AoA Ed!

I liked ‘Pakistan, Chase the Dream’ by Infer Khalid. She is very right, it’s high time we try to do something ourselves rather than just whining and crying. Eesha Abbasi’s ‘Jeepers Creepers’ was also a good read - it brought humour to the otherwise serious issue. ‘Graffiti’ was as usual hilarious. The cover story on the other hand... was just so, so. It’s good to see that many events are taking place in Pakistan and those that feature India are more exciting but Us readers are tired of reading about just intellectual events - they want more of the stories, heart to hearts and articles like those mentioned above which present a serious matter in a light mood.

I also wanted to say that please bring the spark back in the ‘Us On Campus’ issues - it was very interesting initially, but now whenever it comes in my hand all I ever do is to skip the pages!

I also wanted to point out that recently our youth’s interest has shifted towards dictatorship. I have seen many people complaining that this democracy is worse than the previous dictatorship. All I want to say is that things aren’t ‘sunshines and rainbows’ in our country but praising dictatorship is a very wrong attitude. It’s the on and off dictatorships which have ruined our country and one more would ultimately destroy us.

Looking forward to awesome stories in the competition.

Rutaba Tanvir, Lahore

Suggestion

Hey Ed,

I am a huge fan of Us and I’ve been reading it for many years now. I have an idea for you guys. You should organise small meet-ups of readers and fans with your regular authors, in different cities. It’s very easy. You can request one of your writers to agree to this and he/she can meet four to five other readers/writers from the Us fan club and meet up. One of them can write about it in the magazine later.

Similarly you can hold a virtual meet-up on the Facebook page! Designate an hour where the author can join the readers online, on the page and interact with them on a post and answer their questions. I think it will lighten up the Facebook page.

Muqaddas Latif

What say, you readers? And writers, would you be interested?

First timers’ corner

Dear Editor,

I have been reading Us for many years, but this is my first letter. When will you hold the poetry competition? Please start a section for science. I don’t understand why people are trying to be friends with America and India even when they are destroying Pakistan. Please increase the number of pages. I like your magazine, but your standard has fallen.

Behram Ahmad Khan, Lahore

Hi Ed,

I have been a silent reader of Us magazine for quite a long time now but this is my first letter. You people are doing a great job but there are some things that you need to change. Please increase the number of pages and the paper quality and STOP SKIPPING GRAFFITI; otherwise, it is a great mag. Guru is doing a good job too. Ramazan Mubarak.

Zarar Mumtaz, Rawalpindi

Queries

Hello,

I am a regular reader of your mag, and I must say that it is awesome. I want you to publish my story. Will you be able to publish it in the upcoming Friday’s mag?

Eman Fatima, Islamabad

Not possible at the moment!

Ed,

I am a regular reader of your magazine, I seriously love it. Actually, I want to participate in the story writing competition, so kindly let me know the details. 

Sidrah Umar, Rawalpindi

You can send your story by August 30. Its word count should be between 750-2000.

Hi Eddie,

Us is an amazing magazine! It gives us wonderful things to read. Can you tell me what type of contributions do you pay for?

Mahnoor Ali, Kharian

Everything, except for poems, letters, Art Mart and contributions to ‘Graffiti’.

Ahmarin Zahid’s disclaimer

Dear Us,

I just received my check for the story I contributed to the story writing competition last year. I just wanted to write this letter to give a disclaimer. My parents were so happy and proud of my first ‘kamai’ that the looks on their faces were worth the hard work and their smiles were enough to make me happy.

But I want to say to them what I couldn’t say at the time.

Here’s the disclaimer:

Mama, Baba I couldn’t have written the story if not for you. When my relatives congratulated me and you were right there smiling I wanted them to know that it wasn’t me, it was you.

You made me the person I am today and even though I know I drive you crazy, I also know that you love me, biya, Abdullah and Gina, and we love you.

Ahmarin Zahid

Reflection

Narrated Abu Huraira (R.A):

Allah’s Apostle (S.A.W) said, “When the month of Ramazan starts, the gates of the heaven are opened and the gates of Hell are closed and the devils are chained.”

- Sahih Bukhari, Volume 3, Book 31, Number 123