Warrior Ghosts In A Dream World
It was a wonderful cloudy day, which made the sky a little murky. The clouds covered, the vivid and balmy sun. The mountains were moist because of the drizzling. The beautiful green color was fully spread all over the place as if someone dropped green pot of paint over a painting. The Kunhar River flowed in a calm and relax manner.
Balakot is a prepossessing city in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a province in Pakistan. Kunhar River flows through it. Near that fascinating city, there is a wonderful valley known as the Kiwai Valley. In that beautiful city there lived beautiful people. One of those people was a pretty little girl named Zinnia. She was named after a flower. Zinnia was actually a cute little 10-year-old flower. She had rare green eye-color. Zinnia had long and silky hair, with pinkish-red lips and cheeks. She lived with her parents in a small village in Kiwia Valley. In her village KPK’s culture is followed. Zinnia usually wears embroidered kurtis with the handmade jewelry and beautiful Peshawari Chapal. Zinnia’s father Babur, is local trader. Like always, this week again he had to go trade some dry fruits to a nearby city Balakot. Babur had to go often to trade, but it was not the same this time because the next day it was Zinnia’s birthday. Zinnia became sorrowful, but Babur promised that he will be back the next day. She became energetic and hugged her father tightly, and left for school. In school, Zinnia studied about war. She came back from school and asked her mother curiously, “Mama why do wars happen? Doesn’t it harm both the countries that fight?” Her mother replied calmly, “Yes, my dear! It doesn’t benefit any of the countries. But due to some controversies the countries need to take an action against each other, which is not good at all.” To change the topic, Zinnia’s mother Zainab, asked her to freshen up and have lunch with her father because he was about to leave for Balakot. Babur said bye to his daughter and wife.
Zainab and Zinnia started preparing for Zinnia’s birthday the next day. And after rapping the preparations, Zinnia and her mother went to bed. The next day when Zinnia woke up her mother prepared Zinnia’s favorite breakfast, Bolani with Masteh. Zainab gave her daughter a handmade necklace and bracelet as a present. After looking at the gift, Zinnia told Zainab that it is going to be her best birthday ever. But poor little Zinnia didn’t know that she was about to get the worst birthday present that a child could get for their birthday. When Zinnia got ready for school, her uncle came running towards Zainab in complete downcast. He told the worst thing ever. Her uncle, Ahmed told them that last night around 3:00, twelve Indian Mirage jets air struck Pakistan, at Balakot, in response to the Pulwama attack. That was the moment when Zainab dropped Zinnia’s school bag on the floor and got petrified, because Babur, his husband was in Balakot at that time. Innocent Zinnia’s eyes filled with heavy drops of tears.
For almost two to three hours Zinnia and Zainab were stressed badly. Fortunately, a while later, Babur called his daughter and wife and told them he was safe. They both were so happy and overjoyed.
When Babur got home, Zinnia ran to her father started to talk with tears and without taking a breath went, “Papa; to whom I should ask the question that do any war or any fight against countries which has benefitted the other? Syria? Yemen? Iraq? Afghanistan? Or even Pakistan or India? Wars cause destruction and hatred among nations and people or peace and stability? Doesn’t this world have the right to live happily and peacefully? Do we want a depressed and unsuccessful new generation? If not, whom should I ask to stop these controversies?
Grade VII, Future World Schools, Bahria Town Karachi