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Feast

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I was walking down a desert track. Hot but gentle wind was blowing. From level of the track, my visibility was highly restricted due to the dunes spread all around me. The dunes presented a gentle slope from the direction of wind and were steep from the other side. To get a better picture of the surroundings, I decided to leave the track and climb up some big dune. Track itself was quite firm but sand astride the track was loose. I was wearing a casual blue jeans with a striped tee shirt and sports shoes. I exactly remembered who I was but just could not think as to what I was doing at this place? Sun was blistering hot. Temperature had peaked to an unbearable level. Every step which I was taking was draining my energy and making my lips drier. I stopped and started to think. “Did I come with some friends on a hunting trip and got lost somehow?” “Was I on desert safari or some other kind of freak adventure I usually took with my friends?” As I reached on top of the dune, the

Miracle

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It was pitch dark night. I was walking back home from my work. I am a security guard at a big store and my duty ends at 6 pm. That day, my relief did not turn up and the store manager called me and said, “I want you to remain at your place of duty till the store closes at 11.30 pm.” I was tired a lot but extra duty meant extra money. I sent a message to my wife that I will be late. Sakina was married to me for almost seven years now and we were still without any child. There was no medical problem so we had accepted it as will of God. Although we went to many pirs and faqirs as well, and tried many desi totkas but to no avail. Few days back, Sakina said to me in a very desolate tone, “I think you should marry another girl.” I got annoyed with her for thinking on these lines. I know many people who are blessed with children very late in their marriage. I had not lost hope. Most of all, Sakina was love of my life. I did not want to lose her for anything in this world. I looked in th

Black Magic

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Black Magic – Part 1 Bahawalpur is a beautiful city of South Punjab. It was founded in 1748 and was part of the former princely state of Bahawalpur. The state was ruled by the Abbasi family of Nawabs until 1955 when it was merged into Pakistan. A formal accord was signed between Nawab Sadiq Muhammad and the Government of Pakistan according to which the Nawab was allowed to retain the title and given a yearly pension of rupees 32 lacs till he died in 1966. The Nawabs left a rich architectural legacy, and Bahawalpur is now known for its monuments dating back to that period. The city also lies at the edge of Cholistan desert, and serves as a gateway to Lal Suhanra National Park. I was born in 1930 in a remote village of Bahawalpur. My father was a servant in Darbar Mahal which was built by Nawab Bahawal Khan in 1905. My grandfather was a personal aide to Nawab Adnan Abbasi and was deputed head of all servants of the Sadiq Garh Palace and Noor Mahal. I was twelve years old when m