Untitled

By Noorussabah Adamjee

C-202, B.Y.JHZ,

Kabul, Afghanistan,

18-Jan-2012

Dear Gul rukh,

I hope that you are well. It has been a long time since I wrote to you the last time

Well this time I have something immensely exciting to share .Gul, Baba Jaan is taking me along to Pakistan! While were sitting on the dastar khwan waiting for dinner baba received a call from Pakistan. He got a new contract .Baba told us that he will drive his truck to Pakistan. He said that he’d take Jamal along.

Baba seemed pleased with the offer therefore I requested him to take me along .Can you believe that he agreed to take me along? I am so excited that I can hardly sit still!!. Gul, mama is calling me. I’d write back to you after I return from my journey.

I am so excited!

Yours sincerely,

Parivesh

C-202, B.Y.JHZ,

Kabul, Afghanistan,

18-Feb-2012

Dear Gul rukh,

I just entered my home, I am so tired but I decided that according to the promise I made I’d write a letter for you.

Gul rukh, you know what? Karachi is not the capital of Pakistan .I discovered it during my trip. Islamabad is Pakistan’s capital since 1960’s. Our schools seriously need to update their books else, we’ll have to bear the embarrassment of not knowing the present.

So yeah, let me start off with my account, 19 - Jan -12, the day I’d never forget. I wore my best burqa, remember the brown embroidered one? . I sat next to baba Jaan in his colorful truck, my heart almost jumped out with excitement as baba started his truck. It was the best feeling. I thanked Allah from the core of my heart as I was the first, The First Girl who’d travel abroad. I felt the tinge of jealousy in my cousin’s eyes as she waved good bye to me as we drove off.

I observed every mountain, every goat, and every passer through the net of my burqa. It was unbelievably exciting. I saw Pakistani army soldiers standing at the check post on the Chaman border. They were graceful, tall, still and youthful .They were wearing a different sort of dress shirt and a trouser of khaki color. Unlike the turbans and stiff shalwar kurtas our people wear. They checked baba’s license and searched the truck. “Welcome to Pakistan!” they said in there throaty voice. Gul I am so drowsy, I will write back to you tomorrow. I Promise.

Yours sincerely,

Parivesh

C-202, B.Y.JHZ,

Kabul, Afghanistan,

18-Feb-2012

Dear Gul rukh,

See I am good at fulfilling the promises.

So yeah, Gul rukh, Pakistan is so unlike Afghanistan. It is so colorful! Let me tell you a sad thing I missed a bit of scenery as I dozed off during the journey.

Pakistan seems like a developed country to me, it has all properly built roads and schools unlike the destroyed and often bombarded structures we have. And yeah the strange thing was that they don’t have troops patrolling around. Baba stopped the truck at the ’FIVE STAR PATHAN DHABBA’ and got us some ‘chappli kebab’ they were so juicy and aromatic. They were surely better than the one mama makes. This was the first time I ate my food through my burqa. I felt like a bride. It annoyed me, but as Baba didn’t allow me to take off my burqa I had to continue taking the food while wearing my burqa.   

I am skipping the descriptions of the scenery as there is something great to come. In a few words it was amazingly beautiful. I praised Allah for his creations throughout the journey.

We reached Karachi and after getting rest in our truck baba took us to the park in Karachi so that we can stretch our feet. The girls there were so shameless they weren’t even wearing there dupattas!.  How can there parents allow them to step outside without their DUPPATTAS. I starred them with disbelieve and while doing so I missed a step and tripped over.

That is it for now, will write back to you soon. I still have loads to share.

Yours sincerely,

Parivesh