We all grew up playing ludo and 'Sanp-siRhi'. I didn't know that the Snakes-Ladders game was invented two centuries before Christ in India. It was a game created to teach ethics to kids. There is a link from "Times of India" after this poster. Enjoy.
Link: https://bit.ly/2EPz304
ایک دفعہ عبدالمجید سالک کسی کام کے سلسلے میں حکیم فقیر محمد چشتی صاحب کے مطب پر گئے۔ وہاں مشہور طوائف نجو بھی دوا لینے آئی تھی۔ کھلا ہوا چمپئی رنگ، سر پر ایک سفید ریشمی دوپٹہ جس کے کنارے چوڑا نقرئی لپہ لگا ہؤا تھا۔
(the content of the following post is graphic)
I was born and raised in the slums of Bogota (Columbia), in an area called San Cristobal. I grew with drugs, gangs, prostitution, kidnapping, ransom, gambling, and all the evils of poverty. We were called 'ganchos.' I was respected from early on due to my courage and terror. Soon I rose to the level of Don. Now let me correct you, we were evils of the society but a blessing for the neighborhoods. We provided free food, secured 'ollas,' gave church donations, and brought education to children. I enjoyed getting indulged in alcohol, drugs, and women. Over time, bad habits start taking a toll on my health. To sustain my manly prowess, I start using a higher and higher dose of viagra. One night, we kidnapped a girl of another gang half of my age. She was pretty Hispanic lolita. As I was trying to perform, and she lay her legs open, I could not get any movement in my genital. She starts laughing. She picked gun from the side table, put on my head, and said - "You are already dead, loser." And she kept laughing. It was a blow. I never respected women. I didn't even respect women in my family, including my mother. As I came out of the room, I was sweating. I didn't tell anyone. It was such a hit. I never lost to dreaded gangs, policia, or any danger what so ever. To be a loser to a Chiquita was a huge blow. I learned power never lasts. Sooner or later, another powerful will replace you. I quietly left the town. I worked on farms in California. I married and adopted two kids. Last year I got diagnosed with unusual cancer. I will die soon. A Muslim man once told me that in their holy book, it is written that in the end, we all are losers. I didn't bow to all mighty. I might never. I still have questions unanswered about injustice on this earth. But I learned life is a peace only when you lie low. No power, no viagra, or no gun works - only love and good deeds to humans around you.
Zameer Jafri made his name in Urdu poetry as a "mazahiya shayer". As said, comedy requires immense emotional depth. Read his real gem - one serious ghazal. It is said that a good ghazal requires preferably small bahar, appropriate auzan, and unique khayal. (Mir Taqi Mir legacy).
Over centuries, humans in every genre, including religion, science, philosophy, or mythology, have argued instead guessed about Armageddon's nature. Due to my recent heavy involvement with pandemic patients' care, I recalled my old interaction with an Australian archeologist I met during travel. He told me:
"I am 70 years old and have studied many old civilizations. I concluded that humans tend to survive wars, diseases, and catastrophes. All societies, civilizations, and cultures run their bell curve. They rise to their glories and fade away in the books of history. If Armageddon is supposed to happen, and this planet needs to get destroyed, my prediction is will happen in a moment! It may be an asteroid hitting a planet or a global nuclear holocaust. Although it sounds scary, there is a solace that suffering would be very short!"
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As I took a much-needed break while covering sickest of sick COVID patients with ventilators, ECMOs, and tons of drips - I entered our breakroom looking to get some chai. The only reason I am surviving and keeping my sanity intact while working with these patients is an unlimited supply of chai. Thanks to a few desi nurses around me. As I settled on the chair, took out the mail I bought from home to see my pending bills, one nurse chimed as she handed the mug full of khusbudar ilachi wali chai,
"America aur hamare mulkon main saari zindagi bus 6 lafzon pe ghumti hai
America main: Get the bill, pay the bill
Aur udhar apne India main: chai bun gai, pi ke jaana"
