After several hours of gentle slumber, the sun had risen in the sky. Sparrows chirped constantly, and the fresh morning breeze carried the scent of nearby flowers and plants. Sawad (ساوڑ), a Balochi name meaning Ocean, was new to the world of literature, carrying countless dreams for his career, lying on his broken wooden bed in a small, dark, stinking room. His usual morning alarm awoke him, and the day began with its familiar wonders. He dragged himself out of his grubby blanket, checked the time, and immediately worried, as he did every morning, about being late for class.
Unorganized and sometimes lethargic, the disorder of his room betrayed his habits. Every day, he searched for his missing socks, wallet, and belt, often forgetting where he had placed them.
His teachers all had the same complaint: his lack of punctuality. Sawad, who had been living a lonely life for several years, was fully aware of his weaknesses. He often tried to overcome them, yet his own nature stood as an obstacle to the life he desired. Still, he loved to read and write, often sitting by the window, which he never shut, letting the evening breeze soothe his loneliness while he listened to the songs and poetry of Lata Mangeshkar, Noor Khan Bezenjo, Gulzar, Mubarak Kazi, Faiz Ahmed Faiz, and Habib Jalib.
Resolution to Improve Living Conditions
The previous week, he had fallen seriously ill and missed not only his exams but also a job interview that could have strengthened him financially. On the advice of his doctor, he resolved to improve his living conditions for the sake of his health and future. With that intention, one day he began sweeping the dusty floor of his room. Beneath the cupboard, he discovered old magazines, newspapers, and scraps of paper. To his surprise, he also uncovered a small hideout.
Though he thought he had been living alone, he was wrong. Two silent companions had been with him all along: a pair of lovebirds. Hidden behind the cupboard near the window, they had built a nest.
Sawad, who had promised himself to become organized and disciplined, now found himself perplexed again. The lovebirds, who wandered the skies by day and returned to their secret haven each night, had unsettled him. Their blossoming romance confused him, leaving him unable to make a decision. Standing before the tiny nest, he felt the old question return: should he sweep away the disorder, or let love continue to live beside him?
