literarydiscussions.myfreeforum.org

Ammara · Joined: 31 Oct 2005 Posts: 8 Location: Pakistan

Rasheeda had lived in Lahore for two decades. She had come here at fifteen , for work. She did not know this because she did not know the counting and the dates. It was a blessing she never recognized. For knowing her own age would only remind her of the number of years she had spent waiting and working for a dream that had melted away. Misery was one of the things that evolved over the years, like white hair. She never figured out when it was growing but one day she noticed it when someone pointed out.

Sheeda- as she was called by her mistresses, was a dishwasher. She had been washing dishes, for thirty years all year round, except for ten days , when she went to her village. When she was new in the city she would wash the dishes, telling all her mistresses that they better start finding a new maid because she will leave soon. She is getting married in a few months.
One of her mistresses was Razia. She lived next door, since twenty years and was called Polly, not because of her innocence but her funny face, a big round nose and small girlish eyes. This was her sister’s house, where she lived with her husband and five children. Polly had been divorced after three years of marriage and one daughter. Her husband has tried burning her, she had escaped for her life. But soon after escaping she realized that she had forgotten to bring her life with her when she left that house.
That night she was climbing the staircase when she slipped. The searing pain reminded her of her mortal being. She went to her room-fetched the money and came to call on Sheeda. “ We need to go.”

“Where?”

“Laddo’s village. I don’t want to die before she gets married.”
http://www.chowk.com/show_article...5824&channel=leafyglade%20inn

Get your own free IRC Chat room