Ahmad Marjan
He said some phrases in English and let the customer to leave his shop. He was lucky enough that his customer didn't know much English or more than him, if he would have known more than him, than it would have been very difficult for him because Ahmad Marjan wasn't that good in English conversation. He knew few and typical phrases in English, which he heard from here and there.
Ahmad Marjan belonged to a well off family but he had such a twist in his life that his standard of living instead of increasing started decreasing. When they were well off and his father was alive (who was doctor by profession), at that time they used to live in a big villa which left Marjan's grandfather. Marjan was living very dandy life at that time. Everyone had his own car; he used to wear expanses clothes. Marjan never ever even thought that he will be living life like this. His elder brothers and sisters completed their education when his father was alive and they were living posh life but Marjan failed thrice in F.Sc. And finally he passed his exam in third division. His family has good reputation, so he got admission in B.Sc. (Bachelor of Science) but for Marjan it was hard nut to crack so he thought of doing simple B.A. (Bachelor of Arts). While he was deciding to do this, his father died. As his father died his elder brothers changed their attitude with him. Now sisters were remaining but his pride didn't give him permission to take their help. So Marjan didn't complete his graduation now he was called F.Sc. third division pass. His family has good relations with other families and they were not poor so his family thought to find a compatible match for Marjan. Like this Marjan got married. But this marriage didn't bring him happiness. He still had the same bad habits which he used to have when his father was alive like smoking Gold Leaf, expansive car, nice dressing, and his tailor was the most expansive tailor of Rawalpindi, called Chiragh Din. He used to import jeans from England. Now things were changed. After marriage he didn't like that someone support him and his wife. He started searching for some job but with third division Intermediate certificate, he didn't find any job. While he was searching for some job, he had an accident and he lost his one eye. His brothers and sisters paid the hospital and operation bill, so like this he came home with one eye; his other eye was artificial, made of stone. Now he used to see everyone with one eye, means equally. But he used to wear glasses black ones, just to pretend that he is wearing sun glasses. Nobody knew that Marjan’s one eye is artificial. The only people who knew this secret were his close relatives. Sometime your fate gives you severe punishment. Same thing happened with Marjan. After this accident God gave him son and on the other hand, the one and only well wisher of Marjan, his mother died. Because of her, he was eating and living in that house. As he lost his mother, where he was living with his wife and his son, his brothers and sisters decided to sale out this house because everyone wanted his share. They divided the money which they have after selling the house, they gave Marjan his part with that money Marjan bought a small house and he started a small business. His standard of living was already low after his father's death, now it was worse. One couldn't even thing about this that Marjan his one brother was brigadier, one was deputy commissioner and two sisters were doctor, among them there will big status difference that they weren't even willing to see him. They always try to avoid him and Marjan too. Like this his life was going on.
Now Marjan designed his life like that, he used to search nice and good shirts and jeans from landa shops (landa is a word used for second hand clothing). Like this he used to satisfy his conscience. His cigarette brand was still same, Gold Leaf but he used to buy only two cigarettes daily, which he used to keep in an empty box of Gold Leaf. Whenever he felt that the box is dirty or in bad condition, he used to change it. He bought a second hand car as well from a junk yard. The car's condition wasn't good but giving him company. Early in the morning his wife used to prepare breakfast for him and he used to take bath in way taking shower. He had a silver bucket and there was a silver bowl. He used to drop water with that silver bowl on his head like he is having shower. After this he used to change his clothes, than breakfast, he used to bring jam or butter sometime or sometime fried egg. After all these things, he used to wear his shoes, which were worn and torn after lot of polishing. He used to place the only box of Gold Leaf in his briefcase and other than this box; there wasn’t anything in his briefcase. Whenever his car gave him problem, he went to mechanic. There he used to place his one leg on a wooden stool and he used to open his brief case to take out the packet of cigarette which always had one or two cigarette. He never wanted and showed to anyone that someone see his briefcase. He used to take one cigarette out from the box and he used to throw the empty box in a corner, so this was last cigarette in the box, although he used to buy two cigarettes in the morning. He used to smoke one cigarette and other just to show the mechanic, he used to throw but it happened always that he took back his box but he always made sure that mechanic isn't watching and like this he used to put back the cigarette box in his brief case. The mechanic never discovered Marjan’s this trick.
Where Marjan bought his new house, his neighbour’s, people around him was thinking that Marjan is someone very special. Where he had his small shop, for them he was the most powerful man in the market. Like this Marjan had created his own world. Sometime he used to feel very bad, in his loneliness, that if he would have completed his education when his father was alive, he would have taken it seriously, he wouldn't have been living like this disconnected with everyone but now it was too late.
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Life was moving slowly. Whatever he was but Marjan was kind at heart. It was true that he used to lie sometime and he was a little bit hypocrites but he never hurt anyone. It was his routine; waking up early in the morning; going to work at eight o clock in the morning and coming back home in the evening. His wife wasn’t very happy with him but she never hurt his feeling and respected her husband's dignity. During this period God gave them another baby girl, they named her Mariam. Due to this new baby their expanses were increased. They had their own house so they used to manage the budget but when his wife used to think about their kid's future, she used to scream. Sometime she used to complain to Marjan about their life but she knew that their income was limited. He used to give her same example that look around, the people who are living around us, are much poor than us. After hearing this justification she used to remain quite.
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Marjan went to work like he used to go everyday but on the way, his car broken down. His motor mechanic was quite near so he went there. The car mechanic was busy in repairing someone's car. The car was very expansive and mechanic knew that he will get more money so he didn't really care of Marjan’s existence. Marjan didn't like this, he started waiting. He wanted to light his cigarette but his lighter didn’t have gas. He went to the person who was wearing nice suit and latest and shining shoes. When he saw that gentleman, he got shocked because he was his father's best friend, Mirza sahib. He recognized him at first view. He gave him lighter but Marjan placed back his cigarette in box for respect sake.
He asked him, “Why you needed to come”?
So he said, “My car is broken down, I was going to work but I think I will be late today”.
He said, “You don't need to worry, I will give you lift. You tell me what you do”?
“Uncle, I have small shop”.
That gentleman saw Marjan’s car, heard about his small shop, he got shocked because Marjan had very lavish and dandy life. He was loving and favourite child of his family.
He said, “Marjan beta (means son), tell me honestly, what is the truth”?
Marjan said, “Uncle there isn't anything, I have my own house, business, car. I have everything. I have two kids and above all my wife has wonderful personality”.
“But your elder brothers they are living luxurious life. I don't know if you know that that your elder brother’s name has been nominated for General”.
“Yes I know that, I read about him in the news paper”.
“Marjan you are hiding something. Why there is such difference between your and their standard of living”
Marjan told him little bit but he didn’t say such a thing with which one could degrade someone. He respected his elders. His father friend’s eyes got wet and he said in heavy voice because he was going to cry, “Beta (son), you have passport”?
Marjan said, “Yes I do have”.
“What about your wife and kids”?
“No they don’t have”.
While they were chatting, the car mechanic yelled, “Sir, your car is ready”.
He paid the bill and said to Marjan, “Let’s go, I will drop you up to your shop”.
The car mechanic got astonished and he said in a loud voice, “Marjan sahib, what about your car”.
“He said, “You repair it, I will take it in the evening”.
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Marjan and Mirza sahib spoke thoroughly in the car and he Mirza sahib gave him an idea that he should apply for visit visa because he has someone in British embassy. Ahmad Marjan spoke with his father in law. He said that there is no harm in applying visa but don’t sell your shop and house and apply for visa.
He applied for visa. Mira sahib phoned already so without any objection they got visa.
Marjan gave the keys of house and shop to his father in law and he went to England. There he found his college friend and according to his suggestion he applied political stay there. British government gave him home, he got free medical facility and he used to get social security every week. His kids started going to school. In six months time lot of freshness came on Marjan and his wife Rahat’s face. His kids colour became more farer. His wife got teacher’s job and Marjan started driving minicab after passing the driving test. Their financial condition was much better and Marjan started saving the money as well.
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It has been six years. Home office wrote a letter to Marjan that we have accepted your asylum application. Marjan was flabbergasted and shocked how does it happened, usually home office refuse ninety percent applications. Now he was allowed to travel all around the world accept Pakistan. Marjan wasn’t interested going to Pakistan but his wife used to suffer sometime nostalgic feelings because she has her family, parents. She used to convince herself that for the betterment of their children’s future they have to sacrifice. Ahmad Marjan bought two houses, one was for them, where they were living and other they rented out. They have two cars, one for Marjan and other his wife Rahat had. They had all basic needs. Ahmad started thinking that old days are back when his father was alive.
During this period, an interesting thing happened, or you can say a sad incidence. Marjan’s elder brother who was brigadier and his name was nominated for General, he was being retired forcefully. So he left Pakistan army having dream of being General and retired as Brigadier. So he was only and only retired Brigadier. His both sons were loafer and vagabond. They didn’t complete their study. Now their father wasn’t Brigadier so due to financial crises, he decided to come to England. He found Marjan’s telephone number from some relative although he never wanted to know where his younger brother is after their father’s death. He never even thought how he must be feeding his kids because Marjan wasn’t even mother’s favourite; he was his father’s favourite as well. Marjan forgot everything and went to the airport to receive his elder brother. Marjan and his wife respected him a lot, and looked after him. Brigadier sahib got shocked after seeing Marjan’s way of living. He introduced Daniyal and Mariam to his elder brother and said, “Kids he is your taya”. (Elder brother, if he would have been younger than Marjan than he should have call him chacha). Both of them got shocked because they heard about mamo and khala but they didn’t know about these words, taya, and phupho like these.
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Marjan had his own mini cab office. Lots of people were working for him. His elder brother started working with him as well. He applied for political asylum and the Brigadier sahib did mini cabing with Pakistani licence in the beginning which was valid for one year than started working with British licence because he passed the test very soon. So like this Pakistani Brigadier started working in England as mini caber. Brigadier sahib was realistic person so he accepted the life the way it was. Now Marjan was who third division matric pass and his elder brother who was brigadier, there was no difference among their status because both of them were working as a mini caber. They were making good money. After couple of years Brigadier sahib’s family came as well. His two loafer sons came as well. Brigadier sahib found a separate house for him and his family. His kids became worse and on the other hand Mariam and Daniyal planned to join Oxford University. Marjan finally came to this conclusion that education is the most important thing in your life. And Brigadier sahib not even kept an eye on their kid’s education; he didn’t care about their upbringing. Brigadier sahib and his wife learnt the lesson but their sons were out of track. He used to think that this is curse of God because he didn’t look after his younger brother. Although Marjan never wanted their help. He started living on his own. Neither he asked them anything nor did they want to know how he is.
Until yet Marjan’s two nephews were in London. It was strange who ever used to come to Pakistan he must have had Marjan’s address and phone number. He thought when my parents left me everyone turned his face towards me and now I am in London, everyone cares about me. But Marjan didn’t have this name Marjan for name sake; he was in fact Yaqut and Marjan. (These are precious stones)
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