Hesits at the same table every day. He smiles at everybody politely. Small, shysmiles. The kind of smiles that make your lips automatically lift up at thecorners too. He’soverweight, but that doesn’t stop him from getting up every two hours andfetching food from the canteen. Small, bite-sized Snickers bars. Chilli rice. Abottle of Coke. He [...]

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Okay, so today I’ve written a short story as a guest post for Furree’s awesome blog. Thank you so much, Furree, for giving me the opportunity! You can read my guest post on Furree’s blog here. Or you can continue reading below, because I’m posting the story on my own blog right now as well. This [...]

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I thought I knew Pakistan but when I said as much she onlylaughed and pointed at me with her rough, ugly fingers capped with filthy blackenednailsthat spoke of a lifetime of scrubbing people’s toilets and washing their dirtyunderwearand laughed and laughedand in her cackling, vile laughter, I heard mockery and disgust and delight but most [...]

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Right now, the breeze is rustling through the trees outside. It makes anice sound. Like soft whispers, velvety rustles. I sit on the sofa and listento it. And I feel scared. I feel scared because of what’s to come. And that’sdisappointment. I’ve known too much of it lately, and I’ve no desire toexperience anymore now. [...]

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On January 14th, Arfa Karimpassed away. The news spread like wildfire. Facebook statuses revolved aroundonly one topic of discussion. People passed on the shocking news to theirfriends, family, relatives. Television channels mentioned it, the news reporters’voices laced with heavy sorrow. And collectively, Pakistanis mourned together.They keened together. They bowed their heads together. A solid banner [...]

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I sleep a lot. I love to sleep.It’s like an entertainment within itself. I love not having to think, or feel,or worry, or do anything whatsoever for those continuous stretch of hours. Ithink everyone needs an escape from reality, and from stress. Reading books,watching funny movies, or simply relaxing does wonders on its own, but [...]

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Sometimes,I feel guilty. I feel guilty because I love Pakistan more than anything else,with every fibre of my being, but I also know that if push comes to shove, Iwouldn’t die for it. If ever there comes a time when I have to choose betweenstanding up for Pakistan and fighting with weapons or moving to [...]

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(Note: Twoand a half years ago, I read a short story by Kanza Tariq. That story has beenthe basis of loose inspiration for this one. However, aside from inspiration, Icredit her story with nothing else. This piece of fiction has been writtenentirely by me, and is a work of my own imagination.)  The room is [...]

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Crossroads. Choices. I don’t knowwhat to do. I don’t want to deal with them anymore. I feel like a frail,struggling butterfly pinned up against a wooden slate, wings fluttering,strength draining, death hovering. Well, perhaps the death part is a littlemelodramatic. But the tendency to exaggerate has always been dominant withinme. I feel trapped, anyhow. Not [...]

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Outside, from the window ofmy living room, nature looks beautiful and enchanting. The leaves of the treesare dappled with late afternoon sunlight; the golden is soft and glowing, andhighlights the dark green strikingly. The sun hangs in a pale, washed-out bluesky, a bright orb suspended high above, whose radiance intimidates you, forcesyou to shield your [...]

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Okay, so I’ve just been nominatedfor the Versatile Blogger Award! I’m delighted, since this is the first time I’vegotten an award for my blog. And being awarded makes me feel super cool. Ha ha.  This award suitsmy blog, because I do write about all kinds of things. I post random thoughts,poems I’ve written, articles on [...]

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It’slate at night, but not late enough for me. Nighttime is when I feel trulyawake. There’s nothing better than curling up next to the heater armed with mylaptop and a few tidbits of food to replenish my sagging energy levels. A barof chocolate, a packet of instant Knorr noodles, or a bottle of Minute Maidjuice. [...]

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Oh what wonders we shall see!Together, you and meAs hand-in-hand,We shall eagerly traverse new land. Come, follow me,  mydearAnd abandon all fear…Indeed, it is with the purest of hearts that I say:“Don’t worry, I shall never lead you astray.” We have much to do, you and ISo why then do you in idleness lie? Hurry, [...]

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Maria’s fingers groped along thewall, skimming lightly over the smooth surface of the tiles. They encountered aprotruding object, a light switch. She flipped it, and illumination flooded thebathroom, chasing away obscurity instantaneously. Pushing open the door, Mariastood motionless on the threshold, her expression curiously unreadable. Secondsslowly trickled by; yet movement did not course through her [...]

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