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The Trouble Starts: An Angry Neighbor
I love Pakistan but something bad happened. It made me want to leave. Many people think about leaving sometimes. For me, this felt new. It made me sad.
It started small. Dad took us out. We came back home. He parked the car on the right side of the road. Then he went inside to sleep. It was afternoon. Suddenly, a girl from neighbours came. She had a loud voice and sounded mad. She knocked hard on our door. When my sister opened the door, she yelled at my sister. She said our car hit hers. Dad usually drives in our family. So my sister woke him up. He grabbed his walking stick. He needs it because he had a stroke this year in Feb. His body needs support as precaution otherwise he is fine. He walked outside to check. (It was afternoon time, the above picture is when I later clicked the image.)
Standing with Dad
Dad told me to stay inside. I didn’t listen. I followed him. He’s not healthy. I was scared the yelling would hurt him. Stress isn’t good for him. I wanted to stay close in case he needed me especially medical assistance as I also know first aid for stroke patients.
The Puzzling Car Crash
We got outside. Our car was on the left side of the road. Somehow it touched a car on the right side. You can see it in the picture attached of the scratches and dents. But here’s the thing: our car had no battery. I take it inside every day because thieves are around. There are bank cameras nearby. They don’t help. The laws here don’t work well. No one bothers with court.
Think about this: our car had no battery. The handbrake was on. It shouldn’t move. But it crossed the road and hit another car. That’s weird. If it rolled, it would bump the car in front or behind. Not one across the street. Shops were open. Security guards stood nearby. I asked what they saw. They were not cooperative to avoid legal trouble. One said he was busy over there. Another didn’t look. Strange, right?
Facing the Neighbor’s Angry Mom
Then the girl’s big sister (the actual owner of the car) showed up. Their mom came too. They started shouting at Dad. They called him a liar. No one saw who moved the car. Their mom didn’t care about the missing battery. She ignored that no one watched it happen. She kept screaming. Soon a crowd gathered. People saw the dented car. They thought we were wrong. We offered to pay for the damage. That wasn’t enough for her. She got madder. She turned to me and said I was a bad person. She pushed me. She grabbed my shirt. I didn’t even look at her daughters the wrong way. I follow our culture’s rules. But she treated me like trash just because I’m Dad’s son.
Dad kept saying to go inside. I couldn’t leave him with those loud people. It's like a doctor watching a sick patient. His health mattered most to me.
When Police Got Involved
Next, their mom called the traffic police. They arrived. They didn’t fix anything. They pointed at me and said they’d take me to the station. Dad begged me to go inside. He said they’d blame me. I stayed there. I didn’t care if they dragged me away to police station or hell. I wouldn’t leave Dad alone.
After more yelling, the police talked to her. They said going to court is hard. It takes years. She’d need lots of people to say what happened. She’d have to prove our car wasn’t stolen. In the end, she took our money and left.
Reflecting on What Happened
This part hurts me: these people live next to us. We’ve been here ten years. Not one shopkeeper spoke up for us. No one in the area helped. Pakistan is supposed to be an Islamic country. But people don’t act kind. They don’t care about fairness. Even if I had hit the car, why did she grab me? Why say awful things? I’ve lived here a long time. No one can call me a liar or a troublemaker. I’ve been good. I’ve helped others. When I needed them, they were silent.
That day, I felt ashamed to be Pakistani. Not because I hate it here. But because this is how we treat people. Dad’s not strong. If the stress made him sicker, what would I do? Singing happy songs about Pakistan wouldn’t fix it. These folks don’t act like our religion teaches. I know Islam is about better things. Is this how we handle situations?
It broke my heart. I wondered if I should leave. If I can’t keep Dad safe from a fight, why stay? I don’t want to hate Pakistan. I want it to be the place I love. A place where truth wins. Where neighbors act like friends. Where justice isn’t a dream. I’m upset because I care. I just wish Pakistan cared back.