The Black Rainbow

by Hussain Zaidi

  Mrs Naqvi’s words consoled Farzana.

  “Thanks, you’re like a mother to me. However, my situation is more difficult than yours. In your case, uncle Naqvi was with you heart and soul; but in my case I don’t know where Ali stands.”

  “I understand what you’re driving at. But I know Ali and can read in his eyes love for you. He’s only too shy to admit this before you and me and even to himself. But don’t worry I’ll talk to him as well. But for me that’s not a major problem. It’s brining your father round to our point that‘s a difficult proposition,” observed Mrs Naqvi.

  Nothing could be more consoling for Farzana. Mrs Naqvi’s words were a big support for her and she knew she would do all in her powers to effect a match between her and Ali.

  In the evening, when Mr Naqvi returned home, Mrs Naqvi gave him an account of her conversation with Farzana.

  “Farzana is a nice girl,” remarked Mr Naqvi, “and would be a welcome addition to our family. To me the problem is two-fold: One, what Ali thinks about Farzana. You might have correctly guessed his feelings for her but unless we frankly talk to him, we can’t be sure. The second problem is that Javed doesn’t like Ali and so will not accept him as his son-in-law. Of course, we’ll try and convince him.”

  “And if he doesn’t agree?

  “Well, in that case, if the boy and girl agree then no one can stop them from marrying,” said Mr Naqvi taking his wife’s hand. “Our law and our religion allow this. What we’ll do is to first talk to Ali and if we have correctly read his feelings for Farzana, we’ll go to Babu Javed.”

  At dinner, Mr Naqvi said to Ali, “son we need to talk.”

  “What’s that father?” Ali enquired.

  What do you think about Farzana?” Mrs Naqvi asked.

  “I don’t understand,” replied Ali.

  “Son, your father and I were thinking how our daughter-in-law should look like. And we both agreed that she should be like Farzana. But it’s your opinion and that of Farzana that matters. We‘ll speak of this to Farzana later. But we first want to hear you.”

  ”I have never thought about marriage, because I’m too much preoccupied with my studies. As for Farzana, I can’t say anything about her or for that matter about any other girl.

  “You’re right,” said Mr Naqvi. “Your priority should be your studies and then your career. But marriage is also an important decision, which has to be made sooner or later. What we suggest, and you are free to disagree, is that you may be betrothed to Farzana. Marriage of course will be shelved until you have a job and get settled. But if you have any other girl in mind, we’ll only respect your choice.”

  “There’s no girl in my life,” said Ali. “But if you insist, I can think about Farzana. But I still don’t understand why this matter has cropped up all of a sudden and why you’re in a haste?”

  Mr and Mrs Naqvi looked towards each other and then decided that Ali should be told about things as they stood. Accordingly, Mrs Naqvi narrated to him her conversation with Farzana earlier in the day. They however, censored Babu Javed’s remarks about Ali.

  “So here you are. You want me to marry Farzana,” Ali remarked.

  “Yes, but for us your opinion is more important than anything else. We just want you to give a thought to our proposal. The decision will be yours and yours only.”

  “Ok. I’ll think over that and then let you know.”

  Ali returned to his room. For the first time in his life, he consciously tried to define his relationship with Farzana. Up till now he had been preoccupied with the problems of philosophy. But now problem of a different type was before him. He tried to grapple with that problem in the same way as if he would deal with a philosophical problem. For him his relationship with Farzana was essentially a man-woman problem. “Why does a man need a woman and a woman need a man? For sexual satisfaction? Yes. For companionship? Yes. For security and sustenance? Yes. For having children? Yes.

  “The need for the opposite gender is then rooted in instincts. And instincts have to be satisfied one way or another. Sex can be in or out of the wedlock. Children can be adopted. Companionship can be found in the same gender. Thus man can live without woman and woman without man. They may be irresistible to each other but are not indispensable. If man and woman are not indispensable to each other, no particular boy and girl can be indispensable to each other. So why should Farzana be indispensable to me or I to her? Besides, marriage or children can never be a priority to me. For I have devoted my life to solving the riddles of life. So what should I say to the father and the mother?” Ali thought. “Maybe I should tell them that I haven’t yet made up my mind. Telling them abruptly that I have no intention of marrying Farzana or anyone else will not be the right thing.”

  At that moment, there was a spark in Ali’s mind. “There may be certain situations in which speaking the truth isn’t the right thing. Does that mean that nothing is right or wrong in all circumstances?” A case for ethical relativity, he thought. “All my thoughts invariably return to philosophy,” he smiled to himself and went out for fresh air.

  Farzana spent the entire night thinking whether Mrs Naqvi had talked to Ali about her and if yes what was his reaction? So next morning after breakfast when her father had left, she called Mrs Naqvi and asked her what had transpired between her and Ali.

  She told her all about the dinner conversation and that her husband was at one with her in the matter. “I think, we should give Ali some time to decide and I’m confident that his decision will be what we expect,” Mrs Naqvi tried to reassure Farzana.

  “I hope he will decide before father makes a decision,” Farzana said languidly.

  “Don’t worry, we are with you and things will turn out good,” Mrs Naqvi again tried to reassure Farzana.

  However, Farzana was not reassured. So she decided to speak to Ali herself. “But where should I talk to him. I cannot call him home in the absence of father. Nor will it be proper to talk to him in his house in the presence of his mother. I need to talk to him in private outside.” Having made the decision, she dialed Ali’s number.

  “Ali it’s Farzana. I need to talk to you. Can we meet outside?”

  Ali knew what Farzana wanted to talk and he didn’t want to discuss that with her. But against his will, he agreed to meet her.

  “Where and when it will be convenient for you to meet me?” he asked her.

  “National Park at 11 in the morning tomorrow.”

  “Ok, I’ll be there,” he replied almost mechanically.

  Farzana couldn’t sleep the whole night and kept on thinking what she should say to Ali and how would he react.

  “I think I should frankly tell him everything,” she decided.

  At the appointed hour, Farzana reached the National Park. Ali was already there and smoking nervously. It was for the first time that he would be talking to a girl one-to-one.

  “What shall I say to Farzana? Speak the truth? Yes I should.”

  “Hello Ali, I’m sure I ‘m not late.

  “Certainly not,” he replied.

  “You know why I‘m here.”

  “I guess so,” Ali replied.

  “Than what do you say?”

  “Farzana you’re a good girl. But the problem is that I haven’t ever seen you from that angle.

  “Ali I’m not here to get a character certificate from you. What I want of you is to tell me whether I can count on you,” Farzana said rather abruptly.

  “If that means emotional attachment or having a permanent relationship with you, then I’m afraid it’s out of question. You can chart your own way,” Ali replied in a similar vein.

  “I don’t need your permission to chart my way when it’s separate from yours. But certainly, I’m disappointed, because I expected a better response from you.”

  I’m sorry Farzana if I have disappointed you but that’s how things are,” Ali replied plainly.

  “Do you have anyone else in mind?” Farzana asked.

  “No.
None.”

  “Have you anything against me?”

  “Not in the least. It’s not about you. It’s simply because I’m not prepared for that role,” Ali said.

  “I’m not asking you to marry me right now. I just want a commitment from you. And I’m saying this because I know how you feel for me,” Farzana said.

  “If that’s what you think, then I fear you’re mistaken. On my part, I never threw any hint at you. And I can’t commit anything to you, which I know I am not likely to fulfill.”

  “You’re not likely to fulfill or you don’t want to fulfill,” remarked Farzana.

  “You can take it whichever way you like.”

  “Ok. I guess I have got your answer,” Farzana said. “You’re right. I was mistaken in reading your feelings. I hope we’ll never meet again. Good bye.”

  “Listen Farzana,” Ali called her but she went away.

  Ali knew that Farzana was very emotional. He also knew that nothing was more frustrating to a woman than love that was unrequited.

  He kept sitting in the park smoking cigarette after cigarette.

  “Have I done the right thing? Shouldn’t I have requited her love with love? Even if I don’t love her, I might have handled the situation in a mature manner without injuring her feelings,” Ali reproached himself.

  Then he saw a young couple holding hands and laughing. He felt a strong desire that the man were him and the woman were Farzana. But very next moment, he felt sorry for the man who he thought was wasting his time on a worthless passion.

  “Every one falls in love and gets wedded. Not a big deal. The challenge is to get off the beaten track. After all there are better things in life to do than to date and mate,” Ali thought.

  Farzana returned home dejected as never before. She had pinned high hopes on Ali but all her hopes were razed.

  “So I was mistaken that Ali too loved me. But what should I do? Should I bow to the father’s wish and agree to marry the man he has chosen for me? Or should I refuse to marry anyone? Or should I again talk to auntie Fatima? Yes that will be better?”

  Next morning, Farzana again met Mrs Naqvi and related to her Ali’s answer.

  “You shouldn’t have talked to Ali. I had told you that we should give him some time. After all, it’s the question of his life and yours as well,” Mrs Naqvi mildly scolded Farzana.

  “Forgive me, but I was too perplexed to know what to do”.

  “Ok. Let me think over it. Meanwhile, if you happen to meet Ali, just behave in a normal way. Now smile, go home and watch a good movie.”

  “There’s no point in taking up this matter with Ali again,” Mr Naqvi told his wife after hearing what had gone between their son and Farzana. His reply will be the same. Besides, I don’t want him to think too much about these things as it would distract him from his studies. In the meantime, we may talk to Javed requesting him to give us and Farzana some time. I hope he’ll see reason.”

  “When you talk to Babu Javed, I would also like to be present,” said Mrs Naqvi.

  “Ok.” Mr Naqvi assented.

  Chapter 7

  The Lahore blast was followed by similar incidents in other big cities in which scores of people were killed. The government came in for adverse criticism at the hands of the media and opposition political parties for failure to protect the people. The counter-terrorism strategy was also attacked for being fundamentally flawed. There were growing demands that the government halt the military operation and open an unconditional dialogue with the militants. The government however brushed aside such demands and declared to continue the operation until the militancy was put down.

  It was in such circumstances that the Jamia Islamia of Maulvi Zia organized a conference against the counter-terrorism strategy. The conference was held in a luxury hotel and all parties opposed to the govt were invited to the event. The conference adopted a resolution calling for an immediate end to the military operation. At the end, Maulvi Zia announced to quit his alliance with the govt.

  “Despite the best of our efforts, the govt is not inclined to halt the operation,” said Maulvi Zia in a disappointing tone as he returned home after the conference. What should be our next step?” he asked Dr Junaid.

  “We are arguing that the govt’s counter-terrorism strategy is fundamentally flawed. Maybe our pro-terrorism strategy has the same characteristic. Let’s think out of the box,” opined Dr Junaid. “So far we have been trying to force a change in the govt’s policy, which is not coming through. Why don’t we think of changing the govt itself?”

  “Change in the govt!” remarked Maulvi Zia, who was taken aback by this out-of-the-box proposal. “My brother,” he said, “I appreciate your innovative ideas but the change in the govt is easier said than done.”

  “It may be a difficult proposition but not an impossible one. After all, govts do change for one reason or another. Why not for our reason?” remarked Dr Junaid.

  “Can you elaborate?” Maulvi Zia asked.

  “Yes certainly. There are two ways in which a change in the govt can be brought about. One, the govt is forced to step down through agitation politics. Two, the govt is voted out through a no confidence motion in parliament. The first option is already being exercised albeit unsuccessfully. But I wonder little attention has been paid to the second option,” observed Dr Junaid.

  “How much promise does an in-house change hold?” Maulvi Zia enquired.

  “As you know, the govt has only a thin majority in parliament. You have already withdrawn your support from the govt. Now if some of the ruling party members are made to change their loyalty, the govt will collapse?

  “I’m beginning to understand,” said Maulvi Zia. “But there are certain questions whose answer I need. One, who will form the next govt? Two, how will the ruling party members be made to change loyalties? Three, what is the guarantee that the next govt will play to our tune?”

  Dr Junaid took a sip from his drink and replied, “Of course, the opposition parties will form a coalition. Ruling party members will be lured into changing their loyalties. A good number of them are annoyed with their leadership for not awarding them ministerial slots or not doling out loans and plots to them. We’ll promise them ministries and satisfy their appetite for wealth. To safeguard our interest, we’ll enter into an agreement with the govt-in-waiting to the effect that in his first public address the new prime minister will announce an immediate end to the military operation against the mujahideen and promise to revise other components of the counter terrorism strategy.”

  Maulvi Zia looked at his cousin appreciatively and then gave him a nod. “And the money will be contributed by our patrons, well wishers, and the opposition parties. So how do we proceed?”

  “I have a plan,” Dr Junaid replied.

  Ali and the rest of the class began their study of the schools of philosophy with materialism.

  “There are,” said Prof Ghani, “different types of materialism, such as mechanistic materialism and dialectical materialism. We’ll discuss these at length later.

  “In essence,” he continued, “materialism has a simple philosophy. Matter is the reality and all knowledge is derived from the senses. There are only physical phenomena and forces and nothing exists beyond the material or physical realm. All the so-called mental or psychical phenomena can be reduced to physical phenomena. There’s no difference between reality and existence. Only that exists is real and what’s real must exist. The real must be known and verified empirically. Such terms as the soul and spirit and mind and consciousness have only figurative meaning; they cannot be taken in a literal sense for being beyond the scope of empiricism; they don’t exist and hence are unreal. Now the house is open for discussion.”