Yearning Forever

He told them to leave him alone with her, he had some things to say. He'd drown her in all the words of the ocean, if that would make her stay.
He told her how much he missed her and how he couldn't imagine his world without her. How he couldn't bear the thought of returning home and not finding her smile greeting him. He said he was sorry for every time he's made her cry and how he regrets every mistake she forgave. He told her how the house didn't feel like home anymore without her falling asleep in his arms. He told her he was in pain, and for the first time her eyes didn't reflect his pain, for the first time her arms didn't comfort him.
She didn't move. She couldn't.
They came back now and put her coffin down, six feet deep, below the ground.....

Innocent Blood

Bombs and gun shots, missiles and blood clots and everything in between,
Is all those kids have ever seen.
Innocence gone and loved ones lost
Long before, the reality did dawn.
Houses shattered along with the dreams
Even in their nightmares, all they hear are screams.
The faces of their family, now a memory of the past
The childhood fantasies not long did last.
With not much thought they bid goodbye,
not knowing never again will they see their child.
"I'll see you soon!", said her kid with a smile
But the soon too soon turned out to be a lie.
The smiling faces now, are blood-stained
After this massacre, just what have you gained?
The survivors forever haunted by the black-clothed men
A helping hand to them, no one did lend.
You can blame the religion, they can blame their lies
But nothing now, could make it alright.
Their struggle though, the Almighty does see
And from his wrath, the wrong-doers can't flee.
Don't worry Oh sisters, your kids are fine
In the Gardens of Paradise, they'll spend their lives.




(In the memory of the 2014 Peshawar School Massacre. May their souls rest in peace and may Allah give their families the patience and strength to deal with the loss)


P.s - This piece was written in 2014.

An Earnest Desire

"I don't understand.", he said looking at her intently, trying to decipher what thoughts hid behind those chocolate brown eyes.

"I want to be happy!", she said flashing her dimpled smile.

"Everyone does!", he said looking away. 

"Yes. But they don't try hard enough until the doctor tells them...until it's too late." Her face reflects some ancient grief.

His creased brow pushed her to continue further.

"I'm dying. No, not like that. I mean just like you and every one else. We are all dying but no one acknowledges it until the doctor tells them that they are going to die. I don't want to be one of those people. I want to start living before they tell me that. I want to fullfil all my heart's desire before they tell me my time's up! I want to remember this very moment when you stare at me like I just landed from Mars. And I want to remember this angelic smile and those deep mahogany eyes which seem like quick sand that I keep drowning in. And I want to remember how you move your fingers through your hair when you're nervous and I want to remember how the time is jealous of you and always flies when you're around and how I love the warm sun which makes your brown eyes look golden and how I love the winter which drives you closer to me. The wind on my face, your hands brushing away the hair from my face or blocking the sun from my eyes. My hand in yours, the sense of home, the feeling of being safe, the reluctance to let go, the promise of forever. And when my vision is clouded by age or time, I don't want to strain my eyes to find your face for as soon as I close my eyes, I know you'll be there. I want to remember every curve of your smile and every crease on your forehead, every movement of your hand and every tilt of your head with the slightest detail. I don't want to start living when they say it's too late..."

-Bushra Shaikh

A little too late

"But that's what happens, people die...suddenly...mid-sentence, their stories over and their insecurities buried along with them. But feelings remain, regrets remain & all those untold words & unforgivable actions, all those heedless promises & emotions remain...& when you remain when they are gone, an unexplainable pain remains, those unspoken words remain & the guilt remains to remind you of that beautiful soul & those twinkling eyes, that dimpled smile which could melt stones & that symphony of her voice that put music to shame. The comfort her presence brought, you will long forever as you fight the demons all alone in your empty place that's just like your empty heart, echoing with her memories, so close to you...yet not within your reach....!"