Journal entry No.19, 16/Mar/2012




After a long hiatus I went to the mall today. Ufff, why ever did I make this colossal mistake? for our malls are nothing but a tribute to plastic decorations, over-easy and affected staff, a huge dose of fluorescent lights (not very kind on any complexion) and not to be missed, the ever present, the ever-cheap and badly dressed Pakistani public!

I am talking of Hyperstar in Dolmen Mall in Clifton! Tobah, it is nauseating to tell you the truth, the place is vulgar over-stuffed with things that one has never seen before ( strange brands) and is so big that you are bound to get lost. I actually got sore feet just trekking that monstrosity, and half the things I wanted they didn't have! I am back to my corner store, where I know everyone, and I know where everything is! (am I getting old?)

I am told of the public popular ban on the SanaSafinaz Lawn collection this year because of their insensitive ad campaign, apparently the large ads displayed all over the city show glamourous models all decked up in beautiful clothes and of course carrying uber expensive designer bags next to very sad and forsaken general public,(or are they prisoners? well aren't we really prisoners in this sordid country anyway?) hungry working men who instead of lusting for these women are wondering where their next meal is coming from. This in a country where people go without food for days, where basic necessities of clean water and shelter are not being met, what are these rich people trying to portray? That a bag costing perhaps more than the life savings of one poor bugger is nothing but a fashionable accessory and will be forgotten and thrown next season? And then we wonder what's happening to our country and why we have the leaders that we have? Is it because of us, the people who claim to be educated are merely literate, we can read and write, and the buck stops there - no more, for we cannot think, and deduce and decide between right and wrong, we have no concept of morality, or what's good for the society, we are insensitive and uncouth. For us riding an expensive car dressed in a designer suit is far more important than worrying our pretty little heads on issues that require thinking straight for more than 5 seconds!

There is strike tomorrow in the city protesting against the 'Bhatta group' which have been hounding the businesses for protection money. The blame is on People's Amn Committee of Lyari and looking at their track record one feels there might be something there, but one needs to read and study more to make any intelligent comment.

I have a bad headache, from that awful place that all the 'nouveau riche' of the city frequent. Never again!

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