by Pran Kishore
Time moves like gushing waters; nobody knows what ravines and deserts it will carry one towards.
Malla Khaliq had inwardly started breaking, and he knew well that his time was running out. However, he made sure no one around him perceived this.
He gladly sent Parveen away with her husband to her in-laws’, and on the very next day, Ghulam Ahmed left for Bombay with Abdullah Shah’s carpets. Left alone, Malla Khaliq had no option but to work with vigour and determination. He entered the houseboat Gul and tidied its drawing room. The telephone in the corner began to ring as he was dusting the carpets. It was Narayan Joo. ‘Is Haji Sahib there?’
‘Where else would he be? Tell me without any ado if you have any information.’
‘Ghulam Qadir was in Delhi with Gul Beg’s broker till yesterday, but today he left for Bombay.’
Malla Khaliq’s legs trembled and he sat down. ‘What is he going to Bombay for?’
‘Definitely to run some errand for Gul Beg.’
‘With a consignment of hashish?’
Narayan Joo had the same apprehension, but in order to keep his friend calm, he said, ‘I don’t know what has happened to you. Why are you being so cynical? Gul Beg is not running just one business. Yet I will keep a tab. Vijay is there after all. He has acquaintances in every nook and corner of Bombay. If anything untoward happens, Bhonsley Sahib is also there.’
‘So you also have the misgiving that he might be selling hashish for Gul Beg?’
‘Again the same fears! Let us wait and see what God has in store for us.’
If Qadir was apprehended for drug trafficking, Malla Khaliq and his wife would surely breathe their last. He managed to get up, and made his way out of the houseboat. He looked all around. Dark clouds had enveloped the skies. The wind was getting fierce.
Whenever Malla Khaliq was in a quandary, he would take out his small boat and entrust himself to the vast expanses of the Dal Lake. The lake always showed him the way. He took out his rowboat and, beating the oar fast, he went behind the swamps towards the bigger Dal. The wind was turning into a storm and the ripples in the lake were getting wider. Yet Malla Khaliq felt that the tempest within him was wilder than the one raging outside. Maybe the only way to free himself from this unrelenting pain was to drown himself in the depths of the lake. He began to row fast towards the centre of the lake. The wind churned the water and smashing the waves against one another, made them rise towards the sky. Malla Khaliq then threw the oar aside. Each wave lifted his boat high and then dropped it down with a big splash. With his eyes shut, Malla Khaliq implored the Almighty to drown his boat and deliver him from the suffering.
Then as if a miracle happened, the wind started abating and the boat, too, began to settle. Malla Khaliq opened his eyes.
The stormy waters of the Dal had grown calm and the ripples became resplendent with a golden hue. The gloomy clouds had dispersed and the sun shone through. Malla Khaliq was transfixed. A strange voice whispered into his ears: ‘Hey Khaliq! What has happened to you? You would get rid of your anxieties by ending your life, but did you spare a thought for your family’s fate if you did so? It is a sin to seek riddance of cares like this.’
Cold sweat drenched his body. The sun again got enveloped by clouds. Malla Khaliq prostrated to God and sought absolution. ‘Oh God, you show the way to all the lost ones, forgive me. Forgive me for all my sins! I was about to commit a blunder. Had You not shown me this miracle and held my hand, all the labour of my life would have gone to waste. Forgive me!’
He took the oar in his hands and turned the prow towards his houseboats.
Back on the isle, his entire family had started searching for Malla Khaliq. Zeb came running to Aziz Dyad. ‘Abba is not here, and the little rowboat near the ghat is also missing. Sula Shoga says he saw him going towards the watercourses.’
Hearing this Aziz Dyad ran towards the prow, sat in a boat and rowed it towards the centre of the lake. Zeb was stunned to see how Aziz Dyad managed to reach the alcove near the houseboats that led to the deep water courses. Bilal came running and glued himself to her legs. She shoved him and he fell down. The child started crying loudly. Zeb sat down helplessly, with her head in her hands.
The clouds had almost thinned and the sun shone intermittently. Malla Khaliq diverted his boat towards one of the courses, laid down his oar and made as if to lie down.
GUL GULSHAN GULFAM
PART 2
He heard the sound of oar against water. Malla Khaliq turned in its direction, with a hand over his throbbing heart and saw Aziz Dyad coming towards him in her boat.
She held him in her strong gaze. Like a criminal, Malla Khaliq hung his head. ‘I had got marooned by a whirlpool.’
‘Were you really caught unawares in the whirlpool or did you decide to entrust yourself to the whirlpool because you couldn’t bear to live with us any more? You did not even bother to think what would happen to your Azi!’
‘Forgive me, Azi. Our situation has worsened to such an extent that I felt like there was no meaning in living any more.’
‘And so you came here to end your life. You did not think about Zeb. About Bilal whom Qadir has deserted.’
‘How can I explain myself to you? Had my conscience not reminded me of the wonderful family I have at home to take care of me, the family who are innocent and do not deserve to suffer, I would certainly have consigned myself to the Dal.’
‘Remember how you have towed your boat through many a tempest. And now when your reckless son left for Bombay without your permission, you lost all your equanimity. He will return within a few days. Now let’s go home. See how drenched you are. Paddle the boat, all will be fine soon.’
Malla Khaliq cast a piteous look at her face. He never wanted to keep any secret from Azi, but he knew that she would not be able to bear the shock. So he said to himself, ‘I have to endure this venom all alone.’
After a week or so, Ghulam Qadir called his father from Bombay only to inform him that he was well and hoped to be home within fifteen days. Malla Khaliq was already quite furious with him and said, ‘Whether you come after fifteen days or fifteen months, nobody here cares. You did not leave seeking anybody’s permission, did you?’ Qadir tried to explain his position, but Malla Khaliq put the receiver down. Aziz Dyad burst out, ‘Why did you bang the phone down? You should have let me have a word with him. I would have at least asked him what was so urgent that he did not find time to keep us informed.’
Malla Khaliq cast a fierce look at her. His gaze could melt steal with his wrath. He somehow held his rage back. After a little reflection, he walked towards Zeb’s room. She was busy arranging Bilal’s clothes in the almirah. Seeing her father-in-law coming, she put the clothes down and went to him. ‘You look quite perturbed, Abba. Why don’t you come in? Is all well?’
‘Yes, my daughter. It was Ghulam Qadir on the line from Bombay. He says he is coming soon.’
‘Is he in Delhi or Bombay? You told me that—’
‘Yes, my child, I told you that he has gone to Delhi. He then went to Bombay. You need not worry. He will be home soon.’ Saying this, he went out.
Zeb shuddered. She could hardly stand. She sat down in a crumpled heap. The very word ‘Bombay’ rang a bell with her. Jane’s face came to her mind. She was suddenly filled with hatred. She was sure that Qadir must be with her.
Malla Khaliq thought it proper to inform Narayan Joo about Qadir’s phone call. Hearing the news, Narayan Joo was delighted. ‘God has listened to our prayers. Where is he staying there?’ But when Malla Khaliq told him that he was least delighted by the call and had, on the contrary, slammed the phone down, Narayan Joo lost his temper. ‘You are an incorrigible fellow. Instead of interrogating him, you cut the conversation short. Tell me, how are we to find him now?’
Malla Khaliq was struck mute. He realized that he had committed a blunder. Narayan Joo tried to comfort him: ‘It is all right. Qadir would know Vijay Kumar’s address. He will finish his job and see
him. You need not worry. I will also reach Bombay within the next few days.’
Malla Khaliq felt comforted. He went to share this news with his wife. Aziz Dyad said, ‘Without Narayan Joo’s support, you would keep making mistakes. Here, keep this kangri, see how badly you are shivering in the cold.’ Having taken the kangri, Malla Khaliq sat down and cast a loving glance at his wife. ‘Why only mention Narayan Joo when I would have lost my way long back if you were not by my side.’
‘Come, come. Stop flattering me. Shall I get you a blanket? See how the sky is covered in clouds.’
‘Yes, get me a blanket. The wind is cold. It must be snowing somewhere.’
‘This is hardly the time for snow. The plane trees are still green.’ Aziz Dyad went into the inner room and got a blanket for her husband. She placed one end of the blanket over her knees. ‘I am afraid winter might come ahead of its time. Oh God, keep the weather warm until my children return home!’
Noor Mohammad and his wife Mukhta were facing a dilemma. They were happy that Nisar Ahmed had decided to marry Yasmeen, a girl from an affluent family. She was a doctor and her father was also a doctor who lived in Saudi Arabia. He ran a small nursing home and wished for his daughter to work there after completing her MD. When he met Nisar Ahmed in Srinagar, he liked him very much. He wanted the nikah to happen soonest. But Noor Mohammad knew well that his father was caught up in other problems at this point. But he did not have any other option. He said to Mukhta, ‘There is no option but to have a word with Abba. Let us go there and return before evening.’
Malla Khaliq was engrossed in teaching Bilal how to read the Quran. He noticed Noor Mohammad and Mukhta coming through the isle. Touching the holy book to his forehead, he kissed little Bilal on his forehead and said, ‘You may go and play now, my dear boy. Make it a habit to come to me as you did today. Taking the holy book from his hand, Bilal said, ‘Let me keep it on the shelf.’ He put the holy book in its case and, taking the support of the desk, he placed it on the shelf. Malla Khaliq fondly watched his movements. A smile appeared on his lips and his eyes filled with tears. ‘I pray that you may thrive and flourish.’
Noor Mohammad and Mukhta entered the room. Bilal said salaam and then ran out. Aziz Dyad followed Noor Mohammad and Mukhta. Mukhta embraced her mother-in-law and said salaam to Malla Khaliq. Noor Mohammad squatted in front of his father with his head lowered. Malla Khaliq cast a searching glance at his face. ‘Why are you so gloomy? Is all well with you?’
‘Of course, Abba, all is well. You know Doctor Bhatt? He phones us almost every day. That is why I came here to take your advice.’
‘What does he say?’
‘He says that if Nisar Ahmed is not ready for marriage yet, we should at least finalize the nikah for now.’
‘And what did you tell them?’
Noor Mohammad stammered. Mukhta helped him, saying, ‘Abba, what could we tell them without consulting you?’
Malla Khaliq cast a glance at his wife’s face. She said, ‘When they are so insistent, we—’
Malla Khaliq intercepted her and said, ‘We should not let go of their proposal. Is it not so? Yes?’
‘Yes. That does not diminish the solemnity of the proposal,’ said she.
A bitter smile appeared on Malla Khaliq’s face. He turned to Noor Mohammad. ‘Bhatt Sahib’s daughter Yasmeen will complete her training and then her father will take her along to Saudi. People say he runs his own hospital there.’
‘Yes, Nisar Ahmed also says so.’
‘And then he will call Nisar Ahmed to Saudi as well, won’t he?’
Noor Mohammad was struck dumb. Aziz Dyad sensed that her husband was about to lose his temper. She tried to cut the conversation short. ‘See how you think so ahead of yourselves. It is still just a proposal, and you have already sent off Nisar Ahmed to Saudi!’
Malla Khaliq got angry. ‘That is Bhatt Sahib’s real scheme. Why should he implore so much otherwise? This way he will get two doctors without any effort to run his hospital.’
Aziz Dyad could not restrain herself and said, ‘And what then? He has only one child, his daughter. Naturally he will want her to stay with him. And no doctor is willing to stay here. All of them are looking for ways to go abroad. Some go to Saudi, others to America and many others to Dubai. If Nisar Ahmed too aspires to go abroad and earn well, why should we blame him?’
Noor Mohammad grew restless and said, ‘Please keep quiet, Amma. Why should we bother about others?’
Malla Khaliq could not hold himself back and roared, ‘The poor people of our land are desperate for doctors, and the doctors abandon their parents, kith and kin to settle down in foreign lands.’
After a long silence, Noor Mohammad wearily said, ‘All right, Abba. I will tell Bhatt Sahib that his proposal is not acceptable to us.’
Seeing the helplessness of his son, Malla Khaliq calmed down. Placing his hand on his shoulder, he said to Noor Mohammad, ‘Look here, my dear son. We arranged for Nisar Ahmed’s medical training, but never with the intention of earning wealth. In spite of our hardships, we sent him to Jaipur for further training. Why? We did all this with the dream that when he completed his training, he would return and serve our poor folks. I know he likes Bhatt Sahib’s daughter. I am sure she is very nice. I will advise Nisar Ahmed to motivate her also to stay here and serve the people. And if Bhatt Sahib agrees to this proposal, I will have no objection to their nikah. If you don’t have the courage to talk to him, give me his phone number, I will do it. I think he too nurses a love for Kashmir in some corner of his heart.’
The sky was overcast, and the air freezing. Having shut the doors and windows, Noor Mohammad and Mukhta sat brooding in their room. Mukhta said to her husband, ‘Abba is right. If Bhatt Sahib really took Nisar Ahmed to Saudi, what would we do here? We have only one child after all.’
Noor Mohammad heaved a long sigh and started blowing the embers in his kangri. ‘Let us sleep over it and see how things go from here.’
Malla Khaliq could not sleep. The room was ice cold, as if everything were covered in frost. The chilly wind outside had somewhat subsided. He turned prone and was again lost in the wilderness of anxieties. He tossed and turned till sleep finally overtook him in the last hour of the night. He could not get up in the morning until Zeb came to him with a fresh hot kangri. ‘Give me the kangri, my child. Even if the sun forgets to rise some day, this daughter of mine won’t forget to get me a hot kangri and wake me up.’
When he put his hand into the kangri to stir the hot embers under the ashes, Zeb chuckled. ‘Abba, Nav Sheen mubarak! See, I am the first to give you the message of our first snow, so you have lost the bet.’
‘No, no, this is called – what do the children of today say? Yes, April fool! This is cheating!’
‘New-snow surprise, Abba, no April fool business,’ said Zeb.
‘Okay! I accept your new-snow surprise gift. Tell me, what do you want?’
‘Really? Can you give me what I want?’
‘Try me. I can get you even the stars from the sky.’
‘I want Ghulam Qadir! Can you give him to me?’
‘Ghulam Qadir? He will be with you as soon as he is free from his business trip.’
‘No, Abba, no, I will never get him back now. He abhors me, and all this business is just a pretext. He is falling for strangers.’
‘You need not worry, my daughter. If I have to, I will drag him back home; I won’t dither.’
‘Give me the cold kangri,’ said Zeb after heaving a cold sigh. ‘I will fill it with hot coals.’
Like a child, Malla Khaliq got up and strode towards the inner chamber with the kangri, saying, ‘You stay quiet. I will claim a new-snow surprise gift from your mother-in-law. You may get me hot cinders in the kangri afterwards.’
Zeb followed him to enjoy the spectacle.
Holding Bilal to her chest, Aziz Dyad lay fast asleep. Malla Khaliq shook her awake saying, ‘Why don’t you get up? The sun is already well near our wi
llow copse. Now please get up and give me my morning tea.’
Aziz Dyad calmly wriggled out of her quilt without waking Bilal. Malla Khaliq passed her the kangri. ‘Warm up your hands before doing anything else.’
Aziz Dyad smiled at him and said, ‘What is all this pampering for?’ She put her hand into the kangri, and took it out immediately. Malla Khaliq let out a roar of laughter and said, ‘You have lost the Nav Sheen bet!’ Zeb also came in and paid first-snow greetings to her mother-in-law. Aziz Dyad would have said many stinging words to her husband, but seeing Zeb a little happy after so many days, she laughed too. She turned to her husband. ‘You are already at the threshold of your eighties, and yet you remain so childish!’
‘Do not try to change the subject. You lost the new-snow bet to us. Now tell us what are you going to cook for us?’ With these words, Zeb nestled close to her mother-in-law. Moving her hand affectionately over her head, Aziz Dyad said, ‘Whatever your heart desires.’
Malla Khaliq opened the window through which he could see the surface of the lake. Everything was covered with thick fluffy snow. He saw people in boats greeting each other. The tops of the boats, the willow groves, the surface of the Dal Lake – everything was enveloped by bright white snow. Kids of the vegetable growers living on the distant swamps were romping about on the fresh snow, with their dogs excitedly playing along. They called the first snow their ‘maternal uncle’. Malla Khaliq stretched his arm out of the window to have a feel of the snowflakes. He withdrew his hand and shut the window. ‘Oh! It has started snowing again. I have to fetch this month’s ration from the ghat. What will I do now?’ His wife said, ‘There will be no one there at the ghat at this time.’
‘I will keep my ration card in the queue. Otherwise poor Subhan shall have to keep waiting there the whole day.’ Saying this, Malla Khaliq went out. The sight of snow filled his heart with joy for a moment, but then he grew anxious that if Qadir and Ahmed did not return soon, he would not be able to cope with the harsh winter. He entered Gul and took out the ration card from a drawer. He was about to lock the drawer when the telephone rang. It was Narayan Joo on the line. ‘Hello! Houseboat Gul?’ Malla Khaliq recognized the voice and tried to win new-snow bet from his friend. ‘New-snow greetings! I won the new-snow bet!’