My Dear American Friends

My Dear American Friends,

You know that who I address this letter to! Since no indigenous American has ever been my friend therefore it is obvious, I aim at you; the naturalized Pakistani friends.  I could even call you NRP but then Indians would laugh sarcastically and say I am copying their widely used abbreviation NRI (Non Returning Indians). You may also argue and raise objection over the use of the word “indigenous” on the pretext that barring almost extinct “Red Indians” there are no more native people in the US, and that calling you “naturalized” does not make sense as Americans like to be known as Americans only. I beg your pardon but since I believe that your hearts beat with the same pace as ours and minds remain engaged with never-resolved issues of Pakistan, you only pretend to be Americans but inside out you are as Pakistanis as we are.

I wish to draw your attention over the recent NATO attack which martyred 24 Jawans in Mehmund Agency. So far we have lost 72 Fauji Jawans on such attacks in the past three years. The loss of civilians in US / NATO attacks coupled with terrorist strikes is as staggering as about 30,000 lives. The entire nation is in the state of shock, anguish and wrath over this sad incident and crying out in protests in the streets, newspapers and electronic media but you are tightlipped; may be sharing the same feelings clandestinely in order to maintain your naturalized outlook. The need of the hour requires every Pakistani, now naturalized US citizen, to deplore the NATO attack but you are short of expressing dissent over US hostilities openly. I pity that you cannot criticize the government over this issue and live under so much duress that sending emails, text messages, tweets and writing blogs on the internet are not possible due to scanners placed on by the US agencies to detect outrage against them. What a country you have chosen to live in!

I sincerely wish you were here with us to exhale properly over this sad incident, participated in the processions and prayers, raised slogans and slur against US /NATO attack, and watched tirelessly scores of Talk Shows on TV Channels condemning the attack and extending solidarity with our Forces and Rulers.

My dear friends; before signing off I wish to remind you that I am impatiently waiting your response on my number of requests for a guideline or “shortcut” for obtaining a US Visa. The last time I applied for a US Visa on fictitious and forged documents was turned down. The agents tell me that it is highly unlikely that I would ever be able to obtain US Visa even on real and correct documents because of tough conditions introduced by the US Government in the post 9/11 years. Please do something. I am dying to put a foot on the dreamland.

Yours truly,

A Patriot 

Ever-changing Goals!

Life is strange enough to let one realize how it passes by. It engrosses one’s energies towards translating ever-changing personal and family objectives & dreams into reality from the early age to the last breathe. People neither come out of this vicious circle nor do they surrender. Let’s take a look at some of our most common goals and priorities under an age span of 70 years.

                

Infant

Natural goals; crying, sleeping and getting regular feeds

Kid                                         

Innocent goals; candies, chocolates, toys and getting filthy

Initial schooling     

Kindergarten goals; eating all the time, games and stiff resistance against schooling

Regular schooling

Childish goals; high-tech toys, ample junk food and; how to get rid of “homework”?

Adolescence                      

Teen goals; computer, casual clothes, hangout with friends but shy; careless in studies

College life  

Late-teen goals; jeans, music, motorbike, romantic novels/movies, cell phone, texting to girls; dad is furious over staying away till late midnight

Welcome to university     

Young goals; overcoming shyness, hangout till late, love burgers and pizzas; studying a bit harder, aiming for better grades

Farewell to university       

Serious in studies for final exams, expecting excellent results

Exciting goals; Life will be complete with a better job, a car, an apartment and the most beautiful wife

Ten years later                   

Still struggling; less salary, small & old car, just married to an ordinary looking girl – neighbours’ have always good-looking wives - paying back loans, and living in a parental home.

Grown-up goals; life free of loans, a new & bigger car, own a better house in posh area, and two children (preferably; son, daughter)

Ten more years                 

Maintaining a bigger but old car, reasonable salary but still inadequate to meet expenses, rented apartment and no respite from borrowing.

Mature-age goals; need handsome amount to fulfill children’s endless demands, a sleek new car, converting rented house into home

Ageing                                  

Good job, good salary, own a car, a house.

Ageing goals; maintain good health, top position in office, high salary, children to attend expensive & reputable universities, separate car for the children, and to find the best match for the daughter

Twilight                                

Retired from active life, living with wife, watch family videos, scan photo albums, enjoy talk shows on TV, bigger house than needed, surplus money, one car sold out, the other sparingly used - children living separately and busy accomplishing their own goals.

Twilight goals; serve the nation, seek children’s next visit, strict diet control, and take medicines regularly to live healthy & long life