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My Aim is True
Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. August 2017.
Never judge a book by its cover; particularly in Peshawar, Pakistan.
At first glance the two men pictured may look uninviting and uninterested. At best they may look like grumpy old men; at worst terrorists. They were however gentlemen who always made us feel welcome in their shop. They were just two of many local men who would become our friends during our stay in Peshawar.
There shop was dedicated to selling slingshots; completed models and parts. The manufacturing process never ceased, nor did the customers. It seems the pots of tea didn’t either.
The gentleman on the right spoke only a little English and we spoke less Pasto, the gentleman on the left spoke a little more than his friend and helped keep the conversation flowing while he cut strips of rubber. We spoke of their and our families, of politics and of course cricket. The political conversations showed that the men were free to discuss all and argue amongst themselves over their preferred political parties. The fact that a bomb had been detonated not too long ago on the spot I was standing to take this photograph shows that not all political arguments are resolved peacefully.
Peshawar is my favourite city and these men were amongst my favourite people. I hope I can be slingshotted back to their shop before too long, preferably when Australia and Pakistan are playing cricket against each other so that we can drink, argue over politics and argue over who is the best bowler; as mates should.
