Salma : Beta (son), I’m very old now. I can’t even see properly. Please don’t leave me alone for such long periods.
Abdul : Don’t worry Ammi (mother). The next time I come back home, I won’t leave again before getting a daughter-in-law for you. Then you won’t be alone. She will take good care of you.
Salma : Beta I’m living for that day only. Otherwise, I don’t have anything else to look forward to now. After your Abbu’s intequal (father’s death), living for your happiness has been my only motive. Now you get a loving and caring wife for yourself, so that I can die in peace.
Abdul : Ammi please don’t use such gloomy words. I promise you, next time I come home, I won’t leave before getting a daughter-in-law for you. You have adjusted for so long, it’s just a matter of some more time.
Salma : How much more time? There is not even a fixed date of your return. Tell me, how long are you going to take this time?
Abdul : Don’t worry Ammi. By your blessings and Allah’s (God’s) grace, I shall be back very soon indeed.
Salma : Beta please come back soon. I’d be waiting for you.
Abdul : Yes, Ammi mein bas gaya aur aaya (mother I’ll just go and come back again before you even realize it).
(Abdul departs leaving behind an old & exhausted mother, who was dreaming about his marriage with her unsighted eyes. Little did she know that destiny had something else in store for her.)
(A few days later. There is a knock on the door. Salma gets up to open it with a smile on her face.)
Salma (while opening the door) : Tu aa gaya beta (you have come back son). I really missed you.
Postman : Arey Ammi (Hey Mother). I’m Azher, the postman. There is a telegram for you. Take it.
Salma (with a disappointed look on her face) : I can’t read Beta. Please read the telegram for me.
Postman : Okay sure. (Opens the telegram and look a bit uncomfortable.) Ammi before I read it to you, please sit down and have some water.
Salma : I’m quite comfortable. Tell me what’s the message.
Postman : It’s a message from the Pakistani Hukumat (Pakistan Government). Your son Abdul has sacrificed his life while fighting for our motherland.
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Do you hate Pakistan? Your first impulsive answer maybe yes. But no, I don’t want an impulsive answer from you. Think about it peacefully, with a cool mind. And then come to a conclusion.
And if your answer is still yes, my question is - why? Why do you hate Pakistan? I don’t hate Pakistan and I don’t see any reason for anyone to hate Pakistan.
What is Pakistan? Pakistan is not just a piece of land; it’s much more than that. A piece of land is nothing in itself. It gets its identity from the people residing there. And I don’t hate the Pakistanis. Pakistani people are just like us. They speak the same language. They eat the same food. They wear the same clothes. They also feel the same pain when their loved ones die. They also have a red coloured blood just like us. Take the blood of an Indian and mix it with the one of a Pakistani. Can you separate the two?
Salma also felt the same pain when her son Abdul was killed in an Indo-Pak war, which an Indian mother would have felt. If the nationality changes, does it mean that the emotions of a mother will change too? A Pakistani sister also awaits her brother with the same eagerness with which an Indian sister waits for her brother who is sitting on the border for months, fighting for his motherland between life and death.
Indo-Pak wars have destroyed many a homes. No one wants war. Do we the common citizens of India, want a war? No! Similarly, the common man of Pakistan doesn’t want war either. Wars happen because of some egocentric politicians on both the sides of the border who bring up the Kashmir Issue whenever they see their position in danger. And the day the Pakistani people get a bit of awareness, they will understand that India is a good neighbour and a very good friend indeed. Pakistan can also prove to be an equally good friend. The people living there aren’t bad nor do they hate India. It’s just a matter of becoming politically aware for the countrymen of both the nations.
Both India and Pakistan aren’t very developed nations. Many of our countrymen are still living below the poverty line. They are not getting their daily breads. How can such nations afford to burn up so much precious money on destructive weapons and wars? Countries like China and America take advantage of this foolishness of ours and play their own game on the dead bodies of our Indian and Pakistani soldiers.
It was because of this foolishness of ours that the British ruled over us for so many years. And again it is because of the foolishness of Pakistan that Americans and Chinese have made it a puppet of their own hands. They know that the day India and Pakistan come together, they can beat any superpower in this world, and that’s why they are afraid of Indo-Pak unity. And it’s really idiotic on our part to get in their trap.
Aren’t we rational enough, to see where our good lies? Pakistan should open their eyes to the reality now, and understand the fact that India is a peaceful and friendly nation. If they don’t, this massacre will continue on both sides of the border, benefiting only a few fair skinned people of developed nations. It’s high time we understand our good. Even the God doesn’t help those who don’t help themselves.
I hope the New Year also brings in new hope for both India and Pakistan to start afresh leaving behind all the dire reminiscences. Hindustan Zindabad! Pakistan Zindabad!
A Happy 2005 to all of you!
© Tanmay Singh, 2005