"See, this is the kind of classic I'm looking for. I had got it from Delhi's Sunday Book bazaar for just 20 rupees."
"Really? You are fortunate.” He was amused. “But why you carrying it here?"
"Well… uhh... actually Mansfield is my most beloved Jane Austen and this is my most cherished copy and well... uhhh... I do not feel secure without it." I mumbled.
The gentleman leafed through the copy. Suddenly standing up and hunching forward on the desk, he said, "I want to embrace you son. After a long time I have met someone so passionate about books. You have no idea how happy I am.” His eyes were moist and I was taken aback by the unexpected informality.
The gentleman appeared to be lost in memories. "There was a boy like you who used to come here almost every other evening. He would buy all the Enid Blytons from me… but the visits stopped - he had gone to Amrika..." There was a pause before he resumed. "...Some years back he suddenly appeared with his mother. He had a beard. He teased me that I had grown bald. The mother gave me his wedding card. They remembered me..."
I was uncomfortable and did not know what to say. The bookseller soon recollected himself and said, "What do you want to have? Tea? Yes, I will order tea." He barked into a phone, "Bhenchod, chai la. Jaldi. Haan, adrak wali, bhenchod!" (Sisterfucker, bring the tea. Quick. Yes, the ginger-flavored. Fuck you.)
The Awkwardness
The gentleman settled back. Resting his head against the chair, he said, "You would have been dazzled by Karachi 30 years back. It was better then your Delhi and Bombay. But now… so many problems." He spread his hands and shrugged his shoulders.
"It is not that bad, sir. Karachi is an interesting city. I really liked the Clifton beach." Reeling under the spell of his kind compliments, I tried to utter all the polite things.
No response issued.
"But there is much poverty around," I said, and immediately wished to take my words back.
"Uh? You really think so?" The old man moved his head down, rolled his big round eyes, and stared at me. "You don’t know anything. Karachi has lots of money. "We have people whose wealth is greater than your country's total GDP." But bastards have ruined this city. My Karachi..." He sighed.
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