A wanderer Episode 19

 

The next morning, after dawn, after all the worshippers had left, Morgan stepped out of the mosque. Maham's expectant gaze, resembling the face of the moon, was fixed on Morgan, eager to read the emotions inscribed on his face. Morgan's eyes were drawn to Maham's sacred eyes. Some are satiated by a glance, while others need a touch. In just a few moments, their gazes had traveled centuries to reach their respective destinations.

No matter the weather, the sight of the beloved makes the heart blossom. The buds of the heart begin to bloom. Sweet melodies start to play at the hope of meeting.

As usual, Morgan was sitting in his car with his head bowed when his mobile phone lying in the vehicle rang. “Assalamu Alaikum Ishal…!” Morgan answered the call.

“Wa Alaikum Assalam…! Father has called you to the sitting room,” Ishal said briefly before hanging up.

Morgan felt a wave of concern wash over him as he walked with his head down through the street. Maham was still standing by the window. Morgan did not look at her. “Assalamu Alaikum Hakim Sahib…! Did you call for me?” Morgan said upon entering the sitting room. Hakim Sahib was already standing to welcome him. “Wa Alaikum Assalam…! Please sit, Morgan beta…! Let’s have breakfast first, and then we’ll talk.”

Maham had become anxious in her room. Her heart was racing. Many thoughts were springing forth from the realm of her mind, raising her blood pressure. Her feet were ready to stop, yet she had already made countless circles from one corner of the room to another. After finishing breakfast, Hakim Sahib started the conversation: “The first murder in the world happened because of a woman.” Hakim Sahib looked at Morgan with searching eyes.

“I know,” Morgan replied confidently. “Where need ends, knowledge begins; to have knowledge of knowledge is ignorance. What you both are doing is wrong and sinful. You know very well that he is a stranger to you. He is already engaged to someone else,” Hakim Sahib explained to Morgan with patience and wisdom.

“Any negative aspect that is attributed to Allah becomes positive. I want to marry that stranger in order to make him a relative,” he said this time with both affection and pain in his voice. “That is impossible. She will not refuse marriage. You cannot send a proposal without her permission. She explicitly told me not to talk to her uncle, and you did not say anything,” Hakim Sahib countered.

“Morgan beta…! A door opens with a knock; desires are fulfilled with prayers.” “Hakim Sahib…! There is no permission to knock. As for prayers, I have spent my whole life being ungrateful. I have always complained about pouring out love. Now, how can I ask for love? I have decided that I will thank Him for what He gives, and I will be patient for what He does not give,” Morgan said in a trembling voice. “Patience… patience is a remote destination, Morgan beta…! Be content with what you have received and be thankful for what you have not received. The realm of patience is far beyond this. Effort comes before patience and gratitude, which you have not even made,” Hakim Sahib said with a smile on his lips as he shared his perspective.

“I do not make an effort out of fear that it may be disrespectful to love. I have already been banished from the sanctuary of love,” Morgan admitted. “Morgan beta…! Then prayer is the only way. He particularly likes those who ask for prayers. Whether they are sinners or virtuous, grateful or ungrateful… it only takes raising your hands,” Hakim Sahib explained politely.

“Please allow me; I need to reach the factory,” Morgan said, seeking permission as he left the sitting room. Maham was drawn to Morgan’s fragrance up to the window. He walked with his head bowed past her street. Maham’s gaze followed Morgan until the car was out of sight. Even after the car left, Maham’s eyes continued to gaze at the spot where her heart's beloved had stopped.

When she turned around, Ishal was behind her. “You here?” Maham asked in surprise. “Yes, I… Auntie and Momena hardly come to your room anymore. Now, are you going to impose restrictions on my coming too?” Ishal said, staring.

“Such a suited and booted lover, I have never seen before. Just tell me, is there a special qualification for love in which you both have specialized? You both talk so grandly that it's beyond the comprehension of someone like me. My father is a learned man; when he speaks, it makes sense. It's as simple as this: A boy loves you, and you love him too. You don’t like your fiancé. Just refuse, simple as that. Why can’t you understand, Maham? I’m right here in front of you. Father had picked someone else for me. I loved Haris. I told you about my heart. You explained it to Father. I spoke to him. He agreed. At Haris’s request, Father even conducted our marriage. A simple love story. Your love is as complicated as the tenses of English,” Ishal said, lecturing Maham.

“How many times will you repeat this? You keep bringing the same thing up every time you come. Yesterday you said you had found answers to all your questions, and today it’s the same thing…!” Maham replied seriously. Ishal ignored her and continued: “Leave the questions aside… Just give a clear refusal to the ones from the Meraj family regarding this relationship…”

“I simply cannot refuse; it will be a disgrace for my father in the community. Everyone in the community will say that the headmaster Chaudhry Mahmood’s daughter didn’t even maintain the honor of her dead father’s words.” “Maintain your honor, even if it means the funeral of Morgan’s love,” Ishal said sharply.

“I don’t know if you said it or he did, but love cannot be won with cunning. The things you both say are quite similar. Just lay out Shamuon’s entire bio-data in front of your uncle.” “Uncle knows everything about Shamuon,” Maham replied with a lackluster face. “Even after knowing everything?” Ishal asked in disbelief. “It’s a matter of their honor. I am engaged to their son. In our family, people may die, but they do not break engagements.” “Even now?” Ishal was shocked. “Yes…! Even now,” Maham said with great difficulty. Despite her attempts to hold back, she could not stop her tears.