Smile!

Smile!

Smiles!

Yes, ‘smiles’ is the word that came to her mind after reading the headline of the topic of Indo-Pak friendship. Behind this word lies a true story of struggle, of helplessness; seeking refuge and courage that she got not from so far away but right beside her. From the neighbour, and that too so unexpectedly when she had lost all her hopes.

It’s about something that she always wanted to reveal and what a beautiful platform to say how human  hearts beat above boundaries! Words of courage coming seemingly from far away from a stranger who shares neither religion nor grounds, but can mean so much that they made her stand where she is today.

A confident girl, smiling.

It changed a life, so never underestimate the vital power of human connection, especially with those sharing the same cultural heritage.

And the answer to this topic is SMILE.

A whole hearted SMILE.

That I am sending, from my face to yours 😀

Writer: Sohaira Imtiaz
From Lucknow to Lahore

From Lucknow to Lahore

Uniting
From Lucknow to Lahore, I wonder if the leaves change texture; if the breeze hits different, if the ground morphs, too. From one state to the next over the border, I wonder how the air tastes stranger; if the streets look forgien, if the people do, too. These decades that have flown by, how much transformations have they brought? If we have grown up now, have we forgotten our ties? From Lucknow to Lahore, I find that the chatter does shift; I hear Hindi, Punjabi, Awadhi, Urdu and all their dialects carry variance. But, from Lucknow to Lahore, I also see people; their countenance marking a similarity from their past, their tradition, their culture- covering the differences so you can see them become one and the same.

Writer: Nila Dhruv

Illustrated by: Ruchita

Kites

Kites

Kites
A glittering kite soars gracefully in the air, swishing and dancing in the breeze. It is spurred on by the enthusiastic shouts of the tiny people below, laughing in joy at the heights it achieves. The kite feels pride at making them marvel at its presence. Suddenly, a shadow crosses overhead and the kite turns to spot another floating past it. It pays no mind and continues on it’s path when it feels a tug on it’s string. The other kite had gotten tangled on the rope. The kite notices the other struggling and makes an effort to get unstuck as well, but it is useless. It can feel itself losing altitude and there are now raising voices below, replacing the cheers. The owners of the kites are having an argument, too focused on their squabble to notice them falling to the ground and tearing. The people stop bickering to look at the damage, seemingly going to blame each other again, when a couple of others gathered approach the fallen kites and start to mend them. They share tips and their supplies to quickly finish the repairs, presenting them to the owners who glance apologetically at one another. Glittering kites now soar gracefully in the air, they have scratches of time marked on them but both are certain they will heal, and if the people below would work together again when in need, then they will certainly fly higher than before.
Writer: Abeer Iftikhar

Illustrated by: Ruchita

Our Flags, Raised

Our Flags, Raised

Uniting
When we see flags raised, flashing in the wind: we see them blowing elegantly, carrying the pride of their nations. When we see flags raised, steady and firm in their hold: we see them standing shoulder to shoulder upon the same pedestals, soaring in the same sky. When we see flags raised, specks of colour dotted on the horizon: we see the sewn and embroidered cloth holding hopes, dreams and freedom, but do we know what flags raised truly show in that moment? 

A single symbol, a single beacon, elevated with pride; yet showing no shame, no scorn or disgust when raised with it’s fellows. A popular song comes to mind when seeing these flags raised, ‘Iss parcham kay saye talay, hum aik hai’ [Underneath the shade of the flag, we are one]. We are one under our flags but together our flags show we are one under the same sun. Our colours may differ, yet our speech, our homes, tell a tale more connected than ever.

Writer: Sara Javeed

Illustrated by: Ruchita

Our Mirrors

Our Mirrors

Uniting
There are mirrors standing in place of walls, they reflect and refract our images atop of one another. I look into it and see someone with the same visage as me, a different smile and laugh perhaps but really nothing noteworthy of a gap. The mirror is not wrong, it shows a reflection of truth, it banishes the solid lines marking variations and blur differences that exist to contrast. The unique distinction still remains, but in a way that invites genuine curiosity and wonder. Why settle for a game of ‘spot the difference’ when we look the same, act the same, and for friends across the border, even understand a similar language- there are brighter, better futures to be dreamt of when one let’s go of these notions.
Writer: Maheen Adil

Illustrated by: Ruchita

Talk About It

Talk About It

Uniting
I had always wondered what our neighbors across the borders would be like, for everyone would have their own views ready to share when it came to the topic of Indo-Pak. I had never otherwise seen such diverging arrays of views for every aspect raised of this topic, and although I believed it is good to keep discussions open in order for commonality to be found, it is often that the points of the discussion get stuck on the same loops. Walking in circles would inevitably get us nowhere. As citizens of the nations, we know that a future of peace and prosperity with each other is only possible when we open our minds along with our hearts, when we listen and talk about matters of tolerance and understanding and not only breach the topic for skimming over the important aspects. We need to talk and continue the talk, but talk about shifting perspectives, talk about the good, talk about the change and the progress and see for yourself how alternatives and hope present themselves.

Writer: Naima Malik

Illustrated by: Ruchita