Chapter 6: Part 1 Robinson Crusoe of Pakistan

On the day off, as usual, there was a heater bong in my house. The children were making noises along with doing their homework. The television was on full volume and commercials were playing loud songs and I was holding a Penzi plant in front of me and wondering why the buds have not bloomed in it yet. While in the parks and gardens, piles of Penzi flowers can be seen in full bloom. Maybe I have less sunshine in my house so that is why they don't get much sunlight. Or maybe the reason is that I keep staring at these plants every morning. I keep on checking them and the plants get bothered and they don't like to be disturbed that is why they refuse to give flowers. Right at that moment, Right at that moment, my little ones came out red with rage, fighting like redheads, and; "Look Abu, what he.... No, Abu, I didn't say anything. She is.... Abu Abu, he hit me first...." Making such noises.

"Be quite." I thundered.

Both of them fell silent.

"Now tell me what happened.... First you Aini."

Aini wiped the tears that were rolling down from her red cheeks and said. "Look Abu Samir says that mustard flower is red in color."

"And what do you say?"

"I say they are green.... I am right na... The mustard greens we eat are green, aren't they?"

"And why do you think that mustard is red young one?" I looked at Samir and asked.

"Abu , that is why it is called Sarsoon (mustard plant).... All the red things must be called sarsoon...."

"Just wonderful." I said angrily. "You are the child of a village person who is proud of his peasant background. He writes plays about the village and you don't even know what color mustard is."

"You are the villager, Abu." Sameer said. "We are city dwellers.... We have never seen mustard so how can we know what it looks like."

And the children were true. In the last whole year I had gone outside of Lahore to Sharqpur only once and on that day I also realized that I am now a villager by name only and a farmer by fashion. Otherwise, I am cut off from fields, trees and open spaces with fresh air. And my kids weren't with me on that trip... I used to try to make them villagers on my own but I never took them out of Lahore once.... If the children were calling the mustard to be red or green then it wasn't their fault.

"Today, we'll go outside Lahore and have a picnic so go on and get ready." I announced.

This announcement was well received by the children and they hurriedly began to look for their shoes and socks. But my wife came out of the kitchen holding a spoon in her hand and while waving it like a sword, said, "The first thing is that there is no discipline in your life. You have no idea what you want to do.... One moment you were sitting back and relaxing and now you are planning about going on a picnic...."

"My dear!" I said in a very affectionate manner. "We have been trapped in cities. We should also breathe in the some fresh air from time to time."

"And secondly, you were rejuvenated and at such an age.... All right, go and breathe in fresh air. Have I stopped you from going?"

"My dear wife, even if I do breathe, you will not stop me. But please pack the food you have prepared and go on a picnic with me today, let's refresh the memories from our youth."

"Memories of youth?" My wife suddenly became alert. "I never went on a picnic with you. Who did you go with?"

Meanwhile, the three children came out ready, so we ended the conversation here.

"But where are we going?" Seljuk asked.

"Let's all leave from home.... Towards River Ravi. We have food with us. We will stop at any area with fresh air, sit down and sit down to have our picnic."

"And what about your disciples who come to drink tea on every holiday. What will happen to them? My wife asked.

"I want to be free today." I stretched my chest and took a deep breath.... Fresh air.... Mustard fields and... and... And don't know what else... "Come on, let's go kids....!"

We all got on the bike. On the way we bought food and started our journey towards Ravi River. After crossing the bridge, the search for a picnic spot began....

"What do you say about going to the mausoleum of Jahangir?"

"Let it go." she said. "For the first time in our life you brought us out and you want to go to the tomb...."

"What do you think of a quiet sandy place near Ravi river?"

"Will we get to see mustard there?" The children asked.

"That you will find while going towards Sharqpur Road."

"Then let's go there."

I turned my motorcycle towards Sharqpur. Tractors, trolleys, buses and crowds of people.... The only flaw in Lahore is that man cannot be alone here.... There is no place around it, where, after reaching we can say that Lahore is left behind, the population is depleted and you can sit in a corner and breathe a sigh of relief.... Lahore lives like a collective family.... Wherever you may go.... Tomb of Jahangir, Jallu Park, Shalimar.... And there you will find some acquaintances.... How are you, sister-in-law? Dear brother, how come you are here today?.... Hello uncle....The people of Islamabad are very lucky in this regard.... The vast plains and hills that turn golden in the sun these days.... Reeds, trees, lakes.... If you deviate from any highway, you start seeing the forests.... There were several places on Sharqpur Road where we stopped but none was found suitable for a picnic.... In most of the places the fields were watered.... At one point, we just took off the road a little and dogs started following the motorbike and the children became terrified. When finally we selected a place, buffaloes came there and my wiferefused to sit there.... The children were tired of seeing the mustard fields and now they were hungry. So Seljuk said after being disgusted. "Abu, we have taken many breaths in the open air and have also seen mustard fields. Now let's go back home and sit at our dining table to eat our dinner." This suggestion was welcomed by all but my wife made another suggestion. "You sometimes mention about a Saeed Sahib who lives among the fields on Sharqpur Road and is your friend..... Where does he live....? Why don't we go and pay them a visit...."