I feel so lucky.
Last night, on my way home I saw something on the road that instantly made me want to cry and be grateful simultaneously. He was a man, and not one at the same time. He crawled on all fours, walking like an animal, in between the cars, begging for change. When he ran, he ran like… (forgive me God), like a dog running from the whip. This was not a stunt or a gimmick, it was one of the worse casualties seen in Lahore.
Orphans and strays and children born but not needed are picked up or bought by these ‘business men’ who then use a number of crude tools to deform their bodies. An eye is taken out to be replaced by a glass marble, a limb is distorted so painfully that walking is impossible, a spine is crushed and so is spirit.
I once heard a case in which a man kidnapped over a hundred children, and mutilated their lower backs so they could only walk on all fours. To add to this, he also severed part of their jugular vein so they lost the power of speech, and could only make illegible noises. And then he sent them out, to beg and roam and bring him money. His silent apostles.
The man I saw last night was bent completely over, crawling like no human is ever meant to. He must have been a stray, someone’s long forgotten child. Born in pain, and born to pain. Begging on cold streets amidst cars he can never drive, for he can never sit up straight. He must collect change and writhe back to his lord master, in order to retain a roof over his head…for who else will give amnesty to such a freak?
Dear Teenagers Who Think They Have Problems:
Stop self harm. Wake up from your depression. This is real self mutilation. Look at how good you have it, and be grateful.
Count your blessings, count your blessings, count your blessings…till your fingers give way. But don’t stop being thankful.
Nayab Malik 
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