Standing in a valley, all alone, she looked deep in thought. Maybe she was thinking about the majestic valley itself, with its flowing streams and rivulets, floor matted by fresh green grass, towering oaks, light breeze playing with her ebony hair, first flowers of spring spreading their sweet enamoring scents, cattle grazing and bird singing songs of peace and tranquility. It is a young evening indeed. It holds much promise, no wonder she is so absorbed.
Rabbits emboldened by her still stature, move closer to her, her hand playing idly with the grass, half eaten apple in the other. A rabbit scoots nearer, trying to steal the apple. Finally she notices the little fur ball, stiffens, then offers her apple, the rabbit takes it and runs back to its burrow, and she returns to her swirling thoughts.
I wonder what’s going on in that beautiful mind of hers. Her captivating almond eyes are misted, as if seeing something far away, not even aware of her surroundings. And suddenly a glistening drop of pure emotions, trails down her cheek. She is unaware that tears adorn those long lashes, sits like dew drops on apples of her cheek.
But why does she cry, she is innocent, it wasn’t her fault. Why does she blame herself, but perhaps she really did give up too soon.
Perhaps she really didn’t have enough faith.
Perhaps she never really believed in herself.
Perhaps….
A sob breaks through and the valley is engulfed in its cold breath.
I see myself in her, maybe because we have the same story, same beginnings, different ends. But who knows what the end will be, till we keep on breathing, life goes on and ends change.
She has always been high-spirited, stubborn yet sensitive. Convincing,a born leader yet compassionate. Intelligent, creative yet humble. She was everything you would want to be. Beauty, brains and heart, she had it all. The golden girl!
She grew up in a loving family, her parents doted on her and showered her with affection. And yet, today she is sitting her crying, lost in her own oblivion of desperation.
She wasn’t always like that, her ambition and impatience drove her to this.
She has always been ambitious and patience is not one of her many virtues.
She always had an idealistic mindset, everything done to perfection, not a pin out of place. But at the same time she was the most carefree spirit i have ever seen. Going her own way, without regard to conformation of society, yet taking care, never to hurt a single soul.
She grew up in a house where patriotism ran deep. From a young age, she learned to love the country above else. The flower of her patriotism blossomed under the shower of a military background.
Even her first crush was Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of her country!
*Chuckles*
Silly little child!
My smile contains all those moments when she idolized him, something, no one can ever be.
Most girls, only idolize their fathers, but she idolized both. She grew up listening to stories of great sacrifices to attain independence. Stories of struggle, war, love, passion, hope, freedom. Her young mind filled with ideas, to make her beautiful homeland an even more beautiful place. And that’s how she grew up. Patriotism, not just an emotion, but an important part of her being, defining her ideals.
For her patriotism was romanticism.
Travel and libraries, broadened her horizons and she learned with not only eagerness of a child but also the naivety.
For her Pakistan was everything. She grew up, and so did Pakistan. While she grew up in protected cocoon of her home, Pakistan grew up too, but alas, the political unrests, martial laws, fighting wars for political allies, refugee influx, and natural disasters, all led to a decline.
Her beloved was sick, a tumor of corruption growing in its belly, where every politician believed that robbing the country was their right. Where the people, started forgetting their ideals and morals, and corruption became a widespread disease. The moral decline led to more unrests and hence worsening of the situation. Pakistan needed a revolution of passion, but none to provide.
Eventually her cocoon offered her no more refuge from reality and she had to grow up. What she saw, broke her heart. She was still too young to comprehend why people would do that to their homeland, but she still vowed to do whatever she can, give it her all.
At age of ten, she wrote to the then prime minister, questioning him, begging him to do something for the betterment of Pakistan, but her parents never sent the letter.
She grew up, her ideals shaping her teenage years, her thinking, that of a devout patriot, a true Pakistani. Believing she would be the revolution her country needed, always prepping herself for that important role.
she wanted to do something now, but she was still too young.
She finally graduated, feeling proud getting her bachelors degree, feeling she will now be able to do what she always dreamed of doing.
The Calling of her land, ever strong, her ambition, stronger!
She had spent 23 years of her life, dreaming, now was time to take action.
She has been keeping up with current affairs, following the political flair.
Pakistan was indeed at its weakest, and it needed help more than ever. She talked, discussed with her friends, with everyone she met on the bus, the sidewalk, but everyone had lost hope and were too selfish to care. They said Pakistan was too forgone, its disease had no cure. She still hoped, she knew in her heart, that if Pakistan could survive all that it had, it could fight this too. No country had the fighting spirit her beloved had. Nothing was impossible, and maybe even sky wasn’t the limit. She had utmost faith in Pakistan.
She still tried, but maybe it’s people were too forgone in greed, selfishness, hopelessness, despair, moral and religious decline, to forgone to hope. That depressed her, her nights sleepless, her days restless, and her hands were again, tied. But she still continued spreading her mantra of patriotism, that maybe in a mass of millions, someone would hear her, hear the rhythm of her heart, the flow of her thoughts, the songs of her eyes. She still continued, but she is also a human, like you and me.
Humans, no matter how strong and driven, crave that social acceptance of their ideals.
Continuous rejection and mockery affected her spirit.
She did what she could, she followed a straight path, never indulged in any acts of corruption and tried to stop where she could. For corruption had already created a great divide in social classes. Either there were Richie rich or the poorest of all. Middle class dwindled, and divide increased. The divide hurt her, while the upper class spent millions on a wedding, the lower class cried for food. The education showed the divide explicitly, while the rich attended private schools with excellent turnout, poor were left to fare in public schools, which didn’t provide quality education. She tried to help the less fortunate, whenever she could, food, clothes, money, books, prayers.
Despite being a country with immense natural beauty, the tourism dwindled because of political and international tension. The peaks of Himalayas stood proud, the river Indus, gushed with all it’s might, K2 invited the daring, Punjab with it’ golden fields and vibrant culture. Khyber Pakhtoon Khuwa with its fruit laden orchards and snowy peaks. Baluchistan beckoning with its mighty hidden treasures, rich archeological sites, breathtaking beauty. Sindh with its golden sand beaches, exotic sea food, rich cultural heritage. And yet, all of it was neglected.
She found like-minded people, but they had also lost hope, and maybe she was going down the same path.
She did what she could with her meager resources and limited man power, and it wasn’t enough.
As ambitious she was, impatience plagued her too. And finally she gave in to that impatience and lost hope. Even this young, beautiful evening isn’t enough to revive her spirit, and she sits there lost in her despair, crying.
She had faith in Pakistan, but she lost faith in herself.
She believed in its resilience but lost her own spark.
She knew its history but forgot her own.
She reminds me of myself. I was as driven as her, and equally impatient. I wanted to bring that revolution of passion immediately. I wanted exactly what she did. And i did end up crying in my hopelessness and despair. But then. i also learned my lesson, a lesson that all Pakistanis like her need to learn. A lesson of true determination and success.
This revolution of passion, is not a change that can be brought in a single day, or even a month or a year. It’s not a magic wand and no pixie dust. Instead, it is the name of struggle and sacrifice. It’s the name of hard-work and perseverance, of determination and hope, of passion and patience, of love and loss. It’s not just a day, it’s a lifetime. It’s no easy feat but it’s what requires to be done.
No grand gestures are required, but just being a responsible self is enough. It doesn’t require fancy rallies, but being your own moral police. It doesn’t require to band behind some politician, but what you yourself can do.
The biggest and most formidable power that can truly change this country for the best, is you. Even God can’t help those, who don’t help themselves. Leaders can be the worst or best image of its people. We have to change ourselves to bring the change in whole country. We don’t need some fancy corporation’s backing or huge fortune to save our country, but just our will to change for better.
The power of I, me, you, the power of WE!
Change starts at home, if we can just change ourselves and reach out to those in our circle of influence, it’s enough. If we make a pact with ourselves to be honest, independent, responsible, give it our best, then nothing can stop Pakistan from becoming what it’s supposed to be. To achieve heights of success and prosperity that our founders dreamed of!
Our country has been blessed with all the natural resources, be it minerals, oil or gas, it’s all there.
Pakistan doesn’t need anyone else, just honest people to believe in themselves and in Pakistan, and to give their all and leave a better, prosperous, even more beautiful, peaceful Pakistan!
This 14th of August, let’s make a pact together, that we will be that revolution of passion, we will be that ray of hope, we will be the change that Pakistan needs.
We will give our best, we will fight the evils of corruption, we will fight all those who are Pakistan’s enemies, we will stand tall, we will make Pakistan proud!
It’s the power of WE and nothing else that matters.
Only YOU can bring the change, be the change.
Only YOU have the magic to bring peace and prosperity.
Only YOU have the pixie dust of health and happiness for all.
Only YOU have the enchantment to bring educational reforms.
Pakistan has the strength of a phoenix, despite all odds, it has the potential to rise again and shine!
It only needs YOUR help to do so.
So please rise from your reverie, please forget your despair, please wake up to the glorious sun of hope. For you are The Golden Girl, The Iron Man, for you are hope, for you are Pakistan!!!
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Happy Independence Day! 🙂
Shocked Synapses 