A wanderer Episode 23

After the Fajr prayers, Hakeem Sahib fulfilled his promise by performing the marriage ceremony. Maham left her home with pride and dignity. She had won over her father's approval and gained her beloved.

She sat beside him in the front seat of the car, dressed as a bride. This time, Morgan's white Mercedes was not adorned like a bride. The decoration had only started a little while after Fajr in Model Town.

After the events of the previous night, Hakeem Aaqil Ansari had informed his aunt, Mumtaz Begum, about the entire situation. Mumtaz Begum generously allowed Hakeem Sahib to proceed with the marriage between Maham and Morgan. Everyone in Model Town knew about it, except for Morgan. After a love story lasting nearly 400 days, they were now set to cover a distance of 72 kilometers.

Morgan was driving quietly while Maham sat beside him.

The characters of silent love remained just that—silent. Both were stealing glances at each other. Neither had the courage to speak, or perhaps they simply did not try, or they were both like the Nawabs of Lucknow. I do not know.

Before Morgan could honk, the main gate of the house swung open. The white Mercedes rolled to a stop at the entrance. On one side stood Bilqis and Badhla, and on the other side were Basit and Banish. All four held plates filled with rose petals. Morgan quickly opened the door for Maham and extended his right hand toward her. Maham first glanced at his hand and then cast a fleeting look at her beloved.

She was about to touch her 'Mazaji Khuda' for the first time after the marriage. Struggling to suppress a smile, she placed her hand in Morgan's. After getting out of the car, they had to climb four steps. Maham recalled that the mosque had only four steps leading down to the street.

Reaching the last step, they looked at each other. In front of them, rose petals lay scattered on their path. Just as Morgan was about to step on the petals, Maham squeezed his hand and looked at him. Morgan understood the unspoken message.

He took off his leather shoes. A sweet smile blossomed on Maham's lips as she too removed her heeled sandals. Maham's feet were adorned with henna.

After taking off his socks, Morgan's white feet appeared even whiter. They walked barefoot towards their grandmother. Flowers were showering down upon them as they approached her. Morgan said, "Dadi! This is your daughter-in-law." Mumtaz Begum got up from her chair with two arms and kissed Maham on the forehead.

"Dadi! I’m heading out…” Morgan cast one last look at Maham. That same look he had been giving her for the past four hundred days. Then he ascended the stairs leading away from the lounge. He entered his room, where the decoration was underway.

Without saying a word, he got ready and left for the factory. Badhla took Maham into a room, followed closely by Mumtaz Begum.

"Maham Beta! He has gone to Mianwali. He was telling me last night. He is getting quite interested in the ceramics business. There is a party from Mianwali selling its factory. He has gone to finalize the deal. There’s no need to worry, Hanif and the lawyer are with him. He will be back by evening."

Mumtaz Begum kept speaking while Maham listened in silence.

"Maham Beta! Change your clothes and freshen up… then we will have breakfast." Maham glanced at her bridal outfit and then looked at Mumtaz Begum as she was about to leave the room.

"Bhabhi! You can wear this!" Badhla said, pointing to a suit. Maham remembered only the address as 'Bhabhi' and did not want to think about anything else.

"Badhla! Should I take this off…?" Maham asked questioningly, looking at her bridal attire.

"Yes… the beautician will come in the evening. You’ll get ready again and wear the lehenga that Begum Sahiba bought you. Begum Sahiba was saying last night: ‘Badhla, I will have my Maham ready for Morgan myself.’"

"Bhabhi! Your lehenga is very beautiful, but you wore it for someone else."

The last remark struck a chord in Maham's heart. She stood up and quickly changed out of the bridal outfit she wore for Shamoon, putting on simpler clothes instead. She had breakfast and, at Mumtaz Begum's insistence, went to sleep.

Morgan was peacefully asleep in the back seat of the car, while Hanif was driving. Morgan's lawyer sat next to Hanif.

Morgan slept through the entire journey from Lahore to Mianwali.

After finalizing the deal on the return trip, he lost himself in thoughts of Maham. At that moment, a voice came from the depths of his heart:

"Morgan Sahib! Didn’t I tell you? Only that which is deemed impossible by man is truly impossible. The pain of the heart's earth cannot be alleviated by mere medicine; it requires hope and prayers. You have not abandoned hope; the advice to pray was mine." The heart exclaimed, bouncing within his chest like a small child. The mind thought it inappropriate to engage with the heart today.

Morgan was lost in a valley of imagination. The car was speeding towards Lahore. He kept his eyes closed and, with closed eyes, whispered:

"My Maham!!"