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Chapter 19: Lalkurti 1
Lal kurti
12th chapter
Somebody, juddered his
shoulder to wake him up, he thought bajwa is waking him up for work but he was
wrong because he was
dreaming. A middle aged woman was standing in front of him. As he opened his
eyes
she said, "Whom you want
to see".
Adam thought for a while that
he is at some wrong address. He asked her curiously, "gee is this Khaqan
sahib's house"?
That lady thought that this
gentleman is here for his personal matter. She said, "Yes he lives here
but he will
be back in the evening".
Adam couldn't stop himself
and said, "Jee, i am his son, Adam khan chughtai. I am coming from
England".
She felt little mortification
and chagrin and said, "Please forgive me my son, i didn't recognise
you".
Adam understood the
situation. So she was his father's new wife. Adam didn't like the word son from
her
mouth. He was looking at her
enquiringly and pryingly than he asked, "where are my brother and sister,
i don't
see them".
That lady opened the lock,
grabbed Adam's hand and said, "come inside, i will tell you the whole
story".
Adam took his suitcase and
entered inside the house. It has been so long that he was re-entering in this
house.
Something like five or six
years after. He had a glance at house. The plaster was coming off from walls.
There
were visible patches where
there was no plaster on the walls. The curtains were in bad condition. The
furniture was damaged. The
house condition was fear-provoking. Adam didn't cry but inwardly he was crying.
His sixth sense was saying
that there is something wrong. Adam asked her again, "where are my younger
brother and sister".
Adam assumed that this lady
is hiding something from him. Anyway she started relating the story. "When
you
left home, your both brother
and sister started behaving strangely. They used to live on their own. They
were
quite young when i came in
this and i looked after them as much as i could but i am step mother" she
took
long breath and said,
"alas, they thought i am their enemy. Ablaque khan chughtai, you younger
brother
started smoking heroin and
nafeesa your younger sister who is only fifteen. She ran away with some guy and
did court marriage. Ablaque,
you will find him in the garden which is near to our house, he must be smoking
heroine".
Adam asked, "And
Nafeesa, where she lives"?
Adam's step mother said,
"She lives in a servant quarter with her husband. Her husband works in
kachery
(court). He writes
applications and that's how make his living. They are all right and we help
them sometime".
Adam said, "You never
stopped Ablaque, Khaqan sahib never said anything".
That lady said, "My son
he is always busy in his own affairs. He doesn't find time for these matters,
he is kind
of philanderer. He really
doesn't care about his kids".
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Adam said mockingly and
satirically, "how about you, you are newly married wife of my father. You
don't
stop him doing this, going
out with other women".
She said, "I used to
criticize him than i stopped because he never paid attention what i said so i
surrendered".
Adam had a bird eye view of
his house and said, "I used to send you draft every month. What have you
done
with this house?"
That lady didn't know what
she should say. She said, "Your father change the draft and spend all
money in
one weeks time. He doesn't
even know that you are back".
Adam didn't want to ask her
further question. He just said, "I am going outside to find Ablaque"
Adam feeling exactly like
that his heart will burst out. He didn't eat anything and came out and started
looking
for ablaque. Near to their
house there was cigarette shop, kind of kiosk. It was used to be small and
wasn't in a
good condition and now it was
a proper shop and even bigger. You can say it was kind of provision store now.
Adam asked the shop keeper
about ablaque. He said, "Can you see that person in the corner. He is
ablaque".
Adam ran towards him and
reached there where he was sitting. He didn't aggravated or infuriated to see
him
but tears started coming out
from his eyes. He was like a skeleton. Adam grabbed his hand and hugged him
strongly and said, "What
have you done with yourself my son. Let's go home".
Ablaque tried to recognize
him and then said, "Bhae Jan (big brother) it's you----------when you
came?"
Adam said, "My son i
came today".
Ablaque said, "Bhae jan
it's too late. It wasn't Nafeesa's fault. You know step mother.........
it's..........it's.........
she used to treat her very
badly. She forced her to marry his brother. She didn't run away. She is has
done
nikah (religiously married).
She beats me up as well but i don't stay home". He showed him the white
plastic
packet and said, "After
having this medicine i forget everything. Bhae Jan you have some money. Mundri
khan increased the rates. Now
it's very expensive".
Adam said, "Let's go
home my son. You will get everything".
Ablaque started crying, he
sobbingly said, "no Bhae Jan I won't go home. My mother will beat me up.
When
her guests comes to see her
she doesn't allow me to stay home".
Adam raised his spirit and
said, "You don't need to be scare i am with you. Nobody will say anything
to you".
Ablaque said, "are you
sure Bhae Jan".
Adam said him believably,
"of course, believe me. All you need is to become a good boy".
Ablaque squeezed his whole
body and said, "Bhae Jan i am lacking energy, something is pinching me.
Can
you get me some
heroine"?
Adam took ablaque home in a
very dramatic way. His step mother saw his expression and understood
everything that ablaque has
told him everything. She was cautious and alert. She said, "Doesn't
believe him
my son whatever he told you.
He says whatever he likes when he smoke heroine. When he wants heroine and
he doesn't find it. He
doesn't care of anybody. He sold my gold jewellery".
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Adam didn't pay any attention
what she saying. He said, "is there anything to eat in this house or i
have to get
something from
restaurant".
Adam's step mother said,
"There isn't anything to cook in the house. Your father doesn't give me
money".
Adam forgot everything that
he was being deported. He was traumatized to see his home environment. His
head was down; suddenly he
heard the sound, somebody opened the door. It was Adam's father, Khaqan Khan
Chughtai. As he entered
inside hugged Adam and said, "You brought some ties for, shirts and
suits".
Adam opened his suit case and
threw everything on the floor. There were Adam's dirty clothes, shaving kit
and twenty of twenty five
books that's all what he had in his suit case.
After seeing these things his
father said, "what i this. You haven't done shopping for me, no problem;
we will
buy everything from here.
There are some designer stores in Islamabad like CandA, next, marks and
Spencer.
They know me very well. We
will buy from there, they accept credit card as well"
Adam was crying inwardly. He
said irritatingly, "and what we will eat tonight"?
Khaqan sahib didn't care what
he said. He responded, "I had something in office. There was meeting in
our
office".
Adam asked, "And what
about your wife and son. What you think about them"
Khaqan sahib responded him
serenely, "i gave twenty rupees this morning. She should have cooked
something. I can do only one
thing either i work or i look after the house".
Adam decided not to continue
this debate and he took ablaque with him and went to small kiosk which was
now a small store and he
bought certain food stuff and showed shopkeeper pound. He told him that i don't
accept pounds so he said soon
i will change the money and i will clear all your debts. He came home and
kneaded flour than he made
curry and finally he took rolling pin to make chapatti, at that specific
moment,
Adam's step intervened and
said, "puttar (son) let me do this for you".
Adam said in ironical way,
"no a there is no need of this. You will join us for dinner and second
this is that
you shouldn't call me puttar
(son) because you are my father's wife but not my mother". Adam was
thinking
that now he is some foreign
country. This was the same place and country which he left five or six years
before. It was the same as he
left. His father didn't ask. Where are you coming from? How are you? What
about the papers? How have
you been? How you passed your life in Europe. The only thing he asked was
about his suits and ties.
After dinner Adam took
ablaque and both of them went to see nafeesa. She was living nearby close to a
school. At the back of the
school there were some servant quarters and they were not proper houses they
were
kind of shacks, she was
living there with her husband. Adam saw his step sister's shack kind of house.
There
was worn and torn jute
curtain on the door, he hold the curtain in his hand and knocked the door.
Someone
opened the door after a
little while and somebody peeped outside because after knocking the door they
were
waiting a little away from
house. He was young boy. Adam had a glance of this gentleman from head to toe.
He must be twenty or twenty
two years old. His colour was fair, thick and heavy beard even he had hair
close
to his eyes. He wasn't very
tall. He looked like people of muree or had some Kashmiris look. As he came out
he said, "Whom do you
want to see"?
Adam smiled because his
brother in law was talking to him.
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He said again in a very bad
tone, "whom do you want to see"?
Adam responded him serenely,
"well actually i came to see you".
He said in a very egotistical
way, "but i don't do anything at home. You should come to kachery (court)
tomorrow morning".
Adam introduced himself,
"well actually i am nafeesa's brother, Adam khan chughtai. I came this
morning
from London. Can i see my
sister if you don't mind".
Ablaque was ashamed of all
this because he was standing away while he was talking to this gentleman. That
gentleman hasn't seen him
otherwise it wouldn't have been that difficult to understand the situation.
That
gentleman got all the answer
of his questions which were raised in his mind at this small moment. He
welcomed them wholeheartedly
and said, "Why you are standing outside Bhae Jan, come inside". He
said in a
loud voice, "Look
Nafeesa, who has come to our house, your Bhae Jan. You used to talk about
him".
In the mean while Adam and
Ablaque entered inside the house. The floor was made of red bricks but most of
the bricks were broken, at one
corner there was big tin drum to preserve water. Underneath the drum there
were unclean dishes and house
flies were around these dishes. Nafeesa clutched her dopatta and came towards
them and she hugged strongly
elder brother and said, "Bhae jan please forgive me. I haven't such a
thing
which brings disgrace for
family. I haven't disgraced my father and mother and you. Abbassi sahib is a
very
nice man. He cares about me.
You didn't contact us. Look at ablaque. He becomes drug addict". Nafeesa
was
crying and saying all this
and at last she was unable to say anything.
Adam said, "Please stop
crying my little sister".
She wiped her tears with her
dopatta and said, "bhae Jan i prepare dinner for you".
Adam said, "No, we had
our dinner".
Then nafeesa said, "So i
make tea for you".
Adam said, "There is no
need of anything. You and Mr. Abbassi come with us. We will discuss everything
there and we will have tea as
well and as long as i am in Pakistan you people will stay with us".
Abbassi and nafeesa were
looking each other faces. Adam studied their faces and after reading them he
said,
"You needn't to worry
about anything. You haven't committed any crime; you have done nikah (Islamic
way
of marriage). Islam doesn't
allow anyone to marry someone by force and you have done this nikah willingly
and in any marriage the most
important thing is the boy and girl are agreed and happy to do this".
Four of them, when they
arrived home, Adam's step mother and his father were knocked for six.
Next day after breakfast Adam
took his little brother ablaque khan with him to money changer to change
pounds. Somebody told him go
to mall plaza, most of the money changers of saddar are transferred there,
there you will get got
exchange rate. Adam changed his money and started walking on Kashmir road. He
came to bank road. He was
observing that everything was same, there was no change, same shops, same light
poles, rubbish and trash was
everywhere. This type of scenes he has seen in London's west end and Paris's
Chatalet area during weekend,
like bottles, tins and trash.
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There was no friend of Adam
in this city. There wasn't understanding between Ablaque and him. Both of
them were walking and they
came to Anwar cafe. Where there was a small restaurant. This was the restaurant
where daowd and Adam were
first met. Here he decided to leave Pakistan because of his family problems,
now it was converted in to a
big restaurant. Adam and ablaque took tea from this restaurant and they took
their way to home.
After lunch Adam said to
Ablaque, "we will go to Lal Kurti. A good friend of mine lives
there".
Ablaque said, "Okay Bhae
Jan".
Since nafeesa came home,
everyone was delighted except Adam's step mother. She wasn't happy at all
because she didn't get
success in her plans and she wasn't entertaining her visitors as well. There
was no
change in Adam's father's
life. All he needed lunch and dinner on time, ironed clothes and polished
shoes. He
never even thought that
nafeesa was his real legitimate child; his son has been deported from Europe,
what are
his plans? Shall i ask him
for marriage? He talked about his ties, suits and shirts. During his stay in
Europe
Adam met with different kind
of people so now it wasn't peculiar and weird for him.
Adam and ablaque both of them
wore nice and clean clothes and went to Lal Kurti. In taxi Adam was advising
Ablaque, what he should do.
How he can make his future safe. During conversation they didn't realise that
they were in lal kurti. Adam
has never been to daowd's home before. He thought that he will go to some dahi
bhallay hawker and ask him,
it must be theirs. There was a pan (beetle) shop in lal kurti. The speciality
of this
shop was that, it has large
variety of pans (beetles) and their names were written on the board. The shop
was
very small and there was
hardly space for one person to sit inside but there were long queue of
customers who
were waiting for their turn.
Adam asked that gentleman
about daowd's father stall. He said, "Can you see that restaurant across
the road
that is their
restaurant". Adam was thinking there a stall on the road or in the street
but it was a three storey
building. Adam and ablaque
started walking swiftly. As they arrived near they entered in restaurant. At
restaurants counter an old
man sitting. He has light brown complexion and mouth was red after having many
pans (beetles) he was still
chewing pan (beetle). It was very easy to see the small pieces of chaliya
(grains of
beetle nut) were fixed in
spaces of his teeth and he was trying to remove them with his tongue so like
this
Adam observed so deeply. He
was wearing karakuly cap (Kara means black and Kula means cap. This cap is
made of small sheep of six
months old and they slaughter this small sheep for making caps even though
Islamic law doesn't allow
kill animal at this age until unless it's dangerous for others or sick). If
this old man
knew the story how they make
these caps, he should have thrown this cap on the road. He was wearing very
neat and clean white shalwar
qameez above all he has long white beard which made him very graceful and
charming. The thing was bad
in his personality was chewing beetle. Daowd once told Adam, my father started
chewing or eating pan
(beetle) when he was very young. The reason was that when he used to stand
outside
till late, this was the pan
(beetle) and tea was only thing which used to give him energy. He had a mission
and
to fulfil his mission he
punished his body but worked very hard.
As Adam and Ablaque entered
in the restaurant this elegant old man said in a very stylish Urdu accent,
"may i
know how can i help
you"?
Adam got stunned and
mesmerized of this old man's personality. He asked them again, "my son,
how can i
help you"?
Adam came back to normal and
said, "Jee, i am Adam Khan Chughtai and he is my little brother ablaque
khan
chughtai and you must be
Daowd Ansari's father. You are exactly the same as he told me about you".
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If it would have been someone
else, he would have been very glad of this flattery but daowd's father Mr.
Ansari asked him humbly and
modestly, "where you come from. Are you from lal kurti"?
Adam understood the situation
and said, "Actually you didn't recognise me. Me and daowd, we travelled
together from Pakistan to
Iran, Turkey, Greece, Italy and up to France. Daowd decided to stay in France
and i
went to England".
As daowd's father heard this
he came out from the counter where he was sitting and hugged Adam strongly
and said, "I am sorry my
son, i didn't recognise you because everyday someone guy come and asked about
daowd's address. Everyone
wants to go to abroad. I was totally against daowd's this decision of living
abroad
but he liked it. You tell me,
you got the documents. Daowd always talks about you. Your parents are very
lucky that they have son like
you. You met with daowd before coming to Pakistan".
Adam said, "No, he lives
in Paris and i live in London. Since i left France i didn't speak with him. I
tried to
phone him many times but
nobody responded i think his telephone number has been changed. What shall tell
you bazurgho? To cut a long
story short, the British government deported me. From last two days i ma in
Pakistan i don't know what
should i do".
Ansari sahib supported him
morally, encouraged him and said, "You needn't to worry about it. You are
educated person. You will
find some job. If not, you manage this restaurant. This is yours; god has given
me a
lot".
Adam said, "I am
thinking that i should start some small business".
Ansari sahib had a quick look
of ablaque and said, "Your younger brother is very weak. Is he suffering
of
some malady"?
Adam said, "There isn't
anything. He doesn't eat properly, something wrong with his appetite".
Adam sahib said, "When
you are giving us chance to entertain you".
Adam said, "What do you
mean"?
Ansari sahib said, "I
mean to say you bring your family. We will eat together and we will chat as
well".
Adam said, "Off course,
why not. You phone us when it will be suitable for you. We will be there".
Ansari sahib said, "My
son this isn't Europe. You can come whenever you like. This is your own house,
note
down the address".
Adam said, "Jee, there
is no need of this. I have your home address and phone number as well. Okay
uncle,
Allah hafiz".
Ansari sahib said, "Have
a cup of tea at least, my son".
Adam said, "We will have
dinner and tea, when we will come".
Ansari said, "As you
wish".
Adam was thinking on the way
back that my father didn't ask me why i came back. Either i have documents
or not. What are the further
plans? Either i want to marry or start some business. He was worried about his
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ties, suits and shirts.
Since Adam came to Pakistan
his home was like a little paradise and at the same i was inferno for certain
people. Nadia behram kharal
knew about Adam that he is back because she has seen him couple of times. It
was beyond imagination that
she could have come for date, they haven't spoken on the telephone either.
Adam, as he came he kept
himself busy in solving family problems. After great effort he got success in
reconnecting his home
telephone. As the he got connected, he dialled Nadia's number. Her telephone
number
was written on his heart.
Adam's heart was beating very fast. He got surprised someone said hello. He
recognised her voice and
said, "It's me Adam".
Nadia said, "So what, at
last you found time to phone. You came back after such a long time and it has
been
many days that you are here
in Rawalpindi and you are phoning me today".
Adam teased her and said,
"You would have phoned me".
Nadia said, i tried many
times but there was something wrong with your telephone".
Adam said, "They fixed
it today".
Nadia said to Adam in teasing
way, "what have you brought for me"?
Adam got her what she wanted
to know and he responded her in a witty way, "i have same thing what a man
can give to a woman".
Nadia responded him in a
scolding way, "stupid, fool don't talk rubbish otherwise i will beat you
up with
stick. Europe spoiled
you".
Adam changed the track
because when you are talking on the phone you can't see other so as he changed
the
track she was unable to his
face expressions and it was difficult to guess what he was saying, what he
meant to
say, "you miss
understood me. I was talking about heart. Anyway stop teasing and taunting, the
reason i
phoned you, i want to see
you. Five years before you were a child and now you are grown girl. I haven't
seen
your face since ages".
Nadia said, "I am still
the same".
Adam said, "I am not
talking about your habits and attitude".
Nadia said, "Don't start
it again".
Adam said in a enquiring way,
"so when and where we can see each other"?
Nadia said, "I will tell
you later".
Adam was just joking and he
wasn't expecting this type of answer. He said, "what about your
father"?
Nadia said, "I will take
care of this. I will find some way to see you".
Adam got mystified and
perplexed, he said, "There is big change in your personality".
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Nadia said confidently,
"i am grown child now, I am a graduate".
Adam asked her, "What
are you doing these days"?
Nadia said, "I go to
Islamabad. I am completing my post graduation in computer sciences. Tell me
about
yourself, you studied there
or just washed dishes for goras".
Adam got annoyed and he
responded sarcastically, "no i did dog sitting there".
Nadia said swiftly, "i
should go now, somebody rand the bell".
So like this their
conversation was disconnected. Somebody knocked the door. Adam opened the door
what he
saw, najma begum was standing
in front of him. She became prettier than before since he left Pakistan. Only
thing he noticed, she put on
some weight. Adam said, "Why are you standing outside. Please come
in". Adam
called his step mother and
little sister as well. His mother welcomed Najma Begum whole heartedly. His
mother started talking with
najma begum and nafeesa entered in kitchen for making tea. Nafeesa gave tea to
Adam for serving. When najma
saw Adam that he was carrying tea tray which has tea and biscuits as well, she
said, "find some
compatible match this guy as well. When his wife will come, she will look after
him".
Adam step mother said,
"the truth is that Adam doesn't allow me to do anything and nafeesa".
She was unable to invent and
fabricate any phrase so she said, "he will find a girl on his own. He
won't accept
our choice".
Adam intervene in
conversation and said, "it's isn't like that the way she is saying".
Najma begum touched his
wounded place and said, "Yeh of course, she should me very beautiful, some
kind
of Lolita or dolly".
Adam responded her by the
same token, "anyway, for me lady Chatterley or madam Bovary will be
okay".
What he meant to say, nobody
knew. Najma begum didn't want anybody see her face expressions. She
changed the discourse and
said, "Adam when you people are coming to us for dinner"?
Adam responded her
courteously, "whenever you like".
Najma begum said, "Why
don't you come for dinner tonight".
Adam said, "today it's
little difficult what about tomorrow. We can have lunch together".
Adam spoke with ablaque and
nafeesa just have their opinion about this. He asked them, "What you think
of
it".
Nafeesa said, "As you
wish Bhae Jan. By the way tomorrow Abbassi sahib is free as well".
Adam addressed najma begum
and said, "So it's done. Tomorrow at lunch we will be at your house".
Najma begum was very happy.
She said, "Okay, i should go now".
Adam said, "Let's go
together. I will give you company up to door".
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Adam stood up and accompanied
her up to her house. Where they were living, the people were broad minded.
None of them were nosy and
interfering in others matters. Everyone was living his own like even though
there
were quite few who were
curious about others. The main person who was curious was that shop keeper. He
knew about people. He knew
about affairs of girls and boys as well.
While they were walking,
Najma begum asked him, "Have you seen Lolita".
Adam said, "not yet but
she was telling me that she will find some way".
Najma begum said, "I am
telling you again, its mirage and illusion stop following it".
Adam said, "I don't
mind. I love her".
Najma begum teasingly said,
"you love was on long holidays for five years like Out of sight out of
mind".
Adam said, "It's not
true. It's a long story, i didn't find time and I had many problems
there".
Najma begum said politely and
softly, "come with me and stay there tonight".
Adam said worryingly,
"what about Qadous sahib and your son and your daughter".
Najma begum tried to convince
him. She said, "You needn't to worry about them. Qadous sahib is busy in
constructing his plaza in
Islamabad, my son is studying in King Edwards's Medical College. He lives in
college's hostel in Lahore
and daughter doing graduation in fine arts. She is very busy in her fine
arts".
Adam was inventing excuses
and najma begum was giving him answer equally. Adam asked her again, "what
about servants".
She said, "They stay in
their servant quarter". Both of them didn't realise that they were close
to her house.
Najma decorated her home very
nicely. It was as clean as one can't imagine. Adam thought it was some film
scene. Najma begum gave them
a lot of respect because she was madly in love with Adam. The society where
she was living doesn't allow
her to take some step. Now her kids were grown as well but she her heart was
still like a fifteen years
old girl. If society would have given her permission, she would have left her
kids and
husband long time ago and
would have married with Adam but it was only from her side. Adam was in love
with someone else.
Adam was very curious to see
najma begum's daughter because she was studying fine arts. All of them were
sitting in drawing room. They
heard someone was coming down through stairs. Adam turn around, there was
a very beautiful girl, she
was wearing light sky blue shalwar qameez and she was coming down through steps
and thought that a beautiful
gazelle amusing himself in forest. She was like a glass of wine filled up to
mouth,
if someone will touch, the
wine will come out. In flashback he was comparing this beautiful girl with Sara
Barlas, Nadia Behram and
Mehjabeen Qazalbash. Among all of them najma begum's daughter was the
prettiest. As she stepped in
drawing room, she said Salam and Adab (it's kind of salutation) everyone
respectively. Then she said
to Adam, "Sir Asalam-o-Alaykum".
Adam said, "Wa-Alaykum
Salam but for your kind information, i am no more your teacher. You by yourself
and educated person"
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Amra Qadous said, "but
Sir, as you know what Hazrat Ali (R.A.T.U.) said. If someone has taught you
even a
single word. He is your
teacher and you have taught us a lot".
Adam said, "Now you are
very sagacious and shrewd. I have heard that you are studying fine arts. After
completing graduation in fine
arts what are your further plans. Will you do M.F.A. (masters in fine arts)
or".
Adam haven't completed his
phrase and Amra interrupted him, "off course. I am planning to go to
France of
Italy for further studies. If
i get admission in England that will be fine as well because to get admission
in
royal academy of fine arts in
London is a little bit difficult. I am working very hard because in our country
there is no value of fine
arts. The only school of fine arts we have is national college of fine arts
Lahore. There
are very few seats and you
need sifarish (approach or reference of some influential person) as a matter of
fact
specially for fine arts
student should judged according to his credential and they should select
student on
merits basis. Art is god gifted
thing, schools and colleges groom them".
Adam liked talking with Amra.
He said, "Which school of art you liked or preferred for further
education, you
like oil paintings, frescoes,
abstract art, cubism, impressionism, surrealism, realism, cobra, Dadaism or
symbolism".
Amra said, "I personally
like van Gogh school of art but Leonardo da Vinci impressed me as well".
Adam said, "I have seen
many paintings of Leonardo da Vinci, especially la Giaconda i mean Mona
Lisa".
Amra asked him curiously,
"Sir what you think of that painting, is she smiling or she is sad"?
Adam wanted to clear his
position, so he said, "i only like to see paintings. I don't understand
them. As well as
concern as a critic i have no
comments".
Amra said, "Sir, i have
read, Leonardo da Vinci made this painting for a noble Florentine. She was his
wife
and she wasn't happy with
this person. Just to please his wife he asked the famous painter of his time
Leonardo da Vinci to make her
painting just to bring back smile on her face again. People say that Mona Lisa
is smiling but i think she is
hiding lots of sadness behind her smile. She is expressing her unhappiness with
her mysterious smile".
Adam said, "I don't know
a lot but one thing i have noticed that Mona Lisa hasn't got eye brows".
Amra said, "Sir, i am
painting something like this. In that painting i tried to explain the feeling
of an unhappy
woman. It's not completed.
You know there are many Mona Lisa's in this society who smile when they see
their husbands. Madam Bovary
and lady Chatterley's are one of them".
Adam got her, what she was
talking about. It's same like that that parents know everything what their kids
are
doing and they ignore them
and pay no attention just not to hurt their feelings. Similarly lots of time
kids
know what their parent to but
they don't say anything because of their respect. Sometime society doesn't
allow
them, their culture, norms
and tradition doesn't permit them. So kids ignore their parent's mistakes as
well.
Najma knew how delicate
situation was created. She said politely, "excuse me Adam; other people
are sitting
as well. Amra you can talk
about paintings some other time".
Amra didn't like it so her
mood was off so she said, "okay mama".
After this Adam and Amra
didn't talk. Everyone started talking on different topics. After lunch they
took
permission to leave. Adam
accompanied his family but najma begum called him, "Adam you stay with me.
I
Chapter 19: Lalkurti 1
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show the second storey of my
house. This was constructed when you weren't here". Adam stayed with najma
begum and he told his family
members, "i am coming after having a look of their second storey".
Both of them went upstairs
hurriedly to see second floor. Najma begum showed Adam her bedroom. The
najma begum and Qadous
sahib's bedroom was decorated very nicely. He thought of Anna with whom in
environs of Paris, he spent
beautiful night in her bedroom. This bedroom wasn't bad at all.
Najma begum invented this
excuse to stop Adam. Her main intentions were to tell him the plan how he can
come to her house at night.
Which door will be open and what time he has to come. She explained him
everything. Adam came back
home after having a look of her second floor.
Adam was at najma begum's
house at exact time what she told him. He entered in bedroom. Najma begum
was ready, as she saw Adam
she took off her clothes. She was completely naked and she was standing in
front
of Adam. For a while Adam
thought somebody mesmerized him, he took off all his clothes as well. They
made love more than enough.
When they were tired and exhausted they left each other and lay on bed in still
position. Then they started
talking on different subjects and topics till late. Najma Begum said, "I
know that
my daughter hasn't got good
opinion about me. She doesn't suspect she is sure about me. That's why she was
saying that there are lots of
Mona Lisas in this society". During discussion they slept.
Adam has been many days that
Adam was in Pakistan he was unable to decide that what he should do.
Whoever he met, someone said
there isn't anything in this country. You would have married there or should
have done paper marriage or
would have applied for political stay. Why you came back. People pay five six
lack rupees (half million
rupees) to go to Europe and America's rate is nearly fifteen lack (one and a
half
million rupees). In the
beginning people used to pay money to go Canada without passport than most of
the
airlines had to pay penalty
so now they don't do this.
After living in Europe Adam
felt that his life style has been change. In Europe if you pay for basic needs
they
provide you good service
like, electricity, gas and water? On the other hand in Pakistan we have load
shedding of electricity and
gas as well. We lack basic needs. We judge the people moneywise. Since Adam
left Pakistan, a new culture
was born here that was Klashanikof, Pajero, Protocol and Status.
His home environment was good
at all. None of his family member was commendable. His sister married
with someone on her own. His
so called step mother was a strange personality. His father was worried about
his ties, shirts and suits.
House's condition wasn't mentionable even though he used to send them money
regularly. Adam knew that his
brother wasn't perpetrator or wrong doer and his sister was innocent as well
because nobody stopped them.
There wasn't anyone who could speak politely with them. Their father was
busy in his love affairs and
they had step mother. The money he had, he thought it's a lot of money but the
people who used to talk about
lakhs (hundred thousand) now they were talking about crores (ten million) the
good will's of shops were
very high and property prices were doubled. There was only one way to live
comfortable and luxurious
life in Pakistan that one should earn money by unfair means. This was the only
way because it was difficult
to earn a lot of money legally or honestly. There were so many big fishes in
Pakistan. The rich people
were becoming richer and poor people were becoming poorer. This unequal
distribution of money created
lots of problems. People were upset.
According to Adam's point of
view ansari sahib was the best person for suggestion and consultancy so he
thought i should discuss with
him. Anyway they were invited for dinner at ansari sahib's home. In these days
Adam was on the horns of
dilemma and on the other hand due to Adam there was positive change in his
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family. His younger brother
nearly stopped smoking heroine and his brother in law Abbassi sahib started
helping people to sort out
their property problem in kachery, (court) and he was writing applications for
the
people as well. Nafeesa was
looking better than before. He was messiah for everyone. The only people who
weren't happy due to Adam's
presence were his father and step mother because now Adam was managing the
budget. He stopped giving
them money. His father asked him couple of time that when he is going back but
he gave them an
unsatisfactory answer.
They were at ansari sahib's
house at exact time. They welcomed them like V.I.P.'s. Adam introduced
everybody one by one;
"my father, mother, younger sister, my brother in law and my younger
brother".
Usually ansari's have strict
pardha system (pardha means a woman wear veil and doesn't come in front of a
person who isn't relative.
There are different terms and conditions). As Adam came from Europe so none of
their woman hided and they
came in front of him. Their faces were uncovered. Adam was curious to see
babbly because daowd praised
her beauty madly during their travel from turkey to France. Adam couldn't stop
himself and finally he asked,
"Unlce last year daowd was talking about coming to Pakistan. What about
his
marriage".
Adam knew that daowd was
married but he said this purposely because he was pretending that he don't know
nothing.
Ansari sahib got shocked and
said, "Adam beta (son) you don't know, i thought he should have told you.
He
came last year and got
married with my little brother's daughter. She is my niece. (Ansari sahib was
telling
him properly because he was
for sure that Adam is unaware of all this) he stayed in Pakistan for two
months.
Everyone had fun. He was
telling us he has to prepare some important documents that he will call Bubbly
to
France. He doesn't say
anything to me. Still he doesn't eat in front of me. Forget about daowd, tell
me about
yourself. What have you
decided? It's your turn now".
He addressed Adam's father,
"have you seen any compatible match for your son"?
Khaqan sahib said,
"Ansari sahib this isn't our time, marry someone without seeing. Whoever
he will select,
for us it will be okay.
Anyway, according to my point of view he should go back to Europe. There isn't
anything in our
country".
As ansari sahib heard this
phrase it was like that that some scorpion bites him. He said aggressively,
"why
chughtai sahib, what we
haven't got, our religion, language, vestments, our identity, culture and
civilisation.
What's so special in Europe?
They can't hear even azan (its call for prayer like in churches they ring bells
for
vespers and masses). They
don't find halal meat and other things are doubtful as well. Anyway a normal
chapatti of your country is
thousand time better than paratha (chapatti made with a lot of oil or butter)
of
foreign country. I still ask
daowd to come back but he has great passion to become rich man. He says that i
want to buy a big house in
Islamabad".
Khaqan sahib said modestly,
"you are very right ansari sahib but unemployment in increasing in our
country
day by day. I see lots of
educated young men when they don't find jobs they become vagabonds".
This time ansari sahib said
politely, "they should do some petty job, labour work until they don't
find decent
job. It's useless walking to
and fro on the roads. What i had when i came? When i started this business of
dahi
bhallay, i hadn't had
anything. The person to whom i used to pay rent for pitch, first of all i
bought that pitch
than his shop. God helped me
a lot. My persistency and constancy brought me this success. This is all
because
of god's beneficence and
mercifulness".
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Khaqan sahib didn't change
his point of view and said, "Its true ansari sahib but now a days to start
a small
business even on some small
pitch you need a lot of money". There unfinished discussion was on peak.
In the
mean while daowd's mother
waved which means she was calling Adam. Adam took permission and went to
listen to her she wanted to
say him. He said, "Yes ma jee".
She said, "Beta (my son)
she is my daughter in law. You wanted to see you. As long as daowd stayed in
Pakistan he praised your
personality in front of her"
Adam raised his head and said,
"Adab urz hay" (a kind of salutation in a very respectable manner).
Daowd's
dream girl was standing in
front of him.
In return daowd's wife,
bubbly said, "Wa alaykum asalam bhae jan".
She was pretending to a
little bashful in front of him she said again, "bhae jan, Daowd admire you
a lot. He
says that people like are
very rare in this world".
Adam responded her humbly and
diffidently, "that's his greatness. He admires you as well a lot. From
Iran to
France as long as we stayed
together he talked about you a lot".
When she heard this the
colours on her face were changed.
Adam asked daowd's mother,
"it's like a miracle. How does it happen, as Daowd told me Bubbly was a
very
proud girl and Daowd's
chacha's (uncle) attitude was very bad with you people?
Daowd's mother said,
"Beta (my son) this is all because of Allah. He can give respect if he
wants and he can
disrespect if he wants. This
is all in his control. He is almighty. Forget about daowd, you tell me about
yourself. What have you think
about yourself? I mean your marriage. It's your age of marrying".
Adam said with a lot of
simplicity, "i don't understand ma gee. What should i do"?
Daowd's mother said, "I
know everything. If you want, I will talk to her father. If he doesn't accept
our
proposal than i will find you
some other girl, there isn't shortage of girls for you".
Adam said, "You are very
right but at the moment i don't have anything. No house, no business, i have
little
brother. I don't see the
right path".
Daowd's mother said with a
lot of affection and love, "beta once you will be married, rest of the
problems will
be solved on their own".
Adam said, "to be very
honest with you. I am not in a situation o marrying someone. I don't think it's
the right
time for this".
They heard a piercing and
deafening voice of ansari sahib, "come everybody. Food has been served.
Where is
Adam, call him as well"?
Everybody came to
dasterkhawan (it's a kind of dinning place where you sit on the floor in
squatting position)
one by one. During dinner
they discussed all topics. Ansari sahib and Chughtai sahib didn't found any
conclusion of their infinite
debate. After dinner ansari sahib asked them to stay at their home but Adam
refused their proposal
politely and graciously. Ansari didn't force them so daowd's younger gave them
lift up
to their house in his Suzuki
carry.
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Chapter 20: Lalkurti 2
The phone bell rang couple of
times. Adam woke up. When he looked at wall clock, it was 10 'o' clock in the
morning. Adam's younger
sister nafeesa told him that it ranged before as well but when picked up the
receiver
nobody was responding. Adam
knew who this was. He dialled the phone number. Somebody responded from
other side, "hello".
Adam said, "It's me
Adam".
Nadia said tiresomely and
tediously, "where are you. I am calling you since morning".
Adam said, "We were
invited by someone for dinner. We came back very late so that's why i woke up
now".
Nadia said, "Okay than,
listen to me carefully. Can you come to Islamabad"?
Adam asked her inquisitively,
"where"?
She said, "Hamdard
University".
Adam said enquiringly and
pryingly, "where is it? Is it the name of some dawakhana"?
(Pharmacy)
Nadia said in her special
tone, "stupid, fool this is Islamabad's most modern university".
Adam said in a teasing and
mocking way, "when did it started. It mean soon Qarshe and Ahmad will open
their universities".
She understood the sense of
humour of Adam. She said, "Stop bantering and mocking. Right in front of
American centre there is a
university. There is a canteen at the back of this university. You will find me
there.
You have to pretend that you
were just passing through this area because you had to come for your air ticket
reconfirmation. If somebody
will ask you who are than you will have to tell that you are my father's
friend's
son. You are studying in
Italy, Paris or London. Remember all these things and you should wear some
decent
clothes".
Adam asked her, "At what
time i have to come. At least tell me the time".
Nadia said, "Exactly at
half past twelve".
He heard the voice that she
placed the receiver on cradle. Adam asked her sister, "prepare breakfast
quickly
because i have to go to
Islamabad urgently".
Nafeesa knew everything but
she was pretending that she doesn't know anything. She knew what urgent work
his brother has to do in
Islamabad. Adam started getting ready himself. He wore black pantaloon, black
skin
tight T-shirt and dust
coloured coat, even though the weather wasn't suitable for this. He sprayed
nice perfume
and took his way to
Islamabad. As he sat in taxi, he started thinking that what will be the first
phrase he will
say to her. This was his
first date with Lolita. Talking on phone and seeing each other face to face is
something else.
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Taxi driver asked him,
"Bao (Mr.) jee where you would like to get off close to china chowk or in
front of
American centre".
Adam said swiftly, "no
no drop me at china chowk". Adam paid him money, he got off from the taxi
and
started walking in the
verandas of the building which were on the opposite direction of American
centre.
While he was walking he saw
the sign board of Hamdard University. It was unbelievable for him; girls and
boys were sitting on the set
of steps. They were sitting in groups and busy in chatting. Adam started
descending through the stairs
which were adjacent to university's wall. He found the canteen and he sat on
one
of chairs which were outside
the canteen. The boys and girls who were sitting around him started staring at
him like he was some other
planet. Some of them passed the remarks in loud voice. Adam was listening to
them quietly. Once he was
student like them. He was worse than them. Adam's head was down but he was
watching everything. He saw
Nadia was coming from with her two female and one male classmate. As she
saw Adam, she shouted,
"Hi Adam, how are you. How come you are here"?
Adam said, "I was just
passing by. I thought i should take a cup of tea. As its university's canteen
so i thought
their tea should be very
good".
Nadia and her friends took
chair and sat at the same table where he was sitting.
Nadia asked him, "would
you like to eat something or you will have just tea".
Adam said, "No, tea will
be fine".
Nadia wanted that her friends
should know. She said, "Actually he is my father's friend's son. He is
from
London and he was studying
there. He has his own business there. He is in Pakistan for holidays".
Adam was so confused because
of this exaggerated and embroidered introduction. It was all lie because
neither he has business nor
he was studying and he wasn't here for holidays. In fact they expatriated and
banished him.
As the girls and boys heard
about London all of them paid their attention towards him. Nadia's female
friends
melted promptly. They started
asking him different kind of questions. Nadia was looking very pretty with
black shalwar qameez and this
colour very suitable to her complexion. Adam specially came to see her. Nadia
was listening; she wasn't
saying anything because she didn't want to know anyone that Adam was here
according to her plan, he
wasn't here accidently. Adam was pretending that he is talking to Nadia's
friends but
in fact his eyes and brain
was toward Nadia. She was looking gorgeous in black shalwar qameez. Adam
started imagining himself her
majazi khuda (virtual god).
Nadia and Adam chatted for
more than enough than her break was finished. Adam took permission to leave
because he didn't want that
she go first because he had his tea.
He addressed them
collectively, "i should go to now because i have to reconfirm my air
ticket. It was nice
meeting you".
Adam didn't want to leave
Nadia but he knew her situation. Adam said good bye to her beautiful Lolita and
took his way.
Najma begum wanted that Adam
should marry with her daughter Amra. She asked her daughter and she was
agreed as well but Adam
wasn't agreed. He was madly and badly in love with Nadia. Since he was in
Pakistan
Chapter 20: Lalkurti 2
SANYEEN INTERNET
his love affair was on its
peak.
Eid-ul Azha was near and Adam
had the most beautiful and unforgettable chand rat with Nadia.
It was like that that Nadia
took great risk and she invited Adam at her home. Adam took bangles and henna
with him and he went to her
home. Adam helped her to wear these gaily decorated and painted bangles in her
beautiful and fair arms. He
grabbed her hands to put some henna on them and he couldn't control himself and
he laced his arms around her
neck and Nadia couldn't stop herself because she was in love with him as well.
When they hugged each other
their heart beats were very fast. They were feeling that their heart will
burst.
Than Adam took her face in
his hands with love and affections and glued his lips on her lips. Adam has
been
all around Europe. He has
seen so many people but the tranquillity and harmony which he had in Nadia's
arms; he didn't find it at
any place. Her lips were the sweetest lips in this whole world. Nadia was one
of the
most arrogant and clever girl
but when she hugged Adam she forgot everything. Suddenly they heard little
rumour, Nadia's father was
muttering while he was sleeping. Adam wanted to continue this but Nadia stopped
him. She murmured,
"After marriage".
Adam said, "It means you
are in love".
Nadia said, "since very
long but i was afraid. When you left Pakistan than I realised that something is
lacking
in my life"?
Adam said, "You never
mention it to me on the phone. You could have written me a letter".
Nadia said, "I knew your
situation. I didn't want you to ruin your future for me. Now you are back so i
couldn't stop myself".
Adam said, "But how can
it be possible. Your father will never accept this marriage".
Nadia said, "I know that
but i will talk to him. If he won't accept than i will leave his house. I am
sick of all
this. Our life is based on
false things. If i want, i can marry with richest person if i like but i was
looking for
some nice, intelligent,
honest and down to earth guy and you have all these qualities".
Adam said, "I haven't
got anything to give you. I am from lower middle class. You will have to spend
your
whole life in problems".
Nadia tried to convince him
and said, "I will manage, i will spend my whole life with you. I will
fight".
Adam said, "Than all
right, i will send my father and mother to ask for your hand. They will speak
with your
father".
Nadia said promptly,
"not now. Let me finish my education than i by myself will speak with my
father".
Adam said curiously,
"how long it will take to complete your education"?
Nadia said,
"Approximately two years".
Adam said, "So how will
i pass these two years"?
Nadia scolded him and said,
"I don't know but you will have to wait anyway. Adam you should go now we
will speak later".
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Nadia kissed Adam again and
she came up to entrance to say good bye. She watched him in the street while
he was going.
Whenever Adam's parents used
to talk about his marriage he used to change the topic. Ansari sahib spoke
with him about this topic and
najma begum discussed with him as well. Nafeesa asked him but Adam wasn't
willing to talk about this
topic. Adam had to pass two years. It has been two months that Adam was in
Pakistan and his love affair
was on its peak and boom. Now people started discussing their love affair.
But one day Nadia phoned him
and she ruined his dream palace. He felt that somebody dragged him. Nadia
said on the phone that he
should forget her forever because she can't marry him. She still loves him and
she
will love him forever but
can't marry him. Adam asked her many times what the reason is but she didn't
tell
him. Adam was madly in love
with her. He was happy that she will love me forever.
Since she phoned him, it was
nearly impossible for Adam to stay in Rawalpindi city. Every single moment
was like a year. He decided
to go back to Europe. He was deported from Europe so he decided not to go to
any embassy. He spoke with
some agents. Everyone has his own rate and there was no guarantee. If he will
ran away, he won't be able to
do anything. He thought about A.B.C. he phoned him on his mobile number,
fixed rendezvous with him. He
told him that he should come in such and such travel agency in Islamabad.
Adam was there at exact time
what Mr. A.B.C. given him. He was waiting for him. He took him to Tabaque
restaurant. He ordered the
food and then said, "Beta what happened, you forgot about me".
Adam said, "Uncle i came
back after five years. There were so many things to do. I had to see relatives
and
there was eid as well. I
don't know it has two months that i am in Pakistan".
Mr. A.B.C. said, "now
what have you decided"?
Adam took a cold breath and
said, "I want to go back".
A.B.C. sahib said indubitably
and surely, "I know that, the person who once spends some time in Europe
than
it's difficult for him to
stay in Pakistan".
Adam's heart was broken. He
said wretchedly, "it's not true. The truth is that that there is a lot of
falsehood in
our country. I love my
country but i feel suffocation here. In Europe if you don't have documents, you
are
afraid that they will deport
you or there are some other things".
A.B.C. sahib interrupted him,
"beta (son) i should say that but in Europe, i mean you would have married
with
some Pakistani girl in
London. If this wasn't possible you would have applied political stay".
Adam said, "Uncle, I did
big mistake. If i will go now, i won't do this; i will never come back
again".
A.B.C. sahib felt his
soreness and twinge and said, "I think beta you have been through many
problems in
these two months".
Adam wanted to change the
topic so he said, "uncle it's a long story. You tell me how i can go back.
What is
the solution"?
A.B.C. sahib came back to the
real topic and said, "Beta it's very difficult to get visa these days. If
we can find
some British passport, it
should be fresh so we will change photo. All you have to pay is charhae".
(It's a term
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SANYEEN INTERNET
used in immigration
department. When you travel with false documents you pay them so they let you
in)
Adam said, "How much
will be the charhae"?
A.B.C. sahib said,
"Every city has its own rates".
Adam said in style that he
wanted to make a deal, "what will be price for passport and P.C."
(Photo change)
A.B.C. sahib,
"everything depends upon passport. The price will be more or less one lakh
rupees (one tenth of
million)"
Adam said, "Uncle it's
too much".
A.B.C. sahib said, "Beta
i won't take even a single penny. It's a system. There is another way. You will
save
charhae's money but risk will
be yours. When you get British passport you make Pakistani passport and
identity card. The name
should be same on British passport and Pakistani passport as well. You travel
from
Pakistan to Iran and turkey
than you from turkey you can travel by air to France and then you can go where
ever you like".
Adam said, "I liked the
second option".
A.B.C. sahib said, "Than
listen you have to give me your twelve photos but they should be different and
leave
it to me, i will sort out
everything for you".
Adam said, "uncle may i
ask you something if you don't mind".
A.B.C. sahib, "feel free
to ask anything".
Adam said, "Uncle, why
you are so kind with me".
A.B.C. sahib was a business
minded man. He changed the track and said, "you don't know beta, when i
saw
you first time, i felt your
agony that's why i sorted out your situation otherwise you would have been
behind
bars. Forget about this.
There is a photographer in Islamabad (he fished out a visiting card of that
photographer and gave it to
Adam and continued the conversation). When you go there, give him my
reference and tell him i
recommended you. He is good photographer. He uses special kind of photo paper
which they use in Europe.
It's easy to change the photo and when they pass the passport through scanning
machine, there are fewer
chances to judge the passport that it has been changed. As well as concern
English
language and your get up for
that you are perfect".
Adam said, "what about
payment".
A.B.C. sahib said, "you
don't need to worry about this first of all we will prepare your documents
which are
British passport, Pakistan
passport and identity card with same name and Iran's visa. When i will give you
all
these things than you will
have to pay me, all you need is to bring me photo as soon as possible. This is
the
address of travel agency.
When photos are ready you leave them there. When i will have photos than it
won't
take long, it will take
fifteen or twenty days".
Adam said, "Thank you
very much uncle. I lost hope but you have given me courage".
A.B.C. sahib humbly,
"beta you needn't to worry about anything, you just pray for me when you
have time. I
should go now because i have
some family appointment at home, than i will take some rest because today is
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my night shift".
Adam was carrying British
passport with Pakistani visa which was issued by Pakistani high commission
London. It has in stamp as
well. Name was different but it has Adam's photo on it. He has the Pakistani
passport and identity card of
same name which was on British passport. He got shocked after seeing these
documents. He thought in
these five years my country developed a lot.
He gave some money to his
brother in law and gave some money in advance to his father for daily expenses
and rest of money he gave to
ansari sahib and specified him that he is giving his little brother under his
guardianship. The money he is
giving him is for his education because i have decided that i will never come
back to Pakistan. Everyone
stopped him when they knew that Adam is leaving Pakistan once again except his
father and step mother. Najma
begum was very exasperated and annoyed. Amra got surprised as well. He
phoned Nadia so she said,
"you shouldn't go like this, even though you aren't happy with me".
Adam said, "If you
accept my proposal i won't go".
Nadia couldn't tell him that
she wasn't willing to marry him so she didn't say anything else.
Adam bought the train ticket
and came to Rawalpindi railway station for Quetta. This time there were many
people with him to say god
bye to him like his brother, sister, brother in law, his father, step mother,
Ansari
sahib even Amra and Najma
begum came.
Train was ready to leave so
he said good bye to everyone and entered in train. He left his bag at baggage
place
and came to his seat. The
train started moving and left the platform. In the beginning the train's speed
was
slowly but it was increasing.
The beads were coming out from his eyes continuously and finally he fell
asleep.
He woke up at Quetta railway
station. He was frightened this time as well that he will be copped. He thought
about nadir balouch but this
time the situation was different. He took the right bus for Iran. He came to
his
seat and sat quietly. Border
police checked everyone's visa and bus started again. Last time he was with
daowd but no he was on his
own. He didn't speak with anyone during journey. When he arrived in Iran he
took a three star tourist
kind of hotel and to spend one night here. He stayed one day in Tehran than he
bought
ticket for Istanbul. Last
time when he came to Istanbul he had great desire to see certain historical
thing but it
wasn't possible but this it
was possible but he wasn't willing to see them. This time he didn't want to
know
about history and culture and
he didn't speak with anyone until now. The only thing he wanted was he should
reach London or Paris as soon
as possible.
He drowned in deep thoughts,
bus moved. This journey was very long and was thinking about his life what
happened to him. The whole
story was running in front of his eyes like a film and finally he slept again.
Someone grabbed his shoulder
and he woke up. He got off from bus and gave his both passport to
immigration officer. He
checked them thoroughly when he was satisfied he gave back to him. This was the
most difficult situation he
passed through it satisfactorily. Adam came back to his seat again. He didn't
care
who was sitting next to him
what was going on outside. What type of plants and trees were outside, which
was the next city. He forgot
everything about art, literature, philosophy, history and what so ever. The
more
he was thinking about his
past the more he was feeling bad.
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Adam was waiting for his
flight at Ataturk airport Istanbul. It wasn't difficult for him to buy ticket
for Paris.
He only showed his both
passports to travel agent, he made photo copies of these and gave him ticket.
Adam's sitting in waiting
room and right in front of him there were many coloured magazines, he took one
of
them and was trying to read
something but his mind was somewhere else. He lived in Uskudar with Kishan
Singh Jutla five years
before. Daowd and he used to stroll in the streets of Istanbul and they were
broke as
well. He was thinking that
now he will enter in Europe without any problem. How strange it was, it was
embarrassing and shameful
before and now he was travelling with great respect.
Adam's conscience was dead.
His hasn't had any sensitivity, humanity and principles which he used to have.
He left his boat on waves
without any captain and anchor. He was convinced for paper marriage, political
asylum or making money by
unfair means, either by bankruptcy or fraud.
He heard check in
announcement of his flight. Adam took his boarding pass and started waiting in
lounge. He
saw on displaying screen that
his flight is coming on which gate number. So every passenger took his
belonging and went to
appropriate gate where there aeroplane was coming. At the check in counter on
both
sides two beautiful French
girls were standing. They were welcoming every passenger. They were saying
bonjour, bonjour, bonjour.
They had a quick look at Adam's boarding pass and said, "bonjour and then
bon
voyage" and allowed him
to enter in aeroplane. Adam never ever even imagined that he will pass all
these
stages so easily.
As he stepped in, in air
France's aeroplane he took a cool breath. He decided inwardly that he they will
discover that he has false
documents he will apply for political asylum at French airport. Now it wasn't a
dishonourable thing for him
because he was no more slave of his principles. Fasten your seat belts, was
blinking on electronic sign
board. It was in French and English as well. The light was flashing. The
aeroplane
started moving, slowly and
slowly the speed was increasing. Suddenly the aeroplane rose upward and with a
blink of eye it was in air,
Adam got frightened. When he saw the tyres were going inside at their place
where
they are during flight, at
that time Adam's mental condition was very bizarre and weird. He put on head
phone; he tried many channels
which were on right hand side of his seat. He didn't like anything because
wasn't feeling very good.
Then he started watching film on big screen. In the mean while airhostess came
and
she asked him in French and
English as well but as he had British passport so should be responding in
English
even though he knew French as
well. Sometime your little mistake causes you a big trouble and he didn't want
to do any mistake.
Charles de Gaulle airport is
always jam pack of passengers, there is always hustle and bustle at this
airport. As
Adam came out from aeroplane
he stood in European Union queue. Whoever passenger came closer to
immigration officer, he
opened his passport's photo page, showed to him and passed through the counter,
mostly he had glance but
sometime he took the passport and have a proper look. Adam did the same thing
as
other passengers were doing.
He showed him his passport's photo page; he had a quick look and said okay.
Adam smiled and put his
passport in his coat's pocket and went to the baggage belt. He had a trolley.
He
found his baggage, put it on
trolley and started pushing it. He came to railway station because he had to
take
RER. B. He took out ticket
from machine and started waiting for train. There was train after every half an
hour. When train came it was
jam pack with passenger.
Adam got in the train with
his baggage. He knew all trains and metro of Paris so there wasn't any problem
for
him. Where you can get RERB
or RER A or where direction is suitable to go such and such area. Train was
running very fast. Adam
pinched himself whether he was dreaming or it was reality. His luck was helping
him
even though his all documents
were false. He didn't have any problem until yet. For safety measures he didn't
keep any French telephone
number because he was for sure that once he will be in passage Brady he will
get
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all contact numbers. He had
no one in Paris except daowd or if he wanted to see Anna, she was in rue di
Rivoli in her antique shop.
His train stopped at Gare du Nord. He took metro and came to Chateau d'Eau from
here passage Brady was on
walking distance.
Finally he was in passage
Brady. All the boys were standing outside the restaurants and were waiting for
customers. Adam was in the
middle of the passage Brady. Adam had good friendship with coiffeur. He
entered in his salon. He
recognized him. Adam left his baggage in a corner and started chatting with him
than
he asked him about daowd.
Coiffeur said, "Daowd
opened his restaurant in opera area with partner".
Adam said, "what about
passage Brady's restaurant"?
Coiffeur said, "The
contract was finished so he gave it back to its real owner".
Adam said, "what about
ehtram ul haque butt"?
Coiffeur said, "There
are rumours that he is in Canada. Daowd and butt jointly" he didn't
completed his
sentence, Adam interrupted
him and said; "i know what does it mean. Give me daowd's telephone number
and
his address".
Coiffeur wrote down daowd's
address and telephone number on a piece of paper and ordered tea as well. It
was impossible for Adam to
say no for cup of tea. While Adam was taking tea he thought he should phone
daowd from coiffeur's
telephone. He dialled daowd's mobile number from coiffeur telephone. It was
switched
off. Suddenly coiffeur's
phone rang, he picked up the phone and Daowd was on line so he gave receiver to
Adam. Adam took the receiver
and said, "hello daowd, it's me Adam".
Daowd said, "Where are
you calling from"?
Adam said, "I am calling
you from passage Brady".
Daowd said, "Why don't
you come to opera. Forget about opera, i am coming to pick you up. Stay
there".
After having tea Adam went to
see boys who were standing outside the restaurants. In these five years all the
names of the restaurants were
changed workers were changed but the owners were same. Adam used to stand
outside the restaurant to
call customers. Adam was still illegal the only difference was, before he had
principles to follow and he spent
his life according to his doctrine but now it was different.
He talked about daowd and
everyone pronounced him as sahib because he was patron now. Patron is a word
famous in French language for
the owner of something mostly restaurant.
Daowd was coming hurriedly
from other side. He wasn't recognizable. His complexion was fair, designer
suit,
matching tie and he was
wearing mantle. He was carrying briefcase in one hand and in other hand he
holding
mobile phone. He had heavy
gold rings in his fingers. At first sight Adam thought daowd is some don. As he
came close to Adam he left
his briefcase on the floor and hugged Adam strappingly. People who were
standing in passage Brady
they looking at them amazingly that what's going on because since he left
passage
Brady's restaurant he never
came back and didn't see anyone. The one reason was that that he was very rich
now and other reason was that
that daowd and butt showed bankruptcy and made a lot of money and annoyed
many people as well. Daowd
and Butt left each other but took his money and went to Canada and Daowd
opened an expensive
restaurant with partner in opera. As he hugged Adam he started crying. Both of
them
came to daowd's dazzling and
glistening car.
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Chapter 20: Lalkurti 2
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