Adnan`s Crazy Blogging World

Note: The post was actually written on 1 May

A couple of weeks back I suffered severe throat infection and fever and was not able to go office for a week. I was caged in my room and was not able to roam freely.

Today I was off and was feeling a lot better therefore I thought to make a trip for outing purpose therefore I planned to visit my old mohalla, area instead. I was actually willing to have some spicy stuff so I planned to have Bun Kebab over there.
I have spent most of my life using public transport. Whether it’s a bus/minibus, coach, rickshaw or a cab. I have used all of them. Alhamdolillah I do have my personal conveyance now but I still prefer to use old mode of transport whenever I can. It makes me feel connected with people who I can’t meet daily.

Khair..near by market was deserted due to the labor day. I went to a particular place to hire a rickshaw but I found none.. I was a bit surprised but then realized the recent Pathan-Mohajir conflict which has forced those poor guys to stay in home or leave Karachi. Anyways I reached to a taxiwala(cab driver) and started negotiating. From now on all conversation will be in Urdu which I am writing in Roman Urdu. I don’t feel to translate it as it’s not so relevant for outsiders. I will refer Cab Driver as CD in entire conversation. This conversation will help you to figure out the current situation of Karachi.

Me: Nazimabad Jana hay 2 Number ka Stop

CD: ley jain gey Janab

Me: Kitnay Lo gay?

CD: Wo Saifullah ka Thallay k Taraf?

Me: Haan magar stop par Utarna hay

CD: 100 Rupay

Me: Janay Wali baat karo

CD: 80?

Me: 50 Mey chalna hay?

CD: sahab 50 me tu ricksha walay jatay hain

Me: Chalna hay tu batao..

CD: 70 final hay.

Me: (I thought for a while) Chalo theek.

(The journay starts)

Me: Rickshay Wala nazar nahi arahay.. kia baat hay?

CD: wo aaj labor day hay na!

Me: tu tum labor nahi ho kia? hum sab labor hain

CD: Saab humay tu maalik ko paisa dayna hota hain. Shaam 4 bajay Sawar uthai thee aur ab aap ko utahaya hay(mind it it was around 8:45 PM when I had left the house)

Me: haan halaat bhe theek nahin hain aur ghareeb awam pis rahi hay.

Me: Ab chai walay ya mochi ya Tanoor walay ka kia qasoor?

CD: oper falatoun (Apartments) me  rahtay hain aur neechay jis dukan se chai pitay hain usi ko tabah karta hain. Banda agar kisi ka haan jakar chai piye tu lehaz hota hay magar yahan lehaz nahin.

Me: Ab agar ye tamam dhanda band hojai ga tu kis ka nuqsaan hoga? ye koi nahi sochta. agar pathan yahan sa chalay gai tu kia mohajir koo mochi banay ga? ya Sarak banai ga ya Buses chalai ga? Bhugatna akhir mey hum ney hee hay.

CD:Bilkul! Pathano ne karachi me boht se dhanda chala rakhay hain aur agar pathan chala gai tu Karachi walo ka jeena mushkil hojai ga. Busain(Buses) un k paas hain, khana peenay ka tamam kaam unho ne sambhala huwa hay.

CD: agar ye Super highway band kardain tu masla hojai

ME: Super Highway ke kia baat hay? agar ye log sirf roti bechna band kardain aur hoten khatam kardain tu hamara pass koi alternative nahi hay. Agar ye log transport se haath hatalain tu sab kuch band hojai

CD: CNG Rickshaw ka pura business pathano k pass hay. Rs.1,20000 Ka Rickshaw 1,80000  me bechta hain aur koi kuch nahi karsakta kion ka pura business in ka passhay.

CD: kaam dhanda kuch nai raha hay. Ai din sehar me tension rahti hay. 14 din hogai Maalik ko paise deyna nai gaya. kahan se doun jab kamai hee nahi hay. Kal maalik dhoondta huwa ghar tak agaya. mey ghar par nai tha tu bacho ne bataya

Me: hmmm

CD: yeh MQM walay samjhta nahin hain. In ko jo Zehan mey agaya bus karta hain. ye nahi sochta k Mohajir he sab se zyda pareshan hongay magar inhay kia fikar. Mera dost ko ek cheez layni thee aur wo sood par layna chahta thaa. Dukan par gaya tu dukandaar ne pocha,”Mohajir Ho?” usney kahan “Haan”, tu dukandaar ne kaha k nahi dayta. Tu ab ye nobat agai hay. Pathan janta hain k wo Karachi ka Hissa hain aur wo ghussa bhe hain lehaza ab wo chand logo ki waja say wo tamam logo ko nishana bana rahay hain.

(I had reached to my destination)

Me: Bus Allah khair karay

CD: haan bus Allah he kuch Karsakta hay

Me: Salam walikum (and I got out of the cab)

This is one of many stories which you can witness in Karachi and it’s possible only if you meet the masses. I don’t know what can I do for that cab driver or similar victims but atleast you can share their pain by listening them?

P.S: Both me and Cab Driver are Mohajirs aka Urdu speaking people

Related: Karachi without Pathans.