Awaz

The first bell rang in the school. Everyone began running and rushing into their classes. Some students were getting down from the school buses, while others walked with their friends, excitedly sharing their last-day stories. A few top rankers were already in their classrooms, studying. Teachers also arrived and started preparing for the day’s lessons.

The peon walked quickly to the bell, and as soon as it rang, the students hurried into their classrooms. This bell was for the school prayer. Everyone stood and prayed “Lab Pe Aati Hai Dua Ban…” After the prayer ended, another bell rang to signal the beginning of the school day.

It was the start of the day in Class 9. Today, there was a new student in the class who was unable to speak. He stood quietly and calmly, while a few students gathered around him, observing his every move. Some students, who often formed the bullying group, stood at a distance, teasing and mocking him with their words.

The sound of footsteps approached the classroom, it was their class teacher, Mrs. Arifa. The students quickly rushed to their seats. The door opened, and she entered with a warm smile.

“Assalamualaikum, bachon. Aap kaise ho? Teek ho na?” she greeted them. “Aaj hamare class mein ek naya student aaya hai. Uska naam Muskaan hai. Tum sab usse parchay karoge, kya?”

The teacher smiled and continued, “Woh ek achi beta hai, aur uska ghar Sardargram mein hai. Uske baba ka kaam Rassolpur mein hai, isliye woh yahan aaya hai. Tum bachon, unko achhe tareeqe se pesh aana chahiye. Woh kuch bimariyon se guzar rahe hain, lekin woh ek achha ladka hai aur hamari class ke liye ek blessing hai.”

She paused and added, “Students, suno, woh apne coding action language mein baat karta hai, aur tumhe usko izzat se treat karna chahiye.”

In the back benches, a few students who often bullied others were laughing and making fun of Muskaan. Teacher Arifa noticed and turned sharply toward them.

“Sun rahe ho, Safwan? Tum kyun muskurate ho? Hum apne naye student Muskaan ka taaruf de rahe hain, toh dhyaan se suno.”

But Safwan laughed loudly. “He doesn’t even make a sound… ha ha ha!”

The teacher’s patience snapped. “Safwan! Enough! Be quiet, all of you!”

There was a moment of silence. Then, a girl named Hajar stood up from the front row.

“Teacher, aapne humein usse achhe tareeqe se pesh karne ko kaha, toh hum karenge. Mein Hajar, aur mere dost Aamir, Fatima, Banu, Muhammad, aur Awala hum sab milkar Muskaan ko achhe tareeqe se samjhaenge. Insha Allah, hum usko support karenge.”

Hearing this, Muskaan felt a wave of hope and gratitude. A small smile appeared on his face as he realized that some students were truly willing to stand by him.

During the interval, Muskaan was walking through the veranda, trying to enjoy a quiet moment. Suddenly, Safwan approached him and shouted, “Are Kashmiri wala! Are tumhari jakh… ye nahi, ye hamara!” Then he mocked him again, “Tum ek chupchaap, kamoosh, jahil…” and laughed loudly. His friends joined him.

Muskaan’s eyes filled with tears. He stood frozen, hurt and humiliated.

Just then, Hajar and her friends arrived. Seeing Muskaan upset, they invited him to join them and walked with him, offering comfort. Even after a few days, Safwan and his group continued their teasing, but Muskaan stayed protected by his kind friends.

Time passed in an ordinary manner until everything suddenly changed. Without warning, the Punjab Armed Forces announced an emergency attack alert. Sirens echoed across towns. In the next moment, a loud blast shook the ground a bomb had detonated. Panic spread instantly. People ran into their homes and buildings, trying to hide. Within minutes, the security forces gave strict orders: all civilians must move to the protection camp at once.

Slowly, the scared streets filled with people running toward the camp. Families held their children, and neighbors helped each other. Safwan, Muskaan, their friends, and many people from their neighborhood joined the crowd going to the safe shelter. The camp gates opened as the people of Punjab went inside, scared but hoping it would keep them safe.

Behind this turmoil lay the true reason. For months, Extremist groups from Balochistan were becoming more daring and attacking areas near Punjab and the borders of Kashmir. Their movements created tension across towns and villages. Attacks became unpredictable, roads unsafe, and life became difficult. Schools closed, families lived in fear, and the government was forced to protect civilians by gathering them in secure camps far from danger.

 This war-like atmosphere, this destruction, this constant threat these were the reasons everyone had been brought here. The protection camp was not just a shelter; it was a fragile barrier between innocent lives and the violence outside. Safwan and all his school friends were now part of this new, risky world, waiting for peace that felt farther away with each passing day.

One day in the camp, Safwan was sitting alone in a corner. Muskaan approached him with a smile, trying to be friendly. But Safwan ignored him and said harshly, “Tum chalo! Mere paas mat aao! Agar tum nahi chalte ho, toh main tumhe maarunga, aur phir main yahan se chala jaunga.”

At that moment, Muskaan’s friends arrived and confronted Safwan. They told him to stop bothering Muskaan. Muskaan also stepped forward, inviting Safwan to join him. Using gestures and his action language, he encouraged Safwan to come closer peacefully.

But suddenly, Safwan struck Muskaan and shouted, “Aree, chupchaap! Meine bola tha ke mere paas mat aao!” He hit Muskaan harshly. At that moment, Safwan’s mother appeared, running and shouting, “Meri betaa!”

Safwan quickly ran toward the camp exit, with his friends chasing him.

Suddenly, near the camp, a large bomb exploded. Safwan was dangerously close. The force of the blast threw him off balance. Everything went silent. Many nearby people were unconscious. Safwan was badly affected.

After some time, doctors and bomb technicians reached the site. They found Safwan outside the camp and rushed him to the emergency ward.

Back in the camp, everyone who heard the news became deeply worried. Safwan’s friends waited anxiously outside the hospital. Inside the emergency ward, his parents stood by him, filled with fear. After a long moment, Doctor Wahaj arrived with an update.

“Doctor Wahaj, how is Safwan?” everyone asked anxiously.

The doctor replied, “He is stable. There’s no serious injury to his body, but the bomb’s radiation has damaged his ears. He cannot hear any sound at the moment.”

Dr. Wahaj went inside and said, “Ab Safwan jaag gaya hai, aur usne board par kuch likha hai.”

It was about his parents and one person whose name was… Muskaan.Safwan wanted to see Muskaan.

Hearing this, everyone felt deeply saddened. The doctor entered the ward to continue treatment. Slowly, Safwan woke up. Looking around, he saw his mother, his father, and one familiar face.Muskaan.

Safwan’s eyes filled with tears. Seeing him, Muskaan rushed to his side. He used his gestures to comfort Safwan and show that he was with him. He expressed his emotions, greeted him respectfully, and gently placed his hands over Safwan’s hands.

Safwaan said:

“Tumhare liye, mein awaaz nikaloon aur meri awaaz tum sunna chahiye.”

With that promise, Safwan’s voice rises against war, and Muskaan’s silence shows his pain together, they give us a message of peace.

                                                       

                                      Hafna Abdulkadar