In humanities, we made articles and newscasts. In my group, we talked about weather and the sandstorm in the Cholistan desert, but we also interviewed Shabanu and Dadi.

SHABANU NEWS ARTICLE

There have been some interesting weather patterns throughout Pakistan recently. But the main story has been the sandstorm that covered all 10,200 square miles of the Cholistan Desert. Some families have had to deal with the sand covering tobas and animals and family members blowing away in the harsh winds. We interviewed two residents of the Cholistan Desert. Shabanu and Dalil Abassi. Here are some things that happened during the sandstorm according to Shabanu:

“The night that the [sandstorm] happened, I was sleeping and my sister, Phulan woke me up. I thought that my skin [because of the sand], was being pierced by a thousand needles.” The storm’s high winds prevented Shabanu from seeing anything until the winds subsided. Her luck didn’t turn out very well.

“We found that our camel, Mithoo, Sher-Dil, our dog and my grandfather were all gone. The storm injured Shabanu’s grandfather fatally, but he was found alive under sand. He survived for a few days. He died in his sleep. After talking to Shabanu, we interviewed Dalil Abassi, Shabanu’s father. It was a very scary moment for him because he was the head of the family. He had to make sure that everyone was safe.

“When the storm hit, I was very scared. Not for me, but for my family. I didn’t want anything to happen to them.” They stayed inside and waited out the storm. Somehow, Dalil’s father blew away. “I was very scared [for my father], but I knew Allah would save him.”

We also talked to Dalil about his other daughter, Phulan’s wedding. “I wasn’t worried that the storm would hurt the wedding. “I knew that Phulan wanted this very much, and I knew she would do to what she had to do [to make the wedding happen]. Let’s all send Shabanu and her family our best wishes.

SHABANU SCRIPT

Newscasters: Breaking news!!!!!

Harvey: There has been a very intense sandstorm in the Cholistan desert.

Grace: The storm covered all 10,200 square miles of the desert. Tobas have dried up, camels have gone missing, and families have lost members.

Harvey: Today, we are going to give you an exclusive look into one of the Cholistan residents, Shabanu Abassi.  Welcome to our show, Shabanu!

Zoe: Hello and thank you for having me on your show.

Grace: It’s so nice to have you here.

Zoe: It’s so nice to be here!

Harvey: So, today we are going to ask you some questions about the sandstorm that hit your home.

Zoe: Ok.

Grace: What was your first reaction to the sandstorm?

Zoe: Well, the night that it happened I was sleeping and my sister, Phulan, woke me up. I thought that my skin was being pierced by a thousand needles.

Harvey: When you looked around, was anyone missing?

Zoe: I couldn’t see anything until the storm subsided, and then we found that my camel, Mithoo, Sher-Dil, our dog, and my grandfather were all gone.

Grace: We also heard that your grandfather has passed away. Are you willing to share anything with us?

Zoe: Yes, I am, even though it was sad for me. When I found my grandfather’s body, all I wanted to do was scream. I wanted to scream for the rest of my life. My grandfather was a very big part in my life and it was really hard to let him go.

Harvey: Well, we are very sorry for your loss.

Grace: Well, we will be back in just a minute, after this short commercial. Stay tuned!

Harvey: So, welcome back.

Grace: Let’s all thank Shabanu for coming into be on our show!

Zoe: Goodbye!

Harvey: Now, we are going to meet Shabanu’s father, Dalil Abassi.

Grace: Hello Dalil.

Dora: Hello!

Harvey: We would like to talk to you about the sandstorm. What are your thoughts?

Dora: When the storm hit, I was very scared. Not for me, but for my family. I didn’t want anything to happen to them.

Grace: How did you keep safe?

Dora: Well, we stayed in the mud hut and prayed that we would all be okay. Thankfully, Allah saved us.

Harvey: That’s wonderful. When you found your father, what were your thoughts?

Dora: I was very scared again, but I hoped that Allah would save him.

Harvey:Were you worried that the storm would ruin the wedding?

Dora: I wasn’t worried that the storm would hurt the wedding. I knew that Phulan wanted this very much, and I knew she would do what she had to do.

Grace: On a different topic, we know that you and your family are nomads. Is it hard for you to move from place to place, and leave homes behind?

Dora: Well, it is hard, but I know that it is best for the family. I know that we need water to survive.  

Grace: Well, thank you for coming to our show!

Dora: Goodbye!

Harvey and Grace: Tune in tomorrow for more news!    

SHABANU NEWSCAST LINK

Shabanu Newscast