Once upon a time, almost four hundred years ago, there lived a king called Akbar. He was such a great king, and he ruled over such a great part of India, that he was called on emperor. Emperor Akbar lived in Delhi. Here he had a huge palace and a strong fort. At his court there were many famous people. There were artists and musicians. There were dancers and poets. There were clever scientists and writer's too. There was also a very funny man at his court. This man's name was Mulla Do Piyaza. Mulla Do Piyaza made the Emperor laugh. When the Emperor was sad he called for the Mulla. Where is my friend Do piyaza? Bring him to me now.' The servants in the court went off in all directions. Soon Mulla Do Piyaza was brought in front of the Emperor. And very soon ofter that the Emperor forgot all his troubles. He rolled about with laughter. Mulla Do Piyaza really was a very funny man. He always had something to say. Nothing surprised him and nothing shocked him. He always had a quick answer for any question. One morning the Mulla said goodbye to his wife and young son. He went off to the court to amuse the king with his clever words and his jokes. While he was at the court his son, who was only six years old, began to behave very badly. He did something naughty. His mother the Mulla's wife, got got very angry with the small boy. You bad boy she shouted and chased him out of the room. The little boy was frightened. He ran to his own room and hid under the bed. His mother knew where he was but she decided to leave him there. The little boy stayed under the bed. He stayed there all through the afternoon, till the evening. Quite late in the evening, Mulla Do Piyaza came home. When he came into the house, his wife told him about their son. Our son behaved very badly, she said I chased him and he ran and hid under his bed. He has been there all day. I am worried about him now but I don't want to go and pull him out. You go to him dear husband. Talk to him sweetly and ask him to come out and have some dinner. Mulla Do Piyaza went immediately to his son's room. He went to the bed and peeped under it. Yes, there was his son, resting peacefully against the wall. The Mulla did not want to frighten his son. He lay on the floor and put his head right under ther bed. The little boy turned towards his father with a bright smile on his face. Hello Father he said Have you been punished too? Never mind. There is plenty of room under here for both of us. Crawl right in and make yourself comfortable. Mulla Do Piyaza had nothing to say. For the first time in his life he found himself speechless! He crawled under the bed and joind his son.
The mouse and his daughter
Many years ago there lived an old mouse called Eluka. His house was on the bank of the river Jhelum. Eluka lived with his beautiful little doughter, Anika. Every day she grew more beautiful. Her father was quite amazed at her beauty.One day Eluka walked along the bank of the river. After some time he lay down on the green and looked up into the sky. He was worried. He had to find a husband for his doughter. Where am I going to find a handsome husband for Anika?' he thought. The sun shone brightly in the clear blue sky above. Suddenly Eluka jumped up. He pointed to the sun and shouted with delight. There is a groom fit for my pretty girl!' Eluka ran all the way home. He did not waste any time. He packed his small bag and set off at once for the sun's palace. At last Eluka arrived at the sun's palace. Everything shone like gold. The sun was very surprised to see the small, old mouse. What do you want old mouse?' asked the sun. 'O sun!' said Eluka, in a squeaky voice, 'You are strong and you are very handsome. Please will you take my daughter to be your wife. The sun did not want to marry a mouse. Oh dear me!' he said. He did not want to upset the old mouse, so he smiled and said, 'My friend, I am not strong. Look at those clouds over there. I cannot shine when they pass over me. They are much stronger. Why don't you ask them.The unhappy mouse picked up his bag and left the palace. He went to the clouds. One cloud was big and white. Eluka went up to the cloud and asked. 'Oh big, white cloud! You are big and strong, and handsome too. Will you mary me beautiful daughter. Small mouse, ' thundered the cloud, I may be strong and handsome. But I am not as strong as the North Wind. You should see what I look like when he is angry! He blows me all over the land and the sea. He makes me black and I look frightening. Try the North Wind, my friend. Now Eluka was very sad. He wen home. If the North Wind sees me beautiful doughter, he will surely marry her,' he thought. But the North Wind lived a long way off, high up in the snowy mountains. Eluka took Anika with him and went him to see the North Wind. After a long journey the two mice arrived at the home of the North Wind. Will you marry me beautiful daughter, O mighty wind? he begged. The North Wind howled. Don't think I am strong and mighty, he said, Come with me and I will show you someone who is much stronger than I am. The North Wind howled even louder. With a WHOOSH picked up the tow small mice and carried them close to their own home. very gently and carefully the North Wind put the two mice down next to a tall tower. The tower was old. The North Wind said to Eluka, 'Look at that tower. It has been standing there for a hundred years. I blow and blow, but it still won't tumble down. I am not as strong as the tower. Ask the tower to marry your daughter.' The North Wind blew away. Eluka and Anika walked sadly towards the tower.
Come on my dear.' said Eluka. 'Our house is not far from here. If the tower says no, we will go home.' Eluka asked the tower to marry Anika. The tower creaked and groaned. I am old and ugly,' he said. ' Next year I will surely fall down. The mice that live in my walls are eating me up. They are strong. L will be happy if your daughter marries one of them.' Eluka and Anika entered the tower. They met the mice who lived in the towe. Mr and Mrs Tower Mouse invited them into their home for a cup of tea. Anika met their son, Inoki. He was handsome and brave. Soon a grand wedding was arranged, Anika married Inoki, and they lived happily together for many years. Old Eluka lived with them. He spent many happy hours playing with his grandchildren.
The Hundred-Rupee Note
An elderly man and his old wife lived together in a small village near Hyderabad. One day the little old lady told her husband that she was going into Hyderabad to do some shopping. There are many big shops in Hayerabad, and the old lady liked shopping there. So early the next morning the man woke his wife with a hot cup of tea. 'Wake up, dear,' he said softly. 'I have made you a hot cup of tea, and I am putting it on the mat near your pillow. I am also leaving a hundred-rupee note next to the cup. Dont't go back to sleep, or you will miss the bus,'He shook her gently and then went out off to work in the fields.
The old lady lay on her mat and thought about what she was going to buy that day. She dozed off and then woke up with a start. 'Oh dear!' she said, looking at the clock, 'I will have to hurry, or I will miss the bus.' The old lady washed and dressed very quickly. She grabbed her bag and walked as fast as her little old legs would take her. When she got to the bus stop she was huffing and puffing.
Soon the bus arrived and the little old lady fought to ge on. What a crowd there was on the bus! Everyone in the district seemed to be going to Hyderabad that day. It was market day and many of the villagers were going to sell their wares in the city. There were men with baskets and sacks. There were women with babies and bags. There were children and old people with chickens and ducks.The roof of the bus was piled high with boxes and bags, baskets and sack, trunks and containers of all shapes and sizes. Somehow, the little old lady got a seat. She sat on the edge of a seat next to a very fat women. The fat women was holding a large bag on her lap.
Soon the bus began to move. It creaked and grooned; it rattled and clanked. The engine roared and off it went, faster and faster down the road. With some difficulty the little old lady peered out of the window. She could see the fields and trees, and the shops and houses beside the road. The little old lady was bounced up and down and when the bus went round a corner she had to hold on tight. It was not too uncomfortable as she had a nice, plump cushion on one side! It was hot and stuffy in the bus and the old lady yawned and then fell fast asleep. After a few minutes there was a loud bang. The little old lady woke up suddenly. A large box had fallen off the roof of the bus.
The bus screeched to a halt and tow or three men got out and ran off down the road to fetch the box. The passengers all laughed and cheered. The little old lady rubbed her eyes and said to herself, 'I really must stay awake. I have a lot of money in my purse, and if I fall asleep someone might take it.' She carefully took out her purse and opened it. She just wanted to check if her money was still there. To her shock and dismay the purse was empty! She put her purse away quickly and sat quietly. She was thinking about what she should do. She looked at the fat woman sitting beside her. The fat woman's eyes were shut and she was snoring loudly. 'Aha!' said the old lady to herself. 'I think you are pretending to sleep, my dear fat woman. And I think you must have stolen my hundred-rupee note!'
The little old lady noticed that the fat woman's bag was quite dirty. She also noticed that the fat woman's clothes were old and worn. The fat woman was certainly not rich. She felt sorry for the fat woman, but she also felt very cross. She decided not to make a big fuss or call for the police. Very carefully and quietly, the little old lady opened the fat woman's bag. And there on top of a larger red handerchief lay the hundred-rupees note. She put her hand into the bag an pulled out the note. She tucked it away in her purse and sat quietly till the bus reached Hyderabad. When the bus arrived at the main bus station, woman and the men, the children and the chickens, the sacks and the boxes and the bags all poured out of the bus. With some difficulty the little old lady got out too.
The little old lady had a wonderful time in the city. she went to the market and walked up and down. She stopped to look at the people and the traffic. She stopped to look al all the wonderful things in the shops, and to talk to some of the shopkeepers. She bought lots of things. The day in the big city went very quickly. Soon it was time to catch the bus home. A young boy helped the little old lady with her bags and parcels. Luckily, ther little old lady was early and found a good seat on the bus. She looked around at the people on the bus. She saw faces she knew and many new faces, too. One of the faces that she remembered was that of the fat woman. The fat woman was sitting at the back of the bus, and she looked very angary, indeed. Soon the bus was on its way, and in no time at all the bus arrived at the village. The little old lady's husband was at the bus stop waiting to meet her. He helped her to unload all her bags.
When the little old lady got off, the husband scratched his head and looked very puzzled. He stared at all the bags and parcels. 'Hello, my dear he said. I see you have bought many things today. But where did you get the money? What a silly question! replied the old lady. Why you gave me a hundred-rupee note this morning!' I did said man. But when I got home from the fields, the note was still on the mat where I left it. The little old lady said nothing. She turned and looked at the bus. It was going off at great speed, leaving behind it a huge cloud of dust and smoke. She now knew why the fat woman looked so angry.
A Flash of Light
It was a cold day and Valentine Huay walked briskly down the cobbled street. It was getting dark and he was in a neighbourhood he was not very familiar with. He was on his way home and was thinking about the warm room and the glowing fire that would greet him on his arrival. A carriage pulled by horses rattled past as Valentine reached the corner of the street. To avoid being trampled by the horses, he stepped back on to the pavement.
Befor Valentine could cross the road, he heard a rustling sound behind him. He turned and saw in the shadows of a wide doorway a man standing with his hat in his hand. 'Please, sir said the man, spare some money for a poor blind beggar.Valentine was a kind man and had thought a lot about the problems of blind people. He had often wondered how he could be of help to the blind. Seeing the blind beggar he at once removed one of his gloves, and putting his hand into his pocket pulled from it a coin which he put in the blind beggar's hat.
The blind beggar thanked him and Valentine walked away. He was halfway acrossthe road when he heard the beggar call out, 'Sir, sir! Please, just a moment.'
Valentine turned once again and returned to face the blind man. 'Surely, sir,' said the beggar who was on honest man, 'you have a made; you have given me a franc instead of a sou.The words of the beggar astonished Valentine. He was not surprised by the man's honesty but by the fact that he could tell so quickly the difference between a franc and a sau. How did you know that i had given you a franc? asked Valentine. 'Oh,' replied the beggar, 'it is enough for me to pass my finger over it. This was like a flash light. Valentine allowed the beggar to keep the franc although it was a greate deal of money in those days. As he continued his walk he thought to himself, It the blind can distinguish at the least touch a piece of money, why should they not distinguish a mark, a letter or a figure?In short, they should be able to distinguish any sign so long as it is raised.
With this idea Valentine took home a blind boy whom he found begging at a church door.The blind boy became his first pupil and learnt very quickly how to read from raised signs. With the help of money raised from the public, Valentine Hauy was able to start a school for the blind. Some years later, a blind man called Louis Braille (1809-52) also a Frenchman like Valentine hauy, perfected a system of writing specially for the blind.
So You Think You Can Divide!
There was once an old man who had three sons and saventeen camels. The sons were called Hameed, Naeem and Rafiq. The father was getting very old and one day he called his sons together and said, 'Boys, I am old and one of these days I will die. When I am gone please promise me that you won't quarrel over my camels. I want you to divide the camels in this way. Hameed, you are the oldest and you must have half the camels. Naeem, You are the second and you must take a third. Rafiq will get a ninth.'
The boys promised not to quarrel but do exactly as their father had commanded. A few days later when the father died, the boys arranged the funderal and when that was over they got down to the business of sharing the camels.Hameed, the eldest boy, said, 'Father wanted me to have half the camels, but half of seveteen is eight and a half. How can I take half a camel? The best idea would be for me to take nine camels and you two can share the rest.'
The others did not agree. Naeem said, 'You are already getting the biggest share. Why should you get half a camel more? It's best that you take eight.' Hameed said that it was a good idea but it was not according to their father's wish. The youngest, Rafiq, interrupted: 'How about selling one camel and then dividing the money?' The other two did not agree to this suggestion. 'Then what about killing one camel and feeding the village in memory of our father?' asked Rafiq.
'What!' shouted Hameed, 'waste a good camel by feeding the whole village? you most be crazy!' The argument went an and on. Every time one of the sons made a suggestion, the other two disagree with it. Their voices got louder and louder; their faces got redder and redder and there was much stamping of feet and shaking of fists. When the argument was at its height, a man came by leading a camel by a rope. The man was a holy man who happened to be passing by.
'Now, my brother,' said the holy man, 'I' m sorry to inerrupt your discussion but can I be of any help? It is not very good to fight and shout at each other; you may burst a blood vessel.' Well Holy man, ' said Hameed, 'We are quarrelling over the inheritance that was bequeathed to us by our father.
We did not mean to quarrel but there doesn't seem to be a solution to our problem. The holy man listened to their story. When they had told him the story, he smiled and said, 'Here, take my camel and see how that will help in your sharing, We can't do that, ' replied the brothers. 'It's very kind of you, but you must not give up your camel. The holy man smiled kindly. 'No, no, please take it. if God will, I shall not be the poorer for it.' He gave them the camel. With the holy man's camel there were now eighteen camels. Hameed took His share of half that was nine camels; Naeem took a third that was six camels; and Rafiq took a ninth that was two camels. Suddenly the brothers stood quite still. They were struck with amazement for there, standing by itself, was the holy man's camel. The holy man bent down and took up the rope which was tied to his camel. ' You see, my friends,' he said softly, 'there is no need to quarrel. Everything can be settled in a friendly manner if we try.' He waved goodbye and went on this way.
A True Muslim
To be a Muslim is a greate blessing of Allah. It is indeed His mercy to make us believe in Allah and his prophet (A.S); the final one being the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The hallmark of a true Muslim is the magnanimity of heart. A true Muslim believes that Allah is the light of the heavens and the earth. He remains conscious that Allah knows all the facts even the innermost secrets of hearts. He believes that man can grap only that part of His knowledge which Allah wills. He spends good, worthy things in the name of Allah. He knows that if he gives alms to the poor secretly, it will be, hopefully enough, atonement for some of his sins. A good Muslim is ever eager to seek knowledge. He is clean, brave and pure. He does his duty well. He tries to attain excellence in every field of life. He she offers prayers punctually five five times a day. A true Muslim believes that good deeds endure for rich rewards in the hereafter. It is indeed a great privilege to be a Muslim.
The Monsoon / A Rainy Day
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In the first week of July, sky was heavily overcast and rain clouds swept across the sky. Strong south westerly winds that blew over the Indian Ocean, brought the monsoon clouds which caused a lot of rain. South westerly monsoon is refeshingly cool and it brings relief to the gasping, heat-stricken people. So it did in July when the temperature rose alarmingly high. Newspapers carried reports of deaths by heat-stroke or exhaustion and the death-toll was mounting every day. A night before it had been oppressively hot and humind. It was dazzling sunrise and the moist dew on the grass glittered in the sunshine. Surprisingly the wind rustled through the swaying tops of trees. That was just splendid. The humid heat was gone in no time. We saw the rolling mass of black clouds across the sky. There was a flash of lightning, quickly followed by a clap of thunder. Large rain drops began to fall. The moment they fell, the dry earth sucked them. It was followed by a heavy shower. In the soothing shadows of dark clouds the streets were turned into streams. The high walls were drenched, the tree-leaves sparkled in glee. Low-lying areas were flooded.The young and the old alike ran up and down the flooded streets. There were scenes of jubilation all around. It rained for about one hour. Light vehicles broke down on the flooded roads. Motor-cyclists slipped and fell in pools of water.
Libraries
With the spread of literacy, libraries have become essential tool for learning. Public instruction is making rapid progress everywhere in Pakistan. It is no more the privilege of the well-to-do only to acquire knowledge as it was not so very long ago. There are schools and colleges in almost every part of the cuntary. Twenty first century dawns with a sure promise to be a century of peace and educational explosion. Naturally when there is thirst for knowledge, there is also an ever-increasing demand for books and magazines. Everybody does not have the means to buy books of all sorts. Mass education programme is bound to suffer adversely if there are no free libraries for students. Our school libraries are not functioning properly. There are practically no reading or borrowing facilities. There is no whole-time staff for libraries. Above all, there is no incentive to read general books or fiction. The few books that may be there in the dusty old almirahs stink awfully. This is mainly so for want of fresh air in the stuffy, locked cupboards. More often the books are just old titles, moth-eaten and worn out. Libraries obviously play an important role in creating a genuine love of books and interest in current affairs. Their reading rooms promote a spirit of discipline, research, enquiry and fellowship. Libraries with a variety of attractive titles have a healthy, beneficial effect on the eager mind of students.
Health
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"Health is Wealth" is a well khown proverb often quoted by our parents and teachers. When people meet, they usually ask one another "How are you?" "How are you getting on?" Health is precious and certainly a greate blessing of Allah Almighty. Hygienic environment, personel cleanliness, wholesome food and a regular way of life are conducive to health. Early to bed and early to rise, meals at regular times, recreation and rest are sure to make a man healthy, wealthy and wise. Young people, Who have plenty of energy, need to take vigorous athletic exercises in the fresh open air. In case we are run down, overworked, or dreadfully sick we consult a good doctor. He gives us a tonic, or prescribes a special diet. "You are working too hard" , he may say, "that's what the trouble is. You cannot go on burning the candle at both ends." Sometime staying at one place, year in and year out, tends to make us weary and stale. It is a signal that what we need is a complete change in our environment. If we go to some other place at the hills or in the countryside, it does us a world of good. Change and fresh air are better than all the tonics in the world. Eatingout is generally avoided by health-conscious men and women. Home-made cookies are the safest and the best in the world.
An Industrial Exhibition
An industrial exhibition was in Islamabad in March last year. The intention of the organizers was to exhibit industrial products at one place. The trading community and the general public showed keen interest in the products. Accompanied by my elder brother and sisters, I went round the elegant and brightly litstalls. Exhibits included textiles and garments, electrical goods, household items, handicrafts, glass wares, furniture, sewing machines and stainless steel. The Pakistan Railway and wapda had put up very informatory stalls. Heavy industrial goods, rollers, water pumps, tube-well equipment, motors, fertilizers and machinery were also on display. prices of consumer goods were quite reasonable. Manufacturers were selling their products at reduced rates. Besides, there were food and entertainment stalls which attracted the cheerful crowds.
Haste Makes Waste
A hunter had a beautiful hound who always went hunting with him. The end of the hunters's only son who loved to play with the dog. The master also loved the hound for its friendship with his young son who was only ten years old. The master of the house had no one else in the house. One day, the hunter went out hunting but forgot to take the hound with him. His son was still asleep in his bed. As he reached the edge of the forest he found that he had forgotten to bring the hound with him. He decided to go back and bring the hound. He came home but was afraid to see his hound all bloodstained standing at the gate. The hunter thought that the hound had killed his son. He whipped out his sword and killed the dog. He quickly walked into the house and saw blood pools here and there. Just then he saw his son coming out of his room. The boy told his father how a wolf had come into the house and was about to kill him when the hound pounced upon it and tore it into pieces. The hunter began to cry at his haste in killing the faithful creature.
A Visit to a Museum
The Lahore Museume is an important place where works of art, and other objects of historical value are kept and displayed. It is an old imposing building with a high ceiling. The Incharge of the museum is called the curator. Our well-informed teacher took us round different sections of the beautiful museum. There were neatly arranged glass-cases which displayed ancient sword, daggers, garments, ornaments,coins, bows and arrows, There were tags with brief descriptions on most of the items on display. There were paintings, pictures and clay models of ancient craftsmanship. The huge statue of Queen Victoria lay in one room of the museum. There were old manuscripts of the Holy Quran in another room. Full-size doors and frames with primitive fittings were specimens of rare woodwork craftsmanship. The impressive display in the museum gave us a wealth of information and insight into our past. It was a rewarding visit indeed.
Fashions
No doubt it is an age of fashions. The fascination of fashions is particularly very strong in our cities. Adults as well as teenagers know fully well the social importance of fashions. The craze to look smart and up-to-date is becoming even stronger. The garment industry, attractive advertising and films are mainly responsible for this craze. The T.V. commercials and the press have also affected and captured the imagination of the people. Pakistan working abroad have poured in a lot of money in recent years. Shopping plazas and markets have sprung up everywhere. Foreign designs and elegant dressmaking are very much in demand. Every week there are full page colour pictures of fashion wears, powders, perfumes and cosmetics. Fabrics, footwear, furniture, fast food and video films have become the fashion of the day. People in cities seem to have given themselves away to shifting fashions. Fashions move like windstorms. The glitter of advertisements makes everything look like gold. We should be on our guard, because all that glitters may not be gold in some cases.
Basant
A festival of kites preparations are made months in advance celebrated by kite flying a little prior to the close of winter a favourite festival of Lahorites the gay spirited sons of Lahore are very enthusiastic about it some groups act as rivals and spend thousand of rupees on Basant day The roof tops are crowded. People cry aloud "Bo-kata" throughout the day Many mishaps occur precious lives are lost or limbs broken Throats of the motorbike riders have been slit with sharp, strong twisted thread Metal strings cause electrocutions and power-failures a total wastage but who cares? Basant has now become a bloody failure.
A Meena Bazaar
At our school a meena bazaar was held in the first week of February. There was quite a big crowd of chattering girls in front lawn. They were radiant and relaxed because there was no teaching that day. There were different stalls set up by teachers and senior students. There were potfuls of foodstuffs with tasty sauce neatly arranged on big tables. Girls shopkeepers were surprisingly alert and efficient. The girl customers tried little tricks with the stall-holders and laughed heartilly. Sizzling pakoras, fruit-chat, shami kababs and chicken sticks were in greate demand. Senior students had assistants with them. They kept an eye on the light spirited and naughty customers. There was a very entertaining variety show in the afternoon. Our principal donated the sale money to a charitable organization.
A Road Accident
The other day I witnessed an accident on the Lahore - Narowal road. It was a very sad spectacle. The road at the spot was littered with broken glass, bits of wooden frames and iron bars. The luggage of the passengers of the bus was in a muddy sideway nullah. There were little pools of blood with bricks around them. A horse lay dead right in the middle. A tonge frame nearby was just like a heap of broken painted wood. A head on collision between a bus and a truck had taken place. The terrible collision had its impact on the nearby tonga. Tow persons were killed on the spot and five others sustained serious injuries. The bus lay on one side with its heavy wheels raised high in the air. The police arrived and took measurements and recorded statements.
Pakistani Women
Women in Pakistan have begun to take an active part in different spheres of life. Job opportunities for them in the past were few. By and large women worked as lady doctors, nurses, health visitors and teachers during the first ten years of Pakistan. But spheres for women now are greater than ever before. They seem well on the way to become even more active in the near future. They compete successfully in the central superior services examinations. They are holding responsible positions in administration, custom, income tax, railway, foreign service, police and postal departments. Some of them are in the assemblies as M.N.As. Quite a number of educated women are in banks and in business. Pakistan had its first-ever women prime Minister in 1988 - 90 and in 1994 - 1996. Women of Pakistan are now more conscious of their social and political status in the twenty first century.
Complete Story
Once a farmer had three grown-up sons. They always quarrelled among themselves. Their father advised them to live in peace but it had no effect on them. He was worried about their future. One day the farmer fell seriously ill. He sent dor his sons. He asked them to collect a handful of sticks which they did at once. He tied the sticks into a bundle.
Now, he asked them to break the bundle one by one. They tried hard to break it but none could. At last the farmer untied the bundle and asked each of them to break each stick. They did so quite easily. Their father said, "My dear sons, you could not break the sticks as long as they remained tied together but you broke each single stick quite easily. They were strong in bundle but became weak when separated from one another. Never forget that united we stand and divided we fall.This had a deep effect on the farmer's sons. They gave up quarrelling and began to live in peace.
How To Keep Our Town Clean
Cleanliness is next to godliness. We must give a serious thought to this golden truth. Neat and clean environment has a cheerful effect. It is a sure sign of civilization. Knowledge is a great blessing of Allah. We are fortunate to have the opportunity to receive education. As school going boys and girls it is our responsibility to keep our town clean. We ought to develop civic sense.We should not throw fruit and vegetable peels all over the street. A banana or melon peel thrown carelessly on the road can cause a fracture or even death. plastic, polythene and wooden items should not be thrown into manholes. A chaked gutter spreads filth and stench all over the street. Life becomes miserable. spitting is another problem as it causes disease and insanitation. We can politely prevent one another from spitting on floors. We should not throw hard things or stones into toilets. We should not be shy of taking a broom and sweeping the littered portion of the street in front of our door. We should take care of trees, plants and flower beds in a park. if we happen to pass by an unattended running water tap, we should stop and close it. as citizens we should be vigilant and report to the municipality if its staff neglects its duty. We can also add to cleanliness if we sprinkle water on our portion of the road. Dust and pollution can be effectively controlled if every one of us lends a helping hand. God loves people who practise purity and cleanliness.
A Visit To A Hospital
A clash took place between tow rival parties in which three persons received bullet injuries. My father went to the enquire about the health of one of the injured. I accompanied him one day and saw the pitiable condition of patients in the ward. There were about 30 beds with patients either lying or reclining. About half a dozen of patients were moaning miserably and their condition was critical. One of them stopped moaning after about half an hour and Iwas shocked to learn that he had expired. After a couple of hospital formalities, the dead body was handed over to his relatives. In the nearby outdoor department of the hospital there were pathetic scenes. Ailing children were wailing, a few women suffering from some disease were lying out under a tree. They looked more like skeletons. An unconscious patient was being carried on a stretcher. Some boys were brought on cots with fractured bones. A profusely bleeding women, injured in an accident, was being taken to the casualty ward. There were some bandaged patients who winced with pain. The courtyard and the corridors were crowded and the sight of suffering was unbearable. before leaving the hospital I muttered sincere prayers for the recovery of patients.
A Dream
A couple of nights ago I had a terrible dream. Strangely enough, I found myself rigth on the roof-top of a three-storey building. It was probably our ancestral house at Sankhatra. The view from the top was magnificent. The far and wide green fields, the winding road and the far off misty hills had a perfect setting. Suddenly, I felt a jolt and the building began to move sideways, like a swing. It was an earthquake jerk. A terrific jerk made the building lean dangerously, and then the top storey along with me lay on the ground like fallen tree. I saw it fall so vividly as if I was awake. Luckily I was not hurt at all. Then I saw a tall, mighty tree. Its leaves and branches disappeared suddenly as if by magic. Its huge trunk began to shake and then it crashed with a tearing sound. I woke up and felt horrified. I began to recite verses of the Holy Quran and I felt a bit relaxed in about half an hour.
A River In Flood
Last Summer I happend to be in my village, about 20 miles south of Jhang. for over a week the wet spell had been a delightful experience. The rain was driven in sharp bursts by the rushing wind. One morning on the early hours there went up a cry "water, water". The Chenab was in flood.There was water in our big courtyard. The low-lying part of the village was under three feet of water.panic gripped the whole village.There were bushels on almost every head. Most of the folks started moving through the flooded fields towards the nearby high mound.It was a scene of greate misery. From the corner of the high mound I had the first glimpse of the river in flood. The entire area upto the far-off road bridge and even beyond was just one sheet of muddy water.Logs were seen floating fast. The trees all round,with half their trunks in water, stood firm like unfolded umbrellas. Far below we saw the floating bodies of horses and cows. The flood all around and the floating objects on water filled our heart with dread.
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