“We have been born from ashes, darling. We have risen before and we will rise again,” I tell myself every day....
RAMAZAN VIBES
“We have been born from ashes, darling. We have risen before and we will rise again,” I tell myself every day.
Ever since 90’s kids opened their eyes to the world, they only saw their country going through stages of despair, one after another – wars, internal conflicts, scarcity of resources, and what not. But, did they find a way to love it regardless? Yes! They absolutely did, as Pakistan continued to stand firm in the realm of chaos.
Pakistan came into being in Ramazan, as the calendar marked the arrival of the sacred night, the 27th of Ramazan. An identity of its own, a language to represent them all. Pakistan and Ramazan seem to have a strong bond. Both are coloured so bright in the shades of love and warmth.
Once, a long time ago, in Pakistan, children played in the streets, through the loadshedding hours. Hearts and hands grew out to reach each other. People greeted each other with smiles and food. Neighbours knew each other, even if they had homes two streets apart.
Those days are far gone, but only in terms of progression of time and technology. Hearts are still united at the core, but the ways of manifestation of the emotions have changed. Kids have found a way to connect over online games and chatting apps. Adults don’t have much time to connect anymore, but, once in a while, a reason or two bring them together. And when that happens, their hearts that had been longing for each other are happy. Time and space melts away as they sit and chat the night away reminiscing about the good old days.
Time always finds a way. Like the lights that brighten up the houses, during the late hours of night, all through the ticking seconds on the clock, till the first ray of sunshine hits the ground.
The eyes of the little kids sparkle at the sight of the food and the blooming faces of the elders sitting around the table. It is like a party in the middle of the night at an ‘odd’ hour, they think to themselves, upon rubbing their eyes as they wake up from the soundest sleep of their life. “Just a new beginning,” is what the sehri nights are for the children.
Long and tiring nights of life await them. Like the air plants by the windows; their spikes sharp, or the money plants hanging by the walls; their colours enchanting, taking a peep inside, breathing in new air in the month of Ramazan.
Children find hope as they look at the plants with their curious eyes. “How would these plants survive on such little soil and sunshine?” they ask. Maybe they too can do ‘big things’ in the world after a while.
Ramazan represents the return to the eternal home, to live for who you are, be who you really believe to be at the core of your being. It is a time for the 90’s kids to return to their home, to the eternal peace. It is the time for a new beginning. The curious eyes now know it all. Ramazan teaches us what we already know, in the name of remembrance and recollection. From the days of gloom, to the nights of perseverance, for the achievement of a common goal.
The hope to see Pakistan in a state of total success and prosperity, keeps the youth alive to return and stay by its side, because they know: Time always finds a way.
