by Pran Kishore
In order to end the issue there, Malla Khaliq said, ‘Are the tickets confirmed, or are they still on the waiting list?’
‘I got them confirmed in the special quota.’
‘Please inform Raja Sahib. He was very anxious.’
Narayan Joo walked towards Gul and Malla Khaliq went to his own room.
On entering his room, he saw Nisar Ahmed waiting for him.
Nisar got up and waited for him to sit. Malla Khaliq then glanced at Nisar Ahmed who sat with his head hung down as if he had committed some crime. All of a sudden, compassion overwhelmed Malla Khaliq and he moved closer to him. He said to Nisar, ‘Why are you brooding like this? Why don’t you go and help your mother?’
Nisar Ahmed could not say a word, he embraced his old grandfather and began to sob.
‘See what a crazy fellow he is! You are not going to migrate to London! Why are all of you so sullen? In fact, I myself asked Noor Mohammad to search for a good bungalow where our Doctor Sahib could establish his own dispensary. You were yet to reach here. Do you understand me? And we shall make it a rule that we sit for long hours together once or twice in a week. Now please start, my darling; it will get late otherwise.’
Nisar Ahmed said in a sad tone, ‘You are really great, Abba.’
‘And you will be greater. You alone shall bring me respect. Now go and be brave. You may ask Razaq to come here. He is not to be seen anywhere.’
Razaq had finished packing Raja Rathinder’s belongings, but he seemed to be restless. Rani Ranthambore was keeping the keys in her purse after having locked her attaché cases. ‘Razaq,’ she said.
‘Yes, Rani Sahiba.’
‘Go and tell Parveen that Rani Sahiba wants to see her.’
Razaq felt his heart stop. He stood still.
‘Did you not hear what I said?’
‘Yes, yes, Rani Sahiba, I heard you. Do you need anything else?’
‘No, nothing. Just send Parveen in. Now go.’
Razaq did not have the courage to face Parveen. He saw Malla Khaliq who had gone to the ghat to escort Narayan Joo. Malla Khaliq shook hands with his friend and then turned to Razaq. ‘Where have you been since morning?’
Razaq hung his head. ‘Raja Sahib is leaving today, as you know. I assisted them in packing up.’
Malla Khaliq said rather angrily, ‘Do you think it below your dignity now to pay me morning greetings?’
‘No, sir. I had come, but seeing you irate while leaving the pantry, I held back.’
Malla Khaliq felt as if he had been caught red-handed. ‘It’s all right. Has Rani Sahiba finished packing?’
Razaq felt relieved that he was free from further inquisition. Availing himself of this opportunity, he said to Malla Khaliq, ‘Rani Sahiba says she wants to see Parveen in her room.’
‘All right, I will ask her to go there. Why don’t you see if Noor Mohammad needs any help?’ Saying this, Malla Khaliq strode towards his room. Upon crossing the threshold, he asked, ‘Is Parveen well? I have not seen her since morning.’
Without looking up at her husband, Aziz Dyad remarked, ‘Thank God, he is now again in his usual mood. And finally, he remembers his family.’
Malla Khaliq sat down close to his wife. ‘For all my life, I have been serving this queen of the house. I merit pardon for this little negligence.’
‘If you lose your spirit like this, and that too at trivial things, how can we survive these last days of our lives?’
‘I agree. I will be braver henceforth and face all storms.’
‘Come, come! That you could do when you were young.’
‘But I am no centenarian yet! I can row my boat without a halt and overtake all others.’
Aziz Dyad turned to him and said warmly, ‘It is all right. Tell me why you inquired about Parveen.’
‘Where is she? Rani Sahiba wants to see her.’
‘Why?’
‘How do I know? She asked Razaq to send her in.’
‘She might be with Noor Mohammad. I sent her there to help him.’
‘Will you please go and tell her that Rani Sahiba needs her?’
Aziz Dyad got up and walked out of the room.
Rani Sahiba had yet to finish packing some of her luggage. She was busy passing items to Razaq, who kept them neatly in the bag. Then she asked him, ‘Didn’t you convey my message to Parveen?’
Razaq told her that he had passed the message on to Haji Sahib. Rani cast a penetrating glance at his face and said, ‘Why do you look so down? You should consult a doctor.’
Razaq sighed and said, ‘My doctor is here in this very house.’
‘Oh yes. I forgot that Haji Sahib’s grandson is a doctor.’
Razaq had no words in reply.
‘Didn’t your doctor give you any medicine?’
Razaq sighed again and was about to say something when Parveen appeared at the door. As soon as she stepped in, she froze in her tracks. Razaq paid the rani his salaam and went out.
‘Are you feeling shy to come in? Look around, none of your in-laws are here. Come in,’ the rani said to her.
Parveen looked at the suitcases and said, ‘So you are leaving?’
‘Yes, my daughter. One has to leave after all.’
‘Why can’t you take me along as your daughter?’
The rani felt as if all her wounds had opened again. Holding Parveen’s hands in hers, she said, ‘Don’t say that! You are your father Haji Sahib’s soul. If I took you along with me, what would happen to him?’ Then the rani set her hands free and heaved a long sigh. ‘I also had a daughter, much like you, though perhaps not as pretty. But her eyes were bigger and more limpid than yours.’ She continued, ‘She was very fond of horse racing. One day while riding on rough grounds, her horse stumbled and she fell into a very deep gorge. We could not even recover her body.’
Then the rani got up and went to the dressing table. She pulled open the drawers and took out an old-fashioned box. She opened the box, took out a ring and, holding Parveen’s hand in hers, put it on her finger. Parveen dithered and said, ‘No, no. You have already given me so much.’
‘I gave that to the would-be bride. This ring I am giving to my own daughter. Keep it safe; it is a diamond ring.’
‘Diamond! In olden times, some queens used to keep a diamond hidden with them so that they could end their life by swallowing it.’
‘Don’t say such ominous words. It is not a diamond to be swallowed, but to be worn. God will keep your married life safe from all hazards. Your mother must be looking for you. You may go now.’ She kissed Parveen’s forehead.
Razaq stood in the corridor waiting for her, but Parveen ignored him. Trying to stop her, he said, ‘Parveen, please talk to me.’
Parveen stopped, cast an angry look at him and said, ‘Coward, gutless fool!’ She shoved away the hand he had raised to block her path and stormed away.
The sun was trailing towards the distant cliffs of the Apharwat mountain when Malla Khaliq entered Noor Mohammad’s room, where the whole family had assembled, and said, ‘The sun is about to set. Now get up or it will be too late.’
The whole family came out to the isle. Seeing the luggage, Malla Khaliq heaved a long sigh and called Razaq who was still standing near Gul. ‘Are you still waiting to put all this stuff into the boat?’
Without giving him any reply, Razaq picked up the bigger suitcases and moved quickly to the ghat. Nisar Ahmed carried some odds and ends. Ghulam Ahmed and Ghulam Qadir also assisted him.
After keeping all the items in the boat, Nisar Ahmed was ashore again, embracing Zoon, Zeb and Parveen by turns, exchanging farewells. Then he went to Aziz Dyad, shook her by her shoulders to cheer her up and said goodbye.
‘Curse this “goodbye”! Am I the only person in the family who deserves a stiff, English goodbye?’
‘That’s only because you are so special …’
‘Now remember, if you do not come see us every day, I will come and settle myself in your new house. Do you hea
r me?’ Nisar held her again in his arms, and she burst into tears.
When the boat was at quite a distance, Aziz Dyad wiped her tears and turned towards the isle. Her daughters-in-law and Parveen followed her. Malla Khaliq remained gazing at the boat until it went out of sight. Then he quickly went to Gulshan and climbed up the stairs to the deck. He could still watch the boat trailing away towards the light of the setting sun. He stood like a man who had lost a bet.
Malla Khaliq and Aziz Dyad were making plans for Parveen’s wedding. Aziz Dyad had spread out her own jewellery before Malla Khaliq. ‘You need not worry about the ornaments. We can get new ones by melting these. These were gifted to me by your mother.’ Malla Khaliq held her hands and said, ‘I don’t know whether these ornaments were gifted to you by my mother or father. I am simply conscious of the fact that I could not get you even a single ring in all my life.’
‘You have showered three daughters-in-law with gold. They are as dear to me as my own daughter. You have given me so much that is invaluable and I cannot repay you for – my loyal sons, my beautiful daughter, and my dear grandchildren. I have this blossoming garden around me. What else do I need?’
‘No, no. You keep these knick-knacks for yourself. You need not worry. God has always been kind to me. He will surely show me a way out.’
‘I am giving all this to my own daughter. Is there anyone dearer to me in this world? Besides, I am not going to carry all this along with me to my grave.’
‘I wonder why Haji Ramzan Sahib is in such a hurry. He could have waited a year or so for the wedding.’
Aziz Dyad was a seasoned lady. She said, ‘We are after all the parents of a daughter. You also have a honourable name in the community. If we hesitated in any way, people might take offence. They will begin to say that Malla Khaliq isn’t even able to marry off his only daughter, that’s why he has put it off for next year.’
‘You are right. In fact, I have already made most arrangements. The only worry I have is about the jewellery. You have eased that worry as well now. But remember, these ornaments are your debt on me.’
‘Come, come! There are so many other debts you have already. How many debts can you repay me!’ she teased.
‘One and all, remember. You only pray that the tourist season be in full swing again.’
‘I pray that God grants you all your prayers. Let us sleep now, it is already midnight.’
Aziz Dyad woke her husband up in the morning to remind him that Raja Rathinder Singh was going back. Malla Khaliq hastened to get up, had a bath, offered his prayers, and quickly had a cup of tea.
Raja Rathinder Singh and his wife had already readied themselves for the journey. Their flight was in two hours. Noor Mohammad had come in at dawn and had made Razaq carry their luggage to the ghat. Malla Khaliq said, ‘You’re up so early!’
‘Abba I could not sleep peacefully there. Then the worry that Raja Sahib is leaving …’
Raja Rathinder Singh came out of the houseboat, and Malla Khaliq went near him. ‘Good morning, Your Highness.’
‘Good morning. How are you?’
‘By God’s grace and your kindness, all is well.’
‘All set?’ he asked Noor Mohammad.
‘Yes, sir,’ Noor Mohammad said. ‘Your luggage is already in the shikaarah.’
In the meantime, the rani appeared holding her grandson’s hand. ‘We had a very good time here. We did not even feel like we were away from our own home.’
Raja Rathinder Singh held Malla Khaliq’s hand and said, ‘It was really wonderful. We will never forget your affection. If God wishes, we will spend next summer here with you again.’
‘Most welcome, sir. The houseboats belong to you. If you come again, that will be our good fortune. We wish you could have stayed for one more week, we feel honoured by your presence.’
The rani said to him, ‘I cannot express in words how sad we are to leave. But we are helpless. We have to visit many countries before going back to the USA. Besides, you know how difficult it was for Mr Narayan Joo to get our booking confirmed.’
Malla Khaliq stood on the shore and waved to them until they were out of sight. Then he returned to Gul and cast a piteous look at it. He said to Razaq, who stood gloomily at a distance, ‘Razaq, now shut all the doors and windows there.’
Razaq silently moved towards the houseboat.
Malla Khaliq was not one to give up so easily. Nevertheless, he felt very helpless and lonely since Noor Mohammad had left the house. Lost in thoughts, he did not notice Ghulam Qadir while going into his room. Ghulam Qadir, who sat nestled near his mother, stood up and greeted his father. Malla Khaliq came out of his reverie and said to him, ‘How is it that the sun is shining to brighten our gables? I thank God that you have remembered us and bothered to see us.’
Ghulam Qadir said, ‘When didn’t I care about you? But, Abba, being too busy with my work, I could not find time to see you. Now Noor Mohammad is not here in the house. If I do not care about you, who else will? As far as Ama Toth Ghulam Ahmed is concerned, he hardly has any respite from his business.’
Malla Khaliq knew Ghulam Qadir inside out. Keeping his cap aside, he explained, ‘Noor Mohammad has not moved away from the house. He is here before it dawns, and he stays here the whole day. There is hardly any job for him to attend to. Two of our houseboats are lying vacant. Gul, my father’s legacy, is also empty now. What could he do here? I advised him to stay there and look after Nisar Ahmed’s dispensary, but that is not ready. You know our business is already shrinking.’
Ghulam Qadir grabbed this opportune time to vent his desire. He said, ‘To be honest, this business of running houseboats is quite unreliable.’
Malla Khaliq turned angrily to him and said, ‘Yes, yes. That is why you are so engrossed in new business ventures of your own. Do you even pause to think about the fact that in hardly a week’s time your sister’s wedding is to take place?’
‘That is why I came so early to see you here. But you were busy with Raja Rathinder Singh.’
Saying this, Ghulam Qadir took out a big bundle of notes and held out the money to his father. Malla Khaliq pushed the notes away and said, ‘I know very well what business you are pursuing. Can I accept this murky money for the auspicious occasion of my daughter’s marriage?’
Ghulam Qadir said insolently, ‘Have I committed any theft? Have I broken into anyone’s house? Everyone one else is pursuing the trade of their taste, and you love them. See Ama Toth, he has been swindling your money for two years for his fruit business, but he is still the apple of your eye. I alone am a villain, a loafer!’
Aziz Dyad was about to intervene when Malla Khaliq stopped her. ‘You better shut up. Let me talk. He is always bent upon maligning his brothers. I went to Pattan to see the apple orchards Ghulam Ahmed purchased. God has been very gracious this year. Go see for yourself how plentiful the apples there are. If the season favours him this year, he will be laden with gold. He is following a legal trade.’
‘And what illicit earnings am I trying to get? Business is after all just business.’
‘Let me know what business you are setting up.’
‘I export carpets. Nothing but carpets.’
Malla Khaliq was struck dumb. Aziz Dyad turned angrily to her husband. ‘Now why are you suddenly so mute? This poor son of mine has been taken for granted! Of course he blundered once, but that is no excuse for you to always taunt him.’
Ghulam Qadir felt rather emboldened. He presented the money once again to Malla Khaliq and said, ‘Abba, please keep this money. I know we need a lot of money for Parveen’s marriage. You keep this much for now and let us see how God helps us further.’
Malla Khaliq turned to the window and did not touch the money. Ghulam Qadir turned to his mother. ‘Then you keep it, Amma.’ Then he said to his father, ‘I am also your son. When everyone else is engaged in making their fortune, I too have the right to follow my path.’ He went out fuming.
Aziz Dyad went near Malla K
haliq and said, ‘He is after all our child. I do not know why you get so irritated at every word he has to say to you.’
Malla Khaliq, already incensed, said to her, ‘Go and fling this money in his face. I know it has come from an illicit trade. How would you even know? You stay indoors from dawn to dusk. You know nothing about this world. Your son is sure to bring some calamity upon the whole family. You just wait and watch.’
‘We are not dependent on his earnings. I thought that you are a little hard up. We can repay every paisa to him later.’
‘Why are you always so adamant on defending him? I have already made all the arrangements. I have yet to settle my accounts with Narayan Joo. You need not worry. I will not go beyond my limits. I have never been tempted to compete with others. Why should I do that this time?’
‘You are free to do whatever you like, but for now I am keeping this money in the trunk. You never know when we may need it. ’
Saying this, she went into the inner room. An enraged Malla Khaliq stood up. ‘I will not budge even if I have to sell my houseboats. I may even mortgage them, but I will not spend a paisa of this accursed money.’
Inside their room, Ghulam Qadir was screaming at Zeb. ‘What did you say? “Go and give this money to your Abba! He will give up his grudge.’” Now you see how well he gives up his grudges. This house is a veritable hell for me.’
Zeb tried to douse the fire and said very timidly, ‘But what did he say?’
‘He did everything short of slaying me. He rebuked me so harshly – as if I had committed murder. Oh, I am fed up now!’
He put on his cap and rose to go out. Zeb tried to stop him, ‘Where are you going? You have not had even water since morning.’
‘My father made me eat and drink a lot.’
‘Eat a little or you will remain hungry the whole day.’
‘You need not worry. There is plenty of poison available in the market.’ He reached the ghat, drew a rowboat and rowed towards the Boulevard.
Malla Khaliq, too, was walking towards the ghat. He decided to meet Narayan Joo immediately and settle the pending accounts. If he was still facing a deficit of some money, he would take it from him as an advance. In case he failed, he would borrow from any other acquaintance. He was almost at the ghat when he heard the sound of utensils falling down with a resounding crash. He turned back, ran and helped Parveen stand up. He was angry with his wife. ‘Was there no one else in the house that she sent you to scrub these utensils? No one cares that this daughter of ours is now a guest here.’