Parestan issue no 7 Deceember 26

PARESTAN

Listhen........................................................................................... 1
Down To DNA ...................................................................... 3
Shehr-e-Yyaaram: 2 ...................................................... 8
Ambulance ............................................................................... 12
The Exciting News .......................................................... 13
You’ve Gotta Read ....................................................... 19
My Daemons, My Priorities ............................. 20
My Home ............................................................................... 22

Listen
By: Zaha Shoab

Listen, little girl,
Times are dark,
Ghosts are coming,
And they will leave a mark,
Your death is near,
And so is your friend's,
The life you took for granted,
Is now about to end,
So my dearie,
Prepare yourself,
Hide all your jewelry,
Put candles on the shelf,
Take out your black dress,
And then put it on,
And spend the whole night,
Praying all long,
Well, my girl,
I hope you see,
I’m sure you know,
It’s all a joke from me!

Down
To
DNA

No two persons are the same.
Everyone’s different; everyone has a
unique twist to their DNA, some more so
than others. But it’s there, a twist
amongst the insurmountable helixes of
gene code that's all the same, passed
on since the start of time from
generation to generation. It pops up
every now and then, suppressed in
others and dominating in some.
But difference just doesn't boil down
to DNA.
I learned through exposure what it
truly means to be different. Some
people like to think they're the 'one's.
They like to paint themselves as rebels
or be the nova among galaxies. But it’s
not just about a Just Girly Things post
on your Instagram or that quote on
your profile picture.
Being different is when you wish you
were the same.

Because when your difference becomes
bare and
noticeable to the world, it’s painfully
so. Different is weary days and
sleepless nights. It’s days blending into
each other because they’re all
manifestations of the same exhaustion
of trying to be who you are not. It is
the friction of nerves being scraped
raw by the suffocating, meaningless
chatter of the rest of the world.
It hurts. It drains. It’s exhausting, being
different.
Being different is easy, except when
you're surrounded by black and white.
But how would we ever know we're
different had we not been amongst
those who are the same?
Everyone claims to be different. So
aren't we all the same?
Name: Fatima Ahmed
Age: 17

Wo ek tng o tareek gali me se guzar raha
tha. Uskay peechay teen ghair mulki afraad
they jo hathon me pistols liye uskay peechay
chal Raye they. Teeno k pistols loaded they.
Wo black pant coat or black glasses lgaye
sb se agay tha. Tng gali k akhir me do
galliyan right or left jati thin. Right gali me
street light ki hlki orange roshni pheli Hui
thi jbkay left side tareek thi.
Wo Charon left traf chlay gaye. Agay e uska
adaa tha. Aday me pohnch kr pistol walay
afraad dayen bayen khray o gaye r wo lmbay
lmbay dag bhrta hua samnay moujud dabbon
k dhair ki traf chla gya. Jisme taza smuggle
shudda maal tha. Unko dekhte hue lamhay
bhar ko uski ankhon me ek chamak ubhri. r
dosray e lamhay wo dabbay me moojood
theliyun k dhair, jin me sfaid powder bhra
hua tha, me se ek thaili nikali or apnay naak
k kareeb le k gya.
"Hmmm nice... Very very nice" usne apnay
makaar andaaz me kaha r theli wapis dabbay
me uchal di.
*******
"Mere se ab or nhi chlnay hota" eshaal ne
apnay ghutnon pr hath rkhte hue us se kaha
jo abhi tk yai soch raha tha k kis jurm ki
saza me yh lrki is k peechay lgai gai h. Wo
khamoshi se chlta raha. R eshaal thori der
wahin khri rai takay thora rest o Jaye.
"Excuse me Mr. Shayaan! Me apsay bat kr rhi
hun. Do minute ruk Jaen na ap" usne wahin
khray khray awaaz lgai. Shayaan ne sir
jhatka r chlta raha. Charo na char usko b
chlna pra blkay bhaagna pra ku k Shayaan
boht agay ja chuka tha. Aise e tou nhi na wo
45 mins ka track 25 mins me khatam kr leta
tha!!
"Itna zyada tou me walk krtay tou nhi thakti
jitna tum muj apnay peechay bhga k thka
dete o" usne nuskuratay hue us shaandaar
se mard se kaha. R wo sarro agay dekhta
raha.
Aj wo ek white color k track suit me tha. R
eshaal light blue color k track suit me
chewing gum chbatay hue hmesha ki trah
uska demagh chat rai thi.
Shayaan ko is boht e zyada bolnay wali
blkay pkanay wali lrki pr intaha ka ghussa
aa raha tha. Wo hmesha e se boht kam go
tha. Kisi se free na honay wala.
"Acha wese tum krtay kya o? Mmm.. Student
tou nhi o sktay ku k tume nhi lgta k tum
student khehlanay k liye kafi baray ho?... I
mean 28 tk ki age me kon pagal prhta h. Han
kuch hotay hen jinko demagh khapanay ka
shoq hota h tou wo PhD krte he. Wese tum
28 e k o na..... Lgtay tou ho.... Han itnay k ho
ge... R koi kam e krtay o ge" Wo uskay sath
sath chlti apni e baton ka jwab deti rehti thi
or wo khamoshi se sunta. Agr kisi k katal ki
ijazat hoti tou fil waqt wo is lrki ka e krta.
Abhi uska dil kr raha tha k thora boht
gunnah kma e le r yahin iska gala duba kr
dfnaa Jaye. Takay is roz roz ki pareshani se
Jan chutay.

"Muj lgta h tum engineer o... ya nai tum
engineer nhi ho ge wo tumaray trah sarro
nhi hotay...." Wo boltay boltay chup o gai
r sharminda b hui. Yeh bat tou nhi bolni
thi..Is bat pr wo chonka. "Kya kaha
tumne?" Usne uski traf murtay hue
poocha r ruk gya. Wo b ruk gai. Situation
jo b ho filhaal ruk k wo sb se zyada
khush thi. Chlnay se uski Jan jati thi.
"Wo.... Me.... Keh rai thi k tum engineer nhi
o sktay ku k wo tumari trah sarro nhi
hotay." Usne kadray masomiyat se kaha r
uski bat pr shayaan ek lamhay k liye
muskuraya r aglay e pal wo azli sarropan.
R eshaal k liye yh ek boht anhoni bat thi
isliye wo boht heran hui.
"Tumhe smile krni ati h?" Usne herani se
use dekhte hue poocha. "Q?" Jwab me
swaal aya. "Muj lga tumne seekha e nhi o
ga. Ya jis becharay ne sikhanay ki koshish
ki o gi tumari is sarro shakal ko dekh k e
bhaag gya o ga" wo apni e bat pr zor se
hnsi.
"Tumhe chup rehna ata h?" Ab ki bar
shayan ne tng aa kr kaha. "Acha baba!
Sorry! Ab nhi bolti. Ek tou sb ko mujhse
yai masla h k me bolti boht zyada hun. Ab
kya krun bola beghair kese rahu? Yh b koi
life Hui bhla? Chup kr k beth jao blkay nhi
chup kr k walk kro. Qk Mr. Shayaan
disturb hotay hen. Chlo sorry ab nhi
bolun gi. Ab chup. Full stop!" Itni lmbi
takreer krtay hue eshaal ne dhaiyaan e
nhi dia k shayaan peechay e ruk gya tha.
Wo peechay muri tou dekha shayaan wahin
khra bechargi se use dekh raha tha. "Ab
ruk q Gaye? Chlo na" Shayaan ne ek nazar
use dekha r agay aa gya.
Pooray 3 minute ki record khamoshi k bad
eshaal ne bal akhir hathiyaar dal diye. "Ek
bat kr lun? Plzzzzz!" Usne iltajaiya nazrun
se shayaan ko dekha. "Ufff! Is lrki ka kuch
nhi o skta!" Shayaan ne taqreeban
barbratay hue kaha. "Dekho yh khud se
baten krna bnd kro..... Acha chlo yh btao
tum kya krtay o? Me tou 2 months bad law
practice start kr rai Islamabad kachery
me." Usne apna plan smjhaya. Jese shayaan
ko Bari dilchaspi thi.
"Me ek neurosurgeon hun. Abhi 7 months
pehle e specialization ki h. Ab PIMS me job
krta hun. Tum beghair appointment mere
pass aa skti o ku k emergency or serious
cases k liye appointment zarori nhi"
Shayaan ne jal kr lmba sa jwab dia. Or phr
bezti ki jo zahir c bat h eshaal ne
mehsoos nhi ki. Wo lmbi bat uski bezti k
liye e krta tha.
"Me ku aon bhla?" Wo albata heran hui.
"Qk tum ek serious demaghi bemari me
mubtala o miss Eshaal. Tumhe checkup ki
sakht zaroorat h. Qk agar bemari brh gai
tou tumhe farq pre na pre aas pass k
logon ko b bemari o skti h. Apnay ap pr r
dosrun pr reham kro" ab ki bar wo use
dekhte hue ghussay se bola tha. Pr wo
eshaal hi kon jise ghussa aa jaye.
"Muj kya hua bhla? R tum yh bat bat pr
ghusaa krna chor do. Itni mazay ki hawa.
Itna khubsurat nazara h. R pta h problem
kya h? Me yahan ek sarro k sath chal rai
hun." Eshaal ko jese khud pr tars aya.
Shayaan ko maloom tha k yeh la ilaaj
bemari h so wo khamosh raha r wo bolti
gai.
*****

Wo r Mohib cafe me Bethe hue they.
Lunch time tha. Unho ne apna khana
mungwa lia tha r ab hmesha ki trah
thori boht baten kr raye they. Dono
ne apnay lab coats chair pr latkaye
hue they. Shayaan ne apni sleeves
kohniyun tk fold ki Hui thin.
Achanak Mohib ka mobile bja. DANGER
calling n ringtone b police mobile ki
rkhi Hui thi. Thori der k liye mobile
bja phr bnd o gya. Call krne walay ne
srf miss call bheji thi. Shayaan ne
muskura k uskay mobile ki traf dekha
r hlka sa sir jhtka. Aliza ki call thi. Jo
k Mrs.Mohib Alam thi. N shayaan ki
behn.
"Wese tumne ku danger rkha hua h
name? Masoom c tou meri behn h."
Shayaan ne hnste hue poocha. "Yar
tume abhi kuch nhi pta yh biwiyan kya
cheez hoti hen. Jitnay arsay sakoon
me ho enjoy kro mere dost.... Pta nhi
ab kon c panama leaks khulne lgi hen
jo call ki h" Mohib ne use shadi k side
effects smjhaye n uskay baad mobile
ko dekhte hue kaha. Wo call sunne
bahir chla gya tha.
Mohib r Aliza ki shadi ko 5 months o
chukay they. Inki shadi ki kahani b
rawayti arrange marriages jesi e thi.
Jb unki specializations clear Huin tou
as a treat wo dono apni families ko ek
sath picnic pr le k Gaye. Jahan mohib
ki Ammi r abbu ko Aliza itni pasand aa
gai k unho ne usko bahu bnanay ka pka
irada kr lia. Yun in dono ki shadi Hui.
Mohib intensive care unit me hota tha
r zyada tar emergency cases deal krta
tha. uska sb se acha dost tha r ab
behnoi b bn gya tha. Aliza r Mohib ek
bilkul ideal couple ki trah they. Lrai
waghaira b hoti thi lekin ek dosray k
beghair guzara b nhi tha.
Aliza apnay maikay rehne b koi 4
months me ek bar e ati thi warna tou
srf thori der k liye ai r wapis.
"Han btao kya hua?" Shayaan ne mohib
se poocha jo wapis aa gya tha or kuch
pareshan sa tha. "Pta nhi aliza keh rai
thi k koi bat btani h! Janay kya bat o
gi!" Shayaan ko b ajeeb sa lga.
"Acha chor tum muj us morning walk
wali lrki ka btao? Aj b ai thi kya?"
Mohib k swaal pr shayaan k mathay pr
shikanen ubhrin. Wo us k baray me
sochna b nhi chahta tha. Us k sir me
dard o jata tha us k zikar pr e.
"Han ai thi. Ufff!!! Boht demagh khati h
uska naam b mat lo" shayaan ne kaha
r Mohib uski situation enjoy krtay hue
hnsne lga.
*****
"Shayaan beta! Zubaida ne ek rishta
dhundha h tumaray liye. Boht achi
lrki h..." Ammi ne dining table pr khana
khatay hue usi topic ko chera jis pr
shayaan bat nhi krna chahta tha.
Shayaan ki shadi ki bat se e Jan jati
thi. Janay usko shadi se problem kya
thi.
"Ammi! Ek tou muj smjh nhi ati ap se
zyada yh zubaida aunty ko ku fikar pri
Hui h meri shadi ki.. I mean me jb mrzi
shadi krun yh mera masla h unka nhi.
Ap dhund lijiye ga khud pr pehle muj

career bnana h." Usne b hmesha ki trah inkaar kr
dia tha.
"Mohib ki b shadi o gai. Wo b career bna raha h..
Tum b kr sktay o" Unho ne phir kaha.
"Ammi Mohib ko Aliza jesi biwi mili h jo boht co
operative h. Uski tarbiyat apnay ki h. Aisi koi lrki h
tou plz bta den me us se shadi kr lunga. Lekin aisi
koi lrji nhi h. N zubaida aunty se aisi koi umeed nhi.
Wo apnay jesi e koi dhondh len gi. So ek bar career
bn Jaye phir ap jis se kahen gi shadi kr lun ga."
Shayaan ne goya bat e khatam kr di.
*******
Wo orphanage me e tha. Aj month ka first Saturday
tha. R wo hr month k first Saturday ko yahan ata.
Bchon k sath time b spend krta n donation b de kr
jata.
Abhi wo orphanage k garden me akela betha hua.
White shirt or black jeans. Ankhun k neechay
gehray hlkay. Hlki Brhi Hui dhari. Us k
demagh me aj rat ka khwab dobara aya.
Wo aj Eshaal k sath Eshmal ko b awaz dete
hue utha tha.
Eshaal b chli gai r eshmal ko b le gai. Wo
akela reh gya tha.
Is ghair mulk me jahan uska koi apna nhi
tha. Wo chahta b nhi tha k use koi apna
milay. Wo sb apno ko chor aya tha. Sb se
maheenay me ek bar bat ho jati thi. Aliza
se, Mohib se, ammi se.
Kya yh sb usi k sath hona tha? Usne kis ka
bura kia tha jo use yh saza mili? Wo aksar
yh bat socha krta tha.
"Shayaan bhai!" Wo wahin betha tha jb use
samnay se awaz ai usne sir utha k dekha
tou wahan wo khri thi. Usi ki trah dukhun
ki Mari Hui.

Ambulance
in the jungle of cars
stuck in a traffic jam
An ambulance ringing the bell
constantly
was irritating the car driver on
its side
he started complaining about the
ambulance
what’s the heck with this
ambulance
even there is no one inside
its just will blow my eardrums
as soon as he reaches home
his sister opens the door cryingly
our father has died
his brother replies angrily
Haven’t you call the ambulance
His sister replies sobbing
I called but
the ambulance was stuck in the
traffic jam!
By : Sibt-E-Ali

The
Exciting
News
By: Mahvash Irshad

Sophia, being restless, was pacing around
the room. She threw a glance at the black,
blank television screen. Her hands were
itching to encase the remote and switch on
the TV but she could not. She could not
because deep down to the core she was
badly scared, scared of the news that will
flash on the screen, scared of the amount
of savagely slaughtered human beings,
scared of the shrieks of people, scared of
the roaring jets in air and scared of her
break down.
So she settled for the distance between
the TV and herself. She attempted to give
herself a false hope that in her country
everything is going well, everyone is
contented and secured while the real
situation contradicted her thoughts.
Her thoughts were put to death by the ring
of telephone. She looked at the clock that
exhibited three pm.
“Who could it be?” She mumbled in
cogitation.
At the third ring, she attended the call.
“Hello?” She uttered in a quivering voice.
“Hello. Sophia? It’s me Natasha.” The voice
on the other side of phone introduced its
owner in a quite sprightly manner.
“Natasha?” Sophia repeated her name in
utter disbelief. “How are you? It’s been
ages since we talked.” Sophia’s gloomy
heart was cheered up on hearing the voice
of her best friend.
“I know. I know. I am all good. What about
you?”
“I-I am fine. Tell me when are we meeting?”
Sophia could not refrain herself from
asking.
“Our wait is almost over. We are meeting
today.” Natasha broke unexpected news.
Sophia pounced up in excitement.
“Are you serious?” She clapped her hands
together.
“Yes. I am serious.” Natasha giggled. “I will
be there in an hour.”
“Really? Okay, I am waiting.” A wide smile
formed its way to Sophia’s lips after a very
long time.
Every second passed like a century for her.
Waiting can be killing sometimes. Natasha
and Sophia lived in the same city but their
meetings were few and far between because
of the dreadful, ongoing war in their
country. Migration was not easy for any of
the family because they all were caged in
fear and fire. In order to stay secured, no
one crossed the threshold of his
sanctuary abode.
This terrific war etched a strong impact on
Natasha’s mind and of course it was
negative. All the time she used to complain
about her hard life and curse her
blackened fate.
After a strong impatient period for meeting
Natasha, Sophia’s killing wait was
eventually over. The door was knocked and
Sophia hastened to the door. In a few
seconds, the dull air was mingled with
lively and happy shouts. They both
embraced each other and celebrated their
meeting immensely.
Sophia scanned Natasha’s face that was
radiating with richness of joy. Never in her
life had Sophia seen Natasha so happy. They
talked a bit about their country’s terrific
conditions, and then Natasha was served
with a glass of water as there were no
solid eatables in any house.
“So, how you decided to come over here?”

Sophia asked Natasha as she seated
herself beside her best friend in a ragged
sofa.
“I am here to tell you exciting news!” Her
eyes gleamed with jubilees. .
“Wow!” Sophia remarked. “What is it?”
“Throw your guesses.” Natasha grinned.
“Okay.” Sophia shook her head and after
some contemplation she spoke, “You have
bought a rifle.” She anticipated Natasha’s
positive response.
“No.”
“You are going to France.” Sophia snapped
when the thought of Natasha’s deep love
for the country clicked in her head.
“I wish I could.” Natasha replied in a very
saddened tone.
“I can’t guess any more nor can I wait. Just
tell me what is it?” Sophia’s patience
surrendered.
“Okay.” Natasha sighed but then went on.
“The exciting news is...” She halted and a
huge grin showed off her pearl like teeth.
Sophia brought her hands to her chest.
“Come on. Don’t make me wait anymore.”
“I…am…diagnosed with blood cancer!”
Natasha beamed in exhilaration.
Sophia’s blood turned icy. Her smile
vanished, her lips were a gaped. Natasha’s
words sucked the merriment from her face
and delivered chills to her entire body.
Sophia gulped down and asked, “What did
you say?”
“I am diagnosed with blood cancer.”
Natasha repeated her statement in the
same beaming way.
Sophia sprang up from the couch, blinked
several times and then looked at her best
friend in disbelief.
Natasha sensed her dazed state, so she
rose off the couch and walked towards
Sophia with a confident smile that
beautified her face.
“It is exciting news, isn’t it?” Natasha
almost whispered.
“You are going to die! It is not exciting!”
Sophia cried at the top of her throat and
then she exploded in tears.
But still, Natasha was calmed.
“I am not going to die now. I still have
those three damned months.” Natasha
placed her hands on Sophia’s shoulder in a
soft manner.
Sophia’s eyes were over filling with tears.
The news tore her heart apart. She forgot
to breath. Last month she lost her dearest
and only brother in war and now she was
going to lose Natasha. A chamber of her
heart worked because of her sister like
best friend but soon the chamber was
going to be jammed.
“You will leave me all alone in this world
and this appears exciting to you?” Sophia
managed to question Natasha between her
sobs.
“No, sweetheart.” Natasha said as she wiped
off her dearest mate’s tears. “It is exciting
because I have finally got a chance to
escape this cruel world where humanity
has lost its deserving worth, where cities
are destroyed and a thirsting massacre
happens every day and no one dares to
speak up.” Natasha’s face was dressed with
solemnity.
Sophia watched her with blurred vision as
she resumed speaking. “It’s exciting because
I will no longer hear wails of victims and
thundering jets. I will no longer see blood
streams flowing down the roads and
grenades in hands. I will no longer see the
buildings being pulled down or a man
running fast in pursuit of saving his life
because he is on fire. I will no longer get
hurt nor will I cry.”

Natasha paused, flicked an eye at Sophia
and then spliced her lips again. “I have got
my visa to the peaceful place. I will have
no fear of being killed in a bomb blast or a
bullet piercing through my stomach. I will
be far, far away from the war loving
creatures.” Natasha’s voice fractured as
she finished.
Sophia ran towards her and hugged her.
She cried her heart out but Natasha, she
didn’t cry, although the warmth of her
tears could be felt by Sophia.
They withdrew from engulf, Sophia with a
mourning face and Natasha with a
celebrating smile.
“Don’t weep, Sophia. I will live for three
months more but I really want to die soon.
And on my death you will not cry. You will
smile and applaud on my departure and
also tell the people to fire up because my
wish would come true. We should not
mourn over others’ achievements.”
“Are you in your senses?” Sophia sniffled.
“I am.”
Sophia was left speechless. She could not
come up with words to speak up; all she
knew was that she won’t see Natasha
anymore and the thought of her being
erased from this planet haunted her. She
shuddered at this thought.
And Natasha, she was grieving, breaking
and wailing under her composed skin. Her
sobs were stuck in her throat because she
was not letting them out.
“I have got one more thing to tell you.”
Natasha smiled.
Sophia held her breath.
“Don’t worry. I am going to spend this
night with you.” Natasha attempted to
cheer Sophia up and so she pumped her fist
in the tensed air.
“That’s great.” Sophia smiled between her
sniffles.
They went to bed late at night; they talked
a lot about their lives and their dreams,
dreams that will never come true. But
Natasha did not reveal one of her dreams
to Sophia. She kept that dream in a corner
of her dark heart but her belief of that
dream coming true lighted her heart up.
In the midnight, Sophia’s eyes opened
suddenly and she found herself panting
because of the nightmare she saw. She
made a prayer in her heart for safety and
then switched her body position to the
left and when she was about to bring her
eyelids together, she saw Natasha sitting
on the edge of bed.
“What are you doing, Natasha?” Sophia
asked in a sleepy tone.
“I am just praying to God.” Natasha
answered without looking at Sophia.
Next morning, after breakfast, Natasha set
to leave but Sophia insisted to accompany
her to the nearer bus stop and Natasha
agreed.
As they were walking down the road, the
barren road actually, bathed in blazing
sun heat and fear of being invaded anytime.
“What were you praying for last night?”
Sophia could not restrain her curiosity
that had been bubbling up inside her since
last night.
“Yesterday 77 people died in a bomb blast
near this city. I was praying for them.”
Natasha flashed her sad smile but Sophia
did not miss to see her red, swollen eyes.
“What?” Sophia gasped. “This loss is too
much.” She remarked. And that was the
news she was afraid to watch on
television.
“Thank God that our city is still safe,
otherwise we would be on our ways to
paradise.” Natasha shook her head.

“Yes.” Sophia sighed.
Abruptly, a sound of gunshot rippled
through the air waves and out of nowhere
a bullet pierced through Natasha’s body
and she fell on the ground.
Sophia shrieked. She dropped to her knees
by Natasha’s side. Natasha was still
breathing. But scarlet blood was erupting
out of her stomach and she was grimacing
in pain.
Soon her clothes were all red. But her
irregular breaths were keeping her alive.
“You are going to be fine, okay?” Sophia
tapped Natasha’s face and forced her to
open her eyes.
Natasha hissed. Sophia was badly trembling
and the torrent of tears was washing her
face. She tried to stop the raged flow of
blood with the press of her hand. But you
can’t block a desperate river’s way by a
small barrier, especially when it has
decided to flourish.
There was no one to help them but the
sounds of gunshots to scare them more.
“S-Sophia, I am so excited. God
has……answered my….prayers.” Natasha
stammered and attempted to force a smile.
“What kind of prayers?” Sophia whispered.
“Yesterday night, I-I prayed to God to call
me to heaven soon.” Natasha moaned but
went on, “I knew our city will be on fire
sooner or later and it will turn in a battle
field. I was scared.” Natasha’s words
fueled Sophia’s tears.
“Why do you have to go?”
“I have got my visa to a very, very peaceful
place. I am happy. Just tell my mother that
I am sorry for not making to home before
noon. She must be worried, you know.”
Natasha lifted her blood stained hand with
a great effort and caressed Sophia’s cheek.
Sophia could not speak and how could she
when her best friend was dying in front of
her eyes.
“Shh, don’t cry.” Natasha’s eyelids began to
attach.
“Please don’t go. Please.” Sophia was
shaking Natasha’s shoulder.
“God does answer prayers. Dreams do come
true. Just like mine did. Don’t cry, don’t…”
She gasped and her eyes were shut.
Sophia’s face was drained.
“Natasha!” Sophia screeched but she could
see a vivid smile and satisfaction on her
face.
Sophia’s pain could not be seen in the
storm of bullets. Her best friend died. Her
city was invaded. Everything was on its way
to devastation and the world was growing
dark.
A bullet passed by her arm and slit it.
Blood leaked from her veins and sobs
leaked from her throat. She was hurt by
her best friend’s death, by the freshly
started war, by the bullet that hit her, by
the cries of people.
Sophia pulled her hair.
“Stop! Stop! Stop!” She thundered with a
screech.
She stood with her weakened knees in the
middle of war field and then shrieked,
“Stop it! Stop it!” But she, soon, fell on the
ground.
“I beg you to stop this war.” She whispered.
“Please. Please.” She added.
Natasha’s mother fainted as soon as she

heard the news of her daughter’s
departure. Breaking the terrific news to
her family was one of the herculean
tasks.
Sophia was depressed. She neither talked
nor ate anything. Every day, every night
she would hear the roar of jets, sounds
of blasts, people crying for help and she
would shrink in a corner.
Due to the worsening conditions,
Sophia’s family took refuge in a cellar of
building. The cellar was dark with only
one ventilator that was insufficient for
air and light.
slid down against the wall and held his
head between his hands.
“Why are you all mourning? It is great
news.” She beamed and then she unbolted
the door of cellar and ran out of the
building.
Sophia faced the sky and shouted,
“Natasha! I have also got my visa to a
very, very peaceful place!’ Sophia smiled
and thanked God while she was standing
in the middle of storm of bullets.
But they did inhale the air filled with
blood smell and smoke. After a few days,
another family shifted to that cellar.
Everyone had fearful faces because no
was sure of the stability of the cellar.
Sophia was tired of the monotonous
conditions. She wanted to escape just
like Natasha wanted.
One day Sophia ate a rotten apple but
soon she threw up with blood. She was
scared of seeing blood rushing out of
her mouth.
The family that moved in just a few days
ago had a medical background. The head
of the family was a doctor. After
examining Sophia and asking some
questions, he broke unexpected news.
“According to my examination and
experience and your symptoms, I am sorry
to inform you that you have lung
cancer.” He spoke in a heavy voice but
that news infused a life in Sophia’s dull
face and body.
Sophia laughed in disbelief. Everyone
stared at her with shocked eyes. Her
mother broke into tears and her father

‘‘ A mystery/thriller novella,
Author
Age : 15
: Sibt-e -Ali
featuring Oliver Holmes
(grandson of Sherlock Holmes)
as the lead character along with
his cousins Katie & Allen he
joins his new university where he
came to meet up with some of his
relatives who previously
thought that Allen, Oliver and
Katie had died years ago. Oliver
decides to dig into this mystery
when another secret pop out and
his parents are murdered by
their family enemy Crow. Oliver
together with his relatives joins
up to form Team Holmes to take
revenge from Crow. ”
City
: Rawalpindi
Country : Pakistan

A girl has demons,
And they own her soul
A smile on her face,
But they call her a disgrace
More than you will ever know,
Before bedtime they put up a show.
Darkness is what she loved,
When she did not know that they were cursed
Now they own her days just like her nights,
What a shame! They took her pride!
They gave her a crown but no one knows,
It wasn't ever up to her to wear it as her own
She had no choice,
So she compromised
She had to be something,
And she knew she wasn't allowed to be an earthling.
Now, a girl is a demon but it's not what she wanted,
It wouldn't be this way if you hadn't taken her for granted
By: Fajar Niazi

MY HOME
My house is built of bricks
My home is built of my father’s
daily grind
My house is built of cement and
shovel
My home is built of my
mother's love
My house is built of pillars and
glass
My home is built of my
brother's smile
(I can live without a house but
not without a home)
By: Sibteali

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