The Dialogue
"What you looking for?" The old man said as I turned to leave.
"Ummm... some nice old book... umm... have you any old edition of Jane Austen?" I asked with no hope.
He shook his head.
Suddenly, on my right, I spotted an antique-looking hardbound with a dirty green cloth cover. It was Wuthering Heights! I took it out and flipped through its yellowed pages. Yes, it smelled nice and looked romantic. Blood rushed into my head. Heart started palpitating, hands shivered, eyes twitched and cheeks reddened. I attempted to conceal my excitement from the gentleman. These booksellers are shrewd people. What if he sensed my excitement and hiked up the price.
But oh! The book was published in 1964. It was not old.
"Actually Sir, I need to take a memento from Pakistan. I wish to buy some good book before leaving."
"Are you from India?" He lifted his eyes.
"Yes, from Delhi."
Straightening up, he said, “Well, well, please look around. I'm sure you will find some book. You a student?”
"No." This was embarrassing. "I work. I have a job."
A silence followed in which I tried to find some worthwhile volume, but in vain.
"But Sir, do not you have any old Shakespeare? Or a cookbook? Some handsome copy of Pride and Prejudice hidden somewhere? Perhaps some thing on Afghanistan or Khyber Pass?” I was hungry for a book.
The man looked sad. "Nobody read any more. Karachi has changed. Your country is growing fast while we are going down." He clicked his tongue.
I smiled. "Sir, if reading is the criteria then even my country is under-developed."
"No, it is not that.” He shot back. “Hindustan has big publishing companies of world standard. There are thriving bookshops there. We are no competition. 'Til the '90s, there were eight excellent book shops in this circle of Saddar itself but they shut down one by one. Nothing’s left now."
The Intimacy
If there would have been a window around, it is certain that at this point the despairing bookseller would have longingly stared out into the street. But there was no window so we kept looking at each other. I took out an 1899 edition of Mansfield Park from my shoulder bag.
Article comments
1 - Pakistan Paindabad
Come On, Let’s Celebrate Pakistan in 2007
To welcome the New Year, Pakistan Paindabad invites readers to share their memories of the fabled canal of Lahore.
What is the magic behind Lahore’s legend? After all, money bag Karachi is Pakistan’s most cosmopolitan city. Rugged Peshawar is the most exotic. Artificial Islamabad is the most beautiful. Lahore is not even the most historic. Small town Taxila takes the cake with its Buddhist ruins.
Yet, Lahore Lahore hai " the stuff passions, poetries, and evenings are made of. And then there is the canal.
Originally built by the Mughals in 1861, later revived by the British, this 82-kilometer-long, tree-lined canal cut its way through the heart of Lahore - meandering through posh colonies, smooth highways, famous colleges, placid student hostels and cheery cricket grounds.
In summers, the canal tempts people to its cool water. In winters, the same people return to its banks to savor the warm sun.
To welcome the New Year, Pakistan Paindabad invites readers to share their memories, past or present, linked with this fabled canal. The musings or commentaries can be one paragraph or even one page long. Please e-mail your canal moments to Pakistan Paindabad.
Let’s celebrate Pakistan in 2007.
2 - Noumaan
It is quite difficult for Pakistanis to read any blog hosted on Google's Blog hosting service, BlogSpot.
3 - Ameer Hamza
I was unable to open the link of Pakistan Paindabad for some unknown reason. Let me know if the site is not up on the net. Or is there any other problem.
4 - Mayank Austen Soofi
Ameer, it appears Pakistan Government has reservations about Pakistan Paindabad. I have received complaints from many readers in Pakistan. It is ironic since this site works to highlight the better side of Pakistan.
5 - Mayank Austen Soofi
Except Pakistan, the website Pakistan Paindabad is being accessed in other parts of the world.
6 - gumshuda
There are some great bookstores in Karachi....
If you want to look at old books, there is a place near Chadi lane in old karachi...for good books in Saddar there are so many like thomas and thomas and city press book shop....In Urdu bazar u can go to Welcome book port....
U just dont know karachi :-)
7 - Mayank Austen Soofi
Yes, gumshuda. I just don't know Karachi! I'm glad to know that Karachi has good bookshops.
8 - hiba
hi
i have a big problen a want a harry potter novel but in home delivery can u tell where did i get number of that which delivery harry potter novel?
plz reply me as soon as posible