Sharing Eid delight with guest Capitaliites!

What does one require to earn a normal living? If food, water, shelter and clothing are the mere needs for staying alive, then social acceptance is equally imperative for effective psychological health and for existing as a normal member of any society. Social acceptance is thus essential for maintaining a healthy lifestyle! Where 8th October tragedy has left everyone bereaved over massive loss of lives in the quake-hit areas of the country, there many have survived too, but with great pain to live with for the rest of their lives. Survivors at various camp hospitals of the Capital are not provided mirrors, not that they ask for them anyway, as the victims as well as individuals taking care of them, are equally scared that the quake survivors might be shocked to view their deformed bodies and might not be able to deal with the loss, especially kids!
The damage that furious Mother Nature has done on the quake survivors is in most cases irreparable as many would never be living a normal, physical life, but a little love can invoke hope of survival and a feeling of normalcy among the quake victims while bringing smiles to their innocent faces and adding another notch to their heartbeat, lifting their spirits lightly. Probably, with this thought in mind, the Capitaliites who used to await Eid-ul-Fitr, fondly known as the small Eid, every year and therefore, fast with utmost devotion in greed of the Eid for a prize, spent solemn Ramazan and depressed Eid, this time around. For most, it was too tough sitting idle at homes and so, a vast majority set out to spend the occasion with our guest Capitaliites; the brave quake survivors.
If the natural calamity had boosted the spirit of volunteerism at large, then Eid brought along an opportunity for the Capitaliites to get united and engage in the noble cause of social welfare by tendering and attending to the various needs of the earthquake survivors. Students did not share the joys of the festival with their old and close peers but in fact, as individuals and along their group of friends, visited their newfound peers, i.e. the quake survivors and gave them different kinds of gifts that they would normally use to get on the day as Eidi, like sweets, toffees, stuffed and other toys, biscuits, stationary, balloons, clips, hair-catchers, blankets and anything that they could buy, and that too, off their pocket money, collected over the months for buying things of their choice, for themselves and people close to them.
Unknowingly, these masses, individually and collectively, has not only enhanced the morale of the survivors but also given them some reason to live on. But the need is that the enthusiasm that the masses are showing towards their brothers and sisters in need, should not be confined to a couple of days only and the friendship of the volunteer children that has just begun, should strengthen over the years otherwise the hearts of the affectees would be broken and this time for real, never to be mended again. It is hoped that the love and care of the volunteers might ease the pain of the earthquake survivors, at least for the while. Let’s hope the spirit lingers on and the enthusiasm never departs till our ailing brothers are well again and ready to accept the wounds of life as they move on with renewed hope of survival and self-adapted techniques for happiness while finding a destination to reach, in the long run!

—Uzma Zafar