Sydney has been a very boring place of late. Eid outside Pakistan is anyways extremely dull and with every single person I know visiting Pakistan, it was far from being anything worth mentionable. Nevertheless, Eid came and went once more this year without any bakras (goats) or dummbas (lambs) being halalofied; so envious of everybody in Pakistan. But now things are looking brighter and more hopeful than ever; all those who left are slowly returning...woohoo!!
Julsi returned yesterday. He had been gone a month which basically means I've been off exercise for that duration but wait, I've been resting my knee so I can be in tiptop shape when we start our routine again. So anyways, once we had picked him from the Airport, we drove off to Maulvi's for an amazing breakfast, all thanks to Junior Bhabi and NOT to Maulvi. Everything was coming along nicely until Julsi declared that his travel wallet was missing. Following were the contents of that wallet:
- $8000 AUD
- Passport
- ID Card
- Credit and Debit Cards
- Driver's Licence
Pretty much his life! He had gracefully left it on top of the luggage trolley. It's amazing how easily smiles come to a person who has had that big a mishap. Julsi, composed and calm, called the 'Lost Property' office at the Sydney Airport. In the next 15 minutes we had been told where the wallet was and where to pick it up from. I'm sure the drive to the Airport under such circumstances wouldn't have been a joyride for poor Julsi in any possible way even though it was after shoving down parathas and bhindi (a day old). Nevertheless, everything was given back as is, and Julsi is whole again...yayy!
Needless to say, I'm impressed and have developed a new level of respect for these people. It's apt to quote Tiwanz here, '...agar goray kalma parh lain to inn kay lyay aik jannat main naya level banana parh jae ga....'; all of us laughed it off instead of actually being ashamed. The minute we figured out that the wallet had been left at the Airport, my main apprehension was that if a desi or a Paki has found the wallet, there's no way in hell Julsi's getting his money back. It would've been a perfect crime; clean as a whistle with no strings attached.
As heartbreaking, cruel and cold as it may sound, we are a nation of dishonest, amoral and corrupt people. I would personally shy away from dealing with Pakis for fear of being duped. The first opportunity we get to steal or make easy money, we run after it like a dog after bone. Why didn't Steve - from the Airport - decide to keep a thousand for himself? I'm sure he doesn't make millions at Toll Dnata's reception, and would've loved to buy himself a comfortable getaway trip to Port Stephens.
The sole reason behind Pakistan's turmoil is dishonesty and nothing else. We are a cursed nation due to our predilection for corruption. Can we please stop dreaming of revolutionizing Pakistan and change ourselves first? Imran Khan is a sorted out and focused character in his own being, are we? We love heroes and are extremely impulsive in 'making' them, but are we switched on enough to try and be one ourselves? If you want to save Pakistan, please save yourselves first.
I see good times ahead...for me; the lamb pulaos, BBQ's, Julsi's Chinese dishes and biryanis, Sehree's dahi bhallas and burritos. Sigh!! I'm hungry now, time for some food.
Cheers
Dear Sufian;
ReplyDeleteThere is a slight mistake in ur post. You wrote that "we are a nation of dishonest, amoral and corrupt people". Actually we are not a NATION in first place. Nations are uni directional and possess some common traits. But we are just a CROWD/RUSH of people all moving in different directions. Our example is like some cats tied from their tails and every cat is trying hard to move in different directions and making hell of noises.
Our greatest dilemma is that we sit in drawing rooms, speak loudly about corruption, dishonesty and then the moment we are out of drawing room we start doing the same.
You are very very true in saying that "if we want to save Pakistan then save yourself first". Wherever we are, in whichever capacity we can, we should have faith and do the honest things, and beleive me it pays.
The thing is that we (the younger generation) have greater responsibility in this regard. If residing abroad, we are reflection of whole nation and we need to be very very careful in what we do. I spent four years in China and have seen many people doing things which raised the prosperity of Pakistanis. I am also blessed that ALLAH has provided me several occasions where I have done the right thing and tried my best to earn respect to Pakistan.
And bro, dont get demoralize, there are good people (though very few) still in Pakistan. We should keep our head up and do good in whatever place we are, wherever we are. INSHA ALLAH we will get rid of corrupt politicians, corrupt molvis and corrupt foujees.
and thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Regards;
Dr. Amer Farhan Rafique
afrafique@gmail.com
ReplyDeletenumjan55@hotmail.com (for facebook)