I was going through my old notes and handouts yesterday and
found my notebook in which I had written something that caught my interest. I
wrote a particular piece of writing a few years ago and had completely
forgotten about it. I had ambiguous feelings cause it was amusing for me to see
that I had written something apart from the critical essays and drafts that I
used to do during my student life at the English department as well as a
disappointment about the subject and its alarming effects after quite a time. I
am in no mood of making any alterations except for a few so here it goes:
Him: " Knock
Knock! Anybody there!"
Me: Rubbing my eyes and waking up from a deep slumber and
thus a bit agitated, " who.. what.. oh what do you want!"
Him:" Do you know for how long you have been ignoring
me? This is not done. We need to have a serious debate over this issue right
now!"
Me: Not used to lending my ears for his gibberish, was half
asleep again, "Yeah so trueeee...zzzz"
Him: "Boink! Wake up! This is no time to enjoy your
ignorant slumber. I am really worried about the situation of our country which
is bombarded with murders, target killings, missing people and suicidal bomb
attacks of the depressed, frustrated and alienated... What role have you played
during the whole time? Sleep, eat and watch Tv?"
Me: Being jostled by his long lectures, " umm..
yawwnnn.. well.. What do you expect me to do? Run on the streets shouting
slogans against our government, boycott the law enforcers by breaching every
rule of sanity, burn tires and destroy public property like raging mad people?
I am an educated individual who has to think about his future plans, his career
and look after his family. Since I would be going abroad in a few months, it's
not really my problem now. All I can do is simply sympathize with the victims
of the current horrendous situation they are in..."
Him: Taken aback by my insensitive reply and as if frozen to
death for some moments, he finally recollected himself, " what on earth
are you saying!? This is YOUR country! what do you mean by "they"??
These people and specially their previous generations have sacrificed their
loved ones, wealth and social statuses in building a secure future for your
generation. I beg you not to take all this for granted. Unimaginable hard work
by these people has given YOU a place to live and breathe freely specially without
getting you disturbed by the fact that it was very difficult to acquire all
this freedom. What will become of your family if you have career plans of
adjusting yourself abroad.. in a country full of strange faces and strange
walls and most probably unwelcoming looks.."
Me: Waiting for my turn, I had almost dozed off again until
he mentioned something about me, " Oh no! That's where you got it all wrong.
I have received an approval letter from one of the well-reputed firms. They
have welcomed me with open arms and desperately need a person like me to bring
prosperity to their firm. I don't want to miss such a wonderful opportunity of
giving a boost to my career. As far as my family is concerned, once I have
settled there with enough income to support them, I am going to get all of them
there with me to enjoy their share of my success.."
Him: With some renewed enthusiasm to convince me, " But
what about your country? Does it not need young, dynamic and educated blood
like you to make it reach a healthy economic, social and political zenith? This
country, which helped you climb your success ladder by providing you with
quality education, basic facilities, social and personal security to a large
extent is now going through an alarming phase and expects you to raise your
voice against the injustices and hypocrisies of people within and outside its
boundary and looks up to you to provide faith to the needy deprived of justice.
Please help your fellow countrymen by imparting education to the ignored and
alienated regions of our country. My friend, these are matters grave and more
important than the wish to fulfill your own selfish desires.. "
Me: extremely irritated by now, " Wait a minute.. relax
dude.. Whatever you uttered was simply Greek to me. I tried to play my part
when I was in university completing my studies but every single way was overloaded
with hurdles and tensions. And by the way, how the hell do you come every now
and then to bug me and sing praises of this country which; I am sorry to break to
you, has lost all hopes of being refurbished into a stable place. Every time
out of mere pity, I give you a shoulder to cry on and listen to your babbling
notions about constructing something which is nothing more than a fool's
paradise..Who are you?"
Him: with a heart rending sigh and a lost hope of convincing
me," What use is your education if it has not implanted moral and ethical
courage in you? It was me who you have
been ignoring for the past 8 years of your life and unfortunately like you, a
huge lot of youngsters have been lulled to a deep dark dungeon of insensitivity
and unawareness...let me remind you again that its about time to wake up and
welcome me in your personality.. Me.. your Conscience.."
Me: startled again by his presence, "oh my Gosh you are
still here! you just talk too much brainiac! go back to where you came from and
let me sleep! zzzzz"
