Chapter no. 3: The Story (II)

Ilaaf was in Quetta for last two days. As usual the very second day he got bored. The whole day, the series of meeting relatives and friends of Naana Saaiyen had not ended, and whoever had come never went back without meeting Ilaaf. Due to having effect of two political families he was habitual to live in an environment like this, even then his fickle-minded behavior was proved to be miserable for him and he got tired of this environment.

Mujahid Baloch had met him after so many days. He was very happy but still he showed his annoyance because Ilaaf had visited him after the whole three months. Ilaaf knew that Mujahid Baloch loved him so much but a love which had captured his freedom, sometimes had become the cause of agitation and suffocation for him. Mujahid Baloch had cleared him very much that he would not let him go in any condition before a week and he unwillingly was supposed to agree with him.

The second day, till the night, his patience had given up. Few friends of Naana Saaiyen were invited for dinner. In the huge and flourishing dining hall of the most big and beautiful house of the city, at the plane-sized dining table there was a stack of many dishes. Around the table there were seated the huge political personalities of the country and were discussing the current events with Mujahid Baloch. He was seated beside Mujahid Baloch, hearing their discussion and having his dinner very silently. Not for a single time, he tried to give his opinion. It was not because he had not known anything about the politics instead he had not any interest in the politics like this which was being discussed while eating meaty food items and drinking wine. His personal opinion was that a man can only think and understand a reasonable thing when he is in his complete senses. He had not expected any reasonable saying from these uneducated literates which were drunken, and neither anyone of them had said anything till the time which he could be able to consider as reasonable.

He had not seen Naana Saaiyen drinking usually but right now the glass that was kept near his plate was full of beer and that he was drinking side by side while eating Sajji, may be he did not want himself to be called as backward while sitting with the people of his class. He had also filled the glass that was kept in front of Ilaaf and Ilaaf remained silent.

The heavy laughter had made the environment a little carbuncle. He had felt himself highly suffocated.

“What a thing is Politics?” He thought, “Forces a man to do what even he doesn’t want to”. Naana Saaiyen strictly disliked the Punjabis but right now at the table many leading land lords and Industrialists of Punjab were present there.

“Barkhurdar (Son), your grandfather always sings songs of your talent and even we have heard a lot about your abilities, but your original talent will only be visible after entering into politics.” Ilaaf looked Nasir Butt, seated right opposite to him across the table; he was the leading Industrialist of the country. His eyes were red and smile was so awkward that Ilaaf had an unpleasant impression. “So, when you are going to keep your step in the ground of the politics?”

“Very soon.” He replied with the shortest answer very seriously. He was now having fruit-trifle.

“Well, he is the only heir of both Naana and Daada, why would not be able and you will see Butt Sahib, as soon as he will come into politics, will be flourished everywhere.” This was Qasid Baloch, cousin of Mujahid Baloch and his Political advisor. All Political matters of Mujahid Baloch had been handled with his advices. His both sons Haris Baloch and Waris Baloch were also present there; both were twin brothers and were the active members of Mujahid Bloch’s party; were four years elder than Ilaaf in age but mentally Ilaaf was pretty elder and mature than them and this had been accepted often by Qasid Baloch himself.

Mujahid Baloch shook his head positively and looked Ilaaf with an impression of pride. Ilaaf smiled.

“But Baloch Sahib, there is one thing I must say. You are very talkative; always make the people to be silent in front of you with your words where as your grandson is very different from you, doesn’t talk too much unnecessarily; is not shy but less talkative.” Sikander Khan had noticed the unusual silence of Ilaaf perhaps; his tone had a little critic.

Ilaaf had finished his dinner. After cleaning his hands with napkin, he rested his back with the chair and looked Sikander Khan. “This is your misunderstanding, sir! I am neither shy nor less talkative.” His tone was decent and serious; was looking directly into his eyes. Mujahid Baloch had got a smile on his face. He knew that the confident personality of Ilaaf is itself a proof of his ability.

“When and wherever I feel the need, speak too much and if I am talking less at the moment then reason isn’t that I am less talkative.”

Everybody seated there was hearing the guy with an age of twenty four very keenly.

“The only reason is that if I started talking here then perhaps all of you people would have to return back to your homes with a pining in your hearts to speak a single word.”

The hall was roared with laughters and the huge ones were of Haris and Waris; both were already very much impressed by the personality of Ilaaf.

“Excuse me.” He stood, “Enjoy your dinner, I am just coming back.” Without looking at anyone of them, he came out of the dining hall. The servant who was just standing outside the door was being ordered to bring a cane of soft drink for him; Ilaaf poured it in his throat immediately. The thirst was now overcomed.

Passing the lounge and then staircase, he came upstairs. Despite of going in his room, came at the back side terrace and smoked a cigarette. At first floor, the part of the terrace opening towards the backside lawn was vast and airy and Ilaaf liked this portion of the house most. The whole house was flourishing in lights.

While smoking, he started to walk in a slow motion.

Sometimes, he had surprised to think that a woman like his mother was the daughter of Mujahid Baloch; totally opposite to her father Zainab Qaiser Laashari was an unusual woman who was never been interested in Politics or estate of his father. Few moments before the man who had filled Ilaaf’s glass with the wine for him, many years ago before leaving for London, the daughter of the same man had taken swear to him by keeping his hand on her head that he would never touch the Alcohol.

At first in a younger age, swear given to his mother and consideration of that promise prevented him from drinking but later on slowly and gradually he had hated the alcohol himself. Many of his friends when were being seen by him, lying outside the pub in a state of unconsciousness or when had called him on forgetting the way to their homes, talking rubbish while drunken; Ilaaf had always got sad to see them like this. Within two years, he had a perfect idea that a thing which vanishes human senses and makes him unconcerned from environment; to touch a thing like this was like his own disgrace. He had now stayed away from Alcohol with his wish.

While smoking the second cigarette, he had decided to go for hunting in the next morning.

The dream that he had seen two days ago, was still not vanished from his mind. He wanted to throw it out of his mind but the after effects of the dream were not letting him allow twitching the dream completely from his mind.

He always liked the nights of Quetta very much; cool and fresh breeze, endless series of trees and silent and peaceful sky without any noise or pollution.

He came into his room; after making some irregular and random tunes on guitar for a while, he got to sleep.

The next morning, after breakfast, with the permission of Naana Saaiyen he started preparation to go for hunt along with Haris and Waris. He was habitual to take less people with him but Mujahid Baloch due to security purpose, sent many armed people of his with Ilaaf. He knew that his enemies would not let any chance go to hurt him. Ilaaf didn’t argue too much to him and silently observed the whole preparations but he knew that this fear of Mujahid Baloch was his own production. During last few years, he had made many Baloch Qabail his enemy; due to having split behavior in Politics, he and his relatives had a great idea that many small parties of the province had started disliking him. Ilaaf had strictly disliked the method of his politics but without any reason he never interrupted in anyone’s matters.

Before the day-break the caravan consisting of many jeeps and land cruisers made it way towards the mountainous area. On the way towards the village, they encamped in a dark forest for hunting. He had come in this area before but he had seen this forest for the first time. Along with Waris and Haris he hunted birds till the afternoon. In between eucalyptus and plane trees he hunted many birds; companions of Waris were collecting those hunted birds.

“Your way of targeting is so perfect.” Waris praised him.

“Hmmm.” He kept his gun on a big stone behind and looked at the thick trees.

“Can you see this bird?” Waris brought a hunted bird from one of his men and showed to Ilaaf. It apparently resembled the partridge but his wings had light yellow lines which were enhancing his beauty. Ilaaf had never seen a bird so beautiful, unwillingly he took the bird from Waris into his hands and then for the first time in his life, a feeling of embarrassment overwhelmed him.

“This is the specifically rare and valuable bird of this area; having relation to a very precious breed of partridge.”

“But I have never seen the bird in the area before.” Ilaaf asked while caressing his hands onto the wings.

“Due to regular hunting its specie is vanishing and now it’s being seen here very rare. At one time it was hunted ungrudgingly because its meat is very tasty and hot. People started using it as a meal during winters. Then government had banned its hunting but even then still some influential hunters come here searching it and there is nobody to stop them.” Waris started to explain him.

“Why didn’t you tell me before, at least I would have cared for not hunting it; caring the precious wild-life is important for us and beneficial too.” Inside-out the impression of the embarrassment thickened.

“Leave it Ilaaf, many people hunt it, what if you have hunted him once. Give it to me and I will roast it for you; you would never have eaten so tasty meat.”

“No, I don’t want to eat it.” Waris looked him surprisingly. “What’s the name of this bird?” He asked.

“Different people call it with different names, we call it Jandora.”

“Jandora.” He repeated, “What a strange name?” he stopped for a moment then said, “However, just go and roast the meat of other birds we have hunted, I am coming in few minutes.” Ilaaf handed over his rifle to Waris and under a thought, started to move ahead in the forest, keeping the bird in his hands. The point where the series of eucalyptus trees was ending, there was a small lake. Waris and his men had taken water from this lake for cooking and other needs earlier that afternoon and just then Ilaaf had seen the lake.

There were some wild-ducks swimming in the lake who after arrival of Ilaaf and feeling a sense of danger, had been flown away.

Ilaaf sat on a rock, and then he took the dead bird in his both hands and looked. His white wings had stains of blood and on his closed eyes there was dust as well.

The ground near the lake was soft. Ilaaf sat on the ground, kept Jandora at a side then started to pull out the sand in order to dig a hole with his hands. When the hole became enough large that he could burry the bird in it, he stopped his hand and with soft hands put the bird into the hole.

“If possible then forgive your murderer.” Caressing on his golden beak, Ilaaf had felt a strange movement inside. While he was putting the sand back into the hole, for the first time in his life he had idea that anything which would have been done without thinking, then not necessarily its effects would be the same.

Jerking his hands and then washing his face with the water in the lake, he returned on the way back. Before even reaching the tents, he had decided that at least he will never hunt the birds again.

For lunch along with birds there was the meat of some wild goats also which were hunted by Haris and his men.

Early in the evening, they moved and reached the village by night. The news of his arrival had already reached in the mansion. Family members of Qasid Baloch had cared the lands and the mansion of Mujahid Baloch in his absence. The preparations for his welcome were completed. As usual he was treated like a royal guest.

The segment of meeting with family members and the villagers was long as usual.

After a traditional dinner, in the outer courtyard of the mansion, guys of the village sang the Balochi songs and presented the traditional dance. Ilaaf liked the music of Rabbab very much, after a while he also joined the dance along with Waris and Haris. Although he was not perfect in that traditional dance, even then he tried to participate very well.

The restlessness that overwhelmed him for last few days just vanished and he became light and careless as usual.

He spent the whole next day in visiting the village and his lands out there. Despite of poverty and lack of resources, every man of the village was very loving and hospitable.

Sometimes when he had observed these people, always surprised to think that why Naana Saaiyen doesn’t want to look those people happy and prosperous? “What is the real fear which has stopped Naana Saaiyen to bring prosperity in the lives of these people?” And so then Naana Saaiyen and every feudal man in which Baaba Saaiyen and Daada Saaiyen were also included, were supposed to be the most restless and worried people in the world, whose days and nights were being spent in thinking that how the poor farmers and laborers can be prevented from being independent.

In the late afternoon, they moved back for Quetta. Staying at two to three places on the way and visiting some mountainous areas, they reached Quetta by night.

Except Ilaaf, other people had parked the jeeps and cars in outside parking. Ilaaf parked his white fairy inside. His luggage was being unloaded by housekeepers. Being very careless, rolling the keys in his fingers and whistling a tune he was moving through the long veranda; mood was good. Passing the entrance, he had now entered the vast corridor, and so then two middle-aged men came from opposite side and crossed him. He moved ahead having a little sight towards them; both of them were dressed in Shalwar suits and Balochi turbans.

“Listen.” He stopped suddenly and then turned back. Both of them were looking him.

“You are Ilaaf, right?” Ilaaf squeezed his eyes and looked the man but remained silent. They had come near to him.

“My name is Dawood Mengal and he is my brother Ibrahim Mengal.” Both of them shook thir hands with him one by one, “You would have not known us but we know you.”

“I think I have heard your name.” Ilaaf said thinking something.

“Yes, may be you would have heard from your Naana; my father and your Naana were closed friends, after the death of Baaba in order to keep this relation of friendship alive I come to see your Naana sometimes.”

“Oh, then probably you are the son of Saifullah Mengal.” Dawood Mengal had got a smile on his face.

“Your information is appreciable young man. But have you heard my name with any other reference too?”

“No.” He replied without hesitation.

“I had been a friend of your uncle, Omer Laashari.”

“Oh, I didn’t know that.” Dawood Mengal smiled.

“Perhaps, nobody considered it necessary for you to know, well I remembered Omer to see you; your every feature resembles with him; may be your habits too.”

An unpleasant impression captured him. This was not the first time that someone had recognized him with the reference of Omer Chachaa (Father’s brother); this reference was found to be heard time to time from different people and so he very seriously had worried about his personal identity that time.

“Yes, I know that my face resembles to Omer Chachaa.” He tried to smile but could not hide the unpleasant impression in his tone.

“We had spent a very fine time together, after looking you those all memories refreshed again suddenly. Our first posting was at the same place and we had spent a memorable time of the military life together which now felt as the golden era of my life.” He said like under a feeling.

Ilaaf remained silent; he could not understand what to say in reply.

“What I have started talking, so we will meet again. I am in a hurry right now but I must say, I am so glad to meet you.” Giving a light buck up on his cheek he turned and went outside along with his brother.

He remained standing and thinking about him for a while, then jerking his shoulders, went towards his room started whistling again.

Chapter no. 3: The Story (I)

The lecture was finished. After a long time, she met with so many friends and other people she knew. The lecture was too interesting as she always loved literature. In the home of Hamza Shahid, after the lecture it was now tea time.

Fortunately, Maryam was reached there a little earlier. Qandeel and Maryam were talking with Kawish and Sadia along with having tea. A little far from the central table, all four of them were telling about their routine these days. In the form of short intervals, on the jokes of Kawish the laughter of Qandeel had been roaring in a way that everyone around had at least a single smile each time.

Beside the room there was the personal study of Hamza Shahid. Kamran Ali and Yousuf Mairaj were also there. Hamza Shahid was checking the drawers of the table and muttering continuously. Kamran Ali and Yousuf Mairaj had smiles on their faces.

“Well, we could never understand where our things always go. Sabiha says that she does not enter in our study, our son has not enough time to do so and our servants claim that they only clean our study; don’t touch a single thing of ours. Now only we are left now and surely this fault would have been done by us. In a time of carelessness, we must have kept the book somewhere, tomorrow is a lecture and we need certain things from the book, but we could not find it anywhere”. He was now looking at book shelves and observing the books there.

“Sir, I think you should first take tea, and then try to think with calmness that where from you had picked the book last time and where had you kept it”. Kamran Ali advised him gently.

He still was looking each and every shelf very keenly with his back towards them.

Qandeel along with Maryam opened the door and entered very carefully.

“So, you both are here, I was searching you. Oh, Sir Hamza is also here”. Hamza Shahid was stopped suddenly after hearing her voice, and then he turned and said.

“Girl……oh what’s your name?” he started to think and memorize.

“Yes…..” she got confused. “Qandeel Yousuf”, everybody was smiled except those two.

“Oh yes, yes, we remembered your name and we know that you are the daughter of this stupid friend of us”. She smiled, “Come here, your eyesight would probably be clear than both of them. Help us to find a book”. She silently went and stood beside him. He again was thinking something.

“Well…..now we don’t remember the title of the book”. A smile was spread on each face in the room. Qandeel looked him silently. “What was the name, oh friend……of that book”. He was deeply thinking.

“Sir, I also need a book of yours for reading”. He looked Qandeel very surprisingly.

“If our mind is not off completely then probably you have first time come into our study……and immediately you have started to ask for books”. Qandeel was embarrassed to some extent. “But take it……we were just saying without reason but the responsibility to return the book will be yours because we always forget after giving books”. She shook her head very obediently.

“By the way, which book do you need?” He stared her for a moment.

“Sandra Adam’s ‘The world of Love’. I need it”. He was about to jump.

“Where did you see that book?” His eyes had a great surprise.

“It was on the side stand of sitting room”. She replied in an odd manner.

“Oh yes, now we remember. We had kept the book there two days ago while we were reading and now we are searching it here in study”. Kamran Ali‘s smile was very flourishing this time. “Listen girl……right now we need that book, then we will send it to you through your father. Read it with ease and time. Just run and bring that book to us”.

She went with Maryam smiling.

Hamza Shahid dragged a chair and seated.

“There is no answer of you, Hamza, always kept calling me ‘old man’ but never tried to look at your own memory”, Yousuf Mairaj criticized him laughing.

“Your daughter is very pretty and innocent, Yousuf. It doesn’t feel that she is your daughter at all”. His eyes had a strange impression. Yousuf Mairaj laughed involuntarily on his remarks.

Kamran Ali was listening both of them silently.

“It does feel that she is the daughter of Saima Yousuf……well that’s enough”.

Qandeel came and handed over the book to Hamza Shahid.

“Well thanks. If you would have not told us, probably we would never remember that where we had kept the book”.

“It doesn’t matter sir, I am glad that it helped to overcome your worry”.

He stood, “Yes, but there still is a worry”. He directly looked into her eyes.

“What’s that, Sir……?” She got confused again.

“Oh…..leave it. Go outside to your friends, we are coming in a few minutes”. He kept the book upside the left rack with some files.

“Ok Sir”, she turned then said to Yousuf Mairaj, “Baba, Kazim Sahib was asking about you, perhaps he wants to talk to you something”.

“Yes, ok, I should meet him”. He stood.

“Ok, you should go, we and Kamran are also coming in a while”. Hamza Shahid had sat again.

Qandeel and Yousuf Mairaj had gone outside.

There was a silence for few minutes.

“Sir, I think you are worried, there is something that continuously bothering you. You look in a deep thought constantly”. Kamran Ali had a great idea about the change in behavior of Hamza Shahid.

“Yes…….you are right, Kamran. I have seen a dream again”.

“Oh…..can I ask about that dream? May be telling someone would be helping in a sense to overcome your worry”. He shook his head positively.

“I will surely tell you, Kamran but you will have to promise me that you will never discuss that dream with anyone until the time would come, when each and every prospect of the dream will become a truth. If I would not be alive then you or someone else will experience its fulfillment”.

“I promise you, sir”.

“Let everyone else go, then me and you will go for a walk as usual”. Kamran Ali had smiled.

“Sitting in the cold breeze of the park, perhaps I would be able to repeat that all what I have seen”. He stopped for a moment then said, “Everything is so strange and perhaps very difficult too, but the impossible will be possible and in a way no one would be able to do anything. May be it’s a pray a wish time of whose fulfillment has been arrived. A nameless relationship time of whose appearance has been arrived. There are some austerities, traveling and prayers time of whose result has been arrived. There is a story time of whose writing has been arrived”. Kamran Ali was entangled this time. Then Hamza Shahid had suddenly come out of that thought.

“Let’s go outside. After that I will tell you about this dream in detail”.

Kamran Ali followed him silently.

Both of them came outside. There were very few people now in sitting room.

Qandeel was standing beside the table along with Kawish and Maryam and was laughing as usual. Her back was towards Hamza Shahid.

Hamza Shahid stopped reaching close to her.

“Qandeel Yousuf!”. She turned back suddenly. “Can we have a cup of tea?” He started looking her smiling.

“W…..Why not, Sir?” She had got confused in real this time.

She started making tea with the help of Maryam. Yousuf Mairaj had also come into the room after a while.

Kawish came and stood near Qandeel, started to tease her again. Everybody knew that Qandeel never be able to speak confidently in front of Hamza Shahid.

“Why your mouth has been shut now? Behaving so obediently in front of Sir Hamza and with us, your tongue looks unstoppable.” His tone was witty and full of criticism. Maryam started laughing.

“Hey…..kid of Kawish, if you said any rubbish in front of sir Hamza then would not be able to go home alive”. Qandeel said in a reproaching manner.

“You will kill me only if you would be able to catch me ever”. He started to talk to Maryam now, still was laughing.

After Kamran Ali and Yousuf Mairaj, she now moved towards Hamza Shahid to give him tea. He was standing near the wall alone and looking at the painting.

“Sir…..tea.” He turned and took the cup from her hand smiling.

“Thank you”. She just smiled, could not say anything in reply.

“Qandeel!” She was about to go but then stopped when he called her.

“Yes, Sir!”

“Has anybody told you ever that your eyes are so beautiful.” She started to look downwards being very nervous. She always felt it difficult to look into falcon like eyes of Hamza Shahid.

“And do you know that the shining that exists in your eyes, can attract any person towards you.” She wished to run away.

“And do you have idea that of which thing is this shining? The shining of the pure Love, penetrated into your soul and that enhances the beauty of your eyes”. With so much difficulty, she raised her head and looked Hamza Shahid. “You know whenever you smile, there comes an illumination in your eyes and on your face that a viewer is being forced to look you involuntarily.” She smiled.

“And your laughter is just like your innocence, one which penetrates into heart directly.” For the first time, someone except Baba had said these words for her. “And I just want you to hold this Love as your power forever and never let yourself to become weak.” He kept his hand over her head with kindness and Love. She felt very nice and for the first time her shyness and hesitation towards Hamza Shahid was decreased.

“In life sometimes, one has to face a difficulty, a storm that takes everything with its flow, but if the power of the Love will be your weapon, you will never lose.” He moved towards Yousuf Mairaj and Kamran Ali, smiling.

She remained standing there for a while, and then with a smile came towards Maryam and Kawish.

Chapter no. 2: The Dream (IV)

Adnan being very careful, took off the car from the road and stopped at unsettled earth, finally ceased the engine. Then turned his head and looked Ilaaf who was sitting at side seat.

With closed eyes and back rested with the seat, unconcerned from world he was having a peaceful sleep. Adnan had a look on his wrist watch; it was half past eight in the morning. Sun was moving upside but the sunlight was pleasant and without heat.

He again looked Ilaaf and kept looking silently for a while. He had been lived far from Ilaaf for so many years, but still his love for Ilaaf remained the same. He could never know the reason that why does he love Ilaaf so much? It was true that the personality of Ilaaf was charming but even then Adnan could never feel for anyone else in his life, what he had always felt for Ilaaf. He even had not cared for his parents and siblings, how he always cared Ilaaf. Don’t know how this unbreakable relation of friendship was formed among them, although not a huge but there was a difference in their behaviors and attitudes and even Ilaaf himself had given preference to Adnan compare to his other friends.

Adnan looked that his thick and curved eyelashes were looking more beautiful at the moment. His arms being folded on his chest, while enjoying his peaceful sleep he was just looking like a prince came from a fairy-land. Involuntarily Adnan had a smile on his face, his heart also was pretty satisfied otherwise just four hours ago, Ilaaf was met him in a feared and weird condition that he had become literally worried for him.

He was feeling hungry but he wanted to be with Ilaaf until he would have got up therefore resting his head back he closed his eyes too.

Then after some time perhaps a footfall forced him to open his eyes.

He sat straight. Ilaaf was looking restless even in sleep.

“Water”, he said wriggling.

Adnan had an impression of worry once again.

He picked the bottle of water from the back seat and shook him rudely.

Ilaaf had opened his eyes but his eyes were so red that for a moment, Adnan feared to look him.

“Water”, he uncapped the bottle and executed towards Ilaaf.

For a moment Ilaaf didn’t understand anything then controlling his nerves, he took the bottle from his hand and started to drink. After drinking a lot of water he returned back the bottle to Adnan and keeping his hands on dashboard started taking deep breaths.

Adnan put the bottle back and looked him watchfully.

“Ilaaf, are you alright?”

He just shook his head positively.

“Was the same dream….?”

“No, didn’t have a dream, just I am not coming out of that condition”. Adnan squeezed his lips.

“Why have you turned off the A.C.? I am feeling agitation”.

“Was working for three hours continuously, I thought that it should have some rest”.

“My body is still burning”. Saying in a disturbed manner, he got off from the car. Adnan also got off and locked the White Fairy.

Ilaaf was observing that area around. That was a village, where after some unsettled earth there was a series of corn fields.

“There is still some water in bottle, wash your face. You will feel better”.

“No, I don’t want to wash my face. I……” He stopped saying something then started walking towards his left taking large steps.

“Where are you going Ilaaf? You are not feeling well”. He was also coming behind him.

In the same direction at some distance, there was a villager who along with a little girl was filling his bucket with water from a hand pump.

Ilaaf stopped and stood somewhat near the hand pump and started looking the water which was coming out of a side of pump in the form of a thick stream.

Adnan was already stopped few steps back.

The girl, who was just eight or ten years old, dragged the bucket back filled with water and then picked it. The man stopped his hand then saw Ilaaf who was already looking him.

“What happened Saaiyen (Sir), are you searching someone?” He asked from Ilaaf in Sindhi.

“No, Infact I……want to wash my face”. Ilaaf knew how to speak Sindhi but at the moment he replied in Urdu.

“Oh….then say like this. Come please come. I pull the pump, you wash your face”.

Ilaaf silently went and stood along with pump. The man started to pull the handle, next moment the thick stream of water emerged. Ilaaf bowed down, filled the water in his both palms and smashed on his face. The water was cold; his hot body had a sense of harmony. He repeated the action thrice then don’t know what happened with him, sitting on his tiptoes he executed his head and kept it just below the water stream. The same cold water was now wetting his head, hair, and face and penetrating into his collar.

Adnan was surprised. He could never have expected this from Ilaaf.

The agitation, the restlessness was just vanished. He wetted himself too much then stood.

The man stopped his hand.

Ilaaf jerked his head then pushed his hair back with the help of the both hands from his forehead.

“Thank you”, perhaps first time in his life he said the word with his heart.

“Doesn’t matter Saaiyen”. The man went to the same side the girl had gone.

He returned back towards Adnan.

Adnan looked him surprisingly.

He was now seemed quite fresh and normal.

There was not a single expression of any agitation or restlessness on his face.

“Let’s go home. I know you must be feeling hungry. Will take you to a good restaurant on the way back for breakfast”. He smiled for the first time in last four hours and his smile was gorgeous as usual.

Adnan came back towards the white Fairy silently with him.

“You must be tired. Let me drive the car”.

First go to the nearest Petrol pump, if fuel finishes on the way we will be in trouble. I was driving for three hours continuously”. Adnan said while sitting in the car.

Ilaaf started the car and turned at the road.

“By the way which area is this?” Ilaaf asked while looking around.

“Driving a bit more and we would have reached Hyderabad”.

“Oh, so I was kept sleeping and we reached here”.

“Yes, and thanks that you are much better now, otherwise when you called me to come, I was very upset to see you”.

“Yes, I am perfectly fine now. Don’t know but a strange agitation had grasped me”.

“What had happened?”

“Nothing special. It was just a dream but that dream made me weird in real”. His tone was quite odd.

“What had you seen in the dream?”

Ilaff didn’t reply him.

“I have asked something from you, Ilaaf”. The tone of Adnan was sharp this time.

“She was a woman who restored my freezing senses just by touching me. My whole body was cold due to lying on an ice slab, blood was feeling like frozen. Then as soon as she kept her hand over my hand, my body started to get heat and within a short time I was sweating. My body started to scorch like a furnace. When my eyes get opened, the whole body was burning as hot breezes of desert would have burnt me completely”.

Adnan remained silent, was not in a position to say anything. Neither had he believed dreams nor had he ever seen dreams like this.

“At the moment it felt that everything happened with me in real, was not able to think or understand anything. On calling when Fazal came, I said him to call you”.

“Now leave everything and get this dream out from your mind. Everything will be alright. By the way it’s good in a sense that even in the dream at least you allowed a woman to come close”.

Ilaaf laughed on his unintended criticize and kept laughing for a while.

“Should not tell you anything therefore, instead of understanding the problem of a person you always start talking nonsense and stupid things”. Adnan felt a strange happiness to see Ilaaf laughing like this.

“Listen, I have to go Quetta to meet Nana Saaiyen (Mother’s Father), was delaying for many days, and now thinking to have a visit. Will you come along with me?”

“Just forgive me, Ilaaf. After seeing me the way his forehead got curves, instead of looking those curves its better that I go to Lahore for two three days, will meet with Bibi and Agha Jaan. Whenever you want to return then inform me I will come back”.

“Yes, I know. Nana Saaiyen always having problems with Punjabis. Anyhow, I will leave by evening and will try to return within one or two days”. Ilaaf turned the car towards Petrol pump still laughing.

Chapter no. 2: The Dream (III)

Yousuf Mairaj had come outside the room for Fajar prayer, but a view forced him to stop.

Qandeel was sitting with the pillar of viranda and her eyes were closed.

Looking her, sitting like this at this time, he was very surprised. She had slept earlier at night. Due to the load of work these days, she was tired and had gone in her room right after dinner to take a long sleep.

Yousuf Mairaj suddenly felt himself worried for her health.

He sat beside and started looking her, but she was still in the same position with closed eyes. Perhaps she was fallen asleep.

“Qandeel”, he called her name worryingly.

She suddenly had opened her eyes.

“Baba”, she sat in a linear manner. “When did you wake up?”

“I am awakened at the time, but may be you are awakened before time today”, he said looking in her red eyes. “What happened? Are you not feeling well? Why are you sitting here?” She had smiled.

“Nothing has happened Baba, I am perfectly alright, and you are worried for no reason”.

“Then What?” Yousuf Mairaj was still not satisfied.

“It was a dream, a very strange one. My sleep went away. I was not feeling well in the room therefore had sat here”. Perhaps she was not feeling the need to use more words.

“How was the dream?”

“Very strange, incomprehensible”. Her smile was now fainted.

Yousuf Mairaj didn’t ask the next question, he knew that after some time she would be telling herself and the same had happened.

After few minutes, Qandeel changed his place and now keeping her head in his lap, she was lying on the floor of veranda.

There was a smile on the face of Yousuf Mairaj.

“Baba…..dreams are true, right?” She was now looking at his face holding her head high.

“Yes, as far as I think”.

“But this dream was so mysterious; don’t know what would be its interpretation?” Innocent, unfamiliar to the world, she was looking like a small child at that time.

“Interpretations are made by God, exactly as He shows the dreams. Therefore being worried for a matter which is not in our control is worthless”. He was now combing her hairs with his fingers. “Just tell me the dream, leave the interpretation”.

“A strange and mysterious valley surrounded by the mountains, and divided into three equal halves. Desert, snow and greenery”. She said like repeating things in her mind. Yousuf Mairaj was listening silently.

“I was standing in the desert. My whole body was burning due to the scorching sand and hot breeze. Then don’t know what happened to me, I reached at the snow by walking but the coldness of the snow was also unbearable for me. Even then a force kept me walking”. She stopped for a moment.

“Were you alone there or there was someone else too?” He asked the question.

“I was not alone….. There were two more persons. One was standing far, and the other……was the man who was lying on an ice slab. I had kept my hand over his hand when reaching near to him and you know Baba, what had happened then?.......All snow was melted except the slab”. Her tone had doubt.

“Then”, he was looking very serious.

“Then I reached near the feet of the man and sat on the ground. Something was happened after that but I don’t remember anything related to that”.

“Who were they? Do you know both of them?”

“No, I don’t remember the face of anyone of them, or maybe it was not possible to see their faces clearly in the dream, except the blurred images and from those blurred images I can not have any idea that who were they?” He didn’t say anything. “Then my eyes get opened. My body was so cold and I was feeling like that coldness has just penetrated into my soul”.

“Certainly, the dream is so strange, but you don’t have to worry for that. Will see what happens, always should keep hope for the best”. He tried to relief her worries, “You have lots of burden due to work these days, and you don’t care for yourself, take a break today from University and from office as well and rest completely, and you will feel better”.

“I am thinking the same”.

Yousuf Mairaj bowed a little and kissed her forehead. Her body was still cold.

“Baba…..” she smiled.

“Yes, my child”, all Love had been emerged in his eyes at the moment.

“How was she….Ammi(Mother)?” In her whole life this was her only favorite question that she was used to ask time to time from Yousuf Mairaj.

“The most beautiful woman of the world”, some pearls had started to shine in his weak eyes. “She taught me to fulfill the right of my name and told me the meanings of life which I didn’t know before that”. A very beautiful smile was spread on his lips. “You know what; she never learned to hate someone in her life. People gave her pain and went, and she had met with them for the next time like nothing has ever happened among them. She tried many times but remained unsuccessful. God had made her with the dust of Love, she only knew how to Love”. Qandeel had a deeper smile this time.

“And you are just like her, sometimes you react very strictly when in anger, but to hate someone, to dislike someone or to be angry with someone are the things you could never learn. And I want you to be like this forever, wish that nothing would change this habit of yours”.

“Will have to think, Baba. Still there is a very long journey; habit could be change as well”. Her tone was witty while saying this.

He still was combing in her hairs with his fingers.

“Baba, can I ask one more thing?”

“Yes, sure”.

“Had Phuppo(Aunt) disliked Ammi in the same manner she dislikes me?”

Yousuf Mairaj had looked her very seriously this time.

“She just dislikes you, Qandeel……but she hated Saima, perhaps still hates her”. Qandeel had seen a nameless pain on his face.

“For each and every awful thing in my life, Saima was just supposed to be responsible for that for her. She always thought that if I would have used my abilities in any other profession except Teaching then I would have been more successful. Whatever had been changed in my life, after that earning money and depending on that money, transforming the status could never be the success or development for me. Saima had never imposed her concepts and ideas on me. She was not an admirer of any mental imprisonment or limitations in Love. This decision was just my own that I will utilize my whole life for Knowledge and awareness, but even then Aapa(Elder sister) always felt that Saima is the only hindrance for my progress”. He was tired speaking continuously.

“And I am the daughter of the same woman; even then she hadn’t any issue on my engagement with Sami. I surprise sometimes when think about it”. Her tone was very odd.

“Yes, maybe she gave up due to Sami’s persistence. In your relationship with Sami, if something puts me into worry then it is the same one, Qandeel. I am very well aware of Aapa’s nature. She has spent the whole life with her own standards and always wished to see people following the same standards. You will have to face certain problems after marriage”.

She laughed. Yousuf Mairaj had looked her.

“It is good then, Baba. At least in this way I will get some problems to face in my life, otherwise I have never faced a single problem yet”. This time he laughed too.

“Not only you Qandeel even Saleha Aapa will have to face problems. Perhaps she doesn’t, but I very well know about your inflexibility. Nobody could ever successfully convince you to follow his instruction”.

She sat up.

“Yes, but in the case of inflexibility, Sami is more firm than me, Baba. I will just have a wish during my whole life that someday may he think and look at life like me”. Her tone had a very different impression.

“Man should never lose hope, Qandeel”. He smiled, “Ok, there is very little time remaining for the prayer. I will have to offer prayer at home now”. He stood, “Sleep after prayer and take rest, if you would feel better then come with me at evening”.

“Where?” She asked surprisingly.

“At Hamza’s place, there is a lecture. Will meet with Kamran too there and you will have some change as well”. She also stood.

“Ok, I will go with you. It’s being very long time while meeting sir Hamza, he visits us very few times. I like him so much just sometimes…….”

“Sometimes what?” His eyes had surprise.

“Sometimes his personality looks very mysterious, therefore while talking to him I always become confused”.

“While talking to him, elders and olds become confused even, Qandeel”.

This time she laughed in a cracking voice.

Chapter no. 2: The Dream (II)

Perhaps it was the first call of Fajar prayer coming from some distance. His eyes were opened but he could not think or understand anything for a while. Then slowly and gradually his senses started to respond completely.

The cooling of air-condition had spread in the bedroom but even then he was sweating. Thorns were prickling in the throat and an unknown, strange agitation had grasped his whole body.

With a difficulty he moved his hand and turned on the lamp of side table then sat up. By taking deep breaths for few minutes, he tried to believe that he had come out from that state. Then with trembling hands, he poured water from the jug on side table in the glass and put to lips.

Those few sips had affected well for his condition.

During the whole time, Sabiha had waked up too. She turned from side to side, tried to understand his condition by looking him then she sat up too.

“Hamza! What has happened to you?” She said with a worry, rubbing her eyes.

Hamza Shahid did not reply her. He again was taking deep breaths.

“You once again had a dream?” This time he turned and shook his head positively.

“I can not understand why these dreams do not leave you”. He got down from the bed and came towards the window. “Does this duty only have come on your shoulders to have dreams about the whole world? Sometimes you suffer a lot due to these dreams even then you don’t contact with any doctor or psychiatrist”. He pushed back the curtains and opened the window. The blow of air that was entered in the room was much energizing compare to the suffocation inside.

“For years, the serial of these dreams has been driving off your sleep and now even I feel miserable to look at your condition”. He turned and looked Sabiha.

“There is no solution for this problem, Sabiha. None of the doctors or psychiatrists would be able to free me from these dreams. No method of cure or medicine has yet invented in the world to escape from the dreams and those dreams especially which have no concern with conscious or unconscious”. His tone was now reflecting his much better state.

“Was the dream about something novel?” Sabiha got down from the bed and turned on the lights.

“Yes”. He was deeply thinking.

“Don’t worry. The effect of the dream will remain for some time. What have you seen in the dream?”

“Don’t ask. May be I could not tell you”. His tone had impressions of anxiety. “Take rest. I will just go for prayer now”. She stood near him for a while then turned off the lights and lain again.

He remained standing near the window.

One after another the calls of Fajar prayer were now coming from mosques around. He turned his back and started looking outside the window.

He had been dreaming for many years. The strange and complicated dreams, each and every feeling of the dream kept imposing on his mind. Faces of people whether familiar or strangers, each and every thing, each and every action he could never forget anything.

But this dream was so astonishing that even he was feeling agitation, thinking about it. Impractical thing included in the impossibilities which can never be seen with awakened eyes. “What could be the meaning of this dream? What is it indicating? And its interpretation…..what would be? Don’t know what it could be?” These were the thoughts which were taking everything with their flow.

He never considered the dream as hallucination. He had given importance to dreams and that’s why instead of watching these dreams for many years, he had not contacted to any psychiatrist. “And both of them…….?”

The current of thoughts was now towards something else.

“The girl is certainly…….she is. I can recognize her innocent face among the thousands”. His eyes had an impression of worry.

“But…..the guy, he could not be…….but was just like him. The same broad forehead, the same height and dimensions and same features”.

He was agitated in real this time.

“And their so strange and profound relationship……don’t know what is going to be happened in future”. He folded his arms on the chest and took a deep breath.

“Whatever it would be, would be better and perhaps slowly and gradually, like always happen things will be explained automatically. And just then I would be able to reach at some conclusion”.

“Hayi-alal-Falah(Come to the Success)”

Calls of the prayers, incising the pin drop silence of the darkness were giving his heart a feeling of satisfaction.

“The dream will be a reality”. Someone had whispered inside his heart.

Hearing the last echoes of Allah-u-Akber (Allah is the greatest), he was grasped in another strange feeling.

Chapter no. 2: The Dream (I)

It was a valley, from all four sides surrounded in between large mountains a beautiful and a very strange and astonishing valley. There was the shade of the clouds on mountains at some places whereas somewhere the golden and bright sunlight was also spreading from the sun hidden behind the clouds. Don’t know what time of the day it was, he could not have an idea with the light and direction. Whether the day was rising or downing, this was difficult to decide.

He had looked the very strange valley for a long time standing at his place, and then curiosity forced him to move ahead. The mountain near which he was standing was so high that it was difficult to guess its height.

Now he had started moving ahead looking in front of him.

The valley was so vast and huge. He had come a little further and just then he had felt that there was something unusual.

He stopped himself and tried to feel that sensation. He had understood the reason.

The place from where he had started walking the weather was pleasant out there, neither so cold nor so hot. By looking greenery and feeling the breeze which had brought the message of spring, he had not any idea in any corner of his mind that in this valley when walking ahead, he would have to face the strange weather like this.

Where he was standing now, he could feel the sense of two opposite kind of weathers at his right and left in front of him.

The air which was entered in his right nostril was immensely hot, when the hot desert breeze blows likewise he could felt his nose and face burning from the right side. Exactly opposite to that the wind that was entering into his left nostril was much cold and chill, like somebody has put up Antarctica on his left side. He had felt the shivering of his body due to the freezing winds.

Not only his senses but now eyes also had proved the existence of two different weathers there. With freezing senses and singeing body at the same time, he had now started looking in front of him; however he could not have the courage to take a step even could not move from his place, he could only see and think to some extent.

On his right side at some distance, the range of scorching sand of the desert was initiating which was ending at a mountain, although where he was standing now still there was greenery. But still in this wonderful and strange valley there were further things which he had to see. Exactly the same place on left side was covered with thick layers of snow and the range of this snow was also ending at a mountain. Therefore the valley after some distance was distributing into two equal parts; half was deserted area whereas rest of the half area was snowcapped. Both of these were separated by a border-line that was only visible due to the brown sand and white snow.

He had never seen a very strange view like this in his whole life. Then he looked, for a while to desert and then the land covered with snow. Unintentionally, he looked with an attentive sight and just then he felt that his perception that he is alone in the valley was absolutely wrong.

At the large snowy area, there were ice slabs of different sizes. It was felt that these slabs have been detached from mountains just a short earlier. In one of these slabs, which was not very far from him, looking very carefully he observed that a man was lying on the slab. He was surprised that in this cold weather how can a man with casual white clothes lie on the slab. He had probably died or if alive even then would have been taking his last breaths. Dark blue marks that were visible on his immaculate hands and feet were enough to believe that the blood of the man would have been frozen till that time.

He felt sad for him although he could not see his face very clearly.

Now he focused his eyes on the right side. In the desert spreading up to the mountain there was someone too but he was alive, who still had the courage to fight with the burning winds. Covered in black clothes from head to toe, the person was walking slowly and coming towards him. Then the person came near and just then he had an idea with the pace and style and dimensions that the person was a woman. He also could not see her face very clearly due to the distance in between, the woman was wearing black clothes and covering her head with black stole. She was bare feet and stopped at a place on burning sand. Then she turned her body and looked at the man across the border-line lying on the slab.

He could not understand that who the woman is? Where from she came? And what is she going to do now? Like a statue he stood motionless and had looked her.

The woman had now started to move towards the line. She stopped exactly near the line just for a minute, next moment she took a step and had kept it across the line on snow and now she was walking bare feet on the snow and moving towards the man lying on the slab. Her steps were trembling may be she could not bear the scorched cooling of the snow with bare feet.

Moving very slowly she reached near the slab. Passing the head of the man she stopped and had kept her hand over his right hand and remained in the same position for a while.

He just had looked astonishingly, never had seen this before.

The moment she had kept her hand over the hand of the man lying on the slab, the continuation of thick snow had started to melt itself. He could now feel hot breeze in his left nostril too.

In few minutes, all snow around the slab was melted and flew in the form of water, penetrating into the sand of the desert and making it cool, although the slab had still not melted.

He had felt like he can now move from his position. Involuntarily, he moved ahead in the suspense of this strange event.

Somewhat near to the slab, he stopped himself and stood there.

The woman was now walking towards the feet of the man lying on the slab.

He looked at the hands of the man; the blue marks were now vanished.

She had sat on the ground near the slab and now had kept her hand over the feet of the man.

He remained motionless and stood at his place. The blackish blue marks that were visible due to the frozen blood were now getting light, then he looked that those marks also vanished slowly and gradually. His eyes were now stunning due to the wonder. “Does the frozen blood can flow again ever?” He had not the ability to give answer of this question.

The woman did not move from her place and now had kept her hands on the soles of the feet.

He dragged himself with difficulty and came further near to the slab.

Impossibilities may happen like this in the world.

The man was taking deep breaths with closed eyes like he would have been taking rest after running so far. There was sweating on his forehead which was now penetrating into his hairs.

This was the limit of the surprise, a little earlier the body where blackish marks were found now perspiration was shining. May be it had happened with those who come back towards life after touching the limits of death in this valley.

He was a beautiful guy probably with the age of twenty four or twenty five and his face......he felt that he had known the man. His head now had started to whirl with surprise.

He had moved towards his feet and saw the woman with a nearer look who was sitting near the slab and rubbing the soles, covered with the black stole from head to toe. She was also a young girl; innocence and seriousness at the same time were making her personality attractive.

His body was burning; stars were revolving in front of eyes, it was difficult for him to control himself.

He was also familiar with the face of the girl.

In the last effort to think something, his mind had drowned in the profound darkness.