The
sun is spreading its light and the birds announcing the message of God that O!
Lovely creatures open your eyes and get enrich with the beauty of the sea, the
atmosphere, the shrillness the birds are facing they want everyone to feel it.
The sounds of shore slowly marching ahead and spreading over the soil is
bringing a pleasant smell to one’s senses. The light of God has spread more and
the sky has fully turned on and darkness gone. With unusual amounts of guests,
walking over the shore, some feeling the water and other’s chanting sounds that
seems to come from the depth of their vocal cord. Announcing that today is
Sunday and they want to spend most of their time at sea. These chanting slogans
and excitement makes the neighbors near the Sea view get onto their feet as
soon as possible. As if we are guests to all these people and we are welcoming
a worst day. People from far off places came to visit Sea-view and Sunday is
the best time for it. There is a fact that those who come from rural areas to
Karachi if they haven’t visited Sea-view than their journey is incomplete.
Young guns go crazy on their bikes and their silencers make the worst sound
they imagine themselves to be doing a Hollywood action film scene.
Families,
couples, young guns and sometimes disabled children came to enjoy and feel the
atmosphere which indeed is very different and if you have been there you can
smell it right now. The sea is calm; the smell acts as a magnet and the joy is
never ending. The neighbors due to unusual guests all the time are sometimes
fed up of so much joy. And they wish the Government should banned picnics on
Sunday.
We
had two guests my cousins at our home that have come from Larkana. After they
got free from their busy schedule we finally planned to go to Clifton and
Sea-View as it is the famous spot for visitors. So finally the day came and on
Sunday after eating lunch we left our home for Clifton. I was accompanied by my
sister and two guests.
It
was 31st of July on the eve of Eid when we switched on our
televisions and we heard that many people have drowned in the sea. It appeared
as a common story because once in a week or on weekends many young souls lose
grip over their legs and go deep into the water and are drowned. The life
guards can’t stop them they seem to be dysfunctional and they can only help
people to survive by putting their lives in the sea. Initial reports informed that three young
souls and a 12 year old girl have been drowned near famous picnic spot “Do
Darya”. But after people arose their voices that more people are missing,
government washed their eyes and awakened from a long sleep, the rescue teams
expanded their search activities and rescued more bodies whose breath was no
more and subsequently the amount kept on increasing as administration failed
and Navy with their helicopters came into the battlefield rescuing innocent
soldiers and at the end it was reported that more than 40 people lose their
souls in water.
We
finally reach Clifton Road but when our feet touch the soil, we saw dug-up
roads, mounds of earth, choked thoroughfares and alleyways, all were presenting
an image of Moen-Jo Daro. It was all due to construction work on a flyover and
two underpasses on the site. The area appears to be barren especially the
recently renovated Bagh Ibane Qasim
and lots of other historic places such as Jehangir
Kothari Parade and ancient underground Shree
Ratneshwar Madadev Temple.
The
temple’s existence is of historic importance. The stairs of the temple lead to
as many as six levels, situated in the opposite direction under the parking
area many believe it is under Bagh Ibne Qasim. The tunnel which lie in the
fifth and sixth basement levels leads to Mohatta Palace, fourth level is
courtyard on the terrace there is a cement pigeon house with clean water,
situated so near to the sea a sweet water springs at its lowest ebb is another
nature’s miracle. Just as the followers of Ghazi believes that the shrine holds
the sea back from flooding the sea. The Hindus believe that Lord Shiva third eye watches over the
sea and keep it in check. But many of the rocks in the cave have developed
fresh cracks due to the digging and heavy construction work outside. But the
Hindus haven’t appealed against this development; they are indeed trying to
reduce violence between Hindus and Muslims.
Passing through the Hyperstall mall, the sea
was attracting us towards itself; the first sign of it gave you an everlasting
joy. But as we reached near the sea my
sister suddenly said why there are no people around the sea? Memories of the
past events flashes back in my memory, the complaints of the neighbors that we
read in the newspapers, the car racing, the bikes going crazy and families and
couples at the sea side. We finally parked the car near the street, the car
parking instructor was not there so the extortion money was saved. When we
arrived there we saw very few people there and then we came to know that
section 144 has been implemented and government has banned bathing in the sea.
Life guards were standing nearby and they were stopping people from going into
sea. Perhaps the government in state of confusion banned not only bathing but
walking near the sea as well. Police vehicle was marching on the soil, the sea
I think was also in the state of terror and the water which on usual days is on
the shores almost near to the end of the footpath was too far thatday. We were
unaware of the fact that the government could ban going to the sea-view for so
long because almost a month has passed since the incident occurred. But we
didn’t give up we felt the soil, snapped some picture and also tried to play
with the law and tried to wet our feet’s in water but as we go near to the
water , sound of whistle kept on increasing and warning came up that don’t go
near the water. Perhaps bathing and getting your feet’s wet are two different
things I guess but it was the precautionary measure for future I guess. I
didn’t want my cousins to break the law and spent a day at Clifton police
station. So we stayed at the shore, saw the sun playing with us. Eating chaat
there, we finally left the place as darkness was spreading its shades and the
street lights were closed not to be opened till the government orders. And we
left the sea for our home with little disappointments in our heart. But days
after I was happy to read that people are allowed to visit and bath in the sea.
And the sea was spreading its magic again.
So
Karachi which is known as the city of lights was hiding itself under article
144, security and terrorism for some time. But we are continuously struggling
to make it better, passing through the security zone every day, breaking each
wall that it is building around itself in the name of protection. Yes the new
Karachi has replaced the old one. But still the old one is alive in our hearts
and the sea, shrine and the parks they all are reflecting the joys of the past.
And by visiting such places once a week we are being revolutionary against the
government and atmosphere which is restricting the people of Karachi to make
borders between it and ourselves. But we will break all the barriers and keep
on living with the glories of the past.
Totally loved reading this detailed account of a trip across Karachi!
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