Kashif Shahzada

Once upon a time there was a land which was blessed with everything one could imagine. Abundance in natural riches, beautiful seashores, majestic mountains, magnificent lakes, crystalline rivers, lush plains, and rocky tracts. It had bustling  cities, a generous countryside, sweet fruit, savoury cuisine, colourful cultures, merry folk, and all that one could wish for, but then – the land was no more.

The land of the pure was a sacred trust to its dwellers, but instead of fulfilling the trust and keeping its covenants, those who were bestowed with its power and authority did not use their trust with wisdom, while those who were ruled, failed to make a distinction between right and wrong, and blindly mimicked every charlatan who promised them the earth.

Slowly but surely, the beautiful land was defaced, its wealth was plundered, its people allowed others to make a fool of themselves and looked the other way when injustices crept into their cities and towns. The rich got away with it scott free, while the poor dragged their feet for years begging for justice and mercy. But overall people paid no heed. Little did they realise that what was to come, would not only affect the perpetrators but the tide of time would also sweep them in.

The land which was one, broke up into smaller fragments, with the dwellers of each fragment snatching away what it could. Its beauty turned into ugliness, its youth having no hope in the future turned to crime and vice. Turmoil from the inside, and fear from the outside was the order of the day. The land of the pure was defiled by no other but its own denizens. They all slowly strangled the life out of their country’s frail body. It was a slow but painful death. Everyone warned them that their deeds will have dire consequences, but they gave no ear, dismissing such cries as old fashioned rhetoric.

But then, the inevitable came upon them. Yes, the inevitable. From which there is no escape. Which does not allow people to explain themselves. Does not give them second chances or grant any last wishes. It over awes them to uproot their very existence from the earth. Nothing could be done. They all begged for mercy, implored for one more chance, but it was too late. This destruction was not sudden and immediate, it was a slow and gradual annihilation, embedded in their own actions. All their life they had blamed others for their own misery, but once the inevitable was upon them, they fully realised that they had no body else to blame but themselves. The monster which was now fully awakened and about to devour them, was a creature begotten of their own.

The inevitable was upon them. Looking them straight into the eye, smiling in front of their horrified faces. Their time was up. There was no going back. The inevitable, moved forward to embrace everyone.

You may think that what I have written is a preview of some upcoming fiction novel. I assure you this is nothing of its sort. The land I mention, is Pakistan, and this will be its story, unless drastic steps are taken by all, each and everyone to safeguard its existence. This is no fiction. It is happening. The inevitable is approaching.