by Pran Kishore
Aziz Dyad was very worried yet she did not want to add her worries to those of her husband. But when Malla Khaliq insisted, she had no option but to talk. ‘What else could I be thinking except that all three of our houseboats are lying empty.’ Malla Khaliq was worried too but he tried to calm his wife. ‘As long as I am alive, you need not worry so much. Today I settled all the accounts with Narayan Joo and Raja Rathinder. We have the amount required for the wedding.’
‘That is all right. But if we exhaust all the earning of the season, what will we do later? How will we run the house? Our business may remain stagnant for the rest of the season.’
‘Have you lost faith in God’s grace so soon? He alone is to apportion a livelihood to us all. For the present, our only concern is the wedding. We have to maintain our social standing. We do not have many daughters. Parveen alone is the apple of our eye. Let us realize all our desires on this event.’
‘That is true, yet one has to think of so many other factors. Now if I make a suggestion, will you follow that?’
‘Have I ever disagreed with you?’ Malla Khaliq said.
‘Qadir approached me again. He asked me to tell you that if you need more money, you should not get worried for he has already managed that.’
Hearing Qadir’s name, he was ablaze with anger. ‘He dared to come tell you this and you just listened to him? Is Malla Khaliq so helpless that he should touch that illicit money? Have you spent any of that money he left here?’
‘I knew you would get enraged. I have kept the money in the trunk. How could I touch that money without your permission?’
‘That is good, but keep it in mind that you shouldn’t take even a single paisa from there. Do you hear me? And tell that pampered son of yours that he should be taking proper care of his wife and child. Tell him to avoid getting entangled in the illicit activities his friends are getting him involved in.’
Aziz Dyad defended Ghulam Qadir by saying that he had reformed, but this further stoked Malla Khaliq’s rage. He slammed the half-ajar window with a bang, came close to Aziz Dyad, and told her about all Ghulam Qadir’s clandestine activities. ‘I never want to cause you any anxiety and preferred to remain silent about his nasty deeds. Now it is time that you should also know that he visits that hashish smuggler Gul Beg almost daily to lick his feet. When night falls, he secretly takes the boat of the vegetable vendors and returns before sunrise. He is a bad-tempered young man, and I cannot redeem him. And this is not the proper time to argue with him. An open confrontation might bring us a bad name in the community. This is the reason that I prefer to turn a blind eye to what he does. Please try your best to persuade him to remain at home at least until Parveen gets married.’
Aziz Dyad felt the earth slipping away underneath her feet. ‘I wonder why even Zeb did not tell me about this.’
‘The poor helpless girl is already bothered about her parents. How could she tell you? You alone can make Qadir realize his mistakes. If I dare advise him, he is sure to attack me like a mad dog.’
Having unburdened his heart, Malla Khaliq lay down in bed. Aziz Dyad stood up, switched the light off, and both of them remained silently awake till late at night.
The days began to slip away fast. Malla Khaliq did not have even a moment’s respite. Noor Mohammad kept telling him, ‘Abba, the doctor has advised you to rest. We all are here to take care of the arrangements.’ But Malla Khaliq was not one to listen to any advice. When Doctor Nisar watched him so frenziedly engaged in work, he exploded. ‘If you don’t rest, I will cancel all the arrangements. Do you hear, Abba?’
‘All right, all right, I am sitting down. I can argue with all of the others here, but not you.’ Malla Khaliq sat in an armchair placed under the willows. He heaved a long sigh and murmured to himself, ‘How can I tell them about the agony gnawing at me inwardly? With every passing minute, Parveen’s departure from this home arrives closer and closer. The very thought that after only seven hours Parveen is going away as a bride in a palanquin, makes me feel bereft of life. I remain engrossed in work only so that I may forget this. How can my sons understand what an ordeal it is for parents to see their daughter married off. Only Aziz and I know this. Even Narayan Joo, who has stayed by my side through all my trials and tribulations, will not understand this ache for he has no daughters of his own.’
‘Listen, Sula, why are you trying to erect a bungalow on a mere inch of space? Even a slight gale will topple this tent.’ Hearing Narayan Joo’s voice, Malla Khaliq came out of his reverie.
The tent owner Sula Dar gave Narayan Joo a pat reply, ‘Am I a novice in my job, Panditji? Even if, God forbid, there is a bad storm, this pavilion will not move an inch.’
Malla Khaliq thought he would go supervise the tent, but seeing Nisar Ahmed standing beside Narayan Joo, he sank back in his armchair, muttering to himself, ‘Let them do whatever they like.’
The electrician in charge of lights, carrying a bundle of wire in his hand, came to him. ‘All the three tents and the house are fitted with lights. Is there any other place left?’ Malla Khaliq, trying to avoid him, said, ‘Here is our Doctor Sahib, ask him.’
‘What can he tell me? Even though he is a doctor now, he is still a child.’
Malla Khaliq lost his cool. ‘For God’s sake, ask him!’ The lights man did not think it proper to argue any further and silently moved away.
Having finished his supervision, Narayan Joo came near Malla Khaliq. ‘Now, Haji Sahib, stand up and have a look around to see if anything else is needed.’
‘How can I find faults in your arrangements?’
‘No more of this mocking, stand up and take a look.’
‘No, no. I have been advised to keep sitting and do nothing else.’
Narayan Joo shouted to Nisar Ahmed, ‘Doctor Nisar Ahmed, what have you done to Haji Sahib? Why is he sitting here so sullenly?’
Nisar Ahmed came running, sat before Malla Khaliq and said, ‘Are you angry with me, Abba?’
Malla Khaliq grew compassionate. Touching Nisar’s head, he said, ‘My dear son, why should I be angry with anybody, especially with you?’
Nisar Ahmed cast an affectionate glance at his grandfather and said to him, ‘Please try to understand, Abba, if you get indisposed on the occasion …’
Touching his friend’s shoulder, Narayan Joo said, ‘Doctor Sahib is right.’
Malla Khaliq forgot his worries and smiled at Narayan Joo.
‘Good. Now go and make the arrangements.’ Having said this, Nisar Ahmed stood up. ‘So I have your permission, now?’ Malla Khaliq said to him. All three laughed loudly and walked towards the tent. Malla Khaliq stopped and said to Nisar Ahmed, ‘Tell me, is anyone looking after the cooking?’
Narayan Joo laughed and said, ‘Lo, he cannot stay without worrying about something or the other. Noor Mohammad’s father-in-law is already holding charge of that. He has been there since the first call of the cockerel.’ Saying this, Narayan Joo raised the door cloth of the pavilion and said, ‘Now see for yourself if all is well. There in front of the entrance is the cushioned seat for the groom. To his right is Mufti Sahib’s seat. Are there any more orders for us to carry out?’
Malla Khaliq spread his arms to hold Narayan Joo in a warm embrace, but the latter took a step back. ‘It wasn’t me. Your grandson made all the arrangements.’
Malla Khaliq turned to Nisar Ahmed. ‘Lala Sahib himself carried each carpet and spread it at its proper place.’ Narayan Joo diverted the topic and said, ‘Now you sit at ease. I will go to the airport. It is almost time for Vijay Kumar’s flight to land.’
‘But why should you go? Let us send Ghulam Qadir.’ Malla Khaliq tried to stop him.
‘No, no. There are so many chores to attend to. I will change my clothes and leave.’ Saying this, Narayan Joo went out. Nisar Ahmed said to Malla Khaliq, ‘I think the guests are about to arrive. Why don’t you go sit in the guest room?’
Time sped by and the sun seemed to have dashed across the sky and reached t
he summits of the western Apharwat mountains. Shikaarahs flocked to Malla Khaliq’s houseboats, nearly jostling. They unloaded bevies of guests. Malla Khaliq and Noor Mohammad were standing ready to greet and and usher the men to the chairs placed in rows on the isle. For the women, there was a separate pavilion erected in the rear of the isle. Sweet strains of wanwun, the wedding songs, sung by them filled the air.
Parveen, surrounded by girls, was being adorned. She sat still, looking languidly at them. One of her friends got her a mirror, but she shoved the mirror angrily. Her friends chuckled loudly and started teasing her. One of them lifted the mirror and said, ‘She might be scared of the evil eye.’ Another girl snatched it away and said, ‘Let it be kept aside, for she is waiting to see her face only in the eyes of her groom.’ Everyone giggled again. In the meantime, a girl came panting into the room and said, ‘Now make haste. They are saying that the boat meant for the groom and his guests has already left for Gagribal to bring them here.’ She was followed by Zeb wriggling through the throng of girls with a box of ornaments in her hands. ‘Move aside. Give the girl some air to breathe.’ She started dressing her in gold jewellery.
Parveen cast a piteous look at Zeb and her eyes overflowed with tears. Zeb wiped her tears and held her close to her chest. ‘This does not become you. I know what an ordeal this moment is in a girl’s life. If I don’t understand the ache in your heart, who else will? Be brave. Peer Dastagir will resolve all your problems.’
The setting sun spread its resplendence all around. An opulently bedecked shikaarah touched the ghat. Narayan Joo, his son Vijay Kumar and his wife Kamini stepped out of it. Malla Khaliq ran and held Vijay Kumar in a hug; Vijay Kumar bent and touched his feet. Then Malla Khaliq went near Narayan Joo’s daughter-in-law, saying, ‘How are you, my child?’ She too bowed to touch his feet and then congratulated him. Malla Khaliq complained, ‘You had promised to be here before the henna ceremony!’ Narayan Joo pleaded on behalf of her, saying, ‘What will Kamini say to you? I will tell you—’ Malla Khaliq interrupted him, ‘I am talking to my daughter-in-law, why do you intervene?’
‘I could not get leave from my office. After much wrangling I got one week’s leave. I am sorry about not coming earlier.’
‘It is okay. You still made it, that gives me immense joy. You please go into see your mother. She has been restlessly waiting for you!’
In the meantime, a police-patrol boat arrived. Narayan Joo spotted it and was alarmed. ‘Damn it! How come this police contingent is here?’
‘It could be the DIG,’ said Malla Khaliq. ‘You yourself went to deliver the invitation card to him.’
The police-boat touched the shore. DIG Prahlad Singh reached the shore in one long step, and the two friends hurried to welcome the officer. They escorted him and his accompanying officials to the pavilion.
Vijay Kumar and Kamini went into Aziz Dyad’s room. She was busy arranging Parveen’s trousseau in suitcases. Leaving her job unfinished, she stood up and embraced Kamini.
Malla Khaliq was an esteemed citizen. He had associations with many influential and dignified people of the city. Besides being the president of the Houseboat Owners’ Association, he was a reputed social worker and had been nominated as a member of the Municipality Council. It was because of his status that many men of rank were there to welcome the marriage party in addition to his relatives and neighbours. Malla Khaliq and Narayan Joo stood at the ghat to receive all the guests. Malla Khaliq was helping the manager of Grindley’s Bank climb the steps of the ghat, when suddenly Narayan Joo exclaimed, ‘Damn!’ Pointing to the advancing boat, he said, ‘It is Gul Beg, Ghulam Qadir’s partner. Did you send him an invitation card?’
Malla Khaliq grew pale. ‘Do you think I am insane to invite such a big scoundrel?’
‘Then Qadir must have invited him. You should have—’ Narayan Joo was mid-sentence when Gul Beg came ashore in one long step.
‘Congratulations, Haji Sahib! You did not invite me, but how could Gul Beg hold any grudge? It is after all the marriage of a daughter, and that too my partner’s sister.’
Malla Khaliq remained dumbfounded and could not say anything except, ‘It is all right.’
‘Are you well, Panditji? Why do you look pale?’ Gul Beg turned to Narayan Joo. ‘You need not worry. This time we will have a plentiful harvest of apples. I will get you a box of first-rate apples. All your doubts will be washed away.’
‘Thank you!’ said Narayan Joo in an angry tone.
Malla Khaliq was drenched in sweat. He was unable to think of a way to get rid of this scoundrel. Ghulam Qadir came running, shook hands with Gul Beg and led him away. Gul Beg freed his hand and said sarcastically, ‘You have sent invitation cards to the whole city, but did not consider this Gul Beg worthy of one. Nevertheless, it is my friend’s sister’s wedding and I wanted to be here to congratulate you.’
Ghulam Qadir felt ashamed. ‘The cards were distributed by Ghulam Ahmed, and—’
‘And he abhors me,’ Gul Beg completed his sentence.
‘Now, please come in. All the guests are in the pavilion.’
‘No. I don’t have that much time.’ He led Qadir behind the pavilion so that no one would notice them. But Razaq saw them there, and he hid, trying to overhear. But he could hardly understand what transpired between them. Noor Mohammad had already seen Gul Beg coming there. He said to Ghulam Ahmed, who was keeping the ewers and flasks aside, ‘How did this Gul Beg turn up here? We did not send him a card.’
Ghulam Ahmed said angrily, ‘Ghulam Qadir might have sent him a card. Just look at Abba. See how irritated he looks!’
‘It is but natural. Who in this town does not know about Gul Beg’s misdeeds?’
‘Should I ask Qadir about this?’
‘Let him go to hell. See how thick he is with that hashish smuggler!’
Gul Beg had his hand on Qadir’s shoulder. ‘I know well how important it is for you to be here now. But in the trade that we pursue, every second matters. In case you fail in delivering the consignment on time, you may have to bear a loss of millions. You will have to leave for Delhi soon after you get free from this ceremony.’
‘All right, I will leave after the celebrations. Keep my ticket ready.’
‘Do you remember the code word?’
‘Press Patent.’
‘Yes, Press Patent. Now I should leave.’
‘Can’t you wait until the groom arrives?’
‘Sorry. They are waiting for me there. I came here only to check if you are ready to leave for Delhi.’
‘You just get the ticket confirmed.’
‘Bye, and good luck!’ Saying this, Gul Beg strode towards his shikaarah.
Narayan Joo heaved a sigh of relief. ‘Thank God! We are free from the dirt.’ Ghulam Qadir had accompanied him to the ghat. When the boat left the shore, Ghulam Ahmed said sarcastically to him, ‘Why did you let your dear well-wisher leave without serving him the feast?’
Qadir cast a furious look at him. ‘Had anyone sent him the invitation card? Is there any guest from my circle?’
Malla Khaliq heard this and said to Ghulam Ahmed in a way that Qadir would also hear it. ‘I think we may have sent an invitation card to him as well. It is so kind of him to have come.’
‘Haji Sahib, it is good that he left. Had DIG Prahlad Singh seen him here, his suspicions could have been confirmed.’
Qadir scratched his ear and strode fast towards the pavilion. He saw Razaq who still stood behind the pavilion. ‘Why are you standing idle there, you indolent fellow? Go and put away these ropes in your shed.’
Razaq lifted the bundle of rope lying on the ground and stood up to go to his shed.
Zeb and Parveen’s friends were escorting her to Gulshan. He stood there, gazing at them with despondent eyes; he felt an arrow pierce his heart and trembled. He would have certainly fallen down, had he not taken the support of the door-frame of his shed. He looked up again, but Parveen had moved out of sight. He entered the shed and fe
ll on his bed.
The pitch of the wedding song in the pavilion heightened.
Kamraan shaharke Kamai deevo,
Aakho Shari Sheerazo,
Tchaer kyazi loguth sani shahzado,
Heemaal her ital praran tchai
(Oh, Kamdev of the city of Kamran,
Come through the city of Sheeraz,
Why are you getting late
Come see how your Heemal is waiting near the stairs)
Razaq plugged his ears with his hands, but he could not block out the singing voices. Feeling stifled, he stood up and started gathering the clothes scattered around him and placed them on his bedding. He folded his uniform neatly and hung his turban on the peg in the wall. He opened the trunk and took out the bag that he had carried with him when he came to Malla Khaliq’s house. He stuffed all his clothes in it. He caught sight of the doll which Parveen had gifted to him, lying on the ground. He lifted the doll, dusted it with his shirt and then placed it on the trunk. He stared at it for a moment. Then he collected all his books and put them into the bag. He started staring at the doll again, but he heard a call: ‘Razaq! Razaq, where are you?’
Malla Khaliq stood outside his shed searching for him. He replied, ‘Just a moment!’ Before Malla Khaliq could peep in through the window, Razaq hurriedly came out.
‘Yes, sir.’
‘What are you doing here? The wedding party is here, waiting around our boats. Where have you kept those garlands?’
‘I have kept them in Gul. I thought they would shrivel if kept outside.’
‘Go, get them and pass them to Noor Sahib.’
Narayan Joo came just then. ‘What are you doing here chatting with this darling of yours? The party has arrived.’
‘I know, I know. I was asking Razaq to fetch the garlands.’
‘Now make haste. Don’t you hear the band approaching?’
Hearing the band, all the women had come out barefoot and assembled on the isle and on the decks of the houseboats. The front of Malla Khaliq’s houseboats was bright and luminous. All the owners of the other houseboats had gathered at the ghats. All eyes were fixed upon the rowboats in front. Ramzan Haji had booked a couple of such open bathing boats and had decked them up with lights styled after the royal boats of the rajas. The boats were being driven by motorboats. The leading boat carried the band. The closer these boats came, the louder the women sang: