sell him. Parrot
said, All right, but I dont want to go back to that noisy zoo." Erik assured him that his
parents wouldnt give him to the zoo.
13. Parrot with a Young Man
Eriks parents sold Parrot to a young, handsome and very kind man named Angel. In a
very short period of time they became close friends. Angel was so kind that he felt guilty
if he kept Parrot in the cage, so he let him move about freely all the time. Parrot could
have escaped, but he considered that wouldn't be fair. Parrot didnt want to break the
confidence which the man had in him. So, Parrot never tried to run way.
14. Angel Tells Parrot His Love Story
One day Angel was so sad, and Parrot asked the reason. Angel did not say a word.
After some days Angle grew even more worried and upset. Parrot kept asking why that
was so. Finally, Angel told him and said, I love Anglia, my classmate." And so Angel
told Parrot his love story, sparing nothing. Angel loved Anglia with all his heart; he was
now unable to live without her. Parrot could not bear to see the condition of Angel and
decided to go to Anglia and tell her everything.
15. Parrot Goes to Anglia
The next evening in evening Parrot got a chance when Angel was out of the home, so
he flew and went to Anglias house. When Parrot saw Anglia out on lawn of her house,
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29
he said she must be Anglia. Parrot saw her beauty. He flew and sat on a branch of a
little tree beside her and said, Good evening. Anglia replied with great surprise. She
couldnt believe a bird had spoken. Parrot told her everything and requested that she
marry Angel and said that she would be happy all of her life if she married Angel
because he loved her so much.
16. Anglia Marries Angel
Days kept going by and Anglia was constantly in world of her own thinking of Angel and
his love for her. It was not long before she also fell in love with Angel and made her
mind up to marry him. Angel and Anglia got married. They lived happily together, and
Parrot was quite pleased in their company.
17. Parrot Tells the Couple His Story
On one fine day they three went on a picnic to the beach. There they enjoyed
themselves. After swimming, they sat together and ate the food which they had brought.
While discussing several things, Anglia asked Parrot how he had learnt to speak and
where he came from. Parrot told them the complete story of his life. The couple was so
sorry to hear the tragic tale of Parrot.
18. Angel and Anglia Free Parrot
Parrots past was full of troubles and bad moments of agony and pain, knowing this Angel and
Anglia wanted Parrot to live happily now wherever he wanted in full freedom. They asked
Parrot, Do you miss your parents? Parrot replied, Yes, a lot every moment! And do you want
to go and live with them? they asked him. Parrot became silent, and then he said a bird would
be happy with birds! Angel and Anglia saw that there was a hidden wish in Parrot to live with his
parents, so they said Parrot, if you want to go to your homeland and spend your life there with
your parents, we allow you with all our heart.
19. Parrot Goes to His Homeland Forever

Parrot was happy and sad, too. Happy because he was going to meet his parents after all those
years, and sad because he was losing good people and friends. However, they would always
miss one another and would live in one anothers memories. Angel and Anglia felt sorrow too,
but they understood it was better for Parrot. Parrot thanked them and couple thanked him, too,
saying if he had not been there, they would have never met. Their eyes filled up with tears some
tears were out of happiness and some out of sorrow, thus Parrot flew up in the sky and left for
his homeland forever. Angel and Anglia kept watching Parrot until he went out of sight and kept
saying Good-bye.
Moral: In life, you may face troubles, hurdles, or difficulties. You could become the victim of
some disaster, bear some kind of pain, or experience some other torment. Remember to be
patient; the day when everything will be all right will come soon. All these things are the plan of
God to make you more efficient, experienced and skillful. Always be ready to face everything
that comes in your life.
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30

It was the end of Rizwans last semester at the university. He was sitting in the library.
Looking at the huge shelves of books, he thought about what gift he should give to his
fiance when he got married.
The idea of a ring came to his mind. But every groom gives a ring to his wife, he said
to himself. What is something more special than a ring? he asked himself. He was still
thinking about the gift when his thoughts diverted to the first night of their marriage. He
asked himself, What will I talk about on our first night? I will tell her how difficult my
university life was. I will tell her that I missed her so much," he whispered to himself.
Considering the things he would say to his fiance on their first night, he wondered if
she, too, was thinking what she would say on that first night. She might be thinking
about me or she might not," he said to himself. She is a shy girl, and we have never
even talked on phone! he said to himself. Isnt our love special? We have only seen
each other two or three times from a distance. Our family customs dont allow a boy and
girl to be in contact until they are married, he whispered to himself. Rizwan took his bag
and started to put his books in it. A book fell from his hand to the floor. A dried rose
dropped out of the book. He took the rose and remembered he had plucked it from the
garden the day they were announced engaged. He had plucked the flower for Angly, but
he was away from her at the university. He had kept it for her in the book. Wow. A fouryear-old rose smells almost the same as it did the day I plucked it! What can be more
special than this rose which is as old as our engagement? he said to himself.
Rizwan decided that he would give that old, dried rose to his fiance, Angly. He put all
his books in his bag and left of the library. On his way to the hostel, he kept thinking
about the rose. The petals of the rose have dried, but its fragrance is still there. As I
have preserved my love for Angly, the rose has preserved its fragrance for her, he
thought. A ring or some jewelry are man-made things, but I have something which God
has made. A rose, a symbol of love. He kept thinking, and when he reached his room,
he took the flower out and looked at it again. Then he placed the dried rose on his shelf,
his intended gift for Angly, which he would give her on their first night.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------In your opinion, what is more valuable the dried rose or the ring?
If you were Rizwan, what would you have given to your fiance?
Do you support love marriages or arranged marriages?
Should a couple be in contact before marriage?
Do you think love can decrease while being in contact before marriage?
Do you agree that in true love; money, wealth or jewelry isnt important?
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31
There were different living animals in the River Indus, and they came from different
parts of Pakistan and India. The river flowed far away into the ocean. In between many
species were caught by humans for their food and other uses. Among those species
was a fish with golden gills.
A scholarly traveler from Egypt had brought the fish, and he had thrown it into the River
Indus. People say the traveler had been sent by God with that special gift which
humans had lost.
One fine morning a fisherman was fishing, and he saw that something golden had come
into his net. He didnt notice it was a fish. He took all the other fish from the net, but he
didnt touch that golden fish. When he threw his net on the bank, half in water, the
golden fish started to move. He then realized it was a fish. He quickly tried to catch it,
but the fish was gone. At noon, he told other fishermen that he had seen a golden fish.
At first, the sailors made fun of him saying he had gone crazy, but then after a few days
one other fisherman saw it. They all decided to catch the fish and keep it separate in a
pond where it might give them baby fish with golden gills.
All the fishermen gathered and threw their nets in the river from different directions.
They continued their search for three days. The sailors caught a lot of fish and other
species. They distributed a huge amount of fish among the villagers and sold everything
in the city for a lower price. On the third day, a little boy, a son of a fisherman, brought a
little net in his hands and said, Are you searching for this fish? It is already dead!
The villagers and fishermen thought that they killed the fish, and if they had not made
any mess in the river, the humans would have gotten golden fish. They thought that
God had sent them a gift which they lost because of their greed.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------Respond to the story:
If you were one of the fishermen, what would you have done?
What message has the author portrayed in this story?
In your life have you ever been that greedy about something? Share the experience
with a classmate, friend or the teacher.
How many days did the fishermen continue their search?
What damage did they cause to the life of fishes, frogs, tortoises and other species?
Greed is a curse. Explain. Write a short essay and show it to the teacher, friend etc..
Tell the story to your friend, classmate or teacher in your own words.
Send your feelings, ideas about the story to the author on his email,
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32

Rafique had just three friends in his community. The countryside where he lived was full of
natural beauty. His three friends rarely met him, so he had made pen and paper his full-time
companions. Apart from pen and paper, he had made himself his best friend.
On a summer evening, Rafique, as usual, was out on a walk. Describing the weather, he said to
himself, It is hot day today. The wind has stopped, so the suffocation has increased. Oh, look at
my shirt. It is wet because of sweat. My pants have also become wet. Oh, no my papers! They
must be damp, too. Now how will I write today? By the way, what am I going to write today - a
poem, an essay, or a story? Well, lets see.
Walking and talking to himself, he reached at his accustomed place which was a Neem tree.
Hello buddy. How is it going? You are growing and growing making your shadow even denser.
Thanks for providing the shadow, brother. he said to the tree. Rafique sat under the tree and
looked around. Water in the pond is increasing because of the flow in the river, isnt it? he
asked the tree. Oh, I see. With more water in the pond you are becoming stronger! Why didnt
you tell me that before? he kept talking to the tree, but the tree was silent.
He took out the blank papers from his pocket which were a little damp. He kept them open in the
sunshine so that they would dry. You must be wondering what I will write today, he said to the
tree. Well, friend, I dont know either! Saying this he laughed loudly.
The words
On the paper
Are not mere
Words.
In them is a history,
A story of love,
And a chapter of sadness.
The words on the paper
Are not just words.
He wrote these words on the paper. Yes, I think I am writing a poem. he said to the tree. When
he finished writing the poem, he told to the tree, It is time to move now. You can read this poem
on my blog tomorrow. You know the address of the blog, right? he asked the tree. The tree
said nothing. Closing his papers he said to the tree, See you soon, friend.
Rafique then went to the River Indus, which was at a little distance from the tree. He often sat
on the bank of the river and wrote stories and poems. Walking on the levee, he kept talking to
himself. After the river, he came to the village fields where he sat for some time, and then he
went home. At night, he posted the poem on his blog. By writing and talking to himself, Rafique
spent his life happily. Rafique found happiness in nature and writing. In the past, people had
broken his heart, so he stayed away from people and made a world of his own.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Respond to the Story:
Do you think loneliness is better than bad company?
Have you ever written any poems or stories? If so, share it with your classmates and teacher.
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33

Every man does some work to survive in this world. Raheman worked as the field hand
to make his livelihood. He worked in the fields of landlords and other people in his
village, Akil. During rice season in the summer, he went to a nearby town named Phullu
to find some work. The town was on the other side of the river. There he fell in love with
Reshma, who was the only daughter of the landlord of that town.
In Phullu, Raheman got a contract to work in the fields of the landlord for the season. In
the morning, Reshma used to come to the fields to stroll along the grassy paths. She
was a simple and kind woman.
I have never seen you here before, said Reshma to Raheman.
Yes, I am new here.
You live in this town or have you come from somewhere else?
I have come from Akil, miss. replied Raheman.
Okay, nice to meet you. she said.
While walking on the grass, Reshma lost her golden ring. She realized this at home.
Thinking that it must have mixed in the dust during the plowing, she did not ask anybody
about it.
After some days, while working, Raheman found the ring. As Reshma came on the
following day, he gave her the ring. Where did you find it? she asked.
I found it in the field yesterday. I thought it must be yours.
Reshma thanked him and said, I like your honesty. You are a good man.
Reshma started her walk, and Rahman started plowing the field on the tractor. As the
tractor came to the side where Reshma was walking, she gestured for Raheman to
stop. I want to sit on the tractor, Said Reshma.
With a smile on his face, Raheman said, Most welcome. It is all yours.
On that day Reshma laughed a lot and for the first time she was happy since the day
her mother had died.
Reshma liked to be with Raheman. She spent more time in the fields chatting and
helping him a little in the work. They both had fallen in love. One day Raheman asked
her, Will you marry me, Reshma?
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34
I would like to be yours more than anything in the world, but my father will kill me if he
learned of this.
I will go back to Akil, after my contract has ended and the crop is harvested. said
Raheman.
Landlords secretary said to the landlord, Sir, you are busy with the works of the
villagers and town. You dont know what is happening in the fields. Your pampered
daughter has thrown dirt on your honor. The secretary told about the unwelcomed love
match.
That evening, the landlord gave Raheman his salary and exiled him. If you ever come
back, you will be killed. said the landlord.
Reshma made pleas to his father, but he didnt listen at all.
I didnt expect that from you. Is that what you are giving me in return for my love? You
have destroyed my reputation in the whole entire town. People are saying the daughter
of the landlord has fallen in love with a servant!
Reshma was kept at home, closely watched for six months. One day, she was found
hanging from the fan. She had taken her own life.
Every day, Raheman came to the bank of the river and saw the boats in hope that
Reshma would come. His friend often said to him that she would never come, but
Raheman always believed that one day she would. In longing for Reshma, Raheman
became ill and died. According to the Rahmans will, he was buried on the bank of the
river in case his love returned for him.
Respond to the story:
Why is it taboo in Sindhi culture to choose ones life partner oneself?
Do you know that Islam permits choosing ones spouse according to ones wishes?
What do you think is the main cause of honor killing in Sindh?
To what extent has the treatment of girls by males (brothers, fathers, uncles, landlords,
etc.) changed in these days?
In Pakistan, girls are still not fully independent. Do you want them to be independent?
Men kill those women who decide who they will marry, especially in Sindh Province.
What would you call these mens acts - ignorance, pride, folly, injustice, inhumanity or
what?
If you were the landlord, how would you have treated Reshma?
What did Reshma say to Raheman when he asked her to marry him?
What did Reshmas father (the landlord) say to Reshma when he found out about them?
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35

Many people collect a lot of wealth in this world. They remain so busy in accumulating
affluence that they forget their loved ones and become selfish. On the other hand, many
live a simple life giving importance to love and peace. Rani was one of those people
who was not interested in money and material things.
Rani was the only daughter of Janzaib, who was one of the richest men in the city of
Karachi. Ranis father had disowned her from the day she had married an uneducated,
poor and simple man, Rahat. He had come to Karachi from Larkana, and he sold
flowers in a shopping mall.
On Valentines Day in 2015, Rani went to the shopping mall where Rahat worked. Rani
purchased some clothes and books from the shops in the mall. When she was going
out, she saw a flower stall. She came to the stall, and for a while, she looked at the
beautiful flowers. Which one would you like to buy, miss? Rahat asked her.
Yet, I dont have anyone to give flowers to, she sighed.
Look this is a nice one. Your mother will like it, he added.
Yes. Well, my mother had died when I was three, and only my father is alive. He
doesnt have time for anything but his business.
I am sorry to hear that. Well, maam, today is the day of love, so here is a rose for you
from my side. he smiled warmly.
Oh, thank you! beamed Rani. She took a note of one thousand from her purse. Here
you are, she replied as she handed it to Rahat.
Miss, this flower isnt that much!
She smiled and said, My father says everything has its price!
Yes, well, maybe but love has no price. No one can purchase love with money. One
can get many things with money from the mall, but no one has the love for selling in
their stocks.
You are right. I believe so. After saying this, she took the flower and left.
When Rani came home, she wept a lot in her bedroom. She thought she had no one to
share love with. She thought about the business of her father. He has wealth, but no
love, care and feelings. He is too busy and greedy trying to get more money all the time.
I dont like his principles and his life. I need to live my life according to my rules. If all
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36
people thought like the man at the flower stall, this world would be a better place, she
whispered as if reminding herself.
The next day, she went to Rahat. You have nice thoughts. I want to listen more from
you about love, care and life. What are you doing this evening?
His eyes lit up with the sudden acceptance. I will remain here up to the night. I am
usually free on Fridays.
All right. Can we meet on Friday evening at the caf?
My pleasure.
So that Friday, Rani felt that the prince who will bring happiness in her life was Rahat.
She started to go out with him regularly. One evening, while they were strolling along
the beach, she asked Rahat to marry her.
I am a poor man, and I have no degrees. What will your father say?
Rahat, I am an educated and assertive girl. I will not let anyone snatch my rights. Here
in Karachi girls are not so much limited as in interior Sindh. We will do court marriage.
After marriage, we will live wherever you will say.
At night, when Ranis father came, she said him, Dad, I am alone. You are too busy
doing business, and so I would like to get married.
Oh, thats a good news! Who is the lucky man? Has he a big bungalow and what does
he do? He must be a doctor, right?
No, father he is a poor, and uneducated man. He sells flowers in a mall.
What! The daughter of mine will marry an uneducated and above all a flowers seller? I
will never allow this!
Im sorry dad, but money is not important to me, and after marriage I will teach him
reading and writing.
You still live in the thoughts of novels. These all are lies written by some foolish writers.
Youd better be realistic. Think about your career and future.
Father, my happiness is with Rahat. I knew you wouldnt like this. Tomorrow, I am
going to marry him in the court.
If you do so, I will not give you a penny from my wealth, and I will disown you. I will not
let you live in this house.
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37
Dont worry, dad. I will not take anything from you, and I will not live here. I just want
you to attend the marriage ceremony.
Not at all. I dont want to see you here anymore. After saying this, he went to his
bedroom. Although angry, her father also felt happy, because he would have a chance
to marry for the second time.
The next day, Rahat and Rani came to the court and tied the knot. On this occasion,
Rani wished that her mother had been alive and seen her as a bride. Rahats mother,
Zulaikha, his younger brother, Adnan, and his sister, Malaika came from Larkana to
attend the marriage ceremony. After few days, Rahat decided to leave Karachi and go
to his native city Larkana. In Larkana we will live a simple and happy life. I will open my
own shop where my younger brother and I will work together and sell flowers.
I will live with you wherever you say, submitted Rani.
After a week, they had come to Larkana. Welcome, this is your house. Oh how lovely!
Now I have two daughters, Rahats mother spouted in joy.
At night, Rahat said to Rani, I dont know whether you will get any sleep on the cot or
not because you are used to sleeping on the bed.
Rahat, in fact, I feel more comfort here on this cot and in this house. Here I have your
love and your familys love. I feel I have got my mother and siblings. Now, I will not feel
alone. I will sleep well on this cot.
Thank you, Rani for coming into my life. I am so happy, too. You have brought
happiness into our lives.
Rahat, why did you not go to school? she asked.
When I was in grade six, my father had died of cancer. At that time, I left school and
helped my mother to earn money to keep the house going. Would you teach me reading
and writing?
Oh, you took the words out of my mouth! said Rani.
With Rahat and his family, Rani was happier than she was with her father and that big
house. In the evening, she had started teaching English and computer skills to the
children in their neighborhood. She had a good heart which found happiness in giving
and receiving love, not in collecting wealth. Indeed, that happiness is the real
happiness.
What do you think is real success? Do you measure ones success in terms of wealth,
skills, character, or a good and simple happy life?
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38

The sounds of thunder, lightning, and wind frightened Rozina. She was afraid that the roof of
her old room, which was the only room in her house, would fall down. That night she didnt sleep
at all. While singing her two young ones a lullaby and asking God to stop the rain, she kept
saying Allah Samad, Allah Samad.
The rain was getting heavier and heavier. The roof started leaking. When drops of water fell on
the fragile cheeks of young Rossy, she woke up. Four-year-old Rossy said, Mama, is water
coming into the room?
No, no, sweetie. You sleep. The rain is going to stop. Soon after she said that, drops fell on
Rahi's head. The ten-year-old boy said, Mama, I am getting wet!
Okay, lets sit in the corner, said the poor mother.
Mama, isnt it leaking there? Rossy asked.
I hope not, she said mildly. She tried to make the situation look easy by using simple and short
words. After a while the roof leaked in the corner, too. Troubled Rozina kept changing places
and corners, but the weak roof could no longer stop leaking. The merciless rain grew wilder and
wilder making the situation worse.
The rain is so strong. I am afraid of it, Rossy said to Rahi.
Me too, Rahi added.
Look - everything is going to be fine by morning. It is just a light rain, the mother comforted
them. After a few minutes, one of the beams in the roof cracked. The sound indicated that the
beam was going to break in the middle. Hurry up, children, we need to get out of the room as
soon as possible. The roof is going to fall, Rozina shouted. The three of them ran out in the
rain.
Oh no, my doll! I dont want her to be smashed under the roof! Rossy exclaimed and pulled
her hand from her mothers. She ran into the room to get her doll.
"No, Rossy, don't! Don't go inside!" her mother shouted. Rossy resolutely entered the room. At
that very second the whole roof fell down.
Rozina and Rahi cried out loud for help, but no one came to them in that merciless rain. Little
Rossy, who just wanted to get her doll, never returned. Last year Rozina lost her husband,
Rabel, who drowned in a river. He was a fisherman. Poor widows wounds hadn't even healed
enough before she lost her little daughter.
Thousands of people in the world suffer from poverty, unemployment and hunger. They look for
a good shelter, food and strive to make a living. Isn't it our responsibility to look after these poor,
unfortunate people? Let's play our part and be good human beings who love and care for each
other.
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39

Chapter 1
Financial problems can lead men down paths they never anticipated. The eighty-nineyear old Umeda faced the torment of loneliness and longing for her family, when her
offspring left their native village, Akil, in pursuit of better wages.
It was evening time. Umeda was sewing a quilt sitting on her cot, when her grandson,
Amir, returned home from the city. He said to his parents, It was so hot. I was barely
able to sell twenty newspapers today.
His father, Rustam replied, It is no problem. We have enough money to buy the food
we need for the night.
His grandmother, Umeda added, If you need money, I have some. I sold the quilt which
I had made a few days before. Amir approached her and hugged her.
Oh nanny, my old friend, you are very handy, said Amir.
Umeda said, I have always been at your service! While they were talking, her elder
grandson, Wazir, entered the room. He was angry and tense.
Is everything all right? You look worried, observed his father.
I am sick of this village. Whatever money I earn, I spend half of it on van fare when I go
to the city and come back. Why dont we leave this village? Wazir asked them.
His mother Mominat said, We are living happily here and it is our native village. We
have lived here for ages. We cant leave it.
If you cant, I will leave it, said Wazir.
Umeda had six grandsons. Wazir convinced four of them to leave the village and move
to the city of Larkana. Umedas son Rustam had no choice but to accept what his sons
wanted. So he said to them, We all will go together and we will leave the village.
They thought that in the city they would earn a lot and that they would also save more.
Umedas family decided to sell the village house and buy a new house in the city.
Umeda was upset. It was appalling for her to see the house, which she had built with
her own money, being sold. She was not willing to sell it.
Umeda had three daughters; one of them lived in the village and the other two lived in
the city. She thought if she ever wanted, she could come to the village and live at her
daughters house. They sold the big village house and bought a small one in the city on
the road which led to their village. (Read more at: RizwanAhmedMemon.blogspot.com)
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40

In life, we make many decisions. Some for our career, some for our relationships, and
some for our education. Decisions that are carefully made, and considered with
consultation from our elders, parents, or friends, often prove to be right. We sometimes
make quick decisions which, later on, we regret. Rameez had made the quick decision
of getting married, which he regretted later on in his life.
Soon after graduation, Rameez had tied the knot with his cousin, Jugnoo. She had not
attended any school or college. Still she read and wrote in her mother tongue, Sindhi.
Jugnoo and Rameez were engaged to each other since their childhood. After the
marriage, they soon had a son. It was a tradition in many families in rural cities of Sindh
to decide who will be married to whom. This tradition of early engagement had been the
cause of many problems in the province.
Having no proper or consistent source of income, Rameez faced financial problems. He
could barely make four or five thousand rupees a month, which was, by no means
enough. Due to the lack of money, Jugnoo often complained and quarreled with
Rameez. Why did you get married if you are unable to run a house? First, you should
have gotten a job. Because of your quick decision, our child is suffering, too. I could
starve, but I cannot see my three years old in this state, she cried.
Jugnoo, wait, everything will be fine, pleaded Rameez.
That is what youve been saying since the day we got married. I cant wait anymore. I
have to do something for me and my sons futures, Jugnoo stated.
You think I dont love my son? Am I not trying my hardest to find a good job?
See, Rameez. I cant believe your explanations anymore. Tomorrow, I am going to my
parents, and Im taking Rambo with me.
Youre not going anywhere. Please try to understand. Just wait, everything will be all
right, he implored.
Jugnoo was determined to leave the house. With Rameez, she thought that their life
was going to worse, day by day. The next day, as Rameez came home in the evening,
he found a letter hanging on the wall of the bedroom. The letter read, I am sorry,
Rameez. I am going to Karachi with my parents. I will return when you have a good job
and a house of your own. If you ever try to come after me, I will get a divorce. I can take
better care of my son than you, and my parents have enough money for us. You have
nothing to give me. Good bye.
May you always be happy wherever you are. I am an unlucky man, he lamented.
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41
Jugnoo was happy with her parents. Rambo was getting an education, and his
grandparents were delighted to have him. Poor Rameez continued to work in the
factory, and live in that rented house for twenty five years.
By the time Rambo was twenty, he had become a good officer. One day, he said to his
mother, Mom, I want to see my father. I think you made an impulsive decision when
you left him.
I dont know whether hes alive or not, added his mother.
He is our family. How selfish are we, that all this time, we never tried to contact him.
You are right, and it is all my fault, agreed his mother.
Tomorrow, we will go to Larkana and bring him here, said Rambo.
Thus, they decided to visit Rameez. The next day, they left for Larkana.
When Rambo and his mother reached the house, they were surprised to see a new
house, full of decorations. It looked like a bungalow. Jugnoo couldnt believe it when she
saw a beautiful woman coming from the kitchen. It was Rameezs second wife,
Samreen.
Who are you and how did you get in here? Samreen asked them.
You tell us who you are. This is our house, replied Jugnoo. While they were talking,
Rameez returned from his office in his big car.
Rameez, is that you? Jugnoo asked, surprised.
Yes, of course. Who is he?
This is Rambo, our son. Rambo, meet your father.
Oh, my son! How long it has been since I last saw you and held you in my arms. How
tall you have become! he murmured, as Rambo hugged him.
Samreen, she is Jugnoo, my wife, and this is my son.
Hello. I am sorry, I behaved rudely. I didnt know, she apologized to them.
Rameez, how did this happen? How did you build this house? How did you become so
rich?
It is a very simple story. The year after you left me, I got a good job! I didnt try to come
get you, since you had left me. Above all, you left me in my hard times.
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42
Yes. I am very sorry for what I did. But why did you get married?
I am a man. I need a wife at home. Simple!
Jugnoo became so ashamed, and realized that, instead of leaving her husband, she
should have stood by him in those difficult times. Jugnoo had to put up with Samreen.
Rameezs second wife was a lifelong punishment for her impulsive decision.
Jugnoo and Rambo decided to live with Rameez in that house in Larkana. One day,
when Rambo and his father were out for a walk, Rameez said to Rambo, Im sorry I
couldnt give you love like a father should. I am sorry I couldnt buy you gifts when you
were a child. I am sorry I wasnt around when you had missed me. Oh, I wish I could
have seen you grow up. I wish I could have played games with you. Oh, my dear son, I
have always loved you and missed you. When your mother left me, it didnt mean that I
didnt love you. Your mother always quarreled with me. I was between jobs and was
going through tough times. I tried to make your mother understand, but she wouldnt
listen to me at all. One day, when I came home, I found a letter where she threatened to
divorce me if I ever came after you in Karachi. Fights happen between wife and
husband, but when these quarrels grow into big conflicts, the children are affected the
most. I am sorry for all that.
Have you ever made a quick decision in your life that you regretted later on?
What did Jugnoo write in the letter she left for Rameez?
Should Jugnoo have stayed with Rameez? Or was she right to leave him?
Was Rameezs act of marrying another girl right?
What did you learn from this story?
Who are more quick and impulsive men or women?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Rizwans websites:
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43

It was March 3, 2005. I was reading a novel when someone called at the door saying, O Molvi
Bashir wo! I understood who it was by the voice and the name he used while calling. He used
the name of my father. I answered him, Aayo. which means coming in Sindhi. He called two
or three times. His name was Haji Gul, a cobbler who wandered the streets mending the shoes
of the villagers. He asked me if there were any shoes that needed repairing in the house. I went
and brought some shoes that my mother had put aside to be repaired. After he had fixed the
shoes, I asked him, How much money do I owe you? Whatever, any amount, he replied. He
repaired shoes for the villagers and took very little money from them. In his youth he wasn't poor
and mentally unstable. However, he became so when he lost his wife and son.
Even though he knew my father had died many years ago whenever he came over he would
call out my fathers name. I feel like he invoked my father's name deliberately. I felt a kind of
happiness when I heard my fathers name. Perhaps, the cobbler also felt good when he used
the name. My mother had told me that the man was very dear to my father.
The village children often teased Haji Gul. They threw stones at him, so he mostly used to sit
under the trees at Padhro, which was an area near the park in the village. I used to cross that
area when I would come back from school during summer. I often found him lying on the earth
with a palm straw bag under his head as a pillow. He kept thread, needles and other shoe repair
tools in the bag.
In those hot summer days, he found comfort in the dense shadows of the trees. Many times I
wanted to sit with him there and chat, but I never did because of the villagers. My mother often
told me about his life. According to her, he was a prosperous man. He had two sons.
Once he went to Mecca for pilgrimage with his family. His wife went missing during that trip. No
one could find her. The villagers said she had run away with an Arab man. Only God knows
what truly happened, but the loss of his wife was devastating for him. He came back to Pakistan
with his sons. He had barely recovered from the sorrow when one of his young sons was run
over by a donkey cart. His son died. This is when Haji Gul lost his senses.
Since that day, happiness turned its back on Haji Gul. His tears dried. He stopped taking baths,
changing clothes, and talking to others. Under those trees he talked to himself, laughed and
wept.
Eventually I finished my education and after four years I returned home from university. I had
attended university in Jamshoro. For many days I hadnt heard anyone call O Molvi Bashir Wo,
so I asked my mother about Haji Gul. She told me that he had died two years ago.
Still, that call echoes in my ears when I read novels in the morning or during summer evenings.
In life, we are surrounded by many people who have great stories to share. If we look beyond
their faces and deep into their eyes, we can get a sense of their tragedies. If we pay close
attention to their voice, we can feel the pain in their hearts. Instead of making fun of these
people, we should learn from their lives and actions because life can bring difficulties upon any
of us.
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44

I am large, grown up Neem tree, standing on the levee of River Indus in village Akil,
Sindh, Pakistan. I cant really remember who sowed me and when, but people say I was
sown two or three decades ago by a villager. Beside me is a shallow body of water and
next to it there is River Indus. As I am on up on a levee, down it are lovely fields and
some other trees. I am all alone up here.
People often come and rest under me. Specially, cattle herders, people who graze
cattle, like: goatherds, cowherds, shepherds, and buffalo grazers. In addition, people
with their friends come and hang out here under me when it is hot day because they get
fresh air as I am up as if on a hill.
I am strong enough to face the wind and rain. I love sunsets and sunrises. Every day I
start my day with more enthusiasm to provide my service to human beings in the form of
my dense shadow.
Many people in my life have come and gone. One person named Rizwan, has never left
me since he started coming to me. Firstly, he used to come with some friends and hang
out with them by laughing, joking and chatting, but now he comes alone with a pen and
some papers in his pocket. He is quiet and kind. He gently touches me and sometimes
climbs up on me to watch village graveyard and see the world from a distance. I
appreciate his love and company.
I have experienced many aspects of humans lives and have learned a lot about them. I
have seen many people in my life from kind and caring people to merciless hunters and
hardworking woodcutters, anglers, and from rich to poor. It is an honor for me to provide
humans a service of my shadow. I dont know how long I will live still, or when someone
will cut me down. However, I still want to live and benefit human beings.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Respond to the story:
How much do you care for the trees around you?
Have you ever seen a Neem tree? If not, do a Google search about it.
When Mrs. Elsa Kazi (a German poetess) came to Pakistan, she was inspired by the
Neem tree. Mrs. Elsa Kazi wrote a poem about the tree. Have you read it? If not, search
for it online.
How much benefit do humans get form trees?
How many trees have you sowed and cut in your life?
Do you love nature?
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45

I am room number 18 of the Federal hostel at University of Sindh Jamshoro. I am quite wide
and comfortable. I am every year allotted to four new students, so I have chance to meet
different people each year. However, some students live in here for two years as well. I
have two windows one on my front side and other one on my back side. My temperature is
lower than the upstair rooms, since the sun doesnt shine on me. Wind of Jamshoro town
helps me remain cooler. I cant really remember when I was built, but you can guess by this
that University of Sindh was there even before the Independence of Pakistan. University of
Sindh is the second oldest university of Asia.
That was my brief introduction. What should I tell you more about myself? Oh yes, I am
cleaned every day except weekends by an old man. I call him uncle. I have never asked
his name. However, he is a kind hard-worker employee; hes been here for a long time. Let
me also tell you about the students who come and live in me. Well, I become friends with
them in a very short time. I cry for some students when they leave me, while for others I feel
happy when they leave.
One such student named Rizwan Ahmed Memon, for whom I cried, lived in me in his
second year of university. I knew he was a different guy. On his first day he cleaned me,
this is what some students are not willing to do. In his first week, he was alone in the room,
as no other roommate had showed up. Rizwan was a simple, silent, and hardworking
student. Also, he was a sensitive person. In his loneliness, I had often seen tears falling
down from his eyes. He used to miss his friends and family so. He hardly spent any time
with his other roommates and classmates. He lived in his own world. He was in Computer
Science doing his bachelor's degree. He had kept his computer beside my back side
window where he spent several hours on his chair and table studying. He would open the
window and watch the Peepal tree near me, which reminded him of his village trees.
Rizwan would chat with that old uncle, who cleans the rooms, whenever he saw him. In his
free time, he watched movies based on novels and history. In addition, he loved love
stories, and watched many of them. He used to watch those movies when his other
roommates were out. They used to go out for eating while he would just eat at the hostel
canteen. While watching any love story he would cry. In his days of loneliness, I saw him
writing short stories, essays and letters out of homesickness, emotions of loneliness and
being away from his loved ones. From his writings it was obvious he had written some in
past as well, but it was here when he published his first book on the Internet.
Time with him flied. I remember the day when he left me. The new students came in and
said, From now on this will be our room. And they didnt even give him the chance to say
me good-bye. When he left me I felt as if it was just yesterday when he came in me. Even
after leaving me, sometimes he visits me and stands in front of me or goes up on the roof
where he spent his evenings to refresh the past memories. It is his last semester now, in
four months he will graduate and will say good-bye to university forever. I always pray for
him and wish him a happy life after university. Years will pass, and I will miss Rizwan very
much.
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46
I dont have a name to tell you! Since I only lived one hour in this world, my parents
couldnt choose a name for me. I died before they could even decide a name for me. So
I am unnamed!
My mother, who is not educated but innocent, thought I was in her womb for about nine
months. But she was wrong. I was there for seven months, when she was in labor. An
old woman in the village, who looked after pregnant women; came in and said, It looks
like the baby isnt ready yet to come out. Dont worry and take some medicine to relieve
labor pain. My mother underwent ultrasound test, which clearly showed I was a sevenmonth-old fetus. Unfortunately, she was unable to read and she never knew that. My
father, a religious man, couldnt read as well.
My mother was feeling a great pain due to labor, so she went to another woman, who
helped those pregnant women too. There my mother said her, It is nine months that I
am carrying the baby. So, the woman made my mother give birth through an epidural
injection. Then I arrived in this world. I was so weak that I couldnt cry. I was only about
an hour in this world when my breath stopped. I wish I could have lived here longer! Oh
that my parents were aware enough to help me properly so that I would not have died
so soon. It was not hospital where I was born. No proper care for my mother and me!
Thus I lost my life!
My grandparents and my father concluded saying that it was Gods will. They didnt feel
much grief over my death. I was buried soon after my breath stopped!
Every year hundreds of women die during childbirth in Pakistan. Who do you think is
responsible the government, parents, or doctors?
How important do you think education is for every person?
If the babys mother or father were educated, do you think the death of the baby could
have been prevented?
In many hospitals, doctors are careless. They are greedy for money, and they dont
have humanity. What would you say about them?
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47
Charactors:
Rameez = A hardworking, gentle student.
Raheela = A beautiful, hardworking and sensitive girl.
Location: University of Sindh, Jamshoro, Sindh, Pakistan
Act One
Scene One
Rameez, a gentle and hardworking student lived in Akil, Larkana, Sindh, Pakistan. On
Friday, January 1, 2010, Rameez went to University of Sindh Jamshoro for entrance test for
department of Computer Science. That is where his education what he calls bachelor's in
love started.
On his first day in the department, he saw Raheela who was also in Rameez class. They
did not talk to each other untill Raheela's pen stopped working. She asked for pen form her
friend Samreen, but Samreen had no extra pen. Raheela requested Rameez to give her a
pen if he had one extra.
Raheela: Excuse me. Do you have an extra pen I could borrow?
Rameez: Sure! Here you are.
Raheela: Thank you.
Rameez: Youre welcome.
Act One
Scene Two
Their class ended, and Raheela forgot to return the pen. The next day, It was computer lab
class. Rameez was sitting in the front row, so Raheela saw him and remembered that she
had not returned his pen. After the class she met him.
Raheela: Im so sorry. I forgot to return you your pen.
Rammez: Thats okay. Thank you.
Raheela: By the way, Iam Raheela.
Rameez: Iam sorry, too.
Raheela: For what?
Rameez: Im sorry because I forgot to tell you my name yesterday. Im Rameez.
Raheela: Nice to meet you, Rameez.
Rameez: Nice to meet you too. I am sorry, I think I said something wrong. Why should I
have told you my name.
Raheela: It is all right.
(Read the complete story at RizwanAhmedMemon.blogspot.com)
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48

In my ten-year experience of teaching, I have seen many students. From hardworking to
lazy, from young to old. But I had never dealt with blind students.
On February 15th, 2015, after taking my two classes as usual, I came to the teachers
office to take a break. Before long, as I stood up to go home, sir Zahoor, the
administrator of the institute said, Sir, dont go anywhere. You have a third class from
today.
When I entered the class, it was full, with about twenty students. Three were blind:
Salman, Jhangir, and Bilawal. At first I was confused and worried about how I would be
able to teach these blind students. However, after a few days, I felt just as comfortable
with teaching them as I do with normal students. Their life, hard work, and regularity
became not only an inspiration for me but also for the rest of the class.
As the days went by, I learned new things from them. Especially Bilawal, who had
become my role model. His spirit, and the ideas he shared, had such an impact on my
mind and philosophies. His thoughts, so full of life, hope, and enthusiasm gave me
goose bumps.
One day, we had a party in the class. I said to the students, Today were having a
party, so we wont discuss grammar. I want you to tell me more about your lives and
your plans. Let me start by asking you two questions. How was your life in the past?
And are you satisfied with your lives in the present?
Every student answered one by one sharing their past happy and sad experiences.
Bilawal, the blind student replied, Sir, in the past I felt inferior. I spent many years
feeling this way. But as I have grown up, I have realized it is the will of God. And I am
content now with whatever I am and whatever I have. I cannot see the people, but I am
grateful that I can hear them, talk to them. I cannot see the landscapes, but I am
grateful that I can walk on them.
Bilawals optimism and view of life was inspiring for the whole class. I remember once
he told us that he went to the library regularly. I said to him, How do you manage to get
to the library? There is dreadful traffic in Larkana. Arent you afraid of being hit by a
car?
Sir, life and death are in Gods hands. If I didnt go to the library because of the fear of
getting hit, I would not be able to do anything by just sitting at home.
He had a goal to serve humanity. One Eid, I asked them, What did you ask Allah for in
your prayers?
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49
Bilawal answered, Sir, I do not ask for anything from God but to bless me with anything
through which I can help others.
Though Bilawal was a blind student, he had such spirit, plans, and wishes which I hardly
ever find in other students. I have always believed that if you have dreams, you can
make them come true with your struggles and perseverance.
What does Bilawal (the blind student) ask for from God?
Do you consider disabled people inferior to you?
Why was Bilawal not afraid of traffic?
What do you learn from the lives of disabled people?
How do you utilize your life, eyesight, feet, hands, and mind for the betterment of
humanity?
Good health is a precious gift of God. Explain.
What is the authors message to the readers in this story?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Rizwans websites:
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THE REFLECTIONS
50

When you finish your education, your goals in life are changed. You want to employ the
skills youve gained at a university or college and make a good living in your field. In
return for your hard work and investment, you need a good job that pays you well.
Fayaz, a fresh university graduate, was among those hardworking and honest students
who depend only on their skills and knowledge. He, too, like other hardworking
students, struggles to find a job to support his family and himself. Getting a job becomes
even more difficult in a country where there is not much value placed on peoples
degrees, skills, and knowledge.
Fayaz lived in Sindh province of Pakistan where getting a job was not easy thing. There
was hardly any merit to the province. In societies like this, you either must have a good
connection with a political person, a landlord, or a good sum of money through which
you can bribe officers and purchase a job.
In 2013, when Fayaz completed his degree, the trend of nepotism and recommendation
system was common. It has been like that for decades. Any merit to be found was only
in commission exams like FPSC, SPSC, and through NTS tests. That is why he had
resigned to applying for Sindh government positions. He had applied for thousands of
jobs in Sindh government, but they had conducted the tests improperly, and never
announced the results. The government tests were tests only in name and they
distributed the jobs on the bases of nepotism, recommendation, and ministers quotas.
Many officers even sold jobs.
A political party had been dominating the province for years. The government would
advertise their vacancies, and thousands of jobless people would apply, but only those
candidates who had relations with landlords or politicians would ever get in. Many
graduates moved to Karachi, the business hub of the country, to try to find a private
employment. Many others left Sindh and went to Punjab, and some even left the
country and went abroad.
Fayaz would look for job ads in the newspapers and apply. Many times he passed the
written tests, but failed in the interviews. The candidates who pass the written exams
must have the recommendation of someone in the government, like a minister, to get
the job. Once, Fayaz passed the written test and the typing test in FIA, but failed in the
interview. His wife Sara said to him, Why dont you go to the landlord of our village? He
is the minister of education. Hell do something for you.
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51
I dont think he will. He would never want the villagers to be officers. Dont you know
what he told his farmers? He said to them that if he gave the villagers jobs, then who
would look after his fields? It is useless to go to him.
Look, Fayaz. As they say, when in Rome, do as the Romans do. You never go to the
landlord and never cheat on exams. Look at your village students, even they have got
jobs! And you still keep teaching on only chickenfeed!
The students parents have been flattering the landlord for many years, theyve cheated
on the tests. Above all, theyve bribed the clerks. I cannot do this. Id rather be jobless
than do all that.
As you wish, but if I were you, if I could speak English like you, I would do wonders.
You are too foolish. What is the harm in flattering the landlord? Almost everyone in this
village does so.
You want me to make fun of my knowledge, skills, and efforts toward my education? If I
have to go to the landlord, why did I ever go to university? I shouldnt have bothered
with a degree and just flattered the landlord and bribed someone else!
Fayaz believed in hard work paying off -- that sooner or later, a job well done would
always bear fruit. Once, while in the library searching the Internet for jobs, he found the
following literary sketch on a blog, RizwanAhmedMemon.blogspot.com:
In the Search of a Job
by Rizwan Ahmed Memon
Traveling to different cities,
Appearing at different tests and interviews,
A fresh graduate from university-Tried very hard to get a job.
He studied at the library for hours,
And read the job ads in the newspapers.
Hoping to find vacancies, he turned page after page.
Days went by, he kept looking for a job.
Sometimes he passed written tests,

But failed in interviews.
Sometimes his knowledge worked,
But his luck didnt.
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52
Sometimes his spirit

Struggled and dwindled.
Sometimes he collected himself
And kept searching.
He had a belief
That hard work bears fruit,
That the Gods mill grinds slow but sure.
So he tried and tried and tried.
As he was reading the sketch, he felt as if the writer had written it just for him. Oh, yes
Gods mill grinds slow but sure. Perhaps the author of this sketch is also suffering like
me. He must have been through the same situation, he murmured.
He thought for a while that he was not the only candidate with a university degree, that
there were thousands of them. Many could only get jobs by hook or by crook. I want to
be one of those who find work through fair means, he said. Fayaz went home with two
printed ads in his hand.
So you have found some vacancies? asked his wife.
Yea, he said mildly.
What department? And is there any test fee? I mean will you have to pay a challan in
the bank?
Yes. I have to, each post has a test fee of 500. And courier charges will be 220 for
each. In total, 1440.
And what will happen then? No answer as usual?
It is not the Sindh government. They will conduct the tests. I will keep applying. I am
sure one day an appointment letter will come.
You earn 7000 rupees. With that, you spend half of it on ads and couriers and test
fees. Every month we need to take a loan from the neighbors.
I understand. But see, I cant just sit at home like this.
Youd better stop applying and spend all your salary on paying debts.
THE REFLECTIONS
53
Sara, Gods mill grinds slow, but sure.

Oh, then lets see when it grinds for you, replied Sara sarcastically.
Fayaz kept on his struggle. Only the future will tell whether he gets a job or not.
Fayaz applied for the posts he saw in the ads. His wait for a reply about testing ended
after about three months when his friend Mumtaz, who was a shopkeeper, called him
and said, Hey, Fayaz, two letters have arrived for you. One is from Hyderabad and the
second is form Islamabad.
Oh, thank you for telling me. I will take them in half an hour, replied Fayaz. Fayaz gave
his friends shop address, which was a bookstore, as the postal address, and his letters
and slips were sent over.
Fayaz took the letters and opened them. One of them was for the NAB test and second
was for the SPSC. His NAB test was on the 6th of June, 2015, and SPSC test was on
the 16th.
Fayaz got a passing score on the NAB test. A passing score was not enough, however,
because there were many candidates who scored higher than him. Sara said to him,
Fayaz, be wise. Take my advice and go to the landlord this time. The landlord always
says to the villagers, Apply for the posts and then come to me. Fayaz, you apply, but
you dont go to the landlord.
Fayaz listened to Sara silently. He was so disappointed and sad. In the evening, he
went for a walk alone. Where is the problem? In me, my luck or my hard work? he
thought to himself. I am not perfect in every subject. Maybe I am not worthy of the
position. I might not be working hard enough. Should I go to the landlord? he pondered.
While coming back home, he decided that he would go to the landlord for
recommendation.
On the next week, as the landlord returned from Karchi, Fayaz went to meet him at his
bungalow in Larkana. There was a huge crowd, including young people, such as Fayaz,
who were carrying documents and resumes with them.
Everyone kept on waiting for the minister, the landlord, but there was no portent of him
for hours. The poor people just waited, waited, and waited. Fayaz asked one of the
servants, Can you tell where Sahab has gone and when will he return? In Sindhi
language, Sahab is used for a very honorable person.
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54
Brother, Sahab has gone to visit his fields in the village. I cant tell exactly when he will
be back. You can wait with everyone else, replied the servant.
Fayaz was getting tired and bored, so he started talking with a man sitting next to him.
Since when have you been coming to Sahab? asked Fayaz.
It has been almost four years, answered the man.
You are here to get a job, right?
Yes.
What does Sahab tell you?
For two years he had been telling everyone that there was a ban on jobs from Federal
Government. As soon as the ban was lifted, he would give the jobs. Even though there
is no ban now. He just consoles everyone with his words.
Then why do you keep coming back to him? When he doesnt do anything for you.
Sahabs nature is that if one implores for years, then he gives any job. What I have
observed that he is a moody man. In his good mood he has mercy on people. However,
mostly he has no time for poor and jobless people like us. He gives time and jobs to the
people of his own interest.
They both were still talking, when a luxurious car entered with the guards surrounding it.
All people stood up as the minister got out of the car. Greeting people, he raised his
hand and went inside the main gate of his house. The man told Fayaz that Sahab would
get fresh then will come out.
Fayaz felt hungry as he was there all day, and it was also getting late. Despite this, he
did not stop from waiting for the minister like everyone else. Unfortunately, the minister
had fallen asleep in his air-conditioned room. Even so, the poor, compelled people, with
great hopes, still waited for him outside his premises.
Finally, the minister came out. Everyone stood up. Sahab told the crowd in a tad loud
voice, It is getting late. There is still tomorrow. Ill be here, so come tomorrow. After his
announcement, he got into his car and they drove off. In the end, no one talked to him
regarding their concerns.
Fayaz was so surprised at his treatment to the poor men. Feeling exhausted and
disappointed, Fayaz went home. Upon returning, he told Sara his encounter with the
Sahab.
(Read the complete story at RizwanAhmedMemon.blogspot.com)
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55

A true spirit of serving humankind makes one so brave that one fears nothing and nobody.
People who risk their lives and do dangerous work to benefit human beings are real friends of
God and His beloved mortals. Ronak, a social worker, had also put his life at risk. He worked for
womens education in Sindh province of Pakistan, where education was considered something
that spoils girls.
Ronak started his struggle in Larkana. His target was the rural areas of Larkana. He took his
necessary electronics, like a projector, laptop, mobile, and a calculator. He would conduct
seminars at Otaqs (guest rooms in villages where people sit and chat in their free time). He
would raise awareness among villagers about womens rights and their status in Islam.
Ronak reached a village named Dahani, where people were not interested in education at all.
The men would stay at home and make the women do the chores, graze the cattle, work in the
fields, and look after the children. Ronak had never seen this kind of rule anywhere else before.
He wasnt even allowed to enter the village because no strangers could enter the village. He
saw that most of the men wore Sindhi caps and had beards. He couldnt find anyone who could
understand or help him.
He was sad and tired. Around the village were gardens of olives, so he decided to go into a
garden and eat some of the fruit. He plucked some olives and sat under an olive tree to eat and
relax. He saw that some buffaloes were grazing, but there was no one with them.
Hey, who are you? And what are you doing here? asked a woman who was in the top of the
tree under which Ronak was sitting.
Ronak got spooked at first. He looked around, but there wasnt anyone to be seen. The women
threw an olive at him.
Hello! Look up.
Oh, sorry. I am Ronak. I am new in this village.
Go back to wherever you have come from! Strangers are not allowed here. If any man of this
village sees you, he will kill you in the name of honour-killing. He will think that you were chasing
me, and even he might think that there was an affair between us, he will kill me, too.
I am a social worker. I work for the education of girls.
Oh, really? I had a dream in my childhood of getting education, but that didnt come true.
Oh, why?
That is a long story. Well, my name is Roshni. In our tribe girls are not allowed to go to school.
Thats what I have been hearing since my childhood, Roshni said to Ronak.
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56
But I can admit you to school.

I am now too old to go to school.
There is no age limit for learning.
Well, there must be different values in your tribe. Thats very contrary to the rules of this village.
I will have to leave this place before anybody sees me.
Listen, wait a second!
Sorry. I cannot. Roshni left with her buffaloes.
Ronak was facing difficulties in that village. He would go to Larkana where he had reserved a
room in a hotel, and come to Dahani in the morning. It was not so far from the city.
The next day, Ronak came to the same garden to find Roshni. As he approached the garden,
he could hear a sad song in a womans voice.
Weak, powerless creature I am.
He says you were born to work.
My Lord is that true?
I dont think so.
Listening to these sentences sung in a heart-touching voice, Ronak got goose bumps. He
traced the footsteps which led him to the same olive tree under which he met Roshni the day
before. Roshni was sitting on a branch, and there was a cloth she was doing needle work with
and was singing along.
He shattered my dreams.
He snatched my childhood dolls.
And handed over me things
That I couldnt do well.
Ronak didnt disturb her. He sat at a small distance and listened to what she sang.
You have a beautiful voice.
Oh my God! You have come again! What do you want?
I want you to go to school.
You, a stranger, will send me to school?
Yes, I can.
See, I have already told you that if someone finds us talking together, he will kill both of us. You
better leave.
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57
I am afraid of nobody.
Roshni was confused and afraid. She quickly gathered the buffaloes and left the garden.
Everyday, Ronak came to the garden, and tried to talk to Roshni. He somehow motivated her to
attend school.
But it feels very awkward to sit with little children in a class.
You want to get an education, right?
Yes.
So for that, you will have to attend the class.
My family wont approve of it. They didnt allow me to go during my childhood; why would they
do it now?
You are now an adult. You have a right to make your own decisions.
In our tribe, girls do not make any decisions, not even of their own marriage. My father and
brother didnt even ask me whether I was happy or not when they decided my marriage.
However, my husband is a kind man. He cares for me. He is very different from the men in our
tribe. He respects women.
Will he allow you to attend school?
I am sure he will.
Shall I talk to him?
No, it is not appropriate. Maybe he will not like this.
Look, dark is falling, and the buffaloes are moving to the village now. I will meet you tomorrow.
Okay. I will wait for you.
At night, Roshni said to Muhammad Khan, her husband, If we had children - a girl, would you
have allowed her to go to school?
Why do you ask this, Roshni?
I just wanted to know your view about girls education.
My tribes view is my view. Our ancestors never sent the girls to schools. They have always
opposed girls education. Thats the reason there is not any schools in our village.
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58
What is the harm in getting an education? I believe an educated woman can look after her
children very well. Education helps one on every walk of ones life.
You may be right, but I respect the village customs and traditions.
With the passage of time everything changes, and I think it is time for our customs to change.
Saying this Roshni slept.
Muhammad Khan couldnt sleep that night. He thought about the questions Roshni asked him.
He also was sick of the traditions of his village, but he had always remained silent in front of his
father, his uncles, and other elders of his tribe.
The next day, Roshni told Ronak about her husbands view of girls education. Ronak asked,
Would you leave this village and stay in the city with your husband? There you can go to
school.
My husband will not leave his village, replied Roshni.
It sounds like your husband is a rational man. He will understand my point of view if you help
me in meeting with him?
This Friday evening, my husband will sit in the main Otaq of the village. You can meet him
there, but do not mention the fact that weve discussed this and are in agreement.
How can I get into the village?
If anyone stops you and asks who you are and why you have come, tell him that you are an
olive trader and you have come from Quetta to meet with Muhammad Khan for olive deals.
In this way, Ronak met Muhammad Khan, then confessed that he was actually a social worker,
and was told how to enter the village under the guise of being an olive vender. He convinced
him that education is necessary for boys and girls and asked him for his help to raise awareness
in the village.
Brother, I am with you, but it is very difficult to talk about girls education and rights here,
Muhammad Khan said.
Can I arrange a seminar in this Otaq this coming Friday?
I will have to ask the elders.
In the evening, Muhammad Khan talked to his father about the social worker. Now a city boy
will teach us the rules of living life! Muhammad Khans father angrily replied.
Father, he just wants to tell the people about the importance of education?
You know, in this village no one wants education.
Father that is because they have been told that education is something that spoils man. The
people of this village hate western clothes, the English language, and education because they
have always been told wrong concepts about them. Whereas, clothes are clothes; every nation
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59
has their own way of covering the body. In the same way, every nation has their own language,
just as we have our own tongue, Sindhi. Plus if education was a bad thing, the Holy Quran
wouldnt have said that God instructed us to read by using the word Iqra, the first word
revealed to the Prophet.
Your tongue speaks a lot.
Sorry, father. I cannot be a slave to these old-fashioned and useless customs anymore.
If you dislike our ancestors traditions, you do not deserve to live in their village, saying this
Mohammad Khans father went to his bedroom.
Roshni was listening to their conversation behind the door of her room. I know that social
worker, said Roshni to Muhammad Khan.
How do you know him?
Do you trust me?
Yes. I do.
So listen
She told her husband everything about the social worker.
Why dont we leave the village for the sake of the future of our children? I had a dream that
didnt come true, but I want all the dreams of my children to come true. If we remained here, it
seems impossible.
You are right, Roshni. We will leave this village and its customs. We will move to the city
forever. Our elders will never allow us to be independent and liberal here.
Muhammad Khan talked to Ronak, and he helped them find a house in the city. There they lived
happily ever after. Roshni went to school, making her childhood dream come true.
Many people stick to the traditions of their elders for entire duration of their lives. If the customs
are outdated and worthless, one should always change them. If one cannot change them, one
should change oneself.

Do you accept changes quickly or are changes difficult for you? What had changed in
your life recently?
What works have you performed or done to benefit humankind?
What is the message of this story?
Do you stick to your ancestors traditions or do you live life according to your own
beliefs, values, and views?
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60
Author Rizwan Ahmed Memon

In this big world, we all are living in different circumstances. Some of us have
happiness, and some of us have sorrow. Sometimes we enjoy the company of our loved
ones, and at other times our heart burns in the fire of separation from our beloveds. The
wait for our beloveds has its own charms. Sometimes it tortures us, other times it
consoles our heart with the knowledge that one day our beloved will return.
Those of us who face this wait know exactly how hard it is. One such person was Raja,
a young, handsome man, whose classmate, Robina, had gone on summer vacation to
France. They both learned English Literature in Larkana in an institute named TRLCL.
In todays lecture we will discuss Romanticism, said Rizwan, the lecturer. Robina, do
you have any idea what romanticism is? asked the teacher.
Romanticism is a movement in which the authors wrote about nature and the beauty of
their beloveds. They were sick of the smoke of the city. They liked to be alone in the
beautiful valleys, and liked to sit on the banks of the river, and enjoy the beauty of the
natural objects.
Very good, commented the lecturer. Then the teacher continued the lecture. In the first
days of class, Raja and Robina didnt know much about each other. As the days went
by, they started to exchange views about literature, writers and their works. They even
began to go out for a cup of tea together almost every evening. They would sit in Sapna
Hotel, take tea, and chat. Robina read novels of Hardy and Jane Austin to Raja. And
Raja would read poetry of Keats, Shelly and Byron to Robina.
You belong to the Romantic period. Thats what I feel, she commented when Raja
finished reading La Belle Dam sans Merci, by John Keats.
And you seem to belong to the Classical period, replied Raja.
You are right. I believe in reality. I know that emotions break a man; make him feeble.
Maybe, but emotions are what make us do anything. Emotion is the reason you are
here with me.
Is it emotion or fate?
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61
Do you believe in fate?

No, I dont. I believe in free will.
Wasnt our class destined, which led us to meet?
I dont know. I guess it was my choice to attend the class.
Raja and Robina didnt agree on many things. However, they had the tolerance to hear
and value each others ideas and beliefs.
One evening, while they were taking tea at the hotel, Robina said, I am going to France
for a vacation with my family. I will be back in December.
What? No, you cannot! You are kidding, right?
I am not kidding. I am going to France.
See, I have become used to meeting you. And it is not easy for me to live without you.
I am your friend, not your wife that you wouldnt be able to live without, she replied
with laughter.
The news of her sudden departure reached Rajas door through a letter. She promised
to return in December. It was all the same for Robina whether she was with Raja or not,
but it was so hard for Raja to live without her. Sometimes, we attach our hearts to
someone so tightly that when they are detached, they hardly beat.
After Robina left, the class no longer had any charm for Raja. The hotel, the tea didnt
amuse Raja anymore. It was the laughter of Robina, her voice, that had won his heart.
He stopped going to the literature class and the hotel. He waited for her under the trees,
at the bank of the river, and in the streets.
Perhaps I will have to spend my rest of life in her memories now. Raja slowly
whispered to himself as he crushed a dried, yellow leaf, that had fallen from the tree he
was sitting under, in his fist. The dew shows that winter is near; and the date of her
promise to return in December is approaching, but still, there is no sign of her. Autumn
will soon end, but it seems my separation from my friend will be prolonged, Raja
continued.
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62
Raja had written many letters to her, but she hadnt answered any letter. I will write her
the last letter if she doesnt arrive in December, he whispered to himself.
December ended. Robina didnt come.
Dear Robina,
You didnt keep your promise. You didnt come back. Maybe it was your free will. Well,
my crazy heart should now understand that you will never come back. My eyes should
stop watching for you. And my mind should stop thinking about you. I have come to
know that you have started a new life in France. I was a very nave man who quickly fell
in love with you. I will try to forget you as you have forgotten me.
Your friend,
Raja
After the letter, for the rest of his life Raja couldnt forget her. He never married, and
spent his life reading, writing, and teaching literature at The REAL Learning Center
Larkana. Deep in his heart, Raja kept waiting for her all of his life.
Many of us grow so close to someone so quickly that their separation leaves life-long
impact on us.
Have you ever waited for someone or something? Share the feelings that you had when
at that time with the class or write a personal response about that experience.
Are you a sensitive person? Write a response about the positive and negative
characteristics sensitive people have and explain.
Emotions such as love can give people hard times. People who are sensitive have a
fragile heart. Discuss why this is in a group discussion in class.
Whether you are in a relationship or not, practice your English skills and write a letter to
your girlfriend or boyfriend and pour your heart out. Each student should read his or her
letter on the rostrum in class. Don't be shy or nervous.
What other romantic stories have you read? Bring those stories in class tomorrow and
share them with the teacher and classmates.
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63

It was March 25th, 2016. After a long time, Rashid approached his chair and table,
where he used to write. For the past few months he hadnt been able to touch the
notebook on his writing table, owing to his involvement with the classes he used to
teach. That day, he was particularly sad because his close friend, Waqar, had passed
away just the day before. His beloved friend had drowned in the Indus River in his
village, Akil. He was 23 and single. Waqar was swimming with his classmates, when
one of them got into a whirlpool. Waqar managed to get him out of the whirlpool, but he
got himself within it. He sacrificed his life for the friend.
Rashid took his notebook, and cleaned the dust on it with his hand. He grabbed a pen,
held it in his mouth with his teeth and hand, and began to stare at the Neem tree
outside the window. The leaves were inevitably being shed from it. He thought that
these leaves didnt know which of them would fall next. Like those leaves, we humans
also have no idea as to who will perish next. Rashid opened the notebook and
commenced writing.
I had read novels and stories about separation before, but I had never felt it so deeply
until I lost my friend. I feel there is a void that can never be filled. It is a lifelong sorrow
that tends to persist. Every sorrow has its share of intensity. While this intensity does
fade with the passage of time, it is never obliterated completely. Even after decades,
whenever we happen to remember any moment spent with our past friends, we take a
deep sigh without any intention. There is always the grief of separation from our loved
ones that pricks our hearts.
It is painful to write about the friends and loved ones that we have lost. However, one
way through which we can provide succor to our saddened hearts is by recalling the
moments that we had spent together. No doubt, we all have to go back to our Creator,
but the sudden separation of our loved ones really shakes the earth under our feet. I too
lost my friend recently, a friend I had spent a lifetime with a long period of time.
It was 2006 when Waqar met me for the first time. I was in grade 9, whereas he was in
grade 8. He came to my class accompanied by his friend, Muhammad Bukhsh. I have
heard that you are good at English, he said to me. I never knew that he would end up
being my student as well as a very good friend with whom I would spend half of my life!
When I reached grade 10, I had started teaching English. Waqar came to learn English
at my institute. I found him to be a very obedient, helpful, and intelligent student, who
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64
would always score high on the tests due to being regular and punctual. He had
become my pet student. After about eight months, the course had come to an end, and
new students arrived. Occasionally, Waqar used to come and see me. On one of my
birthdays, he brought me a gift early in the morning. This is a very old and torn book,
but whatever it might be, if it is given as a gift, it has its own special value, he said while
offering me the book.
Rashid went on writing and writing. As if he would write for centuries. It was as if all his
pens would cease to write and yet, his memories would not end. Some of his final lines
he wrote were: Physically you are not with me, but you will always remain with me
spiritually in my heart and mind. No matter how long I write about you or talk about
you, your virtue cant be defined in words. Your premature death has not only made me
lonely, but it has made me, in fact, a poor man. Rashid had a history with his friend.
Whenever he went out, his mind would remind him about the times that they sat and
walked in the streets of their village. He couldnt believe that his friend was no more.
Whenever he entered his writing room, he thought of how his friend sat there and read
his stories, helped him with his college work, and how he joked. Whenever Rashid did
anything, the memories of his friend would start occupying his mind.
When our loved ones depart from this world, they take away nothing with them. They
leave everything behind. Lets pray that the soul of Rashids friend may rest in peace
and that Rashids dejected heart may get the strength and patience to survive the
sudden separation from his friend.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Readers Comments:
This short story is a wonderfully touching and captivating portrayal of the core human
emotions: Tenderness, unabated joy, reminiscence and unending sorrow.
The manner in which you successfully encapsulate the tender but painful memories and
genuinely sensitive sensibilities of Rashid in this story without resorting to tried and
tested clichs is truly commendable.
The progress of this story is smooth and engrossingly seamless, never for a moment
allowing readers to take their eyes off the next sentence. A compelling read indeed !
Jason
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65

Village Akil
Larkana, Sindh, Pakistan
June 26, 2013
Dearest Angly,
From the day I saw you, I have tried and wished to write to you, but when I took a
pen and paper, my hand would not move. I dont know why. I remember when I saw you
for the first time. My eyes stopped blinking and my tongue couldnt say a word. I just
kept watching. The world around me had disappeared.
Now that we are engaged, we still cant see each other or talk with each other.
One reason is the conventions of our society, where a boy and girl are not allowed to be
in contact even after they are engaged. However, I dont really think much of these
traditions in which one cannot do what one wants to.
Though we are apart, a thing called trust keeps us together all the time. I have
always missed you. Three years ago I left home and came to the university, and ever
since I have often thought about you. So many girls are around me studying in one
class, but I have always thought about you. In my lonely nights at the hostel, I go up on
the roof and watch the twinkling stars and shining moon. They remind me of you. In my
evenings I have often gone for a walk and seen the sunset, which consoles me with the
knowledge that the days of loneliness and isolation are ending.
After my university, I want to start a new life with you. God willing, everything will
be alright.
Yours forever,
Rizwan
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66
Village Akil
June 16, 2013
Dearest Angly,
It's raining again tonight and the time is 1:48. Everything is fine here except I feel
your absence more deeply. We could have been together long ago, but some people
have been an obstacle in our way. Some say I don't earn anything; others say I won't be
able to deal with the challenges of life. However, I am doing my best, and I'll show
everyone that I can do anything. Hopefully, God will help me as always.
I have done such extraordinary things in a society where hardly anyone does
something. I am attending university which is my highest achievement. I've learned how
to use the computer and I have been studying English. I consider these my
achievements. How can they say I haven't done anything?
Soon I will graduate from university and get you anyhow, so my lonely days will
cease to exist. I'll work hard to earn enough money to make you happy and fulfill your
wishes. I feel sad most of the time without you. People keep hurting me, but I believe
that if you were here with me, all my worries and wounds would disappear.
Forever yours,
Rizwan
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Village Akil
February 14, 2014
Dearest Angly,
It is Valentines Day today, and I had planned that we would get married on this
day, but none of my plans worked out. Half of my family has got separate and has
moved to the city. As you know, we are dependent on our parents when it comes to our
marriage. February passed, leaving us apart.
My family was ready, too, but your father told them to wait until March. Now, my
family has its own problems, so they are not paying any attention to our wedding. What
can we do? All that we can do is wait.
By the way, I brought a rose in the morning and kept it in the book I am reading
nowadays. The rose was as soft as your hands and smelled like your hair. Every time I
looked at it, your face came before my eyes, and the moment when we had seen each
other for the first time came into my mind. I have seen you only few times and have
hardly heard your voice. Oh, Angly, I dont know when we will be together forever, and I
could watch your face for hours and hear your voice.
It is evening now and I am upstairs in my room. Though the rose, which I brought
in the morning, has almost turned dry, it still has that fragrance. I feel the relationship
between the smell and the rose is like our relationship. No matter what condition they
are in, they still cling to each other. Our circumstances keep us apart, but our love will
always be there like the smell of the rose.
Yours ever,
Rizwan
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Village Akil,
February 20, 2014
Dearest Angly,
When a person waits for someone to come, and something to happen, every
moment to him or her seems to have no end. A day looks like a decade, a night like a
century. However, it has really been so long since I saw you.
The New Year has come, and you have still not shown up. The winter has set
out, and the spring has set in, but there is no portent of your coming.
Now, I cant hold back my tears. I am tearing myself into pieces. Your long
absence is killing me. My notebook has no blank paper in it on which I can write more
poems to express my longing. There is an end to everything, but why not to our
separation? I was reading some novels, just to keep myself busy and amuse my heart,
and the novels have ended, but why has this distance between us not ended?
I waited for you, I am waiting, and I will wait, but I now have realized that this
separation, this longing will soon end this waiting and it will take my life. I wont be here
to see you come back because the merciless time is stabbing me so hard in my body
that I cant bear its pain, and it will take my breath out of the body.
If we cant meet in this world, I hope we will meet in the Hereafter, in a perpetual
world. I will wait there for you to come in that world, and finally end this separation.
Yours ever,
Rizwan
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Village Akil,
February 16, 2014
Dearest Angly,
I saw a dream last night. I saw that you and I were up on a peak of a mountain.
You said that if we wanted to be together forever, we would have to enter eternity. You
took my hands into your hands and said, We will surely be together in the paradise,
where time has no end. Then you asked me, Wont you be with me, Rizwan? I kissed
your hands and said I would always be with you.
Down the mountain was a river and we, hand-in-hand, jumped off the mountain.
Suddenly, I woke up! I was shivering. I pulled up my covers, and I was so afraid!
Angly, I dont know what the interpretation of this dream can be. I hope
everything will be all right.
Yours ever,
Rizwan
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Village Akil
February 14, 2014
Dearest Angly,
Today as I came home after my walk, I took a look in the mirror. I noted that I am
getting bald. Also, my hair has started to turn white like an old mans.
Two or three years ago, if I saw any gray hair on my head, I plucked it out just to
look young. When I was sixteen, my face was full of pimples. I hated pimples. They
disturbed and hurt me a lot. Now that I am 22, I dont have pimples, but they made very
tiny holes on my face.
No matter how hard I try to be young, one day I will be old. I hope you will like me
forever because this skin, this hair, and this body are mortal, but my love for you is
immortal. I will love you forever. Well, I think, my body has become stronger than it was,
and as you know I am tall from my childhood, so my height has improved even more.
Five years ago, when I saw you for the first time, you looked as white as snow.
Your delicate hands, your deep eyes, and your silence still occupy my mind. No matter
how you look with the passage of time, I will always love you the same way.
Yours ever,
Rizwan
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71
Village Akil
April 18, 2014
Dearest Angly,
I hope you are all right. Everything has gone wrong here with me. My family is divided.
My elder brother who is in charge of our home now refuses to support our marriage. My
beloved, this is not what I had expected after university. I never imagined my own
brother, who always stood by my side, could do this. He listens a lot to his wife. His wife
is your sister, but I dont know what kind of sister she is since she doesnt care even for
you. She has turned my brother against us. They both are now of the same nature.
They are doing an injustice to us.
Well, Angly, I am broken and I have scratches and wounds on my heart. You must be
feeling the same after learning all this, but I still have not lost my hope. Someday we will
be together. Pray that God may give me strength and comfort.
I have not written to you for more than two months because a lot is going through my
mind. I have also started teaching in the city at a private computer center. They pay me
less, and the principal is very rude and bad-mouthed. He keeps saying bad words not
only to teachers, but also to students. He is very proud, and he abuses everyone. Well, I
keep ignoring him and his words. I have to do something to survive and to collect some
money for our wedding.
I now understand a lot about the world and people. Time has taught me that no matter
who it may be, if he or she has no feelings he or she will not care for anybody. It can be
even a brother or a sister.
I will write to you soon again, and I will tell you more about my situation. Stay calm and
dont take these problems seriously. My mind remains occupied by these things.
However, I am trying to get all this out of my mind. Pray that the hard times may end
soon and the fine times may come.
Yours forever,
Rizwan
THE REFLECTIONS
72
Village Akil
April 19, 2014
Dearest Angly,
It is time harvest. Fields look yellow and the evening is beautiful. I am sitting in the fields
with the yellowish wheat around me. I am typing this letter on my laptop! Yes, I have
bought a new laptop. I have a salary at the center where I teach. It wasnt enough, but
my mothers pension helped me in buying the laptop.
My brother used to use my mothers pension for the expenses of the house. Since he
has become independent, my mother gives me that money. There are many problems
going in my life, but I have to go on. The laptop has given me mobility and increased my
creative writing. Whenever I get any good idea for a poem or story, I just turn on the
laptop and start writing.
I once wanted to be an actor. However, I didnt pursued this goal well. As I grew up, I
realized that I am a writer. I remember I had interest in literature from my childhood.
Well, here in Pakistan a writer cant make money by writing. People criticize me for
writing saying you get nothing out of it, and it is nothing but waste of time. Anyway, I
dont write to be paid. I hope you will like my imagination when you will read my works.
I run a blog. Its address is RizwanAhmedMemon.blogspot.com. I know you dont know
what a blog is and cannot access it, but I will tell you these things after our marriage.
You know, I want you to learn English and computer skills after our marriage. I love you
even though you cannot speak English or use computer. I will always love you the same
way even after the marriage. No matter whether you learn English or not.
I will help you learn them if you want to. I hope we will be together soon.
Yours always,
Rizwan
THE REFLECTIONS
73
Village Akil
April 24, 2014
Dearest Angly,
I have a good news! Guess what? Yesterday your father phoned my brothers and told
them to come over. He discussed our marriage and told them to choose the wedding
date! Today my family is going to meet with them to decide on the wedding date! It is a
miracle. All of sudden everything is all right! I am glad we are going to meet next month!
All our waiting is going to end. Our patience will be rewarded. If we admit it, there has
never been any spiritual distance between us. We were always together in memory and
longing. I am thankful to God our physical separation is ending, too. Now I will have the
chance to watch you for hours and chat with you. That is true happiness for me.
I love you, Angly. We are going to meet soon!
Yours forever,
Rizwan
THE REFLECTIONS
74
Village Akil
April 26, 2014
Dearest Angly,
What can be better news than to hear that our wedding date has been decided! I know
you know our wedding date because it was decided at your home. We are going to
marry on the 17th of May!
Eventually, everything turned out right. Our separation, our longing to meet, and our
waiting are going to end. Oh Angly, it feels like I waited, we waited, for centuries! I
sometimes think in waiting, too, there was happiness and joy. A hope to meet you kept
me always alive and active.
They say when something that we want to achieve is achieved, then its charm remains
no more. I dont believe in this. My love increases for you every day. Even with my
friends, I have noticed that my love, my respect for them never ends, but rather it
multiplies each day.
Lets pray to God that our new chapter of life may bring joy and happiness. Lets pray
that the sorrow and separation may never come in our way. Lets pray that we may
have sober, considerate, and respectful offspring. Lets pray that we may prove to be
one of the best couples in the world.
With all these best prayers and a very warm I love you, I am ending this letter.
Yours always,
Rizwan
THE REFLECTIONS
75
Village Akil
April 27, 2014
Dearest Angly,
When my brother refused to support our marriage, I was very angry at first and couldnt bear
that injustice. I started to raise my voice against the injustice through some violent ways. Then I
realized that kind of harsh talk was only adding to the anger and conflict. Then I tried to
convince my brother through peaceful, thought-provoking, and civilized protest.
No matter how happy a man can look outwardly, he or she can never be happy inwardly when
he or she is doing any injustice to someone. We, the humans, have conscience which keeps us
human. A sense of right and wrong can keep oneself aware of his or her deeds. Man can get
greedy and do some injustice to others, but he or she will never have inner peace after
deceiving and exploiting others. I am very big fan of Martin Luther King, Gandhi, and Nelson
Mandela. They always supported nonviolent protest for their rights.
I started to right about injustice. I shared quotes of Gandhi on social media which reached my
brother, my friends, and the whole world. Gandhis words if read carefully, can shake ones mind
and heart. Gandhis ideas helped me a lot. Through all this my brothers conscience was day by
day making him feel bad inwardly. It gave him the sense of wrongdoing. He realized that he was
snatching someones rights and happiness, and that being an elder brother and in charge of the
home, he was supposed to help us. Though I made some share of mistakes, he never held it
against me. Because whatever I did was a reaction to his injustice to me.
Well, Angly, mostly I forgive and forget everything wrong that someone does to me. He is my
own brother, and I forgive and forget whatever he did. He has always been supportive of me. I
am thankful to him.
By the way, I will miss writing these letters to you! How will I write letters to you when we are
together? I will find some way through which we may continue our letters.
Yours forever,
Rizwan
THE REFLECTIONS
76
Village Akil
Larkana, Sindh Pakistan
May 2, 2014
Dearest Angly,
It is evening, and I am out for a walk again. It is a little windy today. The old Neem tree,
under which I have often sat when I have missed you and where I have often written
stories and poems, is beside me, and I am writing this letter on my laptop. Today as I
was coming home from the work, one thing came into my mind. I thought about my
income.
I know my income is less than what we hoped for. I am working as a private teacher.
Any time I can lose my job. These things made me scared for a while, but as I looked
around me, I saw many people working on the streets. I thought about them and
realized that their jobs are also temporary. They dont have the government jobs, and
their income must be insufficient. They all are working just as laborers. Despite all that, I
saw that they all were happy in their lives.
By the time I reached home, I decided that I would never be worried about my income
or money. I realized that it is someone else who runs this world, and it is God and He
has got the responsibility of providing the sustenance to all humans on the earth.
Well, keeping that in my mind, I also realized that God helps those who help
themselves. I will not just sit at home. I will work and incorporate my all energy to make
enough money for our survival. No doubt money is important for our lives, but I feel
there are things more important than money. One should not dedicate ones life just to
making money. If all essential needs of humans are fulfilled, they will concentrate on
something different and important.
By the way, a few days are left until our wedding. I am all prepared. I am mentally
relaxed and ready to get married and take on the responsibilities. I feel I have done all
the necessary things that I had to do in my bachelor life. For instance, completing my
education and getting proper skills. I feel that whatever bachelor life I had to live, I have
lived. I am ready to get married.
THE REFLECTIONS
77
One more thing I have realized in my life is that sometimes things dont happen
according to our plans. All we can do is just try our best.
Angly, this might be the last letter of our unmarried days! All the letters I have written to
you, I have on my computer. One day these letters will serve as a guide to many people
in their lives. I believe that one should not keep things secret because there is no use of
keeping secrets and letting them die with us. Also, I believe someday every secret on
the earth will be revealed. These letters are not to be secrets. I publish them on my blog
and let people know our love story.
See you soon, Angly.
Yours forever,
Rizwan
THE REFLECTIONS
78
Village Akil
June 13, 2014
Dearest Angly,
How are you? How is your family? It is going to be a month since we got married!
Yesterday when you went to visit your parents, I kept thinking about when you will
return. Since the day you came in my life, my life has been filled with colors.
I still remember when I was in university away from my home. I hardly ever
laughed. Now you have come in my life and I am back in my homeland, so there is
always a smile on my face. Being away from you and my homeland was painful.
When I used to come home on holidays and meet my family, I couldnt hold back
my tears. I used to burst into tears when my mother hugged me. Oh Angly, gone are
those days of separation and distance.
Angly, the love you have given me is precious and unforgettable. My poems
show how highly I value you and your love. Sometimes I feel my poems cannot show
the extent of your worth. If I used all the words of all the dictionaries in the world, still
your worth could not be defined. My words are weak and they dont come easily. Your
beauty, your soft voice, your tender touch, your innocent face, your purity of thought
inspires me to write about love.
Today after many days, I went for a long walk to the river. Suddenly a heavy wind
started to blow. Dust and sand mixed up in the air and nothing could be seen. Dust was
all around. I closed my eyes, put hands on my ears, and stopped along the way on the
levee. I waited until the wind died down, and then I went to the riverbank and sat there
for a long time. The wind started to blow again!
The waves were so high. As if the River Indus were an ocean! Your memory
started to flash, your voice started to echo, and I felt you were just sitting with me there
THE REFLECTIONS
79
on the bank. My thoughts flashed back to the first time we saw each other, and the day
we got engaged. How strange this might be to many people that even though we were
engaged, we never talked on phone and never met for almost five years because of our
religious and family customs.
When I came home, it was almost night. I was out for a long time. When you are
at home, I dont go out for that long now! And when you go to visit your parents, I feel
my time stands still!
Angly, I am so happy with you. Thank you for coming in my life. I will come to get
you after your brothers marriage. Enjoy the time with your family and relatives. Soon I
will come over to see you.
Yours always,
Rizwan
THE REFLECTIONS
80
Village Akil
June 17, 2014
Dearest Angly,
Two days ago when I came to see you at your parents house, I felt as if I were
going to see you for the first time. My heart was beating a little quicker, and I couldnt
wait to see you. I noticed in your eyes that you, too, were so happy to see me. The way
you held my hands made me feel you missed me so much. If two or three days of being
away from each other brings more love in our hearts, sometimes we should be parted.
They say absence makes the heart grow fonder.
Yesterday was May 16. It has been a month now since we got married. Life is a
dream, isnt it? Angly, days will pass, months will pass, years will pass, but my love for
you will be the same forever. My body with the passage of time can grow weaker, but
my love will never be affected. The love that I have for you is not based on temporary
emotions. Sometimes when I read the other letters that I have written to you on my blog,
I feel our love will always be in the world, and people will know and appreciate our love
through these letters and be healed by it. My love is endless for you.
Yours forever,
Rizwan
THE REFLECTIONS
81
That makes my day.

When there are clouds in the sky,

Water in the pond,
Wind from the north,
Your hand in my hand,
That makes my day.
When there is a smile on your
face,
Bangles around your wrist,
Earrings in your ears,
A ring on your finger,
That makes my day.
When there are flowers in the

fields,
Due on the grass,
Your fragrance around me,
That makes my day.
When there are leaves on the
ground,
Your presence under the tree,
Shadows all around,
That makes my day.
When there are waves in the river,

Your footprints on the bank,
Your books in the boat,
When there are two cups of tea on

the table,
Your face to watch,
Your voice to hear,
That makes my day.
THE REFLECTIONS
82
I have a peaceful world;

Because I have simplicity and silence.
Because I have fewer friends.
I depend on no one but myself;
This way I save myself from hurt.
Because I have fewer wishes, hopes and plans.
Loneliness keeps me away
From the turmoil of other people.
Because I have peaceful friends, like nature herself.
Countryside colors fill my life;
I am away from the noise of the city.
Because birds sing songs here.
The quiet of the night provides nice slumber;
In the day, I write poetry under the shadows of the trees.
Because I have fewer possessions.
I hope my grave and never-ending world
Will be peaceful, too.
I make something for the Hereafter;
Because this peaceful world is temporary.
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83
The ways they all

Would be desolate.
Please dont go.

After you my life
Wont be the same.
When I think of
The nights without you,
They seem to be long
And the days empty.
Without you the walks,
The river, the trees
With you I live

Every moment
Of my life.
And if you go,
My life would come to an end;
The heart, the pulses
Would stop.
Please dont go.
After you the life
Wont be the same.
He was forced to be silent.
Some are taught to be tolerant.
Some become tolerant.
He was made tolerant by time.

Some are cheated by friends.
Some are cheated by strangers.
He was cheated by his loved ones.
Some are born silent.
Some choose to be silent.
Some are taught to be immoral.

Some choose to be immoral.
He was forced to be immoral.
The injustices of the world
Made him what he is;
Otherwise, he would not be what he is.
THE REFLECTIONS
You are safe

In my arms.
Neither any sorrow,
Nor any agony
Can touch you.
You are safe
In my arms.
The changing days
Of your life
Can bring storms
Rains, and winds,
But you need
Not worry because
You are safe
In my arms.
Heat of summer
Cold of winter
84
Cannot affect you

You are safe
In my arms.
No matter how
High the waves
Of the ocean
May be,
They can never
Reach you because
You are safe
In my arms.
I will surpass
Any mountain,
Any agony,
To keep you safe
In my arms.
Because I am
Your partner.
Stay safe forever
In my arms.
THE REFLECTIONS
85
Are not mere words.

The words
On the paper
Are not mere
Words.
A story of love,
Are not just words.
Voices of silent people
You will hear
When you read
The words on the paper.
You will know
The oppressor
And the innocent
The Waves of the ocean-And the sand of the desert

You will feel
If you read,
Lies and realities
Will surprise you
If you go through
The words
On the paper
Are not mere
Words.
A story of love,
Are not just words.
Gone are the days

When we hand in hand,
Went for walks;
And sat on the river bank.
At the time of twilight,
We saw the flocks of birds,
Flying to their nests,

And we dreamt of our little home.
I don't know
Where she has suddenly gone.
There is nobody at the river now,
Those walks are no more,
That life has ended.
Those times are gone now.
I cannot find her;
She has gone away, so away.
THE REFLECTIONS
Things change,
Men change,
With the passage of time.
Sometimes become good,
sometimes bad.
Some reach adulthood form
childhood,
Some reach old age from
adulthood.
Changes come in every thing
86
Some crops are harvested,

And some fields are plowed.
This game, this business goes on
Some students pass out,
Some come for admissions.
We have come,
And we will be gone.
This way the system goes on
Days have come and gone,
Nights have come and gone.
Some friends leave,

And some new come.
Some trees are cut,
Some seeds are sowed.
Some men die,
Some are born.
Some goals are achieved,
Some goals are made.
Some wounds are healed,
Some are caused.
At some places sun sets,
And at some places it rises.
THE REFLECTIONS
87
High spirits
Make you do anything.
Pure thoughts
Give you fine feelings.
High hopes
Breathe soul in your body.
Clear goals
Provide you a compass.
Good books
Bring you guidance
Good teachers
Educate you.
Good health
Is your true wealth.
Good friends
Bring more life in your life.
Old mistakes
Make you cautious in your present.
Past regrets
Waste your time.
Just move ahead
Experiencing,
Living,
And learning.
THE REFLECTIONS
88

A smile
Can bring
Happiness.
A word
Can heal
Wounds.
Faster than waves,

Stronger than winds,
Severe than storms,
Time is what we cannot predict.
Better than tutor,
More practical than lab experiment,
More meaningful than money,
Time is what we need.
A touch
Can give
Life.
A flame
Can remove
Darkness.
A prayer
Can change
Fate.
One thing
With love
Is enough.
THE REFLECTIONS
Why do you
Keep tantalizing me?
This rudeness, this coldness
Causes me great pain.
And it breaks my heart.
Why do you
Not understand
The love I have for you?
The oceans can dry,
The mountains can fall down,
But my love can never decrease
for you.
So, please do not keep me apart.
Why do you not believe
When they tell you
89
That you have found the love

Which everyone is searching for.
An endless love, true in all ways,
Pure and perfect.
Wasn't I the one
Who you had waited for?
If I show you my valley,

You will like it more than any.
Trees, ponds, and rivers are its
beauty.
Birds sing songs in flowery fields.
You will like it more than any.
Trees, ponds, and rivers are its
beauty.
THE REFLECTIONS
90
I go to work daily
Because I have to
Bring home the bacon.
I have reached the age of responsibilities.
There were days
When someone did this for me.
I just played and went to school,
But now I have reached the age for working myself.
I do not have time for going out,
For swimming in the river,
For playing on the street,
Now I just work and work.
I still remember I went to the river,
And sat under the tall Neem tree.
The dense shadows gave me peace and comfort.
Now I have left the tree, the shadows, and the river.
I wish I could have enjoyed more
My childhood, my days of freedom.
I face this age of responsibilities happily
Because it is inevitable. Everyone will have it.
THE REFLECTIONS
91
I cannot deny
Her care for me.
I cannot forget
Her love for me.
She is my support;
She is my friend.
She is my night;
She is my morning.
She makes my meal;
She makes me tea.
She washes my clothes;
She irons my dresses.
She listens to my stories of
sorrows;
She encourages and helps.
She has endless love for me;
She breathes for me;
She fights for me.
She is my source of inspiration,
Source of learning true love.
She has made me a gentle man;
She is my life partner, my wife.
It's as if my heart stops beating

When I am away from you.
Silence prevails all around
Nights seem to have no end,
Stars refuse to twinkle,
And moon shines no more
Words cannot define
How I feel
Every evening brings pain,
Every night I endure suffering,
And every day seems a century
My eyes are addicted to the sight
of you.
Without you around me I feel
dead,
And life seems useless
Now comeback, my sweetheart;
Before our separation takes my
life.
THE REFLECTIONS
If I am a dream,
She is my reality.
If I am words,
She is my meaning.
If I am an ocean,
She is my waves.
If I am a desert,
She is my sand.
If I am lyrics,
She is my music.
If I am a body,
She is my soul.
If I am a tree,
She is my leaves.
If I am night,
She is my stars.
If I am a shepherd,
She is my herd.
If I am a poet,
She is my poetry.
92
If I am a heart,
She is my heartbeat.
If I am a groom,
She is my bride.
By Rizwan Ahmed Memon
You hide me in your arms

When it is cold.
Your long chats
Make winters nights short.
Your tender touch
Nourishes my dried skin.
With my kiss your moles on your
face
Have become bright like stars.
Slumberous wind shakes
Your hair as branches sway.
The winter, you, and I
Have made a perfect ecosystem.
THE REFLECTIONS
Your support was

The true fort.
Through which I fought
And got all that I sought.
Feelings, good and bad;

Words, weak and strong;
Times, tough and easy -They all are parts of life.
With your prayers

All the arrows of the enemies
Missed in the airs.
And God did wonders.
Friends, faithful and unfaithful;

People, kind and unkind;
Seasons, severe and fine -They all are parts of life.
My mother, when you are together,

Why I ask for prayer form other.
Mother, I know, if all the world turns against,
You will still be there.
Raise voice against injustice
This is what you have taught.
Happiness in my life you have brought.
With your love, I live my life to the fullest.
93
Tears of happiness and sorrow;

Ages, from childhood to old age;
Goals, achieved and unachieved -They all are parts of life.
Mistakes, minor and major;
Regrets, open and hidden;
Memories, happy and sad -They all are parts of life.
Wishes, positive and negative;
Fears, little and big;
Hopes, high and low -They all are parts of life.
THE REFLECTIONS
94

You wanted to make me yours;

I wanted to make you mine.
You are alone there;
I am alone here.
Oh, my love, this world
Will never let us be one;
It is time to leave this world.
May ones beloved

Not go away from one.
May one not face isolation;
Torment of love takes
One to lifes ultimate end;
May one not have that end
In prime of ones life.
She believed his all the lies;

And hid her all the cries.
Her true love for him was a surprise;
He never paid the price.
He had no love in eyes;
Yet she tried his love might rise.
Useless were her tries;
He never cared in all of his life.
THE REFLECTIONS
95
When Mr. Sanu looked back on his past,

He got lost in thought,
And he repented a lot -The time he had wasted, the mistakes he had made.
I saw a new hope in him in every moment,
But what he said he'd do, he never did.
So he regretted many things -The money he had wasted, the kind of friends he had made.
He thought of his classmates,
How they had developed before his very eyes.
He became astonished -By the progress they had made, the success they had achieved.
Sometimes he thought it was luck;
Other times he blamed his laziness
And regretted many things -The times he had rested, the time he had wasted.
In life he wanted to do a lot,
But procrastination was his fault,
So he repented a lot -The plans he had canceled, the goals he had abandoned.
He could never build up his confidence;
So all of his life he stayed back, never took any risks, never dared.
At the end of the day he regretted many things
The chances he had missed, the opportunities he had lost.
THE REFLECTIONS
Words make us happy;

Words make us sad.
They hurt;
They heal.
96
Words create peace;

Words bring rage.
They soothe;
They annoy.
Words express emotions;

Words hide the deepest wounds.
They show;
They suppress.
In every moment you will miss me,

After my death.
Your eyes will flow like a river,
After my death.
In my life you never spent much
time with me,
But you will spend rest of your life
in my recollection,
After my death.
In every moment you will miss me,
After my death.
Words make us realize the truth;

Words make us lose the right
track.
They beguile;
They guide.
THE REFLECTIONS
97
Sleep. Sleep. Sleep.

Sensitive, smart, my simple friend, sleep.
Sorrow snatches smile,
So slumber swiftly.
Sing such a song
That sinks you in the sea of sweet dreams.
Then shifts you to the sand.
Stay safe. Oh, my sweetheart, save your life.
Friendship, when relation breaks,

Remains in the hearts;
Hurts, when friends are strangers,
Life becomes empty, but goes on.
Friends, leave memories when they are gone;
Their voices, laughs echo in the ears.
Regrets, wishes, reside in the minds,
Till we are gone, too.
THE REFLECTIONS
98
When the wind blew in December,

I missed you.
When the night seemed to have no end in December,
I wished you were here.
When it was evening in December,
I wanted to take you for a walk.
When I needed you desperately in December,
I sat on the bank of the river and longed for you.
When I couldnt have your company in December,
I pitied my own misfortune.
When loneliness hurt me in December,
I amused my heart by writing.
One more year passed in December-I am still waiting for you.
THE REFLECTIONS
99
I called her my fairy.

She smiled at me and I felt merry.
I asked her where she had come from.

With her smiling face she replied
From the fairies world in the heavens.
I asked her who she had come for.
In soft voice she replied
I was the one she sought.
I inquired her whether she would be with me for good.

She said she had to go back.
I asked why the separation after coming in my life.
I told her it was not right,
She should stay with me on the earth,
Or take me with her to the fairies world.
She agreed that she would take me to the fairies world.

And would be with me forever.
THE REFLECTIONS
100
--- Rizwan Ahmed Memon

Wind blows, clouds gather
Lets make a world

Where no worries can enter.
Lets make a nest
When she smiles.

Flowers bloom, fragrance spreads
When she smiles.
Which no wind can break.

Lets make a garden
Wounds heal, fears drown
Where flowers of love can bloom.
When she smiles.
Lets go somewhere
Dreams come true, plans work
Where time can never end,
When she smiles.
Where we can remain young

forever,
And make endless love.
Life fills with colors, everything has

charm
When she smiles.
Fate changes, prayers are heard
My dream girl speaks softly
When she smiles.
My dream girl speaks softly, gently
The sun rises, the night falls
Speaks softly, gently, slowly
When she smiles.
Softly, gently, slowly, mildly.
Stars twinkle, moon shines
When she comes in my dream.
When she smiles.
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101

In May the summer
I married a marvelous maiden.
Bright was her face
Pink were her cheeks.
Red were her lips

Deep were her eyes;
Little were her hands
Light were her feet.
Long were her hair

Fine was her figure;
Dense were her eyelashes
Silent was she.
Spoke she slowly

Smiled she gently;
In May the summer
I married a marvelous maiden.
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102

As I lay down
On the pillows
Of her soft arms,
I fell fast asleep.
I saw paradise
In my dream
And we were flying with Angels.
The leader of all angles
Brought two crowns,
And he put them on our heads.
As I slept
On the pillows
Of her soft arms,
I felt a lovely fragrance.
A gentle breeze
Kept blowing.
When I woke up,
The world had come to an end,
And I had reached eternity.
THE REFLECTIONS
103

The summer nights
When we met
Were the nights
Of endless pleasure.
Sometimes the moon shined;
Sometimes it hid in the clouds.
Sometimes stars twinkled;
Sometimes they disappeared.
Sometimes a cuckoo sang;
Sometimes a firebird flew.
Sometimes the wind blew;
Sometimes it rained.
The summer nights
When we met
Were the nights
Of endless pleasure.
Sometimes she hugged me;
Sometimes she kissed.
Sometimes she whispered in my ear;
Sometimes she only looked at me.
Sometimes she slept;
Sometimes she lay awake.
Sometimes she held my hands;
Sometimes she let them go.
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She quenched my all thirst

When I sat in the shadows of her long hair.
Her soft whispers lulled me to sleep
Moles on her cheek began to twinkle

Fragrance permeated all around
Her tender touch healed my all wounds

She purified my soul and my body
She gave me life and love that has no end

Rains of happiness began and all fears were drowned
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We met in the moonlight of May.
A cuckoo sang a melodious song to make our night romantic.
The moles on her cheek were dim like stars around the moon.
Her bright, soft, velvety, snow-like face kept me awake all night long.
On that night suddenly I got lost in the forest of her long hair.
Then she whispered the way in my ear.
She put her light hands in my hands and brought me back.
She hugged me and promised to stay with me forever.
My bride is simple
My bride is simple, pure
Is simple, pure, innocent
Simple, pure, innocent, Pakistani
Girl.
THE REFLECTIONS
You are a dense shadow of a

Neem tree
The river seems still
On a hot summer day.

You are a rain of blessing
On my hearts desert Thar.
You are waves of life
On the bank of my souls Indus.
You are a bandage of healing
On the wounds of my body.
You are a compass
106
Without your presence.

The bank seems gloomy
Without your footprints.
The boat seems unsafe
Without your touch.
The journey seems empty
Without your company.
The levee seems like a graveyard
Without your walk.
On the voyage of my life.
Good-bye to bachelor life
Amazing
Hello to married life
Lovely
Good-by to long, lonely nights
Beautiful
Hello to beautiful, lovely, nights
Simple
She has come, come, come.
Pure
Innocent
Is my Angly, Angly, Angly.
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Please do tell her
That the summer has come back,
The river has started flowing,
The boats, the birds have come back,
And that I have been looking forward to her arrival.
Please do tell her
That the rains have come back,
The wind has started bellowing,
The flowers have bloomed,
And that I have been thinking about her.
Please do tell her
That the winter has passed,
The harvest is over,
The farmers are gone,
And that I have been waiting for her.
Please do tell her
That the vegetables in the fields are ripe,
The shadows of trees are dense,
The summer holidays are on,
And that I have been looking forward to her arrival.
And please ask my city girl
When she will return
To the village, to the river,
To the fields,
To me.
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See me within you.

Find me in yourself.
Feel my presence in your heart.
I live in your dreams.
Meet me -Make me yours,
For I belong to no one but you.

In every flower, I smell your fragrance.
In every moment, I feel your presence.
In every corner of my heart, I feel your essence.
In every thought, I have a remembrance of you.
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The fields look yellow
In harvest days.
The summer begins
In harvest days.
The evenings look a little dark
In harvest days.
The clouds scream
In harvest days.
The smile on your face looks more beautiful
In harvest day.
The sheaf of wheat in your hands makes you charming,
In harvest days.
The bangles on your wrist make more sounds
In harvest days.
The earrings in your ears shine more brightly
In harvest days.
Oh, my country girl, my love increases for you
In harvest days.
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You wiped my tears,
Healed my wounds,
Gave me hope to live,
Brought colors back.
You touched my soul,
Gave me endless love,
Blessed me with a smile,
Breathed into my body.
You took my hand,
Showed me the path,
Led me to the destination,
Brought me happiness.
You filled my empty heart,
Removed all fears,
Lightened my night,
Made my life.
You taught me to write,
To compose poems,
To create stories,
To express my emotions.
You helped me recognize myself,
Made me a gentle man,
Taught me the way of living,
Gave me the sense of responsibility
It is you who made me what I am.
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Near you be ever
The fear will disappear
Say in my ear
I am your dear.
Your separation I cant bear
Come, dear lets cheer
You love me it is clear
Say you will always care.

Oh God, your people are so cruel;
Give me strength and comfort.
Oh God, your people cause me
pain;
Oh God, your people are so
selfish;

The hard times are going to go.
The fine times are going to come.
You and I will be together;
Wait.
The hard times are going to go.
The fine times are going to come.
THE REFLECTIONS

I am no more in the habit of
dreaming.
laughing.
Having made sure you will not
care,
minding.
112

I wish I could be
In your arms.
I wish I could be
With you all the time.
I wish I could be
In your heart.
I wish I could be
Yours.

I am like a bird flying in the sky
alone,
Seeking my companion who got
lost in a strong wind.
I am like a bird flying in the sky
alone.
I light candle at night to see you.

I wander in the day to find you.
I ask people to show me the path
Which leads to you.
Oh my love, my life is short and I
need to find you.

You miss me, I know.
You love me, I know.
You care for me, I know.
You think of me, I know.
You remember me, I know.
You miss me -I know.
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I am a mortal;
And No mortal is perfect.
Errors I may make;
God is for me at a stones throw
It is all I know.
Although I have mind to ponder;
I may get beguiled.
Devil conspires to make me foul
It is all I know.
Adam made a blunder years ago;
He sought forgiveness and gave it another go.
God forgave Adam and made all systems go.
It is all I know.
Do not do good all for show;
Good and bad will be revealed;
After we go.
It is all I know.
To guilty ones paradise Angel will say no;
Your good deeds cup is too low.
Now it is useless if you bow.
It is all I know.
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The time will come when we will

meet.
The time will come when we will
meet.
This isolation will come to an end.
We will be in each others arms --
As of yet my eyes wait.

Time and again I call you mine.
I feel ill at ease.
Where are you my need?
You are ever so beautiful.
Oh, my forgetful.

Life came to an end,
But not my separation from you.
Tears dried, sobs stopped,
But not our sorrow.
Oh my love, our youth ended,
But not my longing for you.
Farewell to loneliness
Hello to company
Farewell to lonely walks
Hello to chats
It's my marriage, marriage, marriage.
-- Rizwan Ahmed Memon
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Since the day I saw you,
I have lost my peace of mind.
My nights are so long;
My days have no end.
I need to tell you
I am in love with you.
Your beauty has snatched my sleep;
I pass the nights staying up late.
My thoughts turn to you;
My heart longs for you.
I have to tell you
Your silence has made me speak;
I speak through writing.
My pen writes about you,
My fingers type about you.
I must tell you
Your fine manners have won my heart;
I daydream all the time.
My mind wonders if you love me;
My heart says you love me.
I will tell you
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I have felt nature
Under the green Neem tree.
I have heard the sweet songs of birds
I have experienced Soft breezes and heavy winds
I have got comfort
I have watched waves in the pond
Sitting under the green Neem tree.
I have seen birds catching fish from the pond
I have felt peace
I have viewed the flowery fields
That Green Neem tree is on the levee of River Indus
In Akil, Larkana, Sindh, Pakistan.
It is where I belong.
It is where I have found comfort.
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117

Friendship, when relation breaks,
Remains in the hearts;
Hurts, when friends are strangers,
Life becomes empty, but goes on.
Friends, leave memories when they are gone;

Their voices, laughs echoes in the ears.
Regrets, wishes, reside in the minds,
Till we are gone, too.

Away from you is pain,
Nothing else.
Long time no see - it is being mad,
Nothing else.
No letter, no message - it is forgetting,
Nothing else.
No meeting, no call, no voice - it is clear, it is parting,
Nothing else.
Missing in the morning, in the evening, and at night - it is longing,
Nothing else.
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Today I went to that old Neem tree
To refresh some past memories,
To seek some forgiveness,
To get some flashbacks of you,
To feel the love that we had shared.
The wind was blowing,
The branches were swaying,
The waves were rising in the pond,
Your voice started to echo in my ears,
I could clearly picture you leaning against the tree.
Till today everything is as it was,
But you have gone.
Your laughs have gone.
Your absence has made me realize
What pain is, what loneliness is.
When I climbed the tree as we often did,
I watched that old cemetery.
And wondered if it was a dream having you in my life.
If that was a dream, I wished I would have never been woken up.
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119

Traveling to different cities,
Appearing at different tests and interviews,
A fresh graduate from university-Tried very hard to get a job.
He studied at the library for hours,
And read the job ads in the newspapers.
Hoping to find vacancies, he turned page after page.
Days went by he kept looking for a job.
Sometimes he passed written tests,
But failed in interviews.
Sometimes his knowledge worked,
But his luck didnt.
Sometimes his spirit
Struggled and dwindled.
Sometimes he collected himself
And kept searching.
He had a belief
That hard work bears fruit,
That the Gods mill grinds slow but sure.
So he tried and tried and tried.
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Once you promised
To be by my side always, my friends.
Now that tough times have come,
Where are you now?
I cannot hold back my tears-I cannot stand tall-I am breaking.
Where are you now?
Once you were my companions
At all gatherings.
Now no one is around
Where are you now?
Once when I had a lot of wealth and fame
You had a lot of time for me.
Now that my pockets are empty
Where are you now?
Once you phoned me every day.
Why my number is not in your phones now?
My friends,
Where are you now?
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You had said you would come in the fall:
When due would be on the flowers,
When the wind would blow from the north,
And when the nights would be cold.
Oh, my love, please come back:
Because I see the pollen on the trees,
The due on the grass in the fields,
And my nights are cold, too.
You had said you would be back:
When the days would be short,
When the snow would start,
When the fog would blur the streets.
Oh, friend, now the days are short
The snow falls on the mountains
And the fog is in the valley
Please somehow return now.
You had said you would arrive
When the river would flow smoothly
When the water would dry
When the sand would appear on the banks
When the Siberian birds would come.
Oh, my precious, I find no waves
The water is only at the bottom of the river
The sand shines in the warm sun
And the foreign birds in flocks have reached.
Oh, my life, come back
Before the fall ends
Before the flocks flight
Before the heart stops.
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122

Oh, the sun went down -The birds came back to their
nests,
But I see no portent of your arrival.
Oh, my heart cries again -My tears fall again.
Shall I write
About you?
Or the king
The kingdom
The rules?
Each day I see your way -But you appear form nowhere.
Oh, the ringing bells around the
necks of the cows
Tell that the end of the day has
come -But our separation from one
another still continues.
You are more worth writing

Than the king, the kingdom.
Your beauty, your manners
Are far more pure
Than the laws, the rules.
Let me write about you and

explain
What you are to me.
You are my world,
The laws, the rules,
The king, the kingdom.
THE REFLECTIONS

The purity of snow,
Reminds me
Of your innocence.
The silence
Engendered by cold,
Reminds me
Of your silence.
The still air,
Helps me
Recall your touch.
123
The howling wind,

The foggy fields,
The bubbling stream,
The creaking branches,
The rustling leaves,
They all make me
Miss you so-When I go
For walks
Without you.
The rustle
Of the leaves
In the trees-The crackle
Of the leaves
Beneath my feet-Make me feel
The sounds
Of the bangles
In your arms.
You are like flowers in spring -You are like waves in the river -You are like moon at night -You are like sun in the day.
You are like shadow of a dense tree -You are like an oasis in the desert -You are like a bird in the nest -You are like a fish in the pond.
You are like a butterfly on a rose -You are like leaves on a tree -You are like fragrance in a rose -You are like Rambo in the rain;
You are like breath in my body.
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In her arms was my ultimate world.
Her lips were no less than honey.
Her long dark hair was like the dark clouds of summer,
Which provided comforting shadows.
When she held my hand in her hand, I felt safe.
In her company my life took on new colors.

Without you near my eyes wept silently,
My tears rolled on my cheeks silently,
My heart beat for you silently.
My longing for you woke me up at night silently,
Your memory hurt me in the room silently.
Your absence on the bed stabbed me in the darkness silently,
My separation from you suffocated my soul at the midnight silently.
The heart, the mind, the youth are for you.

The morning, the evening, the night are for you.
The laughter, the tears, the sobs are for you.
The prayers, the dreams, the hopes are for you.
The lips, the eyes, the hands are for you.
The poems, the stories, the letters are for you.
The waiting, the promise, the longing are for you.
-- My life is yours.
THE REFLECTIONS

Your love is like the ocean waves,
Sometimes high, sometimes low.
Your love is like the north wind,
Sometimes fast, sometimes slow.
Your love is like the flow of the river,
Sometimes more, sometimes less.
125

I have a sacred soul;
The devil conspires to make it foul.
Sins will give me regrets -I wont be a fool.
My sanctity, my purity can be retained
Only when I refrain from sin,
So I wont be a fool
And sell my sacred soul.
Your love is like the weather,

Sometimes cold, sometimes warm.
As the night falls,

My longing starts.
Moon shines, stars twinkle,
My thoughts turn to you,
And the tears fall.
Night stops to pass,
Darkness suffocates the soul,
As the night falls,
My longing starts.
Was it you or the life, the breath, the

soul?
Was it you or the path, the north, the
destination?
Was it you or the faith, the fire, the
fame?
You left, life failed,

Colors faded, hopes feared.
You left, the tears rolled,
Lights flashed, the desires flamed.
You left, life failed.
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126
One day,
I asked them
Last night
Why was that?
As she came
The stars said,
On the roof,
The moles on her cheeks
Stars became dim;
Are brighter than us.
The moon lost
The moon replied,
All its brightness.
Her face shines more than me.
When she opened
And the clouds concluded,
Her long braids,
Her hair is darker than us.
Clouds started moving.
The time
She went back
The stars recovered;
The moon shined
And clouds gathered.
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127

Health is more than wealth.

It is water in the ocean,
The trees in the forest;
It is light in the day.
It is the moon in the sky,
The twinkling star at night;
It is wind of the north.
It is rain in the desert,
The greenery in the oases;
It is a flower in the field.
It is cold in the winter,
The hot in the summer;
It is soul in the body.
Today,
I am waiting
On the bank again
In the hope
That you will come.
The waves are
Rising high.
They are indicating
That you are coming
Today.
Oh, I can see
A boat
Which seems
So little
From afar.
My heart-beat
Is getting faster
As I am waiting
For you
On the bank.
THE REFLECTIONS
The parks, the ponds

All are sad.
The rivers, the rains
All are said.
The winds, the waves
All are sad.
The birds, the herds
All are sad.
The days, the rays
All are sad.
The walks, the laughs
All are sad.
The trees, the bees
All are sad.
The fields, the meals
All are sad.
The nights, the flights
All are sad.
The flowers, the farmers.
All are sad.
The dreams, the teams
All are sad.
128
Bring me peace
So I can live a little more;
Bring me flowers
So I can feel lifes colors.
Destroy me no more
I want to live more;
Let me live
Let me survive.
Oh, people pray for me
That God may give me
patience;
My loved ones are killed
I am made orphan.
Oh, humankind have mercy
Fear from God;
And think we are humans like
you
Lets not destroy one another.
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119

I remained alone
In my zone
That was my home
Where I had grown.
People of my zone
Were made of stone
And were greedy of throne
So I have away flown
Now for me she moans
When in dust are my bones
My poems have blown
My fame is unknown.
Never had she answered my phone
From this she had sworn
So I remained alone
In my zone.
I made you my fast friend,

But you proved to be a false friend.
They say friends cheat.
Did you follow the trend,
My childhood friend?
My wedding ceremony
You didnt attend.
You left me
At the end,
My childhood friend.
I hope youll
Make amends.
And will be together
Till the world ends,
Whether you return
Or not, it depends.
I look forward to seeing you
On this weekend,
In your memory,
Poems I have penned.
I thought a letter
You will send,
Dont bring this to an end.
Dont be a fair-weather friend.
Lend me a helping hand.
Again call me your friend,
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At some point in life man understands the true and exact purpose of life. When a man is
young, he considers money to be the paramount goal in life. He sets out in search of a
job as soon as he graduates, and money means the world to him. He measures his
success merely in terms of wealth.
With the passage of time, after experiencing different kinds of circumstances, he
realizes that there are natural rules and regulations for the universe. No man gets more
than what is destined for him; no man dies before the time set for his death. Thus, it
occurs to him, that there are so many things that are important beyond his job and the
accumulation of money.
God created this universe and set laws for it. If He had made all the people rich, no one
would have cared for others. There would have been no one to do Gods work in this
world. Likewise, if He had made all human beings poor, the balance of human life still
would not have been equal. In order to make the circle of life revolve, God made some
people rich and others poor.
Being poor, is not a crime. In fact, God has called those poor, honest workers His
friends. In the condition of poverty man feels the pain of his fellow beings quite well. His
eyes shed tears if they see the suffering of other humans, and his heart remains soft
like a rose. On the other hand, a rich man might not feel the same pain. He might not
perceive the suffering the same way. His eyes might not get teary; his heart might have
hardened into stone. This is not the case for all rich men, but often the rich are
considered and observed to be insensitive to the suffering of other fellow beings.
If the rich man has palaces, wealth, and attendants all around him, it does not mean
that the poor man will die. Food, clothing, and shelter are needs of all humans. Some
are privileged to have the best of these and others do not fare so well, but the life of all
people goes on. At the end of the day, nobody takes anything with them when they die.
We leave all that we have in this world and cross the great divide alone. All our
treasured wealth is passed on to someone else.
In this day and age, a babys profession is often chosen before the baby has scarcely
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121
opened her eyes for the first time. Whether she is destined to be a doctor, a lawyer, or
an engineer is decided the day she is born. As she grows up she will hear thousands of
times what she is destined to become. To be successful in the field that her parents
have chosen for her is all that matters in her life.
Some children are permitted the freedom to choose their own professions as they
mature. They give their finest efforts in pursuit of their dreams. Setting goals is not bad
thing. Acquiring skills and knowledge is not bad thing. These are signs of a wise and
practical person. Pursuing a livelihood is necessary, and all men must, but a man must
not be greedy and must not spend all of his life merely accumulating more and more
wealth. Success and failure are parts of life. A man must be content with what God has
made him; with what God has given him. A mans real success is achieved when he has
endeared himself to Allah; when he is a good human being; when he embraces the
virtues of humanity, sympathy, modesty, and generosity. A man can consider himself
successful when he has a good moral character, good habits, has a righteous fear of
God. This is real, everlasting success.
A lawyer, doctor, or an engineer may work for years, but one day he will retire. If today
you are the president of your country, tomorrow you will be succeeded by someone
else. Worldly success is temporary. A really successful man makes the most of what
God has given him. He employs all his God given powers for the welfare of others. He
shares the knowledge and wealth that he possesses with other needy people. Thus, he
makes himself nearer and dearer to God. By these measures he lives in the hearts of
his fellow beings. Only in this way can he achieve perpetual success in this world and in
the hereafter.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------Rizwans websites:
Poems with pictures: http://rizwanahmedmemon.blogspot.com/p/photo-gallery.html
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It has been days since we went for a walk together. The winter has set in. I still
go for a walk in the morning and evening, but the walk is not the same without you.
Everything seems so desolate and sad in your absence.
Today, as usual I went for a walk in the morning to the fields and sat under that
Neem tree on that levee. As I left home for the walk, I felt my walk was useless and
empty without you. While I was walking, people saw that I was alone. They wanted to
know why you were not with me, but they probably thought it was a rude question to
ask, so they didnt. My heart could hear their unasked question. When I reached the
fields, the dew on the leaves of flowers was not shining in the sunlight as brightly as it
did in the past when we were together. The dew was missing you. The flowers have lost
color since you left. They asked me, too, why you were not there with me. Wind blew
from the north to amuse the flowers, but they refused to nod. They were as dejected as
a wet hen. While walking, I stopped at the pond where we once sat together and stared
the water lilies. They, too, asked me where you were. The grass around the pond had
dried, and there was no movement in the pond as if all the fish and tortoises had left
living since you stopped coming to the pond. Then I moved up to the levee and sat
under that Neem tree, where we often sat, laughed, and shared our sorrows. When the
tree asked me about you, I told it that you have gone far away from me. Hearing that, it
got depressed and every leaf on it took a sigh out of grief with the wind. I sat for a while
under the tree, but everything around me had no charm without you, so I left and went
home.
I somehow spent the afternoon at home, and again went for a walk in the
evening. I decided that I wouldnt go to the fields, the pond, and the Neem tree because
I have no answers to give them when they ask about you, and their sadness only adds
to my longing for you. So I decided that I would take the other way and go to the river. I
was trying to forget you as you have forgotten me, but despite all my effort I couldnt. I
noticed that it was not just me who missed you but the fields, the dew, the flowers, the
pond, the tree, the river, the sand, the sunset, the paths, the birds, the herds, and the
twilight misses you, too. When I went to the river and sat on the bank, there were no
waves in the river. I remember there were always waves in the river when you were
beside me. It was as motionless as a corpse. The river was so calm that its silence was
breaking my heart into even more pieces. The sand on its bank longed to feel the touch
of your feet. I quickly left the river and boarded the levee. The levee and the path were
as desolate as tomb. The time of sunset came, but the sunset was not as mesmerizing
as it used to be when your hand was in my hand. The melancholy sun went down. The
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123
twilight, which used to last for a bit longer when you were around, passed so quickly
that I even didnt feel it. The birds that used to sing songs when we were on our way
home went so silently into their nests that I didnt hear their voices at all. The herds of
cows, buffalos, and goats missed you, too. They moved to the town so sadly that they
didnt fight with one another. The night fell as dark as dungeon, and it grew cold, so I
just went home after one more walk without you.

Man is mortal. Sooner or later, his life will come to an end. After his death his body is
buried underground and his grave is made. The place where graves are is known as
graveyard. Burial practices and beliefs about afterlife vary from culture to culture.
In some religions of the world, such as Islam, people are buried when they die; in
others, like Hinduism, they are cremated. Also, in some other cultures dead bodies are
embalmed. In Islam when the relatives pay a visit to the graves of their deceased ones,
they bring flowers, scatter them on the graves, and pray for their loved ones' peace and
rest of the soul. In Islam people believe that there is another world after the death. It is
called the Hereafter. They believe there will be a day when all the deceased will be
made alive and they will account for what they did in this world to God. That day is
known as the Judgment Day. After the Judgment Day, people who committed sins will
be sent to the place known as Hell, a tragic place to live in full of fire and other tortures.
Those who dedicated their lives to God and did good deeds will be sent to the place
called Heaven, a place full of comfort and peace, and all the glories will be there that the
good people will want.
Graveyards stir us to do good deeds and make us realize of the purpose of our lives.
Someday we will die and be buried, too, so we must do what we have to, before it is our
time to leave this world.
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124

Our entrance to this world is our birth, and our exit is our death. All our life from
birth till death is characterized by a series of moments. Some moments bring
happiness, while others bring sorrow. Nonetheless, our breath goes on till the moment
we die. In this series of moments, we get to know some people who become so special
for us that our lives seem to be empty without them.
Life can be easy for some people and hard for others. What makes it easy is the
love and support of friends and family, and what makes it difficult is their carelessness
and hatred. As life goes by, we learn unexpected lessons which we could never learn at
school, and you never know when the exams are. To pass them, we have to be ready
every day, because anything can happen any time.
Sometimes, in the middle of happiness or sorrow, we are left behind by our loved
ones with memories, tears and a longing to be with them. In those moments of pain and
torment, life becomes tough, and our world seems to have just ended; so many people
among us even reach the edge of ending their lives. However, with patience and
optimism, now and then conditions do change.
Before making any choice, we must think it over. This world has so many heavy
burdens and responsibilities that our shoulders cannot bear their weight; we become
weak, and some circumstances change us entirely, and we never remain the same. It
can be our misunderstanding that they ignore us, or they have no respect for us. Their
lives might have become more difficult for some reason, and they might be unable to
say what is going on in their lives.
What is in our hands today might not be there tomorrow. What is not in our
possession today, it might be tomorrow. This series of moments brings us so special
people, and it can take them away without telling, and it may or may not give us the
chance to have them back. So, if you have the privilege, and you have found someone
special, or you may find one in future, or you have lost your special one, the point is that
you have to be true. There is always a way to keep them in your lives, by praying for
them and valuing their each gift and possession that you have. Only true people find
true ones. Have faith, be true and love truly forever.
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Everyone has wishes, dreams and plans, but not everyones dreams come true.
Their wishes may not be fulfilled and their plans may not be carried out. Sometimes we
think one thing, but something else happens.
Through the course of my life, I have learned that there will always be some
vacuums in the heart. If the old ones are filled, the new ones would appear somehow.
Time can fill the gaps, and it can bring about the new ones as well. Life never remains
the same. Every day brings a new blank and fills one or two already present.
It is not necessary that our every dream should come true. Sometimes some
dreams which remain only dreams play an important role in our lives to organize
ourselves better. Some wishes which only remain wishes make us strong and give us
enthusiasm to work actively in the lives. Life cannot always be a smooth sailing. The
ups and downs are essential parts of life. They make us realize what life actually is.
At times we need to abandon our plans, wishes, and dreams for the sake of our
family, friends, and loved ones. Happiness that comes after the sacrifice of our dreams,
wishes, and plans has a different charm and taste. When some songs are left unsung,
their silence can echo more than a thunder in the ears. Some stories unwritten and
some unread can save us from the disturbance of our minds. Some regrets in the past
can make us careful in the present. Some sins in the past can make us pious in the
present. Even some unspoken words can draw the attention of others.
All the regrets and sadness will decay once we begin to love our present
condition. We try different ways and options to escape from the realities. Sometimes we
listen to songs to satisfy our mind and heart. Sometimes we console ourselves with
happy thoughts to give relief to our mind and heart. Also, some of us take refuge in
writing. I am one of those people. It would not be wrong to call this piece of writing an
attempt in a certain point of time to keep the eye away from the holes in my heart and
let myself breathe some sighs of comfort. Many of us find different ways to escape from
pain. I also have applied different methods, such as going for a walk, sitting on the bank
of the river, walking on the wet grass, and sometimes sitting under a tree in the open
grounds. Still I have not found any good escape or remedy or something with which I
can fill these spaces in the heart. Some of you while reading this might think this is a
dramatic story, and some of you might be feeling that this is the exactly thing which has
happened in your lives, too. Whether you agree or not, you, too, have been trying to fill
some kind of void in your heart or mind by reading this piece of writing or trying to find
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something through which you can entertain your heart and relieve your feelings.
In every state of man, there are always some elements of sadness, and some
elements of regrets. At the end of our lives, we think we should have lived our lives fully
no matter what our circumstances were. We all need to learn to manufacture our own
happiness in every walk of our lives. Some moments come in our lives when we have to
deal with everything alone. Just as a bird in the sky sometimes flies solo, there are
roads we need to travel alone. With all the vacuums in our hearts and minds, we have
to learn to spend our lives happily.
Holidays mean the time of rest and relaxation. After long days of hard work, holidays
give you the opportunity to take thoughts and worries away and just relax in peace.
My ideal summer holidays would be on a beach where I can read my favorite novels
under a big umbrella, lying on the long deckchair. Spending a couple of days out near
the beach and plying on it, sunbathing and fishing along with the person I love the most
would be my ideal summer activities. What can be more special than listening to the
music of the sea waves, fresh, clean air and a lovely location with romantic
atmosphere? I'd make a little sand-castle on the beach that children often make when
they play. Wed eat there, make our own tea, fry the fish, and relax and enjoy.
Holidays become memorable days of our lives. The holidays which leave pictures in our
minds are the holidays that we treasure the most. We all must go on holidays once in a
year. In so doing, not only we recover all our energies for the future duties, but also we
realize that our lives are not only work and study.
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When we are born, we all are given a limited timespan. In this timespan, we pass
through some stages, namely childhood, youth and old age. In every stage, we find
ourselves different and observe the inevitable facts of the life.
When we are children, we care for only our toys, no other matters, no worries, no
future plans, and no earning concerns which an adult has. As a child, I kept my toys in
the corner of the room. My mother once told me it was the same place where my elder
siblings kept their toys in their childhood, and I, too, used that corner for my toys.
Now, I am a grown up. Recently, I graduated from university and got a degree in
Computer Science. When I came home, I saw that corner and talked with my mother
about it, my childhood toys, and that beautiful childhood life. My mother still remembers
everything as I do. She recalled the memories of past, from hiding toys to crying for
money and sticking with her wherever she went.
We were talking about our bygone days when my mother said, The time is about
to come when your children will hide their toys in that same corner. My mothers
sentence made me laugh, but at the same time I realized the inevitable fact of the life.
Though every stage of the life has its own charm and importance, I consider
childhood the easiest stage, youth the most prime stage, and old age the most difficult.
When we are children, we dont know much about the world, so the less we know, the
less we worry. When we are young, we are independent, and we want everything to be
the way we want. When we are old, we almost become like a child again who is
dependent on others. All these stages are inevitable.
Is there anybody who can stop their age, who can remain a child or young
forever and stop growing older? Is there any person on earth who can bring me back
my childhood and that mind which worried only about toys? No one can stop getting
older, no one can bring the youth of any old person back, and no one can find an
escape from death when it is due.
Death is also one more inevitable thing. One day everyone has to taste death,
and enter another world from where we cannot come back again. If we are honest with
ourselves, we all will admit we would like to live forever, or for centuries, but it is not
possible. Everything has an end. Sooner or later, we all will reach our end.
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A person who is close to our hearts, worthy of praise, and deserving respect is a
person with a splendid attitude. Attitude is a way of conducting oneself. It is how we
behave and how we treat others. Attitude is a reflection of one's personality.
One who possesses a superb way of talking, treating and presenting oneself
takes the place in others hearts. People wish to make such person their friend. A man
is known by the company he keeps. We can easily tell whether one is polite, caring or
rude by that persons behavior. However, it is not always easy. Those people who use
courteous words, treat us cordially, and keep a smile while talking with us, remain in our
minds and in our hearts. We always have a tendency to meet them and spend some
time with them. On the other hand, those who show disgust, speak angrily, and behave
rudely lose a place in our hearts.
I would like to give an example of someone who used to be my best friend. In the
early stages of our friendship, my friend was quite considerate; he used to care for me.
Whenever I became worried, he came to me and used to inquire the cause for my
worry, and he would ask me to tell him my worries, so that I might feel relieved. He used
to call me several times a day and ask me what I was doing. His manners earned him a
great place in my heart, and high respect in my eyes.
My mornings began by listening to his voice. He used to call me early in the
morning and we talked for long time. Even my family members were under the illusion
that there was some girl, who had fallen in love with me, and that was why she was
calling me all the time. I passed many evenings with him. If I didnt go to him, he would
call me to come, and we used to go for walks along the River Indus. We became such
close friends that if we didnt meet one day, we would complain to each other about the
others absence. We shared our happiness and sorrow together. Before this friend I
used to pass my time alone, by reading books, working on the computer, teaching
English, and by doing such other activities. But when he came into my life, I felt that,
this was the friend I had always needed. Because of his friendship, my loneliness
ceased to exist, and I never felt alone. We often had breakfasts and lunches together.
We used to exchange our books, ideas, and all other things. When we met, we used to
laugh, joke and play. I still remember every moment that I spent with that friend. In the
summer, we used to sit in the dense shadow of a tree in the fields. In the winter, we
used to sit in the sunlight in the park. He used to tell me if I ever left him, he would never
make another friend again in his life. He would not depend on anybody; he saw the
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whole world as unfaithful. He used to tell me to send him at least five mobile messages
every day, because he didnt want to see his mobile having no messages from me.
I got used to meeting him. I made a habit of calling him, and if I didnt meet him, I
felt great disquiet. For me it is so hard to define it. In my prayers I always thanked God
for granting me a perfect friend. Such a great, pure and strong friendship never seemed
to be broken. But it broke up, because of his BEHAVIOR.
That person who was always so crazy about meeting me, stopped meeting with
me. The one who couldnt live without making calls to me, stopped calling. The one who
used to care to a great extent for me, stopped caring. The one who sent me messages
every day, stopped sending messages. Just imagine how hard it was for me to live
without the person who had become my companion in loneliness. He was the one who
provided me a shoulder to weep on, who became the only way to remove my
loneliness. My friends polite behavior changed into rude behavior. Despite that, I kept
going to him, but he never seemed willing to meet. He began to use harsh words with
me, and this act hurt me greatly. He kept his mobile off most of the time. If we ran into
each other, he spoke angrily and left quickly. I wanted to know why he did this. What
had I done to him to make him hurt me? Truly, there was nothing I could think of.
Then my loneliness started again. I am so different, and my nature doesnt easily
allow me to connect with others. That is why I often remain alone upstairs in my room.
Before my friend, I used to be alone, but that loneliness didnt upset me as much then
as it did as now, after him. I was constantly lost in thought over why my friend had
turned on me, and to this day I have not yet found the answer. Perhaps, he was selfish,
or he replaced our friendship with another. Now I have become settled in my life alone.
Now I have become accustomed to my solitary life. Whenever I met him, he offended
me, and because of his behavior, he lost that special place he had in my heart. His
treatment of me in a rude way cost the respect he had in my eyes. In front of others, he
used to disrespect me. All these things brought about a complete breakup, but I still
miss him and will miss him the rest of my life.
So, my true example reminds you all that you have to be caring, polite and true to
your friends. Use courteous words with friends. Keep a smile on your lips while talking
to them. Never try to play with others' feelings as my friend did because God likes those
people who are kind, selfless, and true to other human beings. Attitude is that thing
which makes or mars a friendship, as seen when my friends polite attitude made us
friends and his rude attitude caused our breakup.
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We have a great attachment to the place where we are born, the places where we
played games in our childhood, and the streets on which we walk every day. These
places are our roots and anywhere in the world we go, we miss them.
I remember the streets on which I played in my childhood. They were not made of
cement or tiles. They didn't look like floors or roads. They were simply of dust. The earth
was smooth and soft. The dust lifted and blew only when a big vehicle crossed. In the
summer, when I played on those streets, they felt cold and comforting. They used to
be damp because the shadows of the trees and walls of the houses, which were made
of mud bricks. They hardly allowed the sunshine through. Whether our streets and
houses are made of cement, tiles, or of other materials, we love them because we have
a history with them.
However, among us there are some people who do not feel a relationship with their
roots. They always complain about everything around them, and they seem to be fed up
with their surroundings. They try to move to a big city and live away from their
countryside. On the contrary, the people who love their roots think of them as deceivers
who only take from their roots and dont give anything to their roots.
If you ask me, I have a great attachment to my roots. I feel happy to be where I was
born. I like to sit on the ground where I played games in my childhood. In 2010, when I
went to university, I had to leave my countryside. I studied in a university which was
three times larger than my countryside. Everything was available there: wide playing
fields, libraries, gyms and the Internet cafe. In spite of all those things, I missed my
village. In the lights of the big city, I missed the quietness of the night of my countryside.
Whenever I got to go home on holiday, I felt great happiness. In university, holidays for
me meant a chance to go to my rural area. My small town was at a great distance.
Many of my classmates spent their holidays at the university, but I always went to my
village on the holidays. It took a whole night if I traveled at night, and a whole day if I
traveled in day. The big citys wind could never win my heart. The gym or the wide
playing fields of the university never gave me that joy which I got on the little streets in
my hamlet. The bank of the river of my region, where I had spent hours, always came in
my dreams. When I was at the hostel, the trees, the fields and the streets always
remained in my memories.
After completing my education, I came back to my roots to give to them all those skills I
gained at university. The people of my community didn't like my pants and shirt, and
my clean-shaven face, but I liked them. Because I knew I had to teach them it was no
sin to wear pants and a shirt, and it was no sin to learn the English language, and that
they could grow beards if they like. I am proud of my roots, my simple countryside
farmers, and the laborers.
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In the world all the things that we can see and touch have certain attributes, so some are
valued more and some less. Nobody has ever been invisible except ghosts, but if I could be
invisible, I would try to make this world a better place to live in.
Having a magical power may prove to be more helpful than the technology we own today.
Nowadays, people fear more from other people than real monsters. Poverty,
unemployment, and hunger have led people to commit crimes and suicide. A hungry man
doesnt see what is right or wrong; he just somehow fills his empty belly. I would try to make
people happy by solving their problems and by fulfilling their little positive wishes. Every day
so many children die of hunger, which is what makes my eyes shed tears. I would provide
sustenance by using the money of those people who got it illegally and who do not spend it
for the welfare of others.
If we all use our little resources for the benefit of humanity, it would be no less than having a
magical power, and in so doing we would be better humans, too.

A housewife is a woman who is in charge of her house and her children. A housewife is a
responsible woman. She looks after everything around her, which is why she is much
appreciated.
I believe that a housewife works more than other women who have a different job. Some
women look for a maid to help them keep their houses clean because they don't have
enough time or simply find it difficult to do. Also, taking care of their children can be a
demanding job for many. One mother once told me, "A lot goes into juggling the many tasks
to get food in the house, meals on the table, clothes washed, floors wiped, kids off to
school, kids to activities, kids in bed... and make sure they are healthy, happy, and
respectful human beings!" However, if we think about it for a while, we realize that being a
mother can be a satisfying task. A mother feels happy when she looks after her child.
Moreover, no other woman can take a better care of a child than his own mother.
We should take better care of our mothers whether they work indoors or outdoors, as they
cared for us when we were children. Unfortunately, not many people have had the privilege
to know the love of their mothers or their fathers. We should try to appreciate and enjoy
every single moment that we are allowed to spend with them.
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A library is a place where a lot of ideas, thoughts, experiences, sorrows,
happiness, wishes, emotions are found in the form of books. For students and book lovers,
libraries provide a relaxing, quiet and peaceful atmosphere. Libraries have existed for a long
time in our world and will hopefully last well into the future.
Libraries are a rich resource. Readers can borrow books from a library. There
are plenty of them, from those which deal with technology and science to those on literature
and history. Inside a library there are sections dedicated to young and older people.
Besides good atmosphere and books for study, a library has a computer lab where learners
can surf the Internet and can learn online. Readers in a library dive in the books so deeply
that they dont notice the time, so often they bring their lunch with themselves in boxes.
Learners find those students who study the same subject, and they make up their group
which is very helpful for combined study and sharing the thoughts out in the park.
One should get the most out of a library. Governments should pay proper
attention to the maintenance of libraries because they are the best source of knowledge. An
educated nation can progress faster and faster and can make itself powerful in comparison
to others. Education is the only source of surviving in this world of technology.

Lies are untrue statements that people tell. Lying is somehow part of humans nature. People
tell lies for a number of reasons depending on the situation.
One common reason for which people often lie is to save themselves from troubles. A student
might lie to his teacher if he didnt do his homework saying he was ill. Another reason is to
please others, i.e. a white lie. In this case, a person might tell a lie to his unattractive friend to
cheer them up saying they look gorgeous. Their dress is so nice, and the colors look very nice
on them, even though they dont. Lastly, people tell lies and deceive others in order to gain
some personal benefit.
There can be a lot more reasons other than those mentioned above because different people go
through different situations. However, man should always be honest and tell the truth, for one
day every lie in the world will be revealed. A lie can put a person in a difficult situation. One may
need to tell a lot of lies just to cover up the first. In the long run, lying destroys mans character
and reputation, while the truth secures respect and a place in others hearts.
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A life teeming with fun, ecstasy, and enjoyment is not possible without variety. Variety is
something which gives life new options, new experiences, and new pathways. All these
changes make ones life memorable.
Variety has a decisive role in life; it adds zing. Variety can make ones life fabulous. If there is no
change, no newness in life, then life will be devoid of merriment, experience, and learning.
If you have been in the same city for many years, your life has probably grown stagnant. Your
routine has inevitably kept you busy at work and around the house. If you relocate to another
city, you will have new experiences, view life with a fresh perspective, and you will gain new
knowledge.
Anyone who faces new situations, new people, and new things, will become adroit,
experienced, and knowledgeable. Ordinary things lead to boredom; extraordinary things provide
fun, knowledge, and enjoyment. Strive for variety in life.
There is an old expression: the more the merrier. This means that where there are more things
to do or more people to interact with, there will be more fun. Likewise, when there are more
changes, life becomes more colorful and charming.
It has been observed that older people have more experiences in life than the young ones. It is
because the elders have seen and faced more difficulties and predicaments. They have a
wealth of experiences, so they know better how to deal with them.
Many people start new activities with great zest, but then fade after a period of time. Why do
people give up? The reason is that the initial attraction of new activities will dwindle once these
activities become routine. The activities lose their fascination. Our minds need recurring
stimulation from new tasks and challenges. A song which you listen to for the first time provides
more entertainment than one played repeatedly on the radio. If played often enough it will
become boring and irritating. It ceases to entertain you, and then you become desperate for a
new tune.
People who do something special, something beneficial for others, something revolutionary, or
something amazing are always remembered. People who do these things introduce a kind of
variety into life which makes them influential and preeminent.
One must try to have as much variety as one can. One day the game of life will come to an end.
If you live your life with gusto and variety, you will be able to look back on your days on earth
with contentment and satisfaction. Live your life to the fullest, before it is your turn to cross the
great divide.
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Corruption is one of the major catastrophes, prevailing in many countries. Our country
has also fallen prey to this drain on society since its independence. Corruption is a
disease which gives birth to so many of societys maladies, such as robberies, killings
and so on. It is the root of all those tribulations which make life difficult.
Corruption is rising day by day. It has established solid roots in nearly every field of
endeavor. It exists in education, in business and in numerous other fields. There are
many reasons behind its growth. One of the most crucial causes is meager salaries
which are not adequate enough to meet household expenses. In these inflationary
times, one feels compelled to take a bribe to satisfy ones needs. An underpaid
employee cannot meet the financial needs of his family. He may barely be able to
provide for two meals a day. In addition to this, he has to pay fees for his childrens
education, he has to maintain their health, and provide for many other household
expenses. Fulfilling these responsibilities requires a great deal of money. These duties
and circumstances force him to resort to other alternatives to carry out his
responsibilities as the family bread winner. Corruption quickly becomes a ready
alternative to a meager salary.
In order to get rid of corruption government ought to pay more attention to this topic.
Government is supposed to keep an eye on every department. Government must
maintain a checks and balances system when administering governmental affairs.
Government should augment salaries of its employees, so that they may never feel
compelled to offer or receive a bribe.
Every one of us should be candid and blunt about this issue. It has been stated in the
holy Quran that both the giver and taker of a bribe shall be sent to hell. We all must
work sincerely in a concerted effort to rid our society of corruption and to be victorious in
the both this world and the next.
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Wherever you may be in the world, in whichever country you may reside, winds of
unemployment seem to prevail. These winds can obliterate a nation. They give rise to
upheaval and can weaken the stability of a country. Unemployment can bring
development to a standstill. It razes the prosperity of the country. Unemployment fosters
adversity, as people become unable to find jobs.
While unemployment is, itself, a convoluted crisis; it can also swell the crime rate, and
lead to increased robberies, killings, and so forth. In other words, unemployment can be
the root cause of numerous problems in society. A jobless person, who faces
unemployment, may simultaneously fall prey to many other torments like apprehension,
starvation and disquiet. A hungry person has trouble differentiating right from wrong; he
is driven by an unsatisfied appetite to commit crimes, so he can extinguish the fire in his
belly. He is prodded into filling his belly by hook or by crook. He has three alternatives
available to him in order to satisfy the hunger he and his family feel: 1) he may make his
livelihood by corrupt means, or 2) by fair means, or 3) by begging. To survive in this
world, livelihood is so essential. A livelihood can be secured through productive labor,
easily and legitimately.
Unemployment can rise for many reasons. For example, employees may not be adroit
at their jobs as demanded by employers. However, it is also true that skillful people are
also frequently jobless, due to fewer employment positions, and less opportunities for
work. A great number of people, who are educated and skillful, are wandering in the
quest for jobs. Many are unsuccessful in finding them. Many of these individuals
become so severely disappointed, that they commit suicide. Many protest for jobs but
their cries go unanswered. When these people, who are entitled to jobs, are
unsuccessful in procuring them, then they have a marked sense of deprivation and
failure. This can lead to severe depression, and that is why many of them lose their
lives.
In order to reduce or eliminate unemployment, technical education should be offered. If
one fails to get a satisfying job, he may then open his own business. Jobs opportunities
must be created in diverse fields, through various means. Government ought to pay
considerable heed to this problem of unemployment, as it is the root of so many ills. If
unemployment decreases significantly, poverty will be vanquished, crimes will diminish,
and many other crises will be eliminated or mitigated. Prosperity will begin to dawn.
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Green soil, fresh air, a peaceful atmosphere and pure water; these are blessings
everybody wishes for. The hurdle that prevents us from enjoying these blessings is
pollution. Pollution changes green soil into deserts, fresh air into hazardous gas, a
peaceful atmosphere into a noisy atmosphere and pure water into poisonous water.
These blessings can be transformed into curses by pollution. Pollution also leads to
scarcity of life.
The modern developments of transportation, industrialization and urbanization have
given rise to pollution. These are on the increase and, consequently, pollution is also
escalating rapidly. We often face the following types of pollution on a daily basis.
1. Soil pollution:
Soil pollution is caused by garbage, by different kinds of wastes, by consumer products
and so forth. Soil pollution is detrimental to good health. Soil pollution can result in
diminished crops of fruits, grains and vegetables. Soil pollution sabotages the thick
upper layer of soil which is indispensable for growing plants of all varieties. Soil pollution
stifles greenery, generates environmental messes and gives birth to diseases. In order
to keep soil from eroding, trees should be sown in large numbers. Trees are not only
useful for reducing soil pollution, but they are also a terrific source of food and
construction material. We need to reduce soil pollution by properly disposing of garbage
and other wastes. These should not be thrown into the streets or scattered across the
land. Streets must be swept, and cleanness ought to be maintained.
2. Air pollution:
Smoke which is emitted from vehicles, smoke from burning dung, smoke from burning
tires, and smoke from industries all result in air pollution. In urban areas automobile
smoke and industrial smoke are on the rise. In rural areas people burn dung for
numerous purposes. This further contributes to air pollution. Air pollution is injurious to
individual and community health, and it eradicates plants. It is also dreadfully perilous
for the ozone layer. Certain fluorocarbons and other chemicals can react with the ozone
in the upper atmosphere and decrease its ability to protect the planet from harmful UV
light. In an effort to keep air fresh, and keep the ozone layer intact, it is essential to
lessen these pollutants in the atmosphere. Aimless use of vehicles should be
restrained, and purposeless burnings of tires, dung and other things must be avoided.
Above all, industrial smoke needs to be reduced.
3. Noise pollution:
Noise pollution is found more in cities than in rural areas. There is noise from vehicles,
noise from aeroplanes, noise from trains, noise from industrial production, noise from
the loud speakers of street vendors, and noise from horns. Noise pollution affects our
sense of hearing causing anxiety, depression, irritation, increased blood pressure and
nervousness. In order to achieve salvation from noise pollution, useless horns, bells and
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music should be curtailed. Radio speakers need to be restricted to low volume and the
volume on televisions should also be set low.
4: Water pollution:
Water pollution is caused by industrial chemicals and farm wastes, which are dumped in
huge amounts into rivers, canals and oceans. These chemicals and wastes pollute the
water, which devastates marine life. Thousands of creatures live in water. Polluted
water can exterminate them. When humans use polluted water and consume the
contaminated marine life, they often become ill, and in extreme cases can lose their
lives. In order to assure an ample supply of pure water, and protect the thousands of
creatures which live in water, we must not throw chemicals, garbage and other wastes
into oceans, rivers and canals.
Not every person can achieve success in life. Success is reserved for those individuals
who are alive with enthusiasm. Positive results accrue to those who face difficulties
bravely, clear hurdles forcefully, and never demur from difficult challenges. Those
individuals who are victorious are invariably alive with enthusiasm. Success rains down
upon the fields of those who face all difficulties bravely and never try to attempt to elude
the challenges that may barricade the road to success. The thing which makes one
intrepid is ENTHUSIASM. The attribute which develops ones ability to confront
problems and challenges courageously is ENTHUSIASM.
A myriad of folks are inclined to relinquish triumph when they encounter gigantic tasks.
But those individuals who continuously grasp for their objective are never forsaken.
Despite the fact that they inevitably encounter numerous barriers of all kinds, they stick
to their work. They wholeheartedly embrace the tasks which will bring them to that day
when their dreams will be realized.
During the founding of Pakistan, Quid-e-Azam encountered seemingly insurmountable
troubles. He bore colossal agonies. But it was his ambition which made him
courageous, and drove him to achieve his goal of a self-governing country. Benazir
Bhutto had a dream of bestowing the blessings of true democracy upon her beloved
Pakistan. In pursuing this dream, she lost her life; but she did not let fear overwhelm her
or lead her to despair. It was her enthusiasm which gave her the pluck to forge onward.
Success is not like taking candy from a baby. To attain it, one has to deal with immense
trials, hardships and obstacles. These barriers to success are meant to rouse, not
discourage. The human spirit grows stronger by engaging adversity. Nelson Mandela is
a case in point. He fought against racial discrimination and repeatedly encountered
unimaginable obstacles on his pathway to success. He ultimately prevailed and proved
that no white man is innately superior to a black man. The measure of a man lies in his
THE REFLECTIONS
138
capabilities and the fortitude of his character. It is these attributes alone which
distinguishes one man from another; skin color is irrelevant.
To achieve success, one must be bold enough to put up with inconveniences. Most of
our obstacles would melt away if, we would only make up our minds to walk boldly
through them, instead of cowering before them. One should consider problems as road
signs leading to success, not as stop signs which prevent us from achieving success.
We are all aware that we must have darkness before the coming of the dawn. All you
need is action; action with enthusiasm. Some people dream of success, while others
cannot rest until they achieve it. Again it is our enthusiastic burning desire to succeed
and a resolute willingness to endure, which spur us onward toward action, and
ultimately success.
When your will to succeed is great, difficulties will inevitably prostrate themselves along
your path. You should always brace yourself to face difficulties. With perseverance you
will overcome all impediments. A strong will can surmount all obstacles. God never
confronts us with more than we can handle. Always keep in mind that what you do
today is important. After all, you are exchanging a day of your life for it. If you pursue
your dreams with enthusiasm, in due course, success will be yours.
This is an old saying. It means the son is inclined to behave the same as his father. The
habits which a father possesses, the son will have also. The way a father talks,
behaves, and treats others, will inevitably be reflected in his son. The saying implies
that the parents are responsible for developing a childs positive mien and conduct.
Since a new born baby doesnt know anything about this world, she comes to know
step-by-step through her parents, and then via others. Whatever a child sees at home,
he invariably adopts as his own. His development will reflect those traits which he sees
in other family-members. He follows customs and rules of his family, and acts upon
them. So, it would not be wrong to say that, parents can make or mar the child. They
can mold their child into a superb citizen, an extraordinary child, a submissive son, an
assiduous man, a good and caring son, a selfless man and a philanthropic man.
Conversely, they can shape their child into a rude boy, a dishonest man, a disobedient
son, an immoral man, a disgusting boy, and a selfish man. The making of a child, good
or bad, is in the hands of parents. No father would deliberately want to see his son
develop into a bad man. To shape a childs moral character, a good atmosphere, a nice
upbringing and learning are of great significance.
The child should be given a good atmosphere in which to develop. The atmosphere at
home should be such, that the child should learn good things automatically. The tone of
speech within the home should be polite. Parents should be selfless and look after the
THE REFLECTIONS
139
poor in daily life. Proper attention and time should be given to a child. Nightly bedtime
stories should be shared with the child. Parents should help the child with their
homework. Time for playing and entertainment should be provided to the child. On
holidays parents should accompany the child for picnics and other outings. The parents
should take their child with them when going to parties or other social functions. Parents
ought to buy the child good books, so that the child may develop the habit of reading.
The parents must discuss topics of morality and ethics with the child. In so doing, the
child will develop terrific habits, his mind and thought will grow broader, he will have a
sense of right and wrong, and will have positive moral values engrained for a lifetime.
He will be polite when treating others, he will render assistance to other human beings
in need, and he will be sympathetic. The child will exert a positive influence on society,
he will be a good man, and above all an outstanding son.

It has been said that God does not see the slaves outer scarring, but the inner beauty. Inner
beauty is morality. It is character. Morality plays a crucial role in making a superb personality. A
personality which possesses morality is considered paramount. It can be appreciated by
everyone, and it shines all the time. Morality results in goodness, sincerity and meekness.
These are the things which are the hallmark of remarkable people.
A brilliant personality is always based on morality. Ones outer appearance cannot impress
others, in comparison to inner beauty or morality. Morality is at the forefront of Islamic teaching,
too. The holy prophet was bestowed with marvelous morality, and it is the most exceptional and
admirable quality he processed. Ones personality will become the role model for others.
Morality is always at the center of personality. Morality expresses ones nature, behavior, and
way of thinking. We interact with other people through our personality. It is this personality which
we should strive to shape into a sympathetic nature, garnished with moral behavior, and a
positively uplifting way of thinking. Through good morality one can change others.
Once the Holy Prophet was teased and troubled by an old woman, who used to throw garbage
and thorns in his path. The Holy Prophet said nothing. For several days he did not encounter
any garbage or thorns in his way. He asked his companions for an explanation of this change in
behavior. They told him that the old woman was sick. Then the holy Prophet went to visit her.
The woman became very ashamed. She realized that she had annoyed him with her garbage
and thorns. Now that very person had come to ask her how she was feeling! The woman was
impressed. She then became a Muslim.
One who treats others in the best way possible, and shows good morality, becomes a
respectable, prominent and honorable man. Morality brings about good habits, qualities, and
reverence. One must try to have good morality. It is one of the best things we can do to become
victorious in this world and the hereafter.
THE REFLECTIONS
140
TRLCL is the center for Computer Science, English language,

ILETS preparation and TOEFL preparation run by Rizwan
Ahmed Memon. He has adopted entertaining, easy-to-follow,
and effective methods in order to make students learn English
and computer skills faster.
We help Sindhi learners of English sound like real natives by

reducing their accents, so that they can convey clearer speeches
and avoid unpleasant misunderstandings. We also equip the
students for ILETS and TOEFL so that they can avail themselves
of chances for going abroad. In addition, we can help establish
efficient computer skills for students to integrate into the
workplace where these skills are frequently required.
Join The REAL Learning Center and learn in a realistic, effortless, and entertaining way. Learn
language naturally, the way native speakers do as children. TRLCL keeps you in touch with real
English in the form of news, audio, videos, lectures, movies, songs, podcasts and much more.
With our program you will have the chance to learn the English that is spoken on the streets of
the USA, the UK, Canada, Australia and all other English-speaking countries. TRLCL teaches
by utilizing BBC, CBC, VOA and Walt Disney World media. TRLCL focuses on informal and
formal English, slang, colloquialisms, phonetics - all the main components of language that are
important in various contexts - to fully understand native speakers. TRLCL covers different
language situations such as business English and academic English. Please, join us today to be
REAL!
That's not all; to make you skillful and competent in this world of information and technology,
TRLCL also provides you with computer classes where TRLCL changes you from a simple
computer user to a web developer and a software developer. TRLCL provides different courses
like CIT, DIT, graphics courses, web development courses and much more. We invite you to
join us today to gain REAL skills.
To get our tweets on your mobile for free, type FOLLOW (space) @TRLCL in your SMS option
and send it to 40404. Like this: FOLLOW @TRLCL then send it to: 40404
THE REFLECTIONS
141
Dear reader,
I dont know you, but now that you have read this book, you know me in some way. This is a
message for you. I am writing to tell you that you are precious. Your time is money. Your life is
valuable. Many of us forget the value of ourselves, our time, and our life, when we fall prey to
loneliness, despair, and depression.
These torments are brought about by different people and events in our lives. Sometimes
friends are the cause. Sometimes family members or relatives are the cause. Sometimes it's our
own mistake. I read somewhere that people will always treat you according to their need and
mood. Through the course of my life, I have realized this to be true.
That is why I believe that nobody can take better care of you than you yourself. The writings in
this book are full of lessons that if you act upon, can bring happiness and contentment in your
lives. In the reading comprehension classes at the REAL Learning Center, I have often given
my own stories to students for the sake of learning English. The students always say that apart
from learning English, they gain many things from the stories. The stories have great positive
impact on them.
So you, too, should make the most out of these works and make your life the best. After reading
these stories, many of my students have started writing themselves. According to them, these
writings are models for them through which they learn how to write and express their views on
the paper in the form of stories, poems, sketches, essays, and letters.
You can also write. If you want me to post your writings on my blog with your name, send them
to me. My email address is RizwanAhmedMemon@gmail.com.
To stay informed of the stories that I am writing now or will write in the future, follow me on
Twitter. Here is the link www.twitter.com/TRLCL.
I post all my writings on my blog. The address is http://rizwanahmedmemon.blogspot.com/
You can send me feedback, comments, and your suggestions directly on the blog or send them
to my email address.
All the best! I am looking forward to hearing from you on Facebook, my blog, or through email.
Rizwan
THE REFLECTIONS
142
is a collection of stories, letters,

poems, sketches, and essays, filled with positive and inspiring life
messages. The collection takes you into the world of experiences,
mistakes, pain, and compulsions, where you learn from the
mistakes of others and learn to be careful in your own lives. The
mistakes and experiences of others can be lessons for coming
generations.

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4th Edition The Reflections Author Rizwan Ahmed Memon

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the Internet and writing than he

To show the value of someone or something, people

With best wishes,

Rizwan Ahmed Memon

Rizwan Ahmed Memon

This book consist of 23 stories, 14 letters, 88 poems (including sketches and

Book Name: The Reflections

Author: Rizwan Ahmed Memon

Author: Rizwan Ahmed Memon

Author: Rizwan Ahmed Memon

Author: Rizwan Ahmed Memon

Author: Rizwan Ahmed Memon

Author: Rizwan Ahmed Memon

city? I want to go to school on that school bus with those children.

Author: Rizwan Ahmed Memon

Author: Rizwan Ahmed Memon

Pretty = The mother of Parrot

Parrot = Little bird son of Pretto and Pretty

Joe = Hunter who takes away Parrot from his nest

Erik = Little boy who buys Parrot from the zoo

Anglia = A beautiful woman who gets married with Angel

10. Parrot Gets out of the Zoo

19. Parrot Goes to His Homeland Forever

Author: Rizwan Ahmed Memon

Author: Rizwan Ahmed Memon

Author: Rizwan Ahmed Memon

Author: Rizwan Ahmed Memon

Author: Rizwan Ahmed Memon

Author: Rizwan Ahmed Memon

Author: Rizwan Ahmed Memon

Author: Rizwan Ahmed Memon

Author: Rizwan Ahmed Memon

Author: Rizwan Ahmed Memon

Author: Rizwan Ahmed Memon

Author: Rizwan Ahmed Memon

Author: Rizwan Ahmed Memon

Author: Rizwan Ahmed Memon

Author: Rizwan Ahmed Memon

Sometimes he passed written tests,

Sometimes his spirit

Sara, Gods mill grinds slow, but sure.

Author: Rizwan Ahmed Memon

But I can admit you to school.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Respond to the story:

Author Rizwan Ahmed Memon

Do you believe in fate?

Author: Rizwan Ahmed Memon

Author: Rizwan Ahmed Memon

Author: Rizwan Ahmed Memon

Author: Rizwan Ahmed Memon

Author: Rizwan Ahmed Memon

Author: Rizwan Ahmed Memon

Author: Rizwan Ahmed Memon

Author: Rizwan Ahmed Memon

Author: Rizwan Ahmed Memon

Author: Rizwan Ahmed Memon

Author: Rizwan Ahmed Memon