Story of Abdul Kader

Everyone reminded me every day that I grew old. My children reminded me that most. And they always told me that old people do not need money. Passed so many years I learned I need food to eat and bed to rest, that is all an old man’s need. No one ever thought an old man can also have some dreams, some things to do. 

People hardly asked me anything else other than talking about health and disease. My children also think there is little time left for me. But I have so many things to do before I die. Before I leave this world. And there are many small things that no one knows how badly I want to do.

I always wanted to grow more trees in my yard, wanted to buy the football that I promised to give to my great grandson and wanted to go to spend sometime in the city with my sick wife. I decided not to become the useless old man. So I started searching for a job a few months ago. Everyone listened to me carefully and showed me a lot of respect and then they asked me to go back to my house, advising me that I am not in an age to work. But I did not lose hope and continue to search for a job at the age of seventy five. When I went in the shop of Shafiq, he was repairing television.

 When I told him I was looking for a job, he cleaned his chair and asked me to sit. I was very sure to get the same treatment I always got. But he told me that he can give me little money and I have to be responsible for his cash drawer and maintain the due payments. I was very surprised and my heart was beating very fast. By gaining some courage I asked him, if he really thinks I can do the job. 

He told me that if he can build a shop after coming from the street, I also can make my dreams come true. It’s been a month I am working and got my first month salary. And I already planted a lot of trees in my yard. Almost every day I went to market to buy things for my grandchildren and great grandchildren. Now a days all things are very expensive so I am buying slowly. I will soon visit my wife too.

 My children are not happy with my decision of working but I am sure when they will see me happy they will no longer angry with me. Every day now I look forward to a dream that I was never be able to fulfill. 

- Abdul Kader

Story of Haroon

I saw her once three months ago. It was a five minutes meeting with parents and relatives. We did not talk but we had an eye contact. Her big black eyes instantly did something on me. Since then, I cannot forget her for a second.

 My mother is not happy that I liked her without knowing anything about her. But I do not know why I felt I know her for years. I am going to marry next week.

 I did some wedding shopping for her. I had no idea what is the size of her feet but I bought a very nice pair of shoes from roadside. Every night I organize those things newly. 

I feel very shy when I am buying woman stuff. Only I do not feel shy when I close my eyes, because I see her looking deeply at me. I do not know why but I cannot imagine anyone other than her as my wife. 

- Haroon

Story of Abdul Ali

My wife gave birth to a boy at first. Our son exactly looks like my wife. Because of that my wife Roshona complained to me all the time that she always wanted to have a baby who would look like me. That’s how our three daughters arrived in this world. Four of our children exactly look like my wife. I was never able to see my wife unhappy. I was only able to fulfill her wishes because as a poor farmer I was never able to give her any big happiness. But I loved her more than my life. I thought with time this feeling will vanish. But surprisingly with time I loved her more. A few months ago by the help of my youngest daughter, my wife brought hair oil for me. This is for hair loss and she is applying it on my scalp every night. When I asked her what is the point of putting oil where there is no hair. She angrily said, I will not understand that. It is true, in my entire life I did not understand many things that my wife did. With that hair oil my daughter sent this sun glass for me. Before coming to bazaar my wife come to me with shopping bag and the sun glass. It was all sunny last month. Today it started raining heavily yet my wife came to me with the Sun glass. I hesitated for a moment and told her, this will save my eyes from rain drops. She smiled and said I should wear it every day. I spent all my life in the field. Now it feels good to wear sun glass and walk all around. I feel very sad whenever I think I will die soon. But then I thank to Almighty for giving me already a heaven that is my home. 

- Abdul Ali (70)

Bad Girl

I am widely known as bad girl. I love being bad. I love to be called bad by men who came to this brothel and to me, and then advise me how to become good. Why it is hard for me to become good? I do not know. In childhood I almost died in starvation, while trying to manage food at the age of eleven I was brutally raped, and after a few years I had beaten to death and traded to human call men. Today the only friend I have in this place told me she would throw acid on my face and showed me her hidden knife. When I was laughing to death, she went to madam to organize any kind of punishment for me. So I am taking some break, looking away and helping you to explain how you will project a bad girl. My friend Maria was sold by her lover. She survived though severely injured after attempting multiple times of suicide. A year ago a very romantic man started visiting her and she falls deeply in love. Its not long time ago she asked for my help and wanted to escape. I rarely help people now but she is the only friend I have. So I decided to help her. It’s been a week the very romantic man stopped visiting her and only visiting me. Since then he stopped responding to her and that made her crazy, as she was about to fly with him. That is how a year old love affair ended for this bad girl. Now I am smoking and thinking nothing. A bad girl never thinks, only feels. 

- Haseena