Maye Bomb

“Finally, the bomb arrived ... my bomb has arrived!”. Saying this, screaming, we rushed to the room on the top floor to hide ourselves. We were filled with fear, as the old woman who used to live next to our house and was always after us, appeared yet again complaining about us.

We used to call her “bomb” because she had a bulky existence and resembled an atom bomb. When she would shout, her grave voice would spread in the surroundings just like the sound of an explosion. I was not so afraid of her, but when she would loudly scold and curse, it would be no less than the destruction of a bomb. Her tongue was sharp, her heart was soft, and her eyesight was weak.

Her house was on the left side of our home. There was only one room and a bathroom, which was visible from our rooftop. She would often be seen busy with her chores in the large open podium of her house or lying on a bed due to illness. If she would be angry, there would be a disaster. But when she would love somebody, she would do it whole-heartedly. Her mood was very unpredictable.

I was the only one in the neighborhood who would help in her outdoor tasks. My mother specifically asked me to help Mayee Bomb. I did not miss any opportunity to help her.

One day, I was waiting for my 4th grade result. I brought milk from Bazar for Mayee. She said to me, "پتر تیرا نتیجہ کدوں آناں اے?" “Son! when will your result come?” I said Maa Jee! It will arrive tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. She replied, "Allah will surely give you success, and when you will be successful, you have to bring the Laddoo (Sweet Balls) for me, if you will not bring, (تے میں تیریاں لَتّاں بھَن دینیاں نیں), I will break your legs." I got out of there in fear and ran away.

Eventually the result came, I succeeded with good grades, after which sweets were distributed all over the neighborhood but I forgot to give sweets to that Mayee Bomb. Suddenly, Mayee Bomb’s threat came to my mind. Well, apart from being naughty I was obedient and considerate as well. Therefore, I conceived an idea and added two more friends in the plan.

We took an empty box of sweets from my house. We made clay balls just like Ladoos and placed them in sweet box, took out the silver topping (چاندی کے ورق) from the kitchen and decorated the clay laddoos and after beautiful packaging, we took it to Mayee Bamb.

Finally, we knocked at the door of the Mayee Bomb. A voice came from inside,

( (وے کون اے؟" Who is that?" I replied, "Maa Jee! I'm here; I have brought you some sweets." Mayee bomb came to the door, snatched the box and blessed us with duas and good wishes. "May Allah make you a great (وڈّا) officer, may Allah give you success. (توں چَن وانگوں چمکیں)(You shine like the moon).

As soon as she went inside; we rushed to our rooftop to see Mayee eating mud Laddoos.

We saw Mayee Bomb gently putting the package in front of her with a big smile; un-wrapping it with high hopes. Finally, after opening the sweet box, due to her weak eyesight, she confused the clay laddoos with the real sweet laddoos. As soon as she had a bite of clay in her mouth, we closed our ears and eyes in anticipation. The next moment Mayee Bomb exploded, and she started cursing us; her grave and angry voice was touching the skies. " وے تیرا بیڑا غرق، تیرا ستیاناس،  تیرا۔۔۔۔۔ تیرا۔۔۔۔"Hay! To hell with you people, Hay, you are little demons, Hay you………., Hay you……….. You made such a bad joke to me ...” she picked up the box and walked from her house to our house screaming and screaming." ...

Mayee Bomb came; she has arrived. Saying this, yelling, we fled to the room on our roof to hide ourselves in fear; we found a place in a small room to hide ourselves.

The next moment we also saw Aboo (my father) entering our house, what happened after that? You all know well who gets hurt when a bomb explodes?