Pride and prejudice

Pride n Prejudice

Yesterday my maid asked me to call his brother so I dialed his number and gave my mobile to her. Apparently I was sleeping but could hear all her conversation. She told her brother that she had arranged fifteen thousands thus he should not sell his bicycle.

I know her for twenty years so concerned. She belongs to a very honest and hardworking family. Her mother also served us before my husband’s demise.  Her mother worked very hard to raise her three orphan children.  So when she finished her talk I asked:   “Why did you make arrangement for fifteen thousand for your brother?”

What she told me shameful and heartbreaking.

She said that her sister in law works in house of a very rich family. To work in such houses one has to get permit from the sponsor. So she took loan to pay 15000 to get the permit.

The owner of his house where she works now is works in a very reputable job in Government Dept. Two of his daughters are married living abroad.  They belong to feudal class having lands in Banno.  That person came silently in the kitchen from the back and gripping her tightly kissed her sister in law who was washing dishes in the kitchen.

She told her husband and my maid.  Since they borrowed 15 thousand from this family only so they will never let her job. To pay back their amount her brother decided to sell his bike which is the only way of his earning. He is a hawker.

Being restless and depressive couldn’t sleep the whole night. Painful questions pinched me. Do poor people have no honor or regard if they serve the rich? Are they not human beings? Are they any one’s commodity? Any one can crush their self-respect? Is there no dignity of labor?

Should she have to inform his wife? Should she scream and publicize her vanity? This happened only due to not being aware of religion and rights of a woman.

I would like to make known the name of that person but being a practicing Muslima I believe in; to cover a sin of any one is Almighty Allah’s attribute. He is SATTARUL AYYUB. So I am not writing his name here.

My maid has already arranged so now her sister in law can leave the evil person’s service. My maid proved that she is not jealous and is not prejudice of her brother’s wife as it is commonly known but she did her best to save her.

In short my intention of writing this blog is to bring to the world’s notice that we have very dutiful, honest n respectable people in our unprivileged class too. My hats off to my maid!

 

 

 

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Pride and Gratitude!

Pride and Gratitude ! Of many mornings like today I switched on television. It   started with breaking news of bomb blast at Safora Goth. My mood turned into   depressive mode and many questions flashed through my mind regarding insecure   life in our country. I thought about those kids who leave their smiling   mothers at home when they go to school, loving husbands go to work to earn   living for their families, teachers leave their homes early in the morning   for building nation but nobody is sure to return back home alive in the evening……   common man is so helpless, insecure tense and uncertain of his life and   property. Lawlessness prevails. No one is there to take action against this   violence. The clock struck 10 o’clock reminding me to hurry as I had   to join my students who were on the way to National Institute of   Oceanography. So shrugging my shoulders I packed my things and started off as   I had arranged this visit for my students. Four of our teachers and 42   students were warmly welcomed by Oceanography management. National Institute of Oceanography is a huge four storied   green color building standing at the end of sea view road. It has well   equipped magnificent hall for presentations. Director Dr.Tabreiz, Ms.Samina Kidwai and Ms.Nuzhat Khan   presented the wonderful presentations on multimedia. The students kept   showering them with questions. I was truly impressed of the admirable work of   our scientists all over the world. My school is a part of a community development project   which is run under the umbrella of Infaq Foundation located in remote area   called Lalabad. The students do not belong to elite class but they belong   to unprivileged class, coming from surrounding areas. Some students are the   ones who had never seen school before. So this trip was something out of this   world for them. The officials complimented by saying that they never faced   so logical questions before this though had many sessions with university   students even. The students visited different Labs and museums. The   management arranged refreshment for the students too. It was one thirty and   Juma Prayers calls could be heard from the nearby mosques so from the deepest   core of my heart I thanked Almighty Allah that we have hard working   enthusiastic and patriotic Pakistanis who bring pride to motherland with   their outstanding performance like National Institute of Oceanography   management , Infaq Foundation and many others too. May Allah bring peace and tranquility in our   country——– Amen 9th December, 2011 Sabiha Qaiser

Was it coincidence or……….?

Was it coincidence or……..?

I joined Hamdard Public School as a primary class teacher in September 1993 just after iddat (iddat is the time period which a Muslim widow has to observe by staying home specially nights and not meeting any stranger males) i.e. 4 months 10 days after my husband’s death.

My mother in law had a very distinctive set of 30 siparahs along with translation of holy Quran. I used to read one siparah on the way to school every day for my husband’s soul to rest in peace. I am used to follow my daily routine according my set program. So when my mother in law shifted to her younger son’s home in 1995 she took that Quran with her thus my daily recitation discontinued. I felt very sad and uncomfortable. Hence I decided to buy that classic set of Quran so I could continue my recitation.

I remember very well that it was hot day of June 1995 when I visited all main Markets of Gulshan e Iqbal and all book stalls but failed to find that particular set of Quran. The shopkeepers told me that, that set could be found only in Urdu Bazaar. It was getting dark so I postponed driving so far till next day.

On the way back home I saw a very small new book stall which I had never seen before. I told my mother that it was my last hope so let me check it there too.” My mother replied,” Are you in senses, you could not find in big markets of Gulshan how can you find it in this small shop”.

I stopped my car in front of that small shop. I was surprised to see the same set of Quran on the top shelf there. Before I could ask the Hadiya (price) the shop keeper handing over the set to me said: “we will not take any money because a person came just before you came and gave this set asking us not to take a penny from whoever wants this set” after hearing this my body started shivering and tears rolled down my eyes. I could not control myself and took some time to share all this with my mother. She was also surprised and shocked. What was it? I cannot decide this still. Was it just a coincidence or gift from my husband—————

Today 4^th December 2011 means sixteen years passed but even today I do recitation from the same Quran with same feelings of those special queer moments when I got this Quran.

Learn to get in touch with the silence within yourself and know that everything in this life has

 

 

Shades of Life

SHADES OF LIFE

A new chapter of my life is going to start and that is to start writing. My friend also writes blog and is being nominated for Awards 2011 motivated me .She has been asking me to write and share life experiences with others for very long. I always thought that I won’t be able to do so but when she wrote a blog about me I was stimulated. So today I decided to share shades of my life.

My friend is right in saying that may be after reading my experiences one may take initiative to move further in life with courage and confidence.

To pay my profound warm feelings for my friend I am copying her blog she wrote about me below to always remember that she is the one who inspired me to write. May our friendship grow stronger and more beautiful with every passing moment— Amen

Sabiha Qaiser

Posted by: Tanveer Rauf on: November 25, 2011

Sabiha Qaiser

I was absorbed thinking about some topic to write on when all of a sudden the telephone bell disrupted me.

My old friend Sabiha was on the phone. It was pleasant surprise to hear her. Both of us being occupied with our chores didn’t meet for quite long so we set time to meet at her home on Saturday evening.

Sabiha greeted me with same warm smile like always.

The environment she has created in her home is very comfortable and pleasant. One feels at ease and at home in her simple but artistically set home. She not only a good cook is a very amiable host too. Homemade munchies with fruit were set on the table to enjoy our friendly heart-to-heart talk.

She is serving as an Administrator in a school run by a reputed NGO.

I told her about my freelance writing.

Sabiha was surprised when I told her that I would take her interview. She tried to avoid it as she is very serene and never likes to be in glare of publicity. Her point of view was that she is not a famous lady or belongs to any political party, has influential status or media persona.

Who would be interested to read?

But I insisted to unveil her life story just to encourage other hundreds of ladies like herself

who may possibly follow her footsteps and live with bliss self-confidence and opulence.

Elite class has means and sources and does not face the bitterness of life as common people do, so they need to be encouraged. Her talk can be a landmark for one or many. Everyone is born with a purpose set by Almighty so Sabiha may provide a path to follow or inspire some to boost up their moral.

Sabiha modestly agreed to unveil her struggles and turmoil, which she carried like yoke on her shoulders after her husband’s demise till date.

I requested her to answer my questions in line with the sequence.

Tanveer: when and where were you born Sabiha?

Sabiha: with a smile and taking a sip of coffee she replied that she is Virgo and was born in Karachi on 19^th September.

Tanveer: will you please enlighten us about your educational credentials?

Sabiha: I did B.Sc. fromGovt.P.E.C.HCollege

Tanveer: I remember you got married somewhere in early 80′s

Sabiha: you are right Tanveer I got married just after two days of Valentine’s Day i.e. on 16^th February 1981

Tanveer: what are your sons Babar, Umair and Sair doing now?

Sabiha: All three sons mashaAllah graduated from LUMS. Two of them are married. I have one granddaughter too.

Tanveer: you were a very submissive type of a girl. How did your husband’s death influence you?

Sabiha” My husband’s death taught me that I had strength I was unaware of. With widowhood came the surfacing of an inner self. I have learned, though it took a few years, that pain is a natural part of living. We grow by losing n leaving and letting go.

Tanveer: I am impressed with your practical approach towards life. Would you share how your husband died?

Unfortunately he got heart attack on 8^th May and breathed his last on 9^thMay 1993.

Tanveer: how will you put it in your words now

Sabiha: In every new experience happy or sad there is need to let go of what WAS until we do that, we can’t appreciate what’s IS.

Tanveer: Bravo! I never knew my dear friend that you have become so matured a lady now. (I was, moved and astonished by her courage to face life so daringly.)

Sabiha: The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched.

They must be felt with the heart.

Tanveer: I recollect you worked as teacher in a school too

Sabiha: Yes I served Hamdard for 11 years. I worked in two shifts in Hamdard to make my ends meet for all 3 sons were studying. I worked in Hamdard village school in evening shift along with morning shift.

Tanveer: how was your experience in Village School?

Sabiha: Tanveer I observed poverty very closely there and felt the agony of appetite, poverty and poor health.

Being sailing in the same boat I could only alleviate poor students with my kind words and care. I gained their love, trust and heart felt gratification that treasure a lot.

Tanveer: would you mind if I ask you something personal Sabiha?

Sabiha: smilingly she said, in a hot, dry season, a tiny drop of kindness makes the world healthier and more hopeful. Tanveer dear your company is a pleasure for me so you can ask me anything!

Tanveer: was your salary enough to execute your requirements?

Sabiha: To be honest no. I believe in dignity of labor and have no reservations in saying that I gave coaching in the evening, sew and designed dresses and bed sheets and exhibit them for sale. I got what I did in return for good mind, good finds.

Tanveer: Did you face any problem with authorized departments?

Sabiha: would you believe me Tanveer that departments like KDA, PTCL, KESC, POLICE all helped and solved my troubles with kindness and respect even so they have no high-quality repute. But where there is a will there is a way. I trust Allah so I over came all hindrances.

Tanveer: you are right Sabiha; God helps those who help themselves.

Tanveer: any message for readers?

Sabiha: My message for one n all is to please give time to yourself along with people around you. Enjoy life, as it is beautiful gift of God.

You never repay who help you in your trip through life, but you can pass on the payment. It will give you inner peace.

” Nothing is ever lost what I learned I put to use somewhere else”

Tanveer: Why did you not remarry nor do you miss partner?

Sabiha: I did not remarry for stepfather is crueler. He lacks endurance. He fails to tolerate forgive any shortcomings of other man’s children. Hence I sacrificed for my children’s’ betterment.

However one needs a companion to share pains and gains.

Tanveer: Thank you Sabiha for your time and enriching me with your positive and consistent efforts to enjoy the colors of life. God BLESS YOU.