Walnut Vendor’s Quiet Vigil

Asem Mustafa Awan 

Islamabad: An elderly man in a white cap and brown attire sits against a rugged rock face beside a gravel road, selling walnuts from plastic bags arranged on a wooden board. A clear water bottle and two metal cups rest nearby, hinting at his simple setup. 

With no scale, he gauges sales by eye, hoping passing travelers will buy the precious nuts. The harsh mountain backdrop underscores his solitary struggle: walnuts are costly, yet dealers offer meager prices, leaving him to scrape a living. 

His clasped hands and weathered gaze reflect endless patience and the quiet dignity of a life eked out on the roadside.