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by Anjum Wasim Dar
I believe that it was! People and families living together were far happier than those
living alone in the present times, indeed they had to be! There was no tension of
housework then. I heave a deep sigh as I look at the pile of dirty dishes I know at the
back of my mind that the basket of dirty clothes is almost full today...I couldn't help my
ten year old daughter with her English homework as my youngest ( two year old ) was
crying for no apparent reason, she just wanted me to play with her. My husbands half
day at the bank ended at four in the evening. On half days he has lunch at home. So
lunch had to be served twice. The sweeper is on leave for two days. My eyes wander
to the basket full of garbage waiting to be disposed of….Where did the garbage go
twenty years ago?
Forgetting for a while the amount of work I have to do all by myself I lean back and
recall the Good Old Days...I remember Lala Timru and his family, they all came to
clean our house. I played with his daughter Sharifo, she was a neat little girl, almost
my age.I was seven then...Lala Timru breathed heavily as he swept the house and the
front yard with his large broom.There was no hurry, the atmosphere was peaceful. I
never worried about my homework nor was my schoolbag heavy in fact school was a
wonderful place,it was The Presentation Convent , St Annes High School with
spacious playgrounds, long verandah smooth and clean, I remember the corner where
we could see Holy Mary’s Statue in a cave like structure…so silent and calm and
brave; school time was full of music..a grand piano in the hall(we were not allowed
near it) Mother Lawrence used to play it so well, she had those knitted black gloves
with half the fingers covered; learning activities dramatics class parties with Treasure
Hunts, all during school time. The best were the picture classic books we were given
to read often in the last period and we came home so happy and relaxed.
Summers were special too. We sat up till late in the evenings listening to
Grandmothers stories; narrations of the Holy Prophet or to Uncle’s tales of Count
Dracula and old witches. It was a thrill to imagine all the magic and horror.
My mind is turbulent in its mazy folds..there was no mad rush of traffic. The joy of a
tonga ride on the Mall main road is unforgettable.I can still hear the clippety clop of
the horse as it sped gracefully down the road, the typical smell of the oil lamps burning
on both sides of the carriage remains fresh. A tonga could be spotted far away on the
road , the clang clang of its bell was so fascinating as from time to time the tonga wala
stamped his foot on it.The colored ribbons dangled from the sides of the horses head
and the leather reins shone as they were finely polished. It was a pleasure to ride in a
tonga then but I am afraid I might lose a few ribs or injure my backbone if I ride in one
now.My six year old neice on a visit from America wanted a ride in one but the best
would only be in the Presidents buggy.Alas!
My thoughts wandering thus were suddenly jolted back to reality by a loud ring of the
doorbell. After a hurried frantic search for my veil(I located it in the kitchen) rolled it
round the neck adjusted my hair with my hands, satisfied that my appearance was
presentable I went to see who was at the door at 11 o clock in the morning.
A beggarman.!!!! Babaji, you broke my thoughts and my peace and my dream…..
OH never mind(How I long someone will hold my little one for a while)…
Charity donated I turn to prepare myself to cope with the chores. My little one has
dissolved all the soap in a mug of water, the iron has burnt a gaping hole, a shapeless
opening in the cover cloth.Oh the milk in the kitchen ..I had left it to boil on low heat.I
made a dash like breasting the tape at the finish line and managed to switch off the
burner. At least I won this time.Bells ring again, this time I hear voices and laughter
too.I looked around there was no one’wither the joys and advantages of a joint family
system’? I wonder…..
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About Anjum Wasim Dar:
Educational Career Achievements:
Teaching Experience : more than 15 years.
I teach Classical Poetry (Chaucer Pope and Milton) and was Head of the English Department of the Foundation University College
of Education Pakistan from Jan 2002-June 2003 so my other love is English Literature.
Something more about myself:
I have been writing since 1980.Publishing articles poems in the National Newspapers and Womens Own magazine. My interests are
Writing Music Reading writing about human spiritual experiences and humor in life specially on the social scene.
By profession I am an ELT expert and a Master Trainer.
I was born in Indian held Kashmir but I am a pure Pakistani national.
I have travelled across USA from OHIO to Washington by road, visited UK and UAE recently.
I love to surf the web and find out new ideas philosophies and happenings in the field of Language Literature and Education.
I love to write and have a deep desire to achieve success as a writer.
Two of my Uncles are well known International journalists.
