Today was Independence Day, 14th of August, the day Pakistan got its freedom. It’s been 78 years since that day, but sadly, we are still not mentally free. That is a bigger discussion for another time, but what matters most is that this day is special and we must make sure our children understand its importance and keep it alive in their hearts. For that, we always try to speak positively in front of them and encourage patriotism.
The day started with a delicious halwa puri breakfast. Even though I was not feeling well, with a cold, headache, and cough, I still enjoyed it a lot. The kids also loved it. After breakfast, I went for a “full independence” nap and believe it or not, I slept from 11 in the morning till 6 in the evening. It was pure relaxation for me.
In the evening, the kids woke me up because they were ready to go to the rooftop where my Father had put up a big flag for a photo session. We have told the kids about this tradition, so they were excited. As soon as we went up, light rain started. I told the kids that every 14th August, even if it’s just a drizzle, it always rains. A sign of Allah’s blessings and a reminder of the struggles of our elders for freedom.
After the photo session, we came down for tea, and for dinner, my Mother had asked to cook a special meal i.e. chicken chilli with rice. I was so hungry and not feeling great that I didn’t even take pictures.
For me, today was wonderful because I got to rest and relax and thats my kind of freedom. But looking at the bigger picture, in these 78 years, we have not achieved much that we can be truly proud of as a nation. We have everything, potential, resources, talent but we lack unity, which is the foundation of a strong country. The day we truly unite, we will be able to overcome any challenge.
In the end, there is only one thing to say Hope for the best.
