Gentleman of Navy
Nawab of Navy
The story mentioned places of Pakistan, Karachi.
Nawab can be a name in Pakistan, which have so many meanings.
Nawab – King, Gentleman, Hero, Celebrity
Nawabzada refers Son of King and so on..
Pronunciations of characters names
Nawab ------- Na-wab
Muntaha--------Moon-ta-ha
Rabia-------Rab-e-a
Amna--------Aa-m-na
Anas--------An-as
Mustaqeem---------Mus-ta-qeem
Parveen-----------Par-v-een
Baba-------------Ba-ba
Rafay------------Ra-feh
Beenish-----------Bee-ni-sh
Saba-----------Sa-ba
Zuhab-------------Zoo-hab
Aslam--------------As-lam
Riffat------------Rif-att
Najam----------Naj-am
Nikah
It's a ritual in Pakistan and religion which had to complete for marriage.
In Islam, marriage is a legal contract between two people. Both the groom and the bride are to consent to the marriage of their own free wills.
PNA - Pakistan Naval Academy
It's a story of a girl who visited a Pakistan Naval Academy for the first time and there she bumps into someone. And the story begins from there…
Some of the words in Pakistan used for elders to give them respect.
For Brothers---------- Bhai
Bhha-e
For Sisters -------Baji
Ba-g
Beginning...…..
She tried to stuff the snack bag into the other bag for the third time. In response, the bag boiled like a dirty drain. Now her heart wanted to burst. Her white color was turning pink. She grabbed the bag that had fallen on the ground and threw it on the sofa. The hair was falling to her waist. Things were taken out one by one from that bag. Homemade Biryani box, Baby toys (these were for host babies). Slippers in the bag are found in the last layer...
"What America is looking for is here ..." She waved the bag in front of her eyes. "Amna ..." She went out into the courtyard screaming.
"Ah, Parveen! Look at how your daughter is throwing shoes at a face. Bad girl ..."
"Come on Grandma. The shoe is lying two yards away from your face." She pointed to the shoe lying next to Amna. Five-year-old Amna was now up and sitting.
"Hey, when did I say you threw it on my face ... But you threw it on Amna, didn't you?" Grandma said.
"Alas! Grandmother ...even Amna knows the difference between throwing in front of Amna and throwing on Amna ..." She put her hand over her ears. Amna looked at her shoes and then at her grandmother.
"Grandma she threw my new slippers.." She cried.
"Yeah yeah ... Get under the throne and see if four diamonds haven't fallen off of your new slipper," She said while grinding her teeth.
"Why do you want to cry to her ?" Grandma saw the tears in Amna's eyes and pulled her by herself.
"Also ask your daughter(Amna) who had her precious slippers in her lunch bag. I want to ask, who keeps slippers with food?"
"Yes, Grandma. The cold drink has the best match with the food." Ten-year-old Anas was coming to the yard. "Which bottle should I bring for you, Grandma ...?"
"Wherever we go. We'll find a bottle there, too." She was always angry at his little brother's non-stop chatterbox.
"Now we'll wait for them to give us a drink? Won't we drink on the trip?"
"Which party are you going to have in an hour's journey, Anas ...?"
" Anas ... Leave her ... go and get a black bottle for me. It's been long days since I've been drinking a black bottle ..."
"Allah Allah ... Astaghfar... Grandma Imtiaz Bhai's mother came to our place just three days ago. At that time I remember, I gave you a glass filled with your favorite black bottle. As it's cold today you should avoid these soft drinks." She does not want her grandma to be sick.
"Oh, I can't get enough of you. She keeps grabbing and dragging the words ..." Grandma waved her hand in the air.
"Grandma, give me the money for the bottle ..." Anas's mind was full of worms never forgot what he wants. A mean boy! Grandma took out a black wallet from under her pillow. After grabbing money from Grandma, Anas ran out immediately.
"Grandma, My slippers." Amna started crying again. She left them in the courtyard and went back to the place where she was trying to pack luggage. When she entered the room Rabia Baji (her sister) was coming out of the bathroom as she had changed her dress. She was like her. The white color is like milk, with a touch of pink. She used to call her Rabia Baji Api due to respect.
"What happened to Muntaha? I heard a noise while changing. Is everything alright?" While standing in front of the dressing table, Rabia Baji asked. When she didn't get any answer she turned to Muntaha. And the girl Muntaha sitting on the sofa was crying.
"What...What is this? Why are you crying like this?" Rabia Baji came near her sister. She wanted to sit next to her but the luggage was scattered on the sofa.
"Why is everything out of the bag? What exactly happened to you?" Instead of any answer, Rabia Baji heard Munhata's hiccups.
"Now you are getting me angry, Muntaha?" Rabia Baji told her politely while making her hair bun.
"Except me, everyone loves each other!" Muntaha said in between hiccups.
"Ah! Not again Muntaha.." Rabia Baji clipped her hair by standing in front of the mirror.
"Now even you don't want to hear me like others.." Her cries grew louder.
"First of all wash your face and tie your hair. After that, I will hear something." Rabia Baji took her up by the hand and sent her to the washroom that she could not even resist. When she came out of the washroom her pink face turned reddish. Her face has got cute pretty features. Pink shiny lips, small sharp nose, and pink cheeks. Among all her siblings she is the only one whose eyes were smaller as compared to others. All the others stole their eyes from their mother and color from their father. She was the only one who stole both her color and eyes from her father. And this fact always keeps her self-esteem low. Her small eyes (as compared to other siblings not actually) were not a good sign of her beauty. The luggage that she was trying to pack for ten minutes Rabia Baji had packed everything in a few seconds in that bag. This was another saddest fact for Muntaha that Rabia Baji is good at everything whether it's study, house chores, or situation handling. Because of this, she heard a lot of lectures from Grandma. But she was Muntaha, she never took it to heart.
Muntaha sat on the bed with open hair which was a silent message to Rabia Baji to do her hair. In response, Rabia Baji took a comb and started combing.
"When we have to repeat the same thing over and over again in front of others, we have to understand that our words do not affect the other. And the ineffectiveness is not repeated." While down her head and biting her lips she was silently listening to Rabia Baji. "Nobody loves me...Nobody thinks I am good..Did you ever count how many times I told you not to repeat these kinds of sentences? Can't you stop thinking like this? If you think by making these stupid thoughts house, someone will enter into your soul, then forget it also. Nobody cares what has been cooking in this stupid thoughts house."
"When did I say something?" Muntaha said sadly rubbing her hands with each other. Rabia Baji took a deep breath.
"The beginning and end of your life are always the same and that is 'Nobody loves me. I was mistaken. I thought after getting an education you will change your thinking regarding people's perspectives. You will not care about judging society. You will come out of such thoughts. But you didn't. The third-year is coming to an end in your University and you haven't learned anything yet about how to survive in this world." Rabia Baji placed Muntaha's long black tail on her shoulder.
"Going to university doesn't change people and the environment…" She complained.
"Not people, but we can change the environment. Now, what if someone starts crying over packing luggage? What if someone starts crying over Grandma's behavior because she takes the children's side?" Rabia Baji knows her sister very well.
"So, tell me. When I told her that Amna placed her slippers in the food bag. Shouldn't she have taken my side instead of Amna?" She was Muntaha. Can't accept her mistake at any cost.
"Is there only food in the bag? There is a lot more stuff in this bag. Amna is a kid. Unaware of things. If she placed her slippers to keep them secure. Shouldn't you need to tell her not to place slippers in the food bag?" She agreed with Rabia Baji. But she didn't express it.
"Huh...Only Amna and Anas are kids in this house…" Her cheeks got fluffy. Rabia Baji smiled.
"Now stand up and wear an abaya (gown)…" Rabia Baji said as she also started wearing a black Abaya.
"It's been too late since Mama has gone upstairs."
"Didn't you know Razia aunty will not leave Mama until she spits out all her daughter-in-law's secrets? Because her daughter-in-law has gone to her home in Lahore, this is the best time for her to tell her Bahus (daughter-in-law) story." They both start laughing as they both were aware of Razia's auntie's gossip habit. Rabia Baji had done with her scarf. Now Muntaha sat in front of Rabia Baji for the scarf. Muntaha always had done her scarf by Rabia Baji. Shortly afterward, they heard the sound of their mother from the courtyard. After all the preparations, both of them came out. Now everyone has to wait.
"We just have to take every guest to a picnic, so that they can see our beautiful Karachi. But no one takes us anywhere. Is Karachi the only place where places exist to visit?" she said with a sniff. Mama ignored, but Grandma….It's always a difficult task for Grandma to ignore Muntahas words.
"There is no use of her education, Mustaqeem. She does not have any ethics on how to speak in front of elders. Look at her, how she is using her tongue, even scissors fail their sharpness in front of her tongue. Why don't you teach her something, Parveen?" It always happens. Grandma pointed out to their mother if she saw something wrong in their Grandchildren. Seems like Parveen was the only reason for their existence in this world. Instead of saying anything Parveen always kept her mouth shut and gave her a stare. Like now, Parveen is staring at her daughter with wider eyes.
"The eyes who have not given wisdom to this bald girl in twenty years, will this give her any hair now?" As always Grandma didn't miss a chance.
"But Grandma Muntaha's hair is longer than Rabia Baji…" Amna sitting beside her Grandma said with all innocence. Muntaha tried to hide her smile.
"Oh Amna, did you forget you were the one who broke Grandma's glasses? Because of the fact, Grandma is unable to see my long hair." Mama and Rabia Baji give her a stare. While Grandma reminds herself of something.
"Oh! Mustaqeem didn't I ask for glasses?" She addressed her son who was quietly using a mobile while sitting on a plastic chair.
"Mother, I made your glasses that day urgently." He was surprised.
"Oh.." Grandma slapped her hand on her forehead. "I was sitting on the throne for recitation. I sat on the glasses before the throne. And they broke down. You already know, I can't see without glasses."
"Grandma, take a pair of glasses to see the glasses too.." The one who bought a bottle for the journey said. Now he was sitting on a chair in a corner and was drinking a cold drink like never before.
"Alas! Look at your children Mustaqeem. How they are making fun of me…" I, Muntaha's ears heard children of Mustaqeem for the very time instead of Parveen's child.
"Yes, Mother, I am looking after everyone. I will order another pair of glasses for you, don't worry." Baba looked at Mama as he was about to say something. " Arham Bhai's mother called me today. She wanted to come home to fix the marriage date. What do you say, Mother?"
"Whatever they say. Who we are to raise objections. Rabia Baji now belongs to them. Whenever they want to take her, they can. We just want to see our daughter happy." Grandma suddenly got sad.
"Then, invite them on this Friday for a Friday meal," Mama said.
I looked at Rabia Baji. She smiled brightly. Baba's mobile rang off, therefore he went out to pick up that call. We heard Arham Bhai Bhai's name when Baba went out. Arham Bhai is the name of Rabia Baji's fiancé. It's been one year since Rabia Baji's engagement with Arham Bhai. Arham Bhai's mother saw Rabia Baji at our relatives' wedding. They sent their son's proposal through our relatives. As they were from the elite class and we belonged to a middle-class family. Baba rejected the proposal. But they didn't give up. They every time ask the reason for rejection, that is true there is no reason except our fears. At last one day, Arham Bhai's mother came on their own for a proposal. She clearly said "If you have any fear of class difference, then forget it. We only want your daughter, nothing else."
There is no reason left for rejection and that's how that day turned into engagement day. She wanted an early marriage as Arham Bhai Bhai started his own business instead of relying on his father's car manufacturing industry. Arham Bhai Bhai delayed marriage so that he could settle down his own business. But, there is a secret that nobody knows. Rabia Baji was the one who asked for time. And Arham Bhai Bhai is a gentleman who took everything on his own. After completing her studies she wanted to do a job and it's been three months of her job since she got engaged to Arham Bhai. She wanted to support Baba as he is getting older and does not want to put more burdens on him. She got a job in a multinational company. From there she was earning well and that's how in the past few months our house situation got better and now Baba can arrange a marriage that can fulfill the standard of Rabia Baji's in-laws.
Rabia Baji was the eldest and the first daughter, therefore everyone loved her. But I was the second daughter that unfortunately Grandma didn't want. When I came to know the love and hate difference, then I found out how Grandma always taunts Mama that she gives birth to a girl. After seeing all the hate I used to keep myself away from Grandma, somehow there was a time when I neither liked my Grandma nor hated her just living with her because of their blood relation. After Anas's birth, she got all her happiness that was gone at my birth. Amna was lucky she was not at Anas's place, if so, and then she will receive the same hate as me. But God saved her and Mama from Grandma's anger and hate. Whatever it was. There was no benefit for me in all this that I must know so far.
"Sometimes, I am amazed. Except for me, everyone in this house is quiet and has a cool temper. Then from whom did I inherit such warmth?"
"Come out quickly, I asked Saba Baji to sit in the Suzuki as we are already getting late."
Baba called us loudly from the gate. We all picked up our luggage. Suzuki was standing on the corner of the street.
"People park their cars in lanes like they are living in DHA. Because of them, no other vehicle came inside the street. We have to walk…." My complaints always went along while walking to the corner of the street. Rabia Baji knows well the real reason for my anger is under my foot, my pretty black sandals. These sandals I had to wear because my beloved mother wanted to. My mother loved black heels on me, but who will tell her I don't. Finally, we reached the corner of the street and now I can hear the noise that annoys me. Our street corner is considered a peaceful corner when nobody is around. But, now it feels like we have arranged a concert there and people in their houses were listening to that horrible music. We were standing in front of the Suzuki when we saw that instrument hanging from the pole of the Suzuki, Zuhab. Zuhab is a son of Saba Baji Baji. Saba Baji is our cousin's sister. She got married in Lahore but as she came to her mother's place, Baba invited her to go with us. Saba Baji apologized, she knew how naught and ill-mannered her Zuhab is. Because of Zuhab she didn't even go somewhere, if she goes, then comes back with teary eyes while beating her Zuhab. That's how naughty and headache Zuhab is. Compared to his age, Zuhab is weak to them all. Ro me, the reason for his weakness is because of his non-stop jumping that does not allow him to sit quietly.
Our luggage and then we all sat in the Suzuki. Baba was in the passenger seat with the driver. I took Ikram from Saba Baji's in my lap. Ikram is her one-year-old son. Seven years old Zohab immediately got up from his mother and came to me. Now I was hopeful. His operation Zarb-e-Azb will start soon. There is one bad habit above all in Zuhab pinching. He used to pinch whoever sat beside him. I was ready for that. Like Ikram, Zuhab used to sit on my lap and get wet with my kisses. And now seeing him I can cry over the bad end of my love story. I don't want Ikram to be like him but who knows everyone's destiny? We were going to Manora for some reason and now I am regretting why I came with them. Zuhab started his operation. Saba Baji was trying to keep him with herself, but Zuhab is not a normal kid whom you can deal with easily.
"He is a kid Saba Baji. Let him play…." said Mama. As for Saba Baji, we were the host and therefore I have to smile all along with Zuhab's pinches. Rabia Baji knows my condition very well and that's the reason she keeps her head down so that she can control her smile. After an hour's journey, we were heading towards the bridge of Neti jetty. That bridge used to be covered by heavy and dangerous trucks of import and export materials. Whenever we come here there is a question that arises in my mind. Don't these truck drivers love their life and others on the road? What if a heavyweight led a truck down to other vehicles? I must not be the one who got disturbed by these trucks. Despite the cold weather, the long journey reminded us of the June, and July heat. Finally, our Suzuki escaped and stopped in front of the wide gate of Kimari. As always, the fish's smell was the first one to greet us without our consent. This is the powerful smell of fish lying on the roads. As kemari is a place of fishing for fishermen. That smell greeted me and in return, I covered my nose with my scarf. I can bear Zuhab's pinches but not the fishy smell. Baba was paying the rent and we came out from that Suzuki. I was already disgusted with the sandals. Now because I keep Ikram on my lap the whole journey, my legs are swollen. My feet could hardly feel the surface under my feet. After bearing this pain when I came to my senses, I wished to lose my senses. Because my eyes were seeing that heavy bag which everyone had left for me in the Suzuki. I looked back, and everyone picked up their luggage but not that bag that Anas had to carry. After all, he is a boy. But like others, he was also carrying a lightweight bag. Except for Mama, Grandma and Saba Baji everyone was carrying something. Saba Baji's both hands were handling her kids. I consider it prohibited to give luggage to elders; therefore it happens every time whenever we go with our luggage I have to carry the heaviest bag after Baba. At this time I hate Anas because he vanished like a ghost here and there so that he could save himself from a heavy bag. I picked up that bag and, due to the weight, the bag was trying to touch the Kemari road. Heels, swollen legs…I made a crying face. Rabia Baji looked at my miserable face and then the bag in my hand that was touching the ground. She insisted on holding the bag, but I can't give that bag to my elder sister. Because I am not Anas. We were waiting for Baba, who was busy searching for good fish. If there is a book after Diwan of Ghalib, the love story of my Baba and fish will be the hit one. Baba came back as he didn't find a good fish. We move forward. Circumstances were so compelling that even the fish smell had left me out of pity. In the middle of the way, I was suffering from polio. Then my leg also got pitiful and it straightened out. We had come to the entrance. For entrance, we had to wait so I kept my luggage to one side to relax my arm.
Baba was telling the soldier about the host. Baba must call and ask the host to talk to that entrance soldier for security purposes. As soon as he was satisfied, he let us in. There was a crowd of tourists and fishermen. We left the local road and came to the VIP area as a guest. There I saw bald heads, blue uniforms, and young boys locked up in a wooden cage. But that cage was open and the young boy's condition was too bad.
"Why are all these prisoners open..?" Rabia Baji laughed.
"These are Pakistan Navy Cadets, not prisoners!" Rabia Baji informed. It was a shock for me.
"Oh, poor boys.." I looked at those helpless young boys. "How cruel these forces are. Look at their condition. Even mental hospital patients will have better conditions than these cadets." I said sadly.
"You are right. These are not normal boys. They are crazier than mental hospital patients. They are crazy to earn boots, belts, and stars for their country. They can't be loyal to the dust of their land until they turn themself to dust. Because only dust can build blocks, and then bridges. These are the same boys whom the country salutes when they wear their uniforms. Pride comes after a dusty ride!" Rabia Baji explained it to me well.
"I want to salute their mothers too.." I sigh.
I was coming here for the third time. Due to the distance, I couldn't come here easily because of my studies and Grandma used to stay at home with me. Now I was free so I came with my beloved family whose all responsibilities I take on my one arm because of that bag. Ah! I can't forget the pain I am bearing. We sat in a well-settled room. There was no AC facility but covered with comfortable sofas. We have to cross the sea to the host's place. And we were waiting for that boat who has fixed timings. By the time we arrived, one boat had arrived. We missed that boat. One of the advantages of being an officer's guest was that in case of missing the boat, a separate boat would be arranged for us. Second, we have to go on the boat which officers use to travel in their daily life. The soldier informed us that the boat had arrived and the same happened. Anas walked out like a boat waiting for him. There is nothing I can do. Therefore I picked up that bag. The boat was coming towards the stairs submerged in water. Today only eight steps of the stairs were visible. Due to high water, more stairs were submerged in water. The soldiers pulled the ropes. As soon as the boat floated like a toy on the surface of the water, they tied the ropes with supports of the pillars. Now the boat was standing and we had to sit in it. Here, the first advantage is that they put all luggage on the boat and my polio condition demands to place it before the luggage on the boat. At that time my condition would have been such that I would be placed before the luggage.
Here, Anas's turn comes at the end. All the women were sitting in the boat under the protection of the Baba and Anas. This has always been a difficult stage for Grandma. One hand is in Baba's hand and the other in Anas's hand, still she is scared to sit in the boat. After a lot of struggle when Grandma sat safely into the boat, one by one other member got into the boat. The last one was me. I was stepping towards the boat when the distance was covered by the cramped stairs. There were only two conditions for me at the moment, falling into a boat or water…
As the boat covered a distance from the stairs there was only one possibility left for me to fall into the water…
I fell in love with him when I saw my hand in the hands of my ten-year-old brother on the stairs descending into the water. He is ten years younger than me. And today he saved me. When the boat was taken care of, I got down in the boat. Where do Zuhab and Grandma exist where anything can be easy for me? Impossible!
I was about to slip from the boat stairs because my Mama's favorite heels got imbalanced. I grabbed my grandma sitting on the seat to my right. I was still standing. I recovered. I looked up and that was the moment when I wanted to jump into the Manora sea.
Six to seven gentlemen wearing white uniforms were sitting in front of the bow of the boat. They all were bathed in white color from head to toe. Cap to shoes. As they were Navy officers. I felt like they all were waiting for my dance. That was an awkward moment for me because I was about to fall in a boat in front of the young gentleman. It was not a big deal but to have respect for the officers was like forgetting the speech of the Prime Minister during the speech. I had found my place to hide. All the ladies in my family were sitting in the right row of the boat. I loved to sit where officers sit on the bow side because the beauty of the water was enhanced by the inclination towards the water. The bow space of the boat was always reserved only for the officers. They were found sitting before us. As always, the young gentlemen were sitting there. My family settled in such a sequence, they entered in a boat, and they covered a place. Now the sequence of them is Grandma, Saba Baji, Mama and at last, Rabia Baji sitting. And…after four people, where I had to sit, a gentleman was sitting at a short distance with his legs crossed. And his attitude telling me Nawabzada (Hero) will not change his position.
"Why are you not sitting? Go and sit there…" The voice I heard from behind is of My Baba. He pointed out the place between that arrogant ( in my opinion after guessing his attitude) officer and Rabia Baji. Baba and Anas sit on the left side of the boat. I was the only one left. Also, there was no other choice left for me when the engine of the boat started running. I didn't want to fall again, so I decided to sit there. I grabbed my family members to walk towards the place.
I put all my weight on Rabia Baji's thighs so that the place between me and that officer will remain vacant. I knew in that vacant place no one could fit except Zuhab who is smart like a bone. I thought of Zuhab and he came out of his mother's lap like a Genie. And I remembered that he was a patriot. Wherever he saw the soldiers, he saluted them with full courage. Right now, he was doing the same, saluting gentlemen. Everyone was smiling and my heart wanted to throw him into the sea. To release the boat, ropes get untied which are tied with pillars. The boat started floating and here Zuhab fell into the water. This is what Zuhab's mother thought when he fell in front of officers because of a moving boat. One gentleman took him up. Zuhab and I were not in competition but at this moment my joy knew no bounds. I felt like the effect of my embarrassment was gone. He was walking towards his mother when Rabia Baji grabbed him and fit him in that vacant place. I was about to relax when Zuhab's operation Zarb-e-Azb (pinching) started. I thanked God for the blessing of the Hijab (veil). Due to this the eclipse on my face was hidden from everyone.
"Do you have a ship?" I heard Zuhab. He was asking the gentlemen sitting next to me and Zuhab. He was continuously talking to the officer and I showed myself deaf. Don't know what that officer answered, but Zuhab replied "I have also..". And was thinking that yeah maybe the owner of this boat ship is also Zuhab's father. He wanted me to be a part of the conversation and I became a living corpse. It's been a while since Rabia Baji gave me someone's mobile.
"Saba Baji wanted you to make a short water video…"
"Ah…" a moan came out of my lips. As Rabia Baji was not giving me a mobile, but a bomb. I looked at her with the hope that I can't do this stupid act in front of officers.
"She has come for the first time, Muntaha. No one is going to eat you if you made a little video for her." Again I crossed other options and took a mobile from her.
I turned to the officer sitting next to me (Zuhab was in the middle). I did not dare to take a look and see that gentleman. And today I did not even look at any officer. It was not just because of my embarrassing moment but because of their personalities too. Forces have a personality that does not allow anyone to look at them easily. I quietly made a short video without looking at any other side. I freely made a video. Since we were not related to the officers, there was no question of re-encounter. The one who was scared of the boat. Now while sitting in the boat, her delicate temperature was fading. She was enjoying the waves from the window of the boat as if she was a mermaid at her first birth. But she is our Grandma in this life.
Pakistan Naval Academy was in front of our eyes. Seeing the words Long Live Pakistan made my heart happy, the calm I can feel in my soul. Thankfully we had reached the bridge of the ladder. One civilian man stood up to go out first but the soldiers who were already there had sent him back. The helpless man was probably unaware that officers had two etiquettes of sitting. They sit first in a boat and also they leave first from the boat. When we came here, Mama used to look at these gentlemen and then her own Anas. She wished to see Anas in a Navy uniform. Even if Anas thinks of joining the Navy, I don't think that the Navy is blind. They can see the tummy of Mama's Anas. Anyway, Anas had just saved me. So, I should not think that bad of my brother.
We had entered Manora beach. This was the moment when Baba saw the luggage in my hands. The next moment, luggage moved into Anas's hands. I feel sorry for him. (Not even a little bit). He must be regretting now, why did he save me?
However, from where we were passing, this scene was fascinating to me. The bridge was built above the sea. On the right side, Pakistan Naval Academy was visible. And on the left is Navy Manora Island, where a new life exists. A new world is emerging. As we crossed the bridge over the water, at the end of it, there was a cadet coaster parked for us. There is only a two minutes distance between the bridge and our host's house. Still, they gave us a protocol. We used to sit on the coaster. The car was moving. There were twenty-two officers seated in the coaster and we were eight. After two minutes we reached our destination. Our destination was the DoS bungalow. (Department of Study) officer belongs to a Naval Academy. As soon as I got out of the car, there was a three-and-a-half-foot wall and after that, there was only a blue ocean. By standing in front of that wall one can only see the sky and the sea. On the left side of his bungalow was the play area. Next to it was a high school building. On the right side was the bungalow of senior officers and the whole society goes on. While playing in the playground, their children came running toward us. They were all like Zuhab. These were the reasons for that boiling bag. Baba bought those snacks for these kids. They have three children. Their eldest daughter is ten years ifra, the second daughter is seven years old Fareeha and the third child is three years old son, Hammad. We all had entered through the black gate of their house. Captain's wife Beenish Baji was coming to us from the inner door with her eldest daughter. Her name was Ifra. I often wondered why they loved "F" so much. And in her son's name. They forgot to put "F" by mistake or saved him from "F". Anyway, this was Beenish Baji's family. She was living in this corner of Karachi with her only husband, mother-in-law, father-in-law, and children. This was only a one-time posting. Before that, they lived in Islamabad. Now he has been living here for four years due to posting. Little Hammad was born here. An elderly woman came out. Baba had told me about her relationship with the lady at least sixty-five times. Grandmother used to call her Naseem. Baba and Mama used to call her and her husband Aunty Uncle. Now only Allah and our parents know the real relationship between these older Uncle and Aunty. Rafay Bhai (DoS Captain) and Beenish Baji are blessed with their first daughter after twelve years of their marriage. Therefore they belong to the same age group as my parents. Anyway, after the meeting of elders, we children greeted our aunts and uncles. The children were in the playground. Mama opened the bag and here my mind started boiling because Mama was giving snacks to the kids and after a few moments those snacks could be seen all over the floor of the house. As I mentioned above, these kids are the same as Zuhab. We all were now hearing the sounds of kids. My headache has started. I wanted to take a nap. Beenish Baji served us a cold drink through Batman. After taking a sip of a chilled soft drink I came to my senses. The women and girls started their conversations which were about dresses and makeup and I don't have an interest in both right now because of the headache. I went to the guest room with our luggage. Anas and I had left the room with our luggage. Baba and Uncle were sitting alone in the lounge outside. Rafay Bhai Bhai was very busy today because of the parade that took place yesterday. We were also invited to the parade as a guest. Rafay Bhai Bhai invited us.
I came up the stairs. As soon as I climbed the stairs, I turned to the right. There was a room. It was given to our family. I had packed my belongings and slept in less than a minute. And when I opened my eyes. Even my angels did not know what the time was. I sat up like a cheap drug addict. There was a wide window in the room. I opened my eyes. The open window was black. I was having a hard time understanding it. I was looking around in a strange environment. There were some things taken down by the family in the room. My dry throat wanted to drink water. I got angry with my family that it was night and no one woke me up. The real reason for my anger was the battle of the rats in the stomach.
I leaned my scarf on my shoulders and left the room in a state of rage. I just turned towards the stairs and sighed. Not fourteen but twenty floors were lit over my head. I bumped into someone so hard that I could feel the taste of blood in my mouth. The opponent handled the situation immediately, otherwise, we both leaned on the floor. My hands had touched the shoulders of the opponent and after coming into the sense I felt the opponent's hand on the bit down of my both shoulders. He was wearing a white Navy uniform. My tongue was stunned by the sudden situation. I was unable to speak. Even though there was a dim light on the stairs, I saw a stranger's face and was about to scream before the opponent put his hand on my face and pressed me against the wall. My eyes were wide open. He was not a Rafay Bhai Bhai in a white uniform with his hands over my mouth. He was a hazel-eyed, bright red and white-skinned man, six feet tall. He was a strange young man. He was instructing me to stay quiet. My heart was pounding with fear. After my eyes, my second look was on the red mark on the right shoulder of the white uniform. We both heard the sound of footsteps climbing the stairs. The boy immediately removed his hand from my lips and moved forward. My heart was pounding in the palm of my hand. I was frightened like hell and rushed into the room. I stopped in front of the dressing table. A few drops of blood were flowing a little from my lips. I touched my lips with my hands. The lips were immediately swollen because of that hit. I removed the latch from the door and entered the bathroom. I don't want to reveal what has happened recently. He was a vanished creature? or He was a living human being. His fragrance and touch were left on my arms and face, I still remember his eyes. When I came out of the bathroom. Everyone saw me. I wanted to ask Beenish Baji Baji about that stranger. But where do I start? Therefore, I didn't show any reaction related to the lip wound. "Maybe a mosquito bit her while she was sleeping." I was silent. Everyone nodded their heads as they agreed with Beenish Baji Baji.
I was silent. Who was he? Where was he? Will he tell anything to anyone? At lunch, I didn't show up. I keep bound myself in a room and sleep. The result of sleeping in fear and anxiety was that I had a fever in the morning.