Dear Riyaz,
Your letter of sympathy has acted as a balm on my wounds. It has given me more peace than I can express in words.
Yours sincerely,
Qamar.
My Dear Qamar,
I have just heard of your terrible loss and hasten to offer you my sincerest sympathies in your great bereavement. At such a time it seems in vain to express one’s feelings because these are altogether too overwhelming. You may derive a tiney grain of solace and strength by knowing that there are your friends all over the country who share your profoundest feelings of sorrow. Believe me, all of us here are deeply grieved. This world is a valley of sorrows, and you can derive some comfort from the fact that your mother has been relieved of the acute chronic pain in her body because she has now shuffled off her mortal cloak, and begun journey anew. After all, what is life and death. It is just like changing clothes from one set to another. Please forgive me if my letter expresses my sorrow poorly. Much is meant here than meets the eye.
Yours sincerely,
Riyaz Qadeer.
My Dear New Neighbour,
I regret that we have not been better acquainted neighbours. But trust we shall soon be. Thanking you for your sympathy and help.
Yours sincerely,
Next-door Neighbour.
Dear Next-door Neighbour,
I have only just heard that your mother is laid up with serious illness. I have instructed my children not to distrub the peace of the house or neighbourhood on any account whatsoever. Also we keep our dog shut and locked so as to prevent it from barking at strangers or stray animals. I am sorry I do not know you intimately, but if I can be of any help, I shall be delighted to do so. Hoping your mother will recover soon.
Yours sincerely,
New Neighbour.
Dear New Neighbour,
I would take it as a great favour if you ask your children to keep as quiet as possible during the next few days as my mother is seriously ill. I know it is difficult for any youngster to keep silent but the doctor has prescribed complete quietness as one of the essentials for the recovery of my old mother. I hope you would appreciate my problem. Thanking you,
Yours sincerely,
Next-door Neighbour.
Dear Rahat,
Now that I have recovered enough health to be able to sit up in bed, I would like to thank you for the lovely flowers you sent every other day during my illness. They were dainty and delightful to see. They will remain fresh for ever in my memory. It was good of you to have thought of me during my illness. I appreciate your concern. Fortunately, I am improving though at a snail’s pace. It will be long before I am up and doing. Nevertheless my thanks are due to you.
Yours affectionately,
Uncle.
Dear Uncle,
We are distressed to hear that you have been struck by paralysis and rendered invalid for life. Could we be of some help to you? On such occasions one is often hard put to be able to manage: but if there is anything we can do, please do not hesitate to let us know. We are thinking of you every day and wondering how do you do. We shall phone from time to time to learn about time.
Yours lovingly,
Rahat Chanda.
Dear Amna,
Thanks for your sincerest expression of sympathy over the illness of Deba. All things are being managed as best as possible. We shall inform if and when we need your help. Everything rests in the hands of God.
Yours sincerely,
Dawood.
Dear Dawood,
We are all sorry to hear that Deba is confined to bed with illness. We need hardly tell you that we are deeply concerned at this. Our prayers for her early recovery are with you. Please let us know without delay or hesitation if we can be of any help to you in your present suffering. We are worried about the children of Deba. What a heavy extra burden it must be on your shoulders to look after them when their mother is lingering between life and death. Kindly send them over here. It will be not trouble to us to take care of them. As Deba has been a second mother to my children, I can be a second mother to her children. Anxiously waiting for an early reply.
Yours sincerely,
Amna.
Dear Khalid,
Many thanks for your charming present. It is a lively and lovely book not growing old too soon. I had such a fine time reading it yesterday. Now I feel fit and fine to begin a new life of dutiful ugliness–merrying and carrying on. I only pray that my head should remain in its place and childhood linger on in mind forever and ever. I hate to grow old, yet old I must grow.
Yours sincerely,
Razo.