A wanderer Episode 14

 

After finishing breakfast late in the day, Mumtaz Begum went to see Morgan's factory. After that, she set off for Lahore with her entire team. The years-long ice between the two families had melted. Now, Hakim Sahib had also started visiting Model Town. Ishaal had prepared her important documents and Haris had returned to Manchester. Both Badhila and Momena got admission to Fatima Jinnah Medical College. A deep friendship had developed between the two. Shamaeel was happily leading a respectable and joyful life after his marriage in Malkowal. Sitara's mother was also searching for a good match for her daughter. Choudhry Shamoone was busy trying to appease Simble with the help of his friends. A beautiful baby boy had been born to Banish and Basit. The monsoon came with stormy rains, but there was no change in Morgan's routine. December had arrived once again.

In the blink of an eye, a year had passed. Morgan would leave after offering his prayers and Ishaal would watch him while Morgan would go with his head down. There was not a single lapse from either side. One day, as usual, after all the worshippers had left, Morgan stood up, and Hakim Sahib stopped him.

"Beg Sahib...! Please sit down," Hakim Sahib said affectionately. "Today you will find the window closed." Morgan looked up at Hakim Sahib. There were many questions in his eyes, but he remained silent. He thought to himself, "Who informed Hakim Sahib?"

"Beg Sahib...! Love and musk cannot be hidden," Hakim Sahib dispelled the astonishment scattered across Morgan's face. Speaking in a comforting manner, Hakim Sahib continued, "Maheen's appendicitis operation was done last night. She is currently in the hospital."

The look of surprise on Morgan's face was replaced by worry. "Is she completely fine now, Morgan beta...! Don't you worry," Hakim Sahib tried to alleviate the anxiety visible on Morgan's face. "She had an operation?" Morgan asked softly again.

"Morgan beta...! Come with me, it's inappropriate to talk here in the mosque." Hakim Sahib took Morgan to his sitting room. Just as Hakim Sahib was about to call Ishaal for breakfast, Morgan spoke up, "I'll have tea; I won't have breakfast." Hakim Sahib signaled Ishaal to leave. She went and returned with breakfast after a while. After they finished, Hakim Sahib began to speak.

"I've come here directly from Beg Sahib to you. The reason is that I want you to understand my words. Maham is Shamoone's fiancée. I believe this is mismatched. Master Mahmood himself was not in favor of this relationship. If Maham's grandfather did not declare this decision, it would have never happened. Master Mahmood respected his father, which is why he agreed. The same goes for Maham; she respects her grandfather more than her father.

See, Morgan beta...! My explanation has been quite lengthy. Your marriage with Maham cannot happen under any circumstances. Therefore, you should marry another girl," Hakim Sahib, after explaining the whole situation, gave Morgan some advice in the same breath.  "Hope ignites darkness, Hakim Sahib...! Hope is like water that can shower down at any time from the clouds of mercy. I appreciate your love and sincerity. I have known all this since the day after Basit’s wedding. You will remember that the day I performed Fajr prayer here for the first time, from that day..." After hearing Morgan’s words, Hakim Sahib was taken aback. After a while, he remained silent and then spoke up: "Beta...! If I were narrow-minded or extreme, I might have declared your worship a hypocrisy... then I would ask whether you come from Lahore to pray or to see her?" Hakim Sahib questioned while looking at the forehead of Morgan Beg where the mark of prostration was prominent.

"I have been praying since it became obligatory. I have countless faults, but I have never left my prayers." Morgan, speaking, became silent. Hakim Sahib still had not received an answer to his question. He was observing Morgan's bowed face. Both remained silent for some time. Morgan wanted to respond but then mustered the courage to say, "Hakim Sahib...! You have asked quite a difficult question. When I leave Lahore, I head towards the mosque with the thought of prayer. Allah knows the state of hearts. When I climb the mosque steps, I never think of her. However, when I come down, my gaze rises; I have no control over it. I promise myself every day and every day I break that promise. My gaze only rises for a few seconds. How did you know, and how did others know?" Morgan's astonishment was growing.

Hakim Sahib was aware of his past and present. "No... no, beta...! No one knows except me. In small towns and villages, little escapes the barber, midwife, or Hakim. People still sit together in villages. Here everyone is aware of everyone else. All day, women gossip at my shop and share news. I've forbidden it a hundred times, but it's useless... Morgan beta...! Good things spread like fragrance, and bad things like foul odor. Both spread, beta...! It is easy to say big things; it's difficult—indeed very difficult—to act upon them. What did you say? Hope is like water that can shower down at any time from the clouds of mercy. I was pleased to hear such profound words from you. Now remember one thing from me as well...! Mango and love only ripen when burned."

Hakim Sahib explained in detail, which contrasted with Morgan's temperament, and he said with some annoyance: "Hakim Sahib...! I am neither your disciple nor a patient. I am a businessman. I don't believe in this love and romance stuff. My parents also loved each other. I am the ashes of their love."

"You speak of hope and yet you call yourself ashes. Beta...! If you must say something, say dust instead of ashes; ashes signify despair, and dust signifies humility. Love is a traveler on the path of humility." This time Hakim Sahib explained with a touch of lightness. Hakim Sahib’s gentleness and good manners left a profound impact on Morgan. "Hakim Sahib...! I don’t know why, but after my grandmother's passing, I feel like sharing everything I have in my heart with you," Morgan felt a warm sense of intimacy due to Hakim Sahib. A smile spread across Hakim Sahib's face.

 "You can speak freely; I am like your own, not a stranger. That's why I referred to you as beta instead of Beg Sahib. You can say everything; I am listening."  "I feel hatred... intense hatred... for my parents. They are both happy in their own lives. If it weren't for my grandmother..." Morgan's eyes turned red, and his veins tensed. "Whether they are here or not, it makes no profit... no loss..." Hakim Sahib offered Morgan a glass of water: "Drink this, Morgan beta...!" Morgan gulped down the entire glass of water.  "How selfish they were," Morgan said.

"Morgan beta...! You are indeed a good businessman. Relationships are beyond profit and loss. You are observing relationships as if they are merely about gain or loss. Maham thinks differently than you. Yesterday afternoon, Sister Maryam came to my place. Maham was in pain in her abdomen. I went home. I told Sister Maryam to bring some lukewarm water. She went to get it. I asked Maham, 'Daughter...! Shall I speak to your uncle to marry Shamoone off to someone else, and for you to…’ My words made sweat bead on Maham's forehead. She sat silently with her head bowed.

 

"My child! I testify to your nobility and purity right in front of you. Maham, whatever is in your heart, say it clearly... I will support you." "Hakim Uncle...! Love cannot be cut with the knife of affection. I don’t know what this feeling is. I just like looking at him. I also wait for him. When he walks into the mosque, I am already watching him. But he never lifts his gaze. I stand at the window waiting for the prayer to finish. When he comes out, he only glances at me once before lowering his eyes and walking away. I've foolishly named this feeling love."

"Brother Sahib...! Here’s lukewarm water..." She fell silent at the sound of her mother's voice.

"I'll bring you some tea." Sister Maryam said as she left. Maham sat with her head down.

"Maham beta...! You can talk to me as if I were your father," Hakim Sahib encouraged her.

"Hakim Uncle...! I consider you to be like a father, that's why I’m confiding in you, something I haven’t even told my mother. I love Morgan, but I love my parents even more. The greatest lovers are indeed parents... who endure all hardships for the sake of their children while smiling and maintaining their cheer… no lover can be greater than parents…"

"Maham beta...! What is this love?" I wanted to understand Maham.

"Hakim Uncle...! What can I say about love? In my opinion, love is something that only parents give to their children. When Allah grants the blessing of children, He also bestows a revelation of love upon their parents' hearts. Love is a bestowed gift while love is a command... Allah does not command parents to love their children since He has already granted it. Yes, He certainly commands children to love their parents. I am among those who obey the commandments."

"Maham beta...! There are also parents who do not love their children."

 

"Hakim Uncle...! I've never seen such parents to this day."

"Maham beta...! Just because you haven't seen them doesn't change the reality. There are indeed such parents, and I know a few of them."

"Brother Sahib...! Here’s your tea..." Sister Maryam said, placing the tea in front of me.

"Brother Sahib...! Your remedy worked wonders. Maham is completely fine."

"Sister Maryam...! This is not stomach pain. I think it is appendicitis. You should take her to the hospital."

"I will tell Momena right now to call Uncle to send Shamoone." Saying this, Sister Maryam left the room.

"Hakim Uncle, do such parents really exist who do not love their children?"

"Maham beta...! You can call it love or affection. The love of parents for their children is instilled in their hearts by Allah, the Most Merciful. You said it right; there is no merit of human beings in this, it is purely a grace from my Lord. Yes! If children love their parents like you do, that is indeed significant. Without a sigh... love and respect..."

"And yet, some parents exist like that," Maham spoke in disbelief.

"Yes... some unfortunate ones prioritize their desires over this emotion. They abandon their children in the pursuit of their own wishes, regrets, and greed."

"Hakim U! Do you know such parents who left their children behind for their own wishes and desires?" Maham asked me with an odd sense of curiosity.

"Yes, I know, Maham beta! Your father was a wonderful man. The world is not like him."

I patted Maham gently on the head and got up to leave.

Hakim Sahib's mobile rang, and he answered the call.

"Morgan beta! One of my patients is unwell. I’m going to Miraj’s village. I will send Aroosa and Ishaal; you can chat with them. Oh, I remembered; I bought some homemade ghee for your aunt. I will ask Ishaal to give it to you, remember to take it along."

Hakim Sahib said this and left the sitting room. A little while later, Ishaal entered, pushing Aroosa's wheelchair. The box of ghee was in Aroosa's lap.  Morgan continued chatting with Aroosa for a while. From Ishaal, he only asked, "When are you going to Manchester?" Then he took his leave and stepped out of the sitting room. It was cold and foggy outside. As Morgan passed by the mosque stairs, he looked up at the closed window. The box of ghee was in his left hand.

Due to Maham's window being closed, today Morgan's eyes were devoid of light. Instead of going to the factory, he returned to Lahore.