A reunion

Daniyal Left Pakistan in 2006. We studied together in high school back in 1996. He is one of those friends, with whom I had spent good amount of quality time with. He was poetic, rhythmic and always imaginative. Ordinary stories had a classical impact, while running through his tongue. We would usually sit on my roof top, and watch the sun go down on weekends. Drinks and snacks while wrapping all thats in life; philosophy and occasional laughter. Those were wonderful and special evenings. Selfless companions, just in for the quality time. Intoxicating memories.

Danial has 5 brothers. His elder brother called him to Australia. He started a business, which later he moved to Fiji. If you google, you can see Fiji on the map, almost as distant as moon. Its the last corner of the world, where this tiny island sits like a dart. Its known for beautiful beaches and tourism.

Now he is married and running several stores through out Fiji. Last year he returned after 3 years. This year he showed up again. It takes 3 connecting flights and more than 36 hours to make it here. Bravo my Friend !

Perhaps due to his wife, who comes from a Muslim family with an Indian origin, that Daniyal has lost the crisp of his Urdu. Still through his poetic expressions carrying the most microscopic and comprehensive details of his life there, he takes me to Fiji (imagination) every time we sit. He is travelling back to Fiji on May 5th.

We Met in Panu Aqil Cantt, back in 1996. But we reunited in Karachi after 2000 when we both were graduating from different colleges. Our weekends on rooftop could have been less memorable if it was Gen Zia in place of Musharraf running affairs of Pakistan. Youth and specially in these years, were living a reality which some of our ancestors passed away, envying and dreaming. All of a sudden things were happening. You may call it Musharraf's vision of moderate enlightenment, or people scrapping away old barriers. Not only there was a cell phone revolution going on, but also new private TV Channels were popping out daily, We had places to go, floors to party, and Protection bills on the name of women rights, enabling us to meet our friends in broad day light, without having to face any police harassment. Life practically was no less than of a TV star from Beverly hills, here at home.

Around same time I joined radio, then later a private TV and Daniyal's rooftop poetry took a sudden dip into a fantasy world. Our circumstances and society was changing fast. Things considered impossible or were tabooed few years ago, were no more remorseful. Freedom had new meanings. He would now call friends, ask me to play music and we had all sort of lights going on. Crazy.

In the midst of that dance floor smoke, he left for Fiji, chasing his dreams. [2006]

Now, while he is visiting Pakistan second consecutive year, he spoke of certain change he noticed here in Pakistan, and mentioned few twisted dreams.

Dani: "sabb aman hay na, Shoaib jani?"

Me: "Allah ka ehsaan hay dani"

Dani: "Phir khwahish ho rahi hay poorani"

Me: "Choar yaar, kia naimat hay pani"

Dani: "Pyas thori na hay sirf bhujani"

Me: "Choar di humne peeni pilani!"

Dani: "Dil ka dora seh chuki apni Jawani"

Me: "Bas karo, abb bohat hui Nadani"

Dani: "Kis se kahoon keh hain batain itni Sunani"

Me: "Woh jo bin kahe teray jisnay hain jani"

Following is a transcript of our chat, after i shared with him my media reporting trip to swat, during the operation Rah-e-Haq [blog posted]


Dani: "Shoaib! Our Nation supported the troops to crush these fundamentalist militants to achieve what?"

Me: "We supported our forces to bring peace and crush any miscreants who were trying to play ethno-religious card"

Dani: "They were targeting CD shops, cable TV, red districts, music and all things glamorous."

Me: "Apparently, these are few things which they thought stood between them and fulfillment of the order they wanted to bring about in our society"

Dani: "Strict Shari'ah, right?"

Me: "Yes in their own interpretation of the subject"

Dani: "Have we not crushed them by now"

Me: "Almost. They are on the run and mostly down"

Dani: "Still i don't see any pubs or pole dances in Karachi!"

Me: "hahaha, it is not about strip clubs and booze stores, dear"

Dani: "What is about, if not liberty to everyone in choosing their lifestyles?"

Me: "Its about merging and moving with modern values, dani."

Dani: "Modern societies don't give the impression, i get from our streets in here"

Me: "What do you want, *******S on the streets, or pub around every street corner?"

Dani: "Atleast I thought Nadeem F Paracha, would run for prime minister, or something."

Me: "Come on baby, there is average 1 mosque in a residential block for 100 families, here. We practice Islam."

Dani: "So, now forces have to get through them as well"

Me: "For what? they are not miscreants, or stopping you from any thing"

Dani: "Still people would not adopt liberal lifestyles, under these loud speakers"

Me: " You are confusing war on terror in our country, with war for satanic independence"

Dani: "What is it, else? What are we dropping these bombs in Waziristan for?"

Me: "They were challenging the writ of the government"

Dani: "No body can challenge the writ, without forwarding their own principles or theories"

Me: "yes, and they had century old orthodox views about Islam and its social implications"

Dani: "It takes no rocket scientist to add modernity into outdated moral value system"

Me: "Anyway, we didn't stand with our forces, for CD shops, or brothel houses. We stood for peace and national interest"

Dani: "Were you ever invited to the Presidential palace?"

Me: "No, why?"

Dani: "Just wondering, what do they drink after 11 pm"

Me: "you should be quitting now, you are just 27 and have already suffered a stroke"

Dani: "If once our forces after combating and defeating these terrorists, fail to create at least a single place in Pakistan which replicates Vegas, i will have another stroke, perhaps the Fatal one".

Me: "Hmmm....Swat is real expensive Real estate..."