"Seat 2B, right here sir," the strikingly attractive stewardess advised me where to sit, "and have a very pleasant flight." I was surprised that she had actually added those last words as employees of the particular airline were not really known for their friendly attitude. Come to think of it, they were not known for their good looks either. The Pakistan...
When I got on the plane in Manila to continue my journey to Frankfurt, my assigned window-seat was taken. A child or woman, curled up in sleep or indifference against the cabin's wall, was occupying it. The plane's scheduled flight had started in Tokyo, and she or it had there taken possession of the vacant seat. I was in a happy mood and it was not worth ma...
"Folks, there are three senior positions to be filled," Mr. Shahzad, the vice-president of the company announced to the group, "and those who are promoted will create opportunities for many others to rise also!" There was palpable excitement in the crowd of two dozen gathered in the main lobby of the Mangla guest house. The prospect of promotion raised the...
This is a tale of science fiction I wrote a few months ago. It doesn't have a main character, it is composed of little scenes telling the story of the sexy invasion of earth by the Amazon Vampires from Mars. It takes place in the near future after a terrible war has changed the face of the world as we know it. It's one of my first published works. I hope yo...
"No, there is no overt pressure at the moment, but if I cannot be sure the situation will remain the same if the result is not different the next time," Resham sobbed as she sat next to me. "Come on, things cannot be that bad," I consoled her by hugging her tight and running my hands down her back. "I can sense that the tide has turned the wrong way, parti...
"And what do you see in my future?" the stunningly beautiful girl in the sparkling yellow dress asked, her hand stretched out across to me. Conversation at the table died as I wondered what to do. I did not know this person, and here she was giving me her hand, ostensibly to read her stars. In our native country, Pakistan, this was a serious breach of inter-...
I planned to move in with Roma when Arpi treated me harshly. It was the time when I heard her and Ali fighting. Even when Ali treated her shabbily (which I never did in our years of marriage) Arpi was all for Ali. She defended him even though I knew Ali was abusive to her. That showed how deeply she was in love with Ali and that was good enough for me to lea...
I Payal felt that her world had ended now that Shahnawaz no longer was around to support and love her. Rather than things improving, given that he had been very successful in his business ventures and Payal had gained a name in journalism, everything had collapsed around her instead. Within hours of his demise, scores of people had descended to express th...
Farah Bukhari was sixty-five, a grandmother and loving, loyal with her to her husband Mamood. With two grown daughters, and their grandchildren she always loved her husband, and was a devout Muslim wife. That was until a fortnight ago she had discovered her husband of almost forty-five years had lived a double-life of his own. He had been hiding a gambling,...
I -- The Pool Party "Dearest, are you sure I have to wear a swimsuit at the party?" I could not believe Akbar expected me to dress in a mere handkerchief to the party that night. "Of course, dear," he replied, "I am sure you do not want to look really out of place." I had not looked out of place at any of the other events since coming to Saudi, and his st...