Namal (English Translation) By Nimra Ahmed

Chpt 4: Humanitarian/philanthropic

Philanthropic

Agar tum hosla majmoor rakh sako jab ird gird sab hosla kho rahe hon aur tumhe mard ilzam thehrayein,

Agar tum apne aap par bharosa kar sako jab sab tum par shak karein,

Magar unko shak ki ijaazat bhi do,

Agar tum intezaar kar sako aur intezaar se thak na jao,

Ya tumse jhoot bola jaye magar tum na bolo,

Ya tumse nafrat ki jaye magar tum nafrat ko raasta na do,

Aur phir bhi na tum zyada achhe lagoo na zyada aqalmand,

Agar tum khawab dekh sako aur khwabon ko apna aqa na banao,

Agar tum soch sako magar sochon ko apna maqsad na banao,

Agar tum fatah aur tabahi dono se mil sako

Aur dono dhoka bazon se ek jaisa sulook kar sako,

Agar tum apne bare mein bola gaya sach sunne ki himmat rakh sako

Jo nadanon ko behkane ke liye tor-mor kar pesh kiya jaye,

Ya jin cheezon ko tumne apni zindagi de di unko toota hua dekh sako

Aur phir jhuk kar unhe purane ozaaron se dobara taamir kar sako,

Agar tum jhandom se baat karo aur apni andar ki achhai bhi barqarar rakho,

Ya badshahon ke saath chalo aur apna aam hone ka ehsaas bhi na kho sako,

Agar na dushman na dost tumhe dukh de sakain,

Agar tum be-reham lamhaat ko bhar sako

Saat second ke faaslay ki daud se,

Tab... haan tab,

Tumhari hogi yeh zameen aur jo ismein hai.

Aur sab se barh kar, tab tum banogay aik Insaan, mere bachay!

(Rudyard Kipling's poem "If-")

--*****--

When Saadi returned home, the first thing he did was peek into Haneen's room. Then he remembered that she usually went to the tuition academy at this time. He continued with his packing. As evening approached and the voices of conversation and the TV grew louder in the lounge, he stepped out. Haneen had thrown her bag onto the sofa and disappeared into the kitchen. He stood at the doorway.

"I have some bad news," he began with a suppressed smile. She was busy taking out food from the fridge and remained focused on her task. "Today, at Nosherwan's house, I saw the list of high scorers from your team. Apologies, but you're no longer at the top."

"Don't ruin my mood, brother! I know I'm still at the top." She glared at him and took her plate into the lounge, pulling out the computer chair and taking a bite of her food.