Life

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 – 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...