Malbari Hotel...Happy Independence day!!

It is 14th August... the date we got independence from the British in 1947.Our malbari had declared holiday to celebrate the day and he had convinced us all to get together to go and visit Mazar e Quaid and Wazir Mansion to see how the people celebrated the day.
Our first destination was naturally the mazar of the great leader Quaid e Azam.We were shocked to see the entire compound littered with paper flags and all and all sorts of wrappings and other garbage all over the place.Sidiq Master could not keep silent and  was first to speak. He said d that it was okay that people threw garbage because people had no civic sense but throwing off our national flag in such great number was horrible.I will not throw my enemy's flag in such manner.We all felt deep grief as Keria commented that it seems that we have lost our national pride.
Now we left the mazar and went towards Saddar.We saw many vehicles decorated with paper flags and ribbons.Many buildings were decorated with light but no body was sure of availability of electricity.After 64 years of our existence we are still arguing how many hours of load shedding was reasonable.
From there we moved on towards Kharader the area where Quaid e Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah was born in 1876.We walked towards Wazir Mansion where this great man was born.
We were shocked to see that this monument turned into a museum was completely barricaded from all sides and no one was allowed to enter the area.This was strange.The policeman standing guard at one barricade told us that some v i p  was expected to visit the place any minute.and soon we heard sirens blowing and all barricades of one side were removed and a black car  surrounded by at least 10 police mobiles went directly towards the building.There were some photographers who started recording the event.Some one from the police van brought out a basket full of sweets and some people in civil dresses came out of police mobiles and formed a queue in front of the minister.

The minister seriously started distributing sweets to the persons forming a queue and all this was recorded on camera.Just as his task finished the minister went towards his car and all persons who had received sweets returned all the sweets to the basket and went back to their vans and all convoy went away blowing sirens and flashing lights.

Malbari was first to speak.He very loudly said that the minister was very practical he distributed the sweets and recovered them and will go to some other placeand the procedure will be repeated all over again.Now we are independent but when we were under British rule such things could not happen.We were very near to the our malbari hotel so we all went to our nest so to speak and plan where next to go. Malbari said it is getting hot so we should gather again after the night prayers, the city is well illuminated and if we get electricity the city will look like a bride.We all agreed and decided to meet at night

Malbari Hotel- An Old Man's Day Dreams.... Sad yet True!!!

  We all four old friends were sitting at the malbari hotel talking meaninglessly and passing the time aimlessly.It was a very gloomy evening because at least 20 people had died in what the media people call  "Target killing".Kharadar where our malbari hotel gets shut down every second day.
Suddenly Yaqoob Kiria asked "Brothers!who are these people died in target killing.Are they members of particular sect,group or a political party? "I replied " They have nothing to do with any sect or politics.Our police and other law enforcing agencies are just about useless.They have not been able to catch one murderer out of hundreds of people killed in recent weeks.
        Do you see our streets are deserted after the sunset like curfew was imposed on our streets.Master Siddiq said that we must discuss who is killed not who killed him.To catch the killers is the job of our law enforcing agencies,but about half of those killed are never identified.There is a law of post martum and identification procedures.But mostly the dead bodies are handed over to social workers like Abdul Sattar Edhi for burial.These bodies are burried in nameless graves without any name or number.only prominent social workers like Abdul Sattar Edhi keep records by alloting a number to each dead body.
        Isn't it tragic,a person gets out to buy bread or vegetables but he never returns.A laborer spending his nights on foot paths is dead by a bullet coming from no where and sleeps permanently on that spot.The blame game is on and everybody blames to the other groups for this killing.No one thinks about the laborer who died has come from his village thousands of kilometers away from Karachi to earn his bread.
        Ghaffar Kapadia said that this is true,the persons so mercilessly killed by those hidden killers are footpath dwellers or persons sitting like us at some small hotels.Only Allah is protecting us.I say " should we change our meeting place to somewhere else? "
         Master Siddiq said we get to our homes before the night is set we are safe InshAllah.Once we sit at night at this place or any other place a bullet may come for any of us.That is for sure.Government announces awards for the dead men's relatives (if any) but it is never paid.These announcements are to get clapping of the people present where the announcement is made.
        I have visited Edhi foundation's graveyard at Maach Goth and have personally seen grave markings with identification numbers only.Edhi foundation maintains a register of information about these bodies with photographs for any body wishing to see them.Thus if any claimant comes he show  the photograph of the dead body and identification marks found on the body to the claimant.But this happens with very small percentage of unidentified bodies buried by Edhi foundation.
      We can not imagine when a person dies so suddenly, what happens to surviving relatives.Besides a widow,there are usually 3 or 4 small children who are left without anything to eat or to pay school fees.Any of 1001 things left unattended.Why don't our philanthropist establish a trust or foundation to help such surviving families of persons suddenly killed by the bullet,so that they can adjust to their lives again.But unfortunately,most of our wealthy men are interested in clapping and photographs,not in actual welfare work.

Malbari Hotel- An Old Man's Day Dreams.... VISIT TO SEA VIEW

We the four old men were sitting at the malbari hotel and passing the time aimlessly.We were boared by this routine so were looking for some adventure to escape from this monotonous life.Yakoob kiria proposed that we should go somewhere away from Kharadar.Where to go?.. that was the question  than Siddique master came up with an idea.There was a common friend of ours who owned a car and would be more than happy to take us anywhere as long as we paid for the fuel.So the program was set for next Sunday  and we were all set for this exiting adventure.

Sunday came and we waited for abdul kabadi at the malbari hotel.At last  we heard some noise as if earthquake comming  and Siddique master predicted that Abdul kabadi was comming as this was the sound of his car.

Soon abdul kabadi came and parked his car near our table and came to us and after greetings and hand shakes he offered us to get into his car so we can  begin our journey. I was stunned by the look of kabadi"s car I had never seen such special car it was a topless car when it started rolling the noise was so tremendous that even dead would raise their heads to see what was happening.

As we sat in the car I asked abdul what model the car was  Abdul replied that it was a 1950 chevrolet and some time back a person who needed the roof of his car had offered reasonable price for it so Abdul cut off the roof of his car that made his car topeless and later on he replaced the engine of the car with a diesel one that made his car only one in the whole wide world.

As we settled and car started rolling  there was so much noise that we could hardly talk.I asked where he would take us?Abdul simply told to sit calmly and he would take us to Sea View.I asked abdul how he was so calmly driving  in such a noise. Gaffar kapadia commented that every part of this junk was making noise.Abdul replied that every thing but the horn makes noise the horn is not working at all.

Abdul kabadi was driving his junk like a general of invading army in enemy country abdul called his car "buggy".
He was taking us to the sea view so he took the vehicle towards Netive jetty and from there to Mai kolachi road to get to the Karachi beach called Sea View.

Abdul considered himself an expert of Karachi roads and streets so he kept narrating information regarding various parts as we passed through different roads

As we got near boat basin abdul pointed towards a park and told us that it was called Shaheed Benazir Bhutto park.I knew it as boat basin park but it was renovated and Neher e zubaida ( a sewrage drain ) was enclosed in the park.

Soon we reached Abdullah Shah Ghazi mazar where few days back a bomb blast left many people dead and injured.Now we were very near the sea view and one large international restaurart was within sight this part of beach is in administrative control of defence housing authority.

Our happiness was diminished because we were greeted by a foul smell rising from the garbage collected on the beach.

Abdul parked his buggy at a vaccant parking spot and we jumped out.The authorities had erected flood lights on this part of the beach and had erected little kiosks as canteens at every little distance and even many eatables were being sold on push carts.

Thing that hit me like a ton of bricks was the unhigenic condition of the beach there were many horses and camels for children to ride but the animals droppings were presenting a very ugly scene and air was full of foul smell.

Abdul was happy with his importance and ordered cold drinks and chat etc as we sat on benches.We walked on the beach for a while when siddique master pointed out that it was getting late so we returned towards our one in the world car to return to our malbari hotel thus ended our very happy journey of the sea view beach

Malbari Hotel- An Old Man's Day Dreams.... We can fight the PRICE RISE if we want!!!

We were sitting at the malbari hotel as usual, Siddique master was late and we were waiting for him.malbari came to us and exploded a bomb right on our heads he announced that now onwards a cup of tea would cost fifteen rupees instead of twelve rupees just then master appeared and I told him about malbari's announcement.Master was smiling very cutely like a kid getting hold of an unguarded fridge full of icecream.

I asked him why he was so happy?He could not hold his smile and said that he found a way to fight price hike.Than what he said was a eye opener for all.He told us that he went to buy some vegetable and saw that the vendor paid twenty rupees to throw away two crates of over ripe tomatoes that were not sold due to high price.

Master said that if we don't buy any thing that is expensive the price will come down or the thing will perish and tha vendor will pay to throw it away that is for sure.

Image:Sabzi Wala By Jugnoo

This is being done by the government through consumer societies and the like but we as individual never thought about it instead we try to pay more and more so that we are the first to get the thing no matter how high the price is.Not even thinking that there is always a replacement for every thing like when we need tomatoes in our curry we can use dahi (curd) instead or when we need some sourness we can add vinegar or tartaric acid crystals to get better results.For that matter we can change entire menu and use anything that is cheep and is easily available.

He said  with a smile that his wife did not know this earlier but now she knows this replace the ingredient method and  she also gave some thing to me to think about.

Mrs master told him that to handle the problem of price hike there has to be some more action taken.We should stop buying in bulk and storing things in refrigerators instead we should buy groceries on daily basis.This will decrease the demand and high price ratio.If something is not available in a price which seems right for that, customer should avoid buying it. This will pressurize the seller which in turn will pressurize the government.Every one should take this responsibility.What happens here is those who have money keep on paying high and those who can not afford are forced to pay the same price leaving the lower middle class in real deep trouble.

If we take practical steps and stop buying things for only a couple of week we will be able to control the price rise to a certain extent.

Malbari over hearing all this came to us and asked ,Do you plan not to have tea at my hotel? seeing at the critical and worried look on his face we all smiled and Kiria said only if you offer a cup cost 12 rs if four cups are ordered Malbari very Happily agreed.In a lighter mood at least our problem of sudden rise in a cup of tea was solved.

Malbari Hotel----An Old Man' Day Dreams, "Dada Bhai and his friends get a gift from the Forth Floor"

We four old men were sitting at the malbari hotel as usual and passing the time talking.There was no particular topic but Siddique master had read news paper that day,which has a especial Issue on pollution.So he began to talking about pollution.He asked me "Dada what is this pollution the paper was full of?"

I said "Master you are right the papers ARE full of rubbish."

Gaffar kapadia laughed and said," Dada he is serious , tell him about water pollution air pollution noise pollution etc."So I started...when you get water with impurities you have water pollution when you are deafened with noises you are experiencing noise pollution etc.

Siddque said in a shout like voice," that he was free from water pollution!"
"How come?" Surprised I asked.

He said that there was no water in his taps so he was free from water pollution and as he lived on the fifth floor ,noise pollution does not get that high.I told him that he was lucky that he was saved from pollution.Right then a plastic bag full of garbage from above landed right on the table in front of us and a cockroach came out of the garbage bag and disappeared under the table.We all stared up.

Malbari was confused but he used abusive language regarding his building friends and said that he will surely teach them a lesson once he catches them.

Yakoob Kiria in the style of Dr Watson of Sherlock Holmes said,"elementary my friends,you can see some garbage still hanging from the fourth floor terrace railing so the bag came from the fourth floor that is sure;and the lady who did this is a brave lady because she handled a live cockroach!!"






We had no topic to chat so God sent to us a topic right on our table said Siddique Master.

Now you people understand what pollution is,commented Ghaffar smiling.

"Can you tell why people throw garbage right out of their terraces and window" asked malbari half in anger and half in distress.

I said that they have no option our buildings don't have garbage chutes or garbage collection systems so how can people dispose their garbage.Malbari said you have seen the problems so please tell what to do.I said we should approach forth floor people and make them understand the problem of malbari.

A boy living in the building passed by us and I called him near and told him to go to the forth floor and call any man down to us.

After a few minutes a young man came to us in very angry mood and asked what was the matter.He boasted that he will get the hotel closed as it was disturbing his family's privacy

We all four offered him a chair and asked him to sit, seeing four old man talking to him he was cool down some what.

We told him that malbari was a very gentle person and he was trying to earn some honest living to disturb him was not fair.The young man seemed to understand but he asked the obvious question what to do with the garbage.Every household had this problem.

Some one in defence area came up with the idea of puting cage like containers fixed outside the banglows to put garbage, latter to be collected by the sanitary workers.But these containers were lifted by the thieves and the scheme is not working properly now.Designers of buildings should decide these matters before the building is built.The young man from the forth floor seemed helpless and asked what can be done.Now it was the turn of malbari he directly said that they should hire a garbage collector or a sweeper to take care of this problem.

The young man agreed but said that it would breach the privacy of his family as an outsider would come to his home to collect the garbage.The malbari took this opportunity to settle the score and said that when the lady throws garbage over the clients of his hotel she is not clad in hijab or burqa.

I trying to cool the tempers asked what can we do to settle the matter malbari was enboldned by our support said,"you hire a sweeper to take away your garbage."He called a young man sitting nearby and told us that this is Krishan,he is a sweeper and he cleans the street for the local government.He is ready to work for the building.I asked him what are his charge.

He told us that if he gets work of all residents(60 homes) and sweeping and scrubbing the whole building he would charge 6000 the malbari was furious and told that he is running a hotel does not earn that much.

The man from forth floor said that he is ready to pay 50 rupees only for garbage collection and now his home was the only one making this offer what others pay is non of his business.

Malbari got on his feet and told Krishan that it was final for fifty rupees and he was to start work form next morning now Krishan said okay but he insisited that the family will have to put garbage bag or can outside and he will not knock on the door and asked the young man to try to convince other residents to avail of his services.

Thus this small problem was solved.

Malbari Hotel-An Old Man's day dreams 7 ------World Cup at kakri Ground

I was early to reach the hotel and was waiting for others to arrive sitting alone was not my style, so tried to chat with malbari but he was busy preparing his tea and other little things so I was just dosing.I was thinking about the forthcoming cricket world cup which was to be held in Bangldesh Srilanka and India. I was thinking why the world cup is not held in Karachi I had read in a news paper that it costs millions of rupees to prepare suitable ground for the cup. I don't bilieve a word of this brain washing tactics. We already have very good grounds in Karachi.

I then and there decided that the final of the world cup would be held in Karachi and that too in Kakri Ground so I in my imagination went to the Kakri Ground to check the possibility of holding the cup final there.

The ground was once a play ground but our authorities had turned it into a center for the drug addicts so they can use the drugs there freely and without anyone bothering.

So I went to the person looking like the addict’s captain and told him that we wanted to play the cricket world cup there. He looked at me as if I was a run away from a mental hospital.

I tried to convince him to let us play there. After a few minutes he was convinced but he was not out of his mind, he demanded money to make arrangements for the game I asked him how much and he told me five hundred rupees and all his friends will enjoy the game without any tickets. 

After much haggle the matter was settled for two hundred and that included cleaning of the ground and not disturbing the play.

Now the next question was who would play I knew the principal of the nearby Memon School. I went to him and he gladly agreed to send his school’s team to play.

Now the matter was choosing the opposite team. After a while the captain of the memon school team came to me to finalize the match timings and overs etc. I frankly told him about not having the other team he was so happy that all his teeth showed. He told that right behind the ground there were some makrani boys who were good at cricket and looked like West Indians so the match would look like an international event.

I agreed and told him to call the captain. So the boy ran towards the adjoining street and came back with an African looking boy. The makrani captain had came to get the details settled he told the match would be of twenty five overs.

One more condition was put forward by the makrani captain,he wanted his team to bat first because if they don’t bat first they lose interest and run away from the ground. The memon captain agreed to all this and told that the match would be with taped ball and not with hard ball.

The news of world cup in Kakri ground spread like jungle fire and boys and old persons started gathering in the ground, people selling eatables like pakora chana batata and paped etc also came right into the ground.

The stage was set for the big event. Both teams were in the ground. Spectators were there and many drug addicts were sitting expectantly on the side lines.

There was no question of a toss as this was settled before hand. The West Indies (makrani) team was to bat first. An old gentleman with white hair and white beard came forward and offered to inaugurate the event. Both teams agreed so he took the ball and threw the first ball. Spectators now numbering about 400 clapped loudly.

Now the actual match began in earnest. The opening pair of Makranis were good players and they threatened the Memon bowler to ball straight and within line and length otherwise he would be so well beaten up that his own mother won't recognize his face.

So the bowler was so frightened that the game became one sided and each ball got six runs. After about 10 overs the first wicket fell. So the match progressed and in 25 overs grand score of 250 runs was set .1st innings ended. Now the turn of the second team started. The second innings was not eventful till the last ten overs. Memons were 9 out for 235 runs in the last over.I may mention one event during this innings which is not seen in any international event. One stray dog picked up the ball and refused to return it at least 200 young boys ran after him. The dog took three full rounds of the ground before leaving the ball at the far end of the ground.

In doing so the dog had damaged the tape on the ball. Both the captains examined the ball and the empires ruled that a new tape must be wrapped so the question arose who would provide new tape. As both the teams were penny less. The argument took ten minutes, an old spectator offered ten rupees to buy a new tape roll. Thus the matter was settled and after a few minutes match resumed.

The match was decided in favour of the Memon team on very last ball and the batsman felt like Javed Miandad striking the historic Six in Sharjah.

Now the matter of prize cup arose. There were only tea cups of the nearby hotel. But finally it was decided thateach player of the losing team would pay 5 Rs each to the winning team as prize money within three days.

Suddenly I felt something hitting my head.I opened my eyes to see Ghafar Kapadia slapping my head to wake me up. I said to him that you waked me up and I missed world cup prize distribution at Kakri ground. Now it was our regular time at the malbari hotel and by visiting the world cup my mood was very nice and my son had given a hundred rupees so I offered tea to all for including malbari to celebrate victory of Memons in World cup.

"Dada Bhai Buys Heart Shape Balloons!!!" Malbari Hotel----An Old Man's Day Dreams,

By Abdul Sattar Lakhana


We all four were sitting at the Malbari hotel as usual.Suddenly Malbari came to us and asked "Sirs, why the prize of the roses has increased.Last evening I went to the shrine to offer Fatiha.I usually got 10 rupees worth of red roses to offer at the shrine.Believe me the flower vandor flatly refused to give me flowers for 10 rupees and told me you have to buy atleast 25 rupees worth for one twig.Why the increase in roses prize.I had heard sugar , atta and the things like that were getting scarce,why the flowers?"

Siddiq master told Malbari that it was the season of valentine.Red roses were bought in large quantity.Thats why the prize is rising. Malbari asked what is Valentine season.I never heard of it.

Ghaffar kapadia said, "O simple man ! valentine is the craze throughout the world.Young man offer their girlfriends red roses and gifts to express their love towards the girlfriends." Malbari asked is it possible in Islamic country like Pakistan?.
I told him that everything is possible in Pakistan.Young people are not controlled by Molvis.They do whatever they like and our police encourages them.When the young couples go to a park or any other public place,police get their share of 50 or 100 rupees from them.This is the season of extra income for police.Youngsters prepare for this event months ahead.The day is celebrated on 14th February.They are demanding to declare 14th Feb as national holiday.

Yaqoob Kiria jokingly told Siddiq master to take red roses or red heart shaped balloons to his wife.Siddiq master very simply told that his old lady was allergic to balloons and didn't like any flowers.If I want to express my love I'll take home some biryani.She likes biryani from kharadar and would be happy.Our age of red roses is over, now we are practical people.

Ghafar kapadia said you know that whole system was created by Gora Saab.They dont have aromatic flowers so fragrant roses is a valuable gift for them.In pakistan fragrant flowers are sold by the kilos.We follow the Gora Saab blindly.Even a Gora saab RAYMOND DAVIS killed our 2 or 3 young men, we are almost ready to free him.We all firmly believe that Gora saab can do no wrong.You know billions of rupees are spend on chocolates flowers and other gifts in Karachi.Add to that the expenses done else where in Pakistan the figure reaches mindblowing heights.Head the system started in India and Pakistan youngsters would treat their girlfriends with biryani and halwa.

When the discussion was going on a child 7 or 8 years old came to us and offer to sell red heart shaped balloons.He said Eid was coming and please buy these balloons for eid.I asked him what eid was coming?He replied that his father has told him that it was an eid of red roses and balloons.His father was disabled and could not earn his living,so he sent out his son to sell these balloons.So that he could earn a few rupees.I was impressed by this child and wanted to buy one or two balloons.My friends asked me who my girlfrend was?.And as obviously there was none,I told them so that I wanted to help this child.I didn't want any balloons.

Ghafar bhai simply told me that I should offer him some money but not to buy any balloons.A child was a picture of self-respect .He plainly refused to take any money as he was not a beggar but a bussiness man .He was selling baloons and was not asking for any money.I was realy impressed by this self respecting child and told ghaffar bhai that I'll buy atleast two balloons and later on will give these balloons to some young man.Ghaffar bhai agreed. This was the proper way to help this child.This child didn't know anything about valentine or girlfriend, but he knew that if balloons were not sold his family would remain hungry for the day.

Yaqoob kiria told what a tragedy this was.Youngsters celebrating this none sense tradition.Do not know anything about hunger ,disabilities or any other tragedies faced by these balloon sellers or flower sellers.Yaqoob was so right.I had asked many youngsters,boys and girls why they celebrate valentine.No one knew, they knew that it was the easiest way to meet their girlfriends and on 14th Feb it gets easy and no passer by stares or object.

They all belong to well to do families and could spend a lot of money on flowers, balloons and chocolates etc. Why the government and molvis denounced this tradition is beyond understanding.Countries like Pakistan cannot afford this wastage of money. 

Malbari Hotel....An Old Man's Day dreams-6

An Unexpected Treat.....

by Abdul Sattar Lakhana

It was a Saturday and we had gathered at malbari hotel as usual. The weather was good that day so the tasted better than usual. All of a sudden Siddique master started calling someone loudly…. “Ibrahim. Ibrahim …!!”. We all turned back and there was Ibrahim our common old friend but he was doing his own business and was doing well.

Ibrahim turned towards us saw all four of us and came to shake hands with us.

We offered him tea but he declined politely as he had was in a hurry  instead he said to meet us the next morning over the breakfast, he would be free and relaxing as it was Sunday. I asked him weather we should come to his banglow or should we meet at some other place.His banglow was in Defence and no bus went there so we were hesitating a bit. Luckily he himself said that he would come to a nearby nihari hotel which serves tasty nihari and this treat was to be from Ibrahim. We were happy by this generous offer and decided to be at our spot at nine in the morning to have nihari.

We all were at the hotel a few minutes ahead of the fixed time but Ibrahim was no where to be seen. We were feeling sorry for ourselves that a chance of free breakfast was gone, and as we all came there without breakfast in our homes. We were thinking about going to the home of some other friend to have breakfast,but all of a sudden Ibrahim appeared from no where Ghaffar kapadia was first to see him coming.All four of us were happy as a child having an unexpected ice-cream.With lots of hellos and how are you? we walked towards the famous nihari hotel nearby.

Ibrahim led us towards the family cabins and we settled down there. Ibrahim called the waiter and silently passed twenty rupees note into his hand.

Yakoob Kiria could not remain silent he spoke Ibrahim bhai “why did you pay him twenty?”Ibrahim said that this was the trick to get best service in such hotels besides the waiter will make errors in the bills favoring us.We did not know about such tricks as we hardly visited hotels except the malbari hotel.

Ibrahim ordered a special nihari with maghaz (brain) and extra butter and tanduri roties.We were served extra quantities of chopped ginger, chopped green chillies and large pieces of lemons.

We started eating it wsa so tasty that we were eating like this was our last meal.No wonder it had gained that fame I thought. Ibrahim was in very good mood so he asked about tea or cold drink. I said whatever you like.

Ibrahim said that he usually took lassi after eating nihari. He called the waiter and ordered him to bring 5 lassies the waiter said that lassi was not served in the hotel but Ibrahim insisted and asked the waiter to fetch lassi from the near by shop and the waiter obliged.The 20rs were at work.

After a few minutes lassi arrived and as we were sipping slowly Ibrahim again called the waiter and ordered him to bring paan for all of us.We had breakfast in a very good mood and environment remembering our old days. It was a very unusual and wonderful sunday morning out.

We all thanked Ibrahim for this wonderful treat and we all started walking towards our malbari hotel ad Ibrahim walked on towards his car he had parked in a nearby street.

Siddique master was the first to speak he was so impressed by Ibrahim's gesture that he told that this was the game of money if we had that much to spend on a breakfast we could invite Ibrahim or persons like him to breakfast or lunch anytime.

I get only half cooked roties of my old lady served with lots of good sayings on subjects like saving money and wearing my clothes for three days instead of two days to save soap.

I could not keep mum i told that had our parents had allowed us to get more education and not insisted on getting jobs and that too the low paying jobs we would have been in much better state than we are now.

kiria who was listening jumped into discussion he reffering to his father said that his father was so Hitler like that he simply told that no earnings no meals.

We kept talking about the topic for a while but the sun was getting higher and there was no shed at the malbari hotel. We daily sat at the hotel in the evening and were not bothered by the sun we had to get up and our little gathering ended and we walked towards our homes

Malbari Hotel.......An Old Man's Day Dreams

 

Think About It...!!!!!!!!! 

By Abdul Sattar Lakhana

It was another boring day as usual ,we had gathered at the malbari hotel gossiping aimlessly without any particular topic. All of a sudden our malbari surprised us, he bought as a plate dried dates (chuarrus )and sweet balls (ladoo).We were surprised or we may say shocked by his unexpected show of affection ,Yaqoob Kiria asked malbari why this hospitality ,malbari explained that his daughter wedding was solemenised today in his hometown in Malabar.

How come you are in Karachi and you daughter’s wedding Malabar. Malbari replied  that as her father my duty was ti provide the finance , I sent 100000 rupees last month, other matter of marriage are ladies responsibilities and interest and there was nothing.I could do by going there, I prayed for prosperous future for the newly wedding couple right here, my son in law works in Dubai ,he will take my daughter to Dubai after some time ."How much did you say you sent?" asked Siddiq Master," you sent only 100000 rupees!!!! ?" Yes said malbari ,that was more than enough my wife has saved about 2000 rupees out of that."" How many guests you invited at the dinner ?Master asked surprised,:"We don’t have lavish wedding dinners,some close relative   ladies come to our house and they are served with tea. Bride & groom are gifted with useful things like the,bride gets a wedding dress casting 1500 or so , “chaurrus”are distributed  at the time of nikah."

Siddiq master shook his head in disbelief he said,"my daughters wedding was solemenised about six months back .I had borrowed about 6 lac rupees from friends and relatives.Besides whatever I had saved, was also spent in this event." Malbari was shocked by siddiq’s statement. He asked what is so expensive in a marriage.Siddiq said about 2 lacs were spend on a modest dinner,we had to purchase full bed room furniture and electric gadgets like fridge DVD player microwave oven etc etc.Total comes to more than 4 lac rupees.Add to it the cost of 4 to five family dinners bridal dress, mehndi and beauty parlour expenses.This is the first phase of the expenses.After the marriage our son in law starts various demands .He may demand loan for motor bike and some money for business investments and more like that.We can not refuse otherwise our daughter will not be able to adjust in her house.'

 As this is not enough other relatives of son in law like his brothers,sisters and mother line up in a que to get some gold ornaments as gift.This costs further 2 lacs or more as you know the present rising cost of gold.Even then if a daughter can live in her house happily,its Allah’s blessings.

 "I have observed that some characters demand a house to live in.Thank God this demand is not wide-spread but some young man treat their marriage as a lottery ticket and demand everything that they are not able to provide for their bride.It does not end at that.When the couple is blessed with a child total expenses of child’s delivery and gifts for the little one costing thousands of rupees are to be provided by the bride’s parent.In older days people buried their girls alive for this reason.Just think that a girl’s parent have to manage about a million rupees for the child’s marriage.In this age of rising cost ,this is impossible for any poor or middle class family."said malbari and stood up to get back to his work. 

 Malbari has opened our eyes by giving his own example of simplicity and hostility.If we could follow  our Prophet Mohammad (S.A.W) all problems would vanish in thin air.

Malbari Hotel....An Old Man's Day dreams

Stuck in a Traffic Jam...!!!

by Abdul Sattar Lakhana

We were sitting at the malbari hotel as usual wasting time but our quartet was not yet complete .Siddiq master had not arrived.We were a little bit worried about master’s being late but we just killed the time any way.

At last master came almost an hour late. He was tired and perspiring in this cold weather. He settled down and sat breathlessly for a few minutes. At last he was composed enough to tell us his story. I asked him why he was so late. This question worked as a fuse of a bomb.

Master told us that Pakistan should not have a President or Prime Minister or for that matter any VIPS in Pakistan. Ghaffar Kapadia asked him, “why so cross with our beloved president and PM. Did you fail to get Vatan card or income support scheme membership?”

Master was so furious that he hit the table with his fist and told that he was held up in traffic jam with two ambulances on either side with their hooters blowing at full volume .The jam was created due to some VIP movement perhaps PM was moving towards Clifton and our over efficient police had stopped half the city’s traffic.

“We the non important citizens had to suffer without any complain. I don’t mind waiting in a traffic jam but ambulances on my both sides, sirens wailing at full volume. You can imagine my plight. As this was not enough, driver of my van kept blowing his pressure horn. Although no vehicle moved an inch. All this humdrum drew all nuts. At last the convoy of the VIP person passed and the flow of traffic began.” Siddiq Master said.

People loudly cheered and clapped as Master’s van reached Saddar. There a problem already waiting for Siddiq Master. The bus he wanted to take to reach tower was not available, as due to  the traffic jam the busses were not coming towards Saddar and were taking some side routes.

After standing on the bus stop for a long while,Master checked his pockets and he found that he had just enough money for a samosa and a cup of tea .So he went into a café and had a samosa and a cup of tea which refreshed him somewhat. After a long wait his bus came but it was too full for Master so he let it go.

Thus after letting 2 or 3 busses go he was able to get a ride in a bus, not a seat but only standing space. So he was able to get to tower and to malbari hotel.

During the bus ride he stepped on the foot of same old man.This led to much abusive language and near-fight situation. So the Master’s mood was shattered that’s why he hated VIPS. If there were no VIPS people would be much better off.

We all four sat there enjoying Matka cola (drinking water),which was the only thing that we could afford that day. We all agreed with Siddiq master that stoppage of traffic for any VIP was cruelity towards humanity.

The persons stopped by the traffic jam may be ill or injured or going for an important personal work and those who are not sick get sick by the smoke and noise of vehicles .Moreover we loose many millions of rupees by way of wasted fuel. 

Malbari Hotel....An Old Man's Day dreams by Abdul Sattar Lakhana

Lets Live Together!!!

We all four friends were sitting at the malbari hotel just chatting without any particular topic, just then Abdul Samad joined us, he was a property broker we all knew. He had come to meet Ghaffar Kapadia. We ordered tea for all of us thinking of availing the credit from our malbari.

When Kapadia and Samad began their talk, we became aware that Kapadia’s son Arif wanted to buy a seperate home of his own. Samad told Ghaffar that Arif wanted to buy a house which will cost one crore or more but Arif has twenty five lacs in his possession and dreaming of getting the rest from his father Ghaffar Kapadia. Samad asked Kapadia whether he had enough amount to provide to Arif so that he can go ahead and find some deal for him.

Colors on the face of Ghaffar Kapadia were changing rapidly. His mood turned violent and he began to use abusive language for his son.

What Ghaffar told us, was the story of all middle class families. His son Arif was the father of two children and his wife was expecting another baby. Arif knew very well that his father had no savings and still he fought with his mother for a separate home. Ghaffar had advised him not to get separate. Actually, the house in which they were living was owned by Ghaffar Kapadia while his son was running the expenses of house because Kapadia did not have any income.

Samad broker was a strong supporter of joint family system. He tried to convince Arif about his parents’ troubles that they endured to raise him and in educating him in a way that he was getting a decent income and now he was trying a solo flight leaving the parents on the dry ground.

We were listening but could not remain silent any longer. I was the one who spoke up first. I asked Kapadia to sell his house to his son Arif at market price. Samad broker informed that the house will go easily for fifty lacs, but Arif had only twenty five lacs and that was also engaged in stock exchange.

Yakoob Kiriya could not remain silent, he said that it is very difficult for Arif to find a luxury home with baby sitting and house keeping service all for free.

Siddique Master went one step further, he asked kapadia that he should neglect their grand-son and daughter-in-law totally. When the children will miss the school, milkman will go back without delivering milk and Arif will run out to get tea for his wife his mind will come to right place.

Yakoob Kiria was family type amongst four of us. He said that Arif's wife was expecting a third child and this was a time, every lady wants some older woman like the mother-in-law to be on her side. Ghaffar told us that the whole issue started when  one day his wife asked his daughter-in-law where they were going? It made Arif very angry that why his mother keeps on asking where are they going to. “Arif is totally crazy to mind his mother asking this, when a mother asks her children where they are going, it is because she is worried about their well being", I said. Kiria continued that Arif must understand that no one can take care of his wife and children better than his own parents and he will repent after taking a wrong decision. He advised Kapadia to motivate his son with love instead of fury.

As we all separated in rather a gloomy mood, Abdul Samad said I will try to change his mind.There was a loud horn as we were standing almost on the road now, so we moved along.

When Ghaffar reached home everybody was sullen and nobody cared to welcome him home. After a few minutes his wife took him into their room and gave him a cup of tea.


She told him that both Arif and his wife Salma were not ready to live with them.
Witnessing the harsh dialogue going on between her parents and grandparents Sarah the 5 year old daughter of Arif repeated same things to her mother while playing with her dolls. This thing affected Salma a lot. She seems embarrassed after the incident, Ghaffar’s wife told him.

Arif who was already half convinced in favor of the joint family system by the good great lecture by Abdul Samad. Hearing of the incidence from his wife about his daughter he also felt ashamed. Now Arif was thinking in the right direction.

Late that night he sat with his father and his mother. His wife Salma brought tea. Arif begged pardon from his father for what nonsense he had said about the separate home. It was best to continue as was going and that they will think about separate homes when his children grew up. Deep down Ghaffar knew this turn of mind was brought about by Samad broker. He smiled to his son and patted his back as he used to do since he was a kid…a father’s way of showing nothing has ever happened.

Arif had already begged pardon from his mother. So everything was settled and talk about a separate home was a thing of the past.

Malbari Hotel....An Old Man's Day dreams by Abdul Sattar Lakhana

A Bus Ride In Karachi

It was a cold and gloomy evening. We all four old friends were sitting at the Malbari Hotel and carrying on small talk aimlessly. Suddenly Malbari came to us and told all of a sudden that he will not open his shop the next day as he had to go to his community's gathering.

The information was casual but its effect on us was like a bomb explosion right on our heads. We were so accustomed to sit at the hotel that we just could not think of spending a day without Malbari Hotel.

We were dumb founded when Siddique Master spoke up: “let’s go for a long bus ride.

I will borrow some money from my son to go for the bus ride. We will go to Saeedabad and back it will take 5 hours.” So was decided.

We all gathered at the closed hotel next day and walked to the nearby bus stop and took bus number D3 .The seats were broken and full of oil smears .I hesitated to sit. Yaqoob Kiria spoke up "Dada just sit down and send your suit to the dhobi to remove the stains ".

So we settled in the bus and the bus started rolling on. The journey up to Gul bai was normal but as we proceeded towards Sher Shah it was evident that we were riding a concrete mixer.

I told my friends, “ had we chosen to sit on the footpath it would have been much better.”Ghaffar Kapadia laughed and exclaimed that thousands of people daily travel this way without any complaints. Road worsened as we moved on and bus started tilting heavily on either side.As we neared Saeedabad the entire road was gone. The bus was traveling on a rough ground.

After much beating, we reached the last stop of the bus and the conductor shouted that our destination was here and we had to get down.We were so buffeted that it was difficult to get up, but somehow we got up and got down from the bus.

The entire area was so different from our Kharadar .The work shops and spare parts dealers were all over. There were small tea shops in between. Without speaking a word we silently proceeded towards a Quetta wala tea shop.Master nodded so we sat at the Manjhis spread there and Master ordered four Doodh Pati chai. The tea was delicious and we really enjoyed it.

After the tea and getting some rest on the Manjhis, we started to walk around the area.

As we walked around, we entered a large market .We kept walking and as we reached the end of market the scenario changed.The shops now were again workshops and spare parts' dealers. There was a sign board proclaiming that we had entered Itehad Town. Most people had guns on their shoulders.

We all were a bit afraid .Yaqoob Kiria whispered "lets go away .All people have guns with them.”

There we saw a bus coming Master told that this bus goes to Saddar, lets ride this bus.  .

Ghaffar Kapadia bought some peanuts and we got in to a bus going to Saddar .Vendors came into the bus and started selling their wares. One was very interesting .He was selling cure all tooth powder. He claimed that any illness you have, would be cured by using this tooth powder and that too in 5 rupees. That tooth powder could cure any thing short of death.

X 10 goes through so many areas with various cultures.

Bus Stop At Saddar Karachi

Bus reached Metro Cinema and Siddique Master shouted we have reached Bangladesh .There were Bangalis everywhere. Bus proceeded towards SITE area and there was smell of various chemicals. Bus was now crowded and people were climbing to the top of the bus. This was a dangerous way of traveling but people were used to it. After passing through site area the bus entered Nazimabad this area was full of traffic and the speed was reduced much. Bus now crawled towards Liaquatabad. After passing through entire length of Liaquatabad the bus entered main road connecting to Saddar area. We were happy that we were nearing our destination.

Soon the bus was in front if Rainbow center in Saddar.It was the end of our journey and time to alight from the bus. The bus was going towards Gizri and Seaview.Siddique Master was about to say to continue but we starred at him and laughed. We said good bye to each other and went towards our homes after an adventurous evening.

Malbari Hotel....An Old Man's Day dreams by Abdul Sattar Lakhana

I am an old man who has seen more than sixty birthdays. Generally consider persons above sixty, like broken furniture. Such persons are hardly welcomed in their own homes. The main reason for this is that the income is either reduced or entirely gone. The only thing such old persons can do is to get some friends and spend some time with them. My own experience is not any different. I am practically retired since few years. I am lucky to have a few friends of my age, my school fellows who like to spend a few hours with me in the afternoon.