mrs. ashfaq munir's resentment

mrs. ashfaq munir's resentment

8.00 pm

resentment played

on the smooth face of mrs ashfaq munir

like the strobe lights 

on niagara falls at  dusk

as mr. ashfaq munir

wriggled and settled

in his lazy boy

commercial break

during the commercial break

his gaze would wander around the room

the dieffenbachia in the corner

taj mahal on the silk wall carpet

half-filled ashtray

yesterday's news by his feet

and on the side table

luke warm tea

and missus...

missus would pick up the tv guide

during this break and stare intently

at its pages

reading the schedule

like qur'an

sans understanding or intent

routine

since over a score plus two years

monday-friday, 9-5 same routine

wake up, brush, shower, breakfast

pick up brief case, mumble byes and

from the office  at 11 and 3

mandatory phone calls home

on the way back home

occasionally some chores

milk, eggs, laundry

followed by a quiet dinner

reading the evening paper

then nonchalantly inquiring

-how are you

-how was your day

-any news

8.15 pm

after washing his hands

he would sit in his lazy boy

wriggle to a comfortable posture

in front of the tv

but today he sensed mrs. ashfaq munir

appeared more resentful

than past days, months, years

commercial breaks came and went

mr ashfaq munir

ensconced in his easy chair halo

wondered about her resentment

his thought streams

like the search light from the towers

circling the landscape

randomly fell on her face

but her resentment

was not an escaped prisoner

frozen in its glare

10.00 pm

tv viewing ended

they brushed their teeth

exchanged inaudible good-nights

and went to sleep

back to back

_______

(urdu version)

begum ashfaq munir ki berhami