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Winter’s Parting Shot

Come November and winter shyly creeps in, like a long-forgotten friend unsure of her welcome. She finds that her fears were unfounded. For the Karachiites have eagerly awaited her since the last 10 months. And now that she is here, the celebrations begin.

Weddings are held followed by Christmas and new year parties. Food is consumed in abundance. The neharis and payas avoided the whole year by the weight concious suddenly become halal The rehri wala pops up, selling roasted nuts of different varieties. The IBA cafeteria begins offering soup.

Nights are long and cold, the youth warm themselves dancing at mehndis. The days are even better. For winter captures the sunlight and releases only a fraction of it - a milky, comforting warmth - pleasant to the beholder in a way that summer sunlight can never be.

But this year winter is angry. For in this city of lights, for once the illuminations dimmed. Naive people were looted, innocent blood was spilled. The same people with whom she had danced the year before, suddenly went crazy. Tears were shed and there was no one to wipe them away.

So she shows her fury. The winds howl, the branches of the trees whimper in pain. The harsh breeze strikes commuters, trying to beat them down. It chills them to the bone. Old women complain of joint pains. Young housewives find it ardous to wash dishes. All of nature is in unison with winter - Karachi has not behaved well.

As a parting shot, winter unfurls all the forces at her disposal. Sunlight doesn’t want to bath Karachi in it’s warm glow. She sneaks away, allowing winter to wage war against Karachi. If the days are chilly, the nights are freezing. People huddle in their houses. They don’t think of their fellow Karachiites less blessed than they - those who live in jhaunparis or out in the open…

And winter becomes even more furious. She engulfs Karachi in her dismal embrace and resolves never to release her.

Winter wants to stay here forever, summer never wants to come back. For Karachi is a terrible host.