13th Day Since Shibly's arrival in Marudur.
Saturday, Morning
Shibly couldn’t go back to his village this weekend. The principal had asked him to stay and work. Shibly had agreed. Even the new staff members had decided to stay in Marudur.
"Shibly, our new staff stay temporarily in the Akbar mosque dormitory. You know the graveyard mosque, right…?! I have asked Izzadeen sir to vacate the school quarters. He can't permanently stay there. Once Mr Izzadeen vacates the place, the staff will shift to the quarters. Would you like to stay with them? Because you are also one of the our new staff members", the principal asked Shibly on Saturday.
Shibly hated this new troop of staff from the very first second. He did not even like himself to get introduced to these men, let alone staying with them in the same quarters.
"No, sir. The place I stay is a comfortable place. I am more comfortable staying alone", said Shibly.
"Ok, then. If that is your decision, done. So, as a matter of fact, you won't get school quarters”, the principal said. Shibly kept silent in an awkward manner.
"Well, I think you are familiar with my son Hamzi, don't you?"
"Yeah, I once met him".
It was more than a meeting with Hamzi. He was compelling Shibly to share a voice message about the incident of the attack on the principal. Shibly composed the message itself and everything was set ready for the message to be posted.
God saved him in the final minutes. Shibly didn't post the message because of the last second hesitation.
Shibly is just a newcomer. How would people possibly have taken his opinion if he had posted this message? He would have unnecessarily fallen in trouble with village folks.
Hamzi pretended to be an innocent playful take-it-easy character. Shibly’s instinct said that Hamzi hides his true mischievous nature within the facade of a playful character. Nevertheless, he was thankful for Hamzi as he gave Shibly and his luggage a lift to Akbar mosque.
"Yes, sir. I know Hamzi. I once met him".
"Good. He will come with you and the two of you will show the places in Marudur to our new staff”.
Within the next half-an-hours, Hamzi entered the school premises at his leisure. This is the first time Shibly is meeting him since he shifted from the graveyard mosque. He also felt uncomfortable, as he had not posted the social media message Hamzi had requested.
“Hi, bro, long since I saw you. Hope you are doing well. You wouldn’t even answer my phone calls…!”.
“When did you call me? I can’t remember, bro”.
“I called you several times. Can’t you remember? It was about that voice message?!”.
“Yeah… about that message… you know what I thought was…”
“No bro. Take it easy. No need to explain. You were feeling awkward to post it. That was all. Am I right?”.
“Yeah. That’s right”.
“Because you are a newcomer”.
“Yeah. Absolutely right”.
“Take it easy, bro. I am not my father to ask you for an explanation for everything you do. How many places have you visited in Marudur?”, Hamzi asked, changing the topic.
“Not everywhere. Been in many places”.
“My father asked me to introduce you and other new staff to the whole village”.
It turned out to be Hamzi introducing Shibly and others to villagers. There was nothing to surprise. Shibly himself was a new staff member and he needed an introduction on his own. However, he hated to be identified as one of this troop of new staff.
“I will show you every inch of this village. You know, this was my school. I am a pure Marudurian”, Hamzi told Shibly.
“Yeah, I remember. Last time you told me that you studied here”.
“Yeah, you know who is a pure Marudurian?”.
“People who were born here, I suppose...!!”.
“It doesn’t matter where you were born, bro. It doesn't matter where you are from. But, you must be able to speak with the Marudur accent”.
“Okay”.
“Most of the school staff never become pure Marudurians. They try to make Mardurians speak in their accent. Even my father is not a pure Marudurian. He can’t speak pure Marudur accent”.
“Yeah, maybe because he spent most of his life outside. Is that so?”
“That’s partly true. But, it’s not the only reason. He always got a negative mindset about fellow villagers”.
“Aaha…”
“Sometimes he is very rude, you know. Forget about him, bro. How is your work going on? I heard you work in the office with my father nowadays”.
“Yeah, not bad. Can’t you see how it is going? I am working weekends”.
“Come on, bro, take it easy”.
All six of them set out to wander in Marudur street.
****
Shibly’s Diary
I wanted to go back home and meet my family and friends.
Where is Minhaj? I have never met him since he was fired. He never called me. I tried to call him once or twice. But, he was unreachable. I must meet him.
Minhaj was the only friend I had in this village. He would still have been working here, if only he had behaved responsibly. Irresponsible fellow…!
Why do people become so irresponsible? Minhaj is an irresponsible person just like this boy Hamzi. Anyone would easily spot how irresponsible Hamzi is. But, it was very difficult for me to spot Minhaj.
I had thought Minhaj was a very responsible young man. He should behave so responsibly in his family situation. But, he wasn’t. I came to know about all these things through the mouth of Mr Shareek.
Mr Shareek is an educated gentleman. He was too good for Marudur. He witnessed every stage of Minhaj's growth throughout his life. He was eager to discuss many things with him. He was eager to help him. How rude of Minhaj to reject such voluntary support from a person like Mr Shareek..!
Sometimes we need to obtain support from suitable people. I used to talk a lot with Rizwan sir those days. Of course, I hated talking to people like my uncle, my cousin Nifra’s father. It was simply because my uncle was a money-minded materialistic man. He scales people with the money they have. I naturally hated him.
For Minhaj, things are different. Mr Shareek is such a gentleman. I have never met a person like him in my life. He is so knowledgeable and well-mannered. If I ever had a person like him in my family, I would have followed every single word he tells me. But, I did not have any.
If I ever meet Minhaj again, I would talk to him about this. But, it was difficult to reach him. He never answered my phone calls for the last few days. Probably he is sleeping lazily. “Sleeping is Minhaj’s favourite hobby”, Mr Shareek had told me.
****
Sunday, Evening
“Japan Hajiyar, you are the person entitled to be the leader of Marudur", said Fahim sir.
It was Japan Hajiyar's house next to Akbar mosque.
Japan Hajiyar was seated on an expensive sofa in front of Fahim sir. He was one of Fahim sir’s distant cousin brothers, a Machan.
Japan Hajiyar smiled awkwardly at what Fahim sir said. He had been called “Japan Hajiyar” as he worked in Japan for many years and he nowadays finds it difficult to recall his real name.
Japan Hajiyar was an overweight short man in his mid-fifties, a few inches more than five feet. He weighed ninety-five kilograms when weighed last time. Diabetes and blood-pressure were part of his self-identity. Medical specialists in the neighbourhood were fond of him as he generously filled their wallets. Their expensive medicines and enthusiastic medical consultation did little to improve Japan Hajiyar’s health condition.
"People like you should get ready to serve the community", said Fahim sir.
Japan Hajiyar laughed.
"What else are you expecting me to do, Fahim Machan? I am already in community service. Do you want any lump sum of money?", Japan Hajiyar laughed emptily, “people often come to me most of the time asking for money. Otherwise they never show up”.
"No, no, Japan Machan. I don't want any money. It’s not that sort. I am trying to say that you should be involved in village affairs more actively".
“Actively? How? All I have is some money thanks to the years I worked hard in Japan. All praise be to God. I contribute my money for community work as much as possible. What else can I do? You know Fahim Machan, I am an uneducated country fellow”.
“Don’t talk this way, Japan Machan. You have money, don’t you? Money is everything”.
“Really? I always hear educated people like you scold me for being rich”.
“Not me Japan Machan, I have never scolded you. People sometimes, of course, scold you. But, everything is because they are jealous of you. Nothing else. You have worked hard to earn this. It never came out of nothing”.
“Hard work and God’s help. So, I assume Fahim Machan is up to something”.
“You should play an active role in our village affairs”.
“Fahim Machan, you are trying to say something. But, if you beat around the bush, I won’t understand. You know, I am an uneducated country fellow. Tell me straightforwardly, whatever you are trying to say”.
“Well, Japan Machan, let me tell you straightforwardly. you should take Mohideen Hajiyar’s post”.
Japan Hajiyar laughed aloud as if watching a hilarious comedy.
“What nonsense are you talking about? Are you alright, Fahim Machan? Have you got any problem?”.
“You should take the leadership position of the mosque federation and Marudur Welfare association. That's what I said."
“I don’t understand what Fahim Machan is talking about. I can’t go and sit in those seats as I wish. People should vote for me and select me for the positions”.
“Yeah, that’s true. You must be selected. But, if you are ready, I can stand by your side”.
“I still don’t get what Fahim Machan is trying to say. I think you still beat around the bush”.
“It’s like this, Japan Machan. If you want to get selected, you need the support of important people. It is just like in politics. Mohideen Hajiyar gets selected all the time because he has strong supporters around him”.
“That makes sense”.
“Most of the educated and rich in the village support him”.
“Including you, Fahim Machan”.
“Absolutely right. I don’t deny it. I have been a passionate supporter of Mohideen Haajiyar all these years. It was for the welfare of this village and he is a good man”.
“So, now what’s the problem? Has he become a bad man?”
“No, he is too good. That’s the problem. With pure gold you can’t make jewels”.
“What do you say?”
“He tries to follow every rule letter to letter. He wants to do everything legally”.
“It sounds to me that Fahim Machan wants to do something illegal”.
“Not exactly, Japan Machan, no. You know three teachers including me were transferred. It was illegal. It happened as revenge because I supported Mohideen Hajiyar without supporting the principal and his MARUDUR FIRST men”.
“That’s right”.
“Isn’t it natural for me to expect Mohideen Hajiyar should spend some money and use his influence to cancel the transfer order as they did?”.
“Absolutely. It’s very natural”.
“But, he did nothing”.
“Nothing at all?”
“I won’t say he didn’t do anything at all. He has given the responsibility to a naive lawyer for looking into this matter. I don’t understand how long he would drag the process”.
When Mohideen Hajiyar and other leaders told Fahim sir in Akbar mosque about the lawyer and other procedures, he was delighted. But, later Fahim sir changed his mind and hated this whole idea.
“So, how does Fahim Machan want to get things done?”.
“If we go somewhat extra-legal, we could get things done at once. But, you know about Mohideen Haajiyar. He is not ready to consider such possibilities”.
“Mohideen Haajiyar is a pious god-fearing man. But, most of the people are not as honest as him. Did you hear the news about my last son and my sister’s son? They hit the principal and got into trouble”.
“I know. It created chaos in the village. It is common knowledge”
“That’s true. But, keep it a secret to yourself. You know what I had to do to cover up the story?”.
“No. What did you do?”.
“I paid one million rupees. Five hundred thousand for each head”.
“What? One million? Oh, my God?”. Fahim sir exclaimed in disbelief.
“I didn’t intend to bribe. Actually I was blackmailed. I helplessly paid a sum of a bribe”.
“Then, what happened?”
“Then, what happened? I had to pay one million. The principal’s son… What is his name?”
“Hamzi? …?”
“Yes, Hamzi. He was the one who helped me to cover up the whole thing”.
“Did you pay this one million to Hamzi?”
“No, I handed over this one million to a stranger”.
“It explains everything. I think, Hajiyar, you have been cheated, your money has been used to bribe an official to transfer me and other teachers”.
Fahim sir explained how a sum of one million rupees was paid for arranging an illegal transfer order for three teachers.
“What do you say, Fahim Machan?”
“Yes, they have cheated you. They didn’t use the money to cover up or protect your and sister's kids”.
“Then? Rascal, that boy Hamzi talked like an innocent”.
“Of course, he is innocent. He was just a carrier pigeon. I know the real culprit”.
“Who is that rascal? Let me teach him a lesson that he will never forget”.
“Mr Shareek”.
****
Sunday Night.
Mr Shareek and aunt Fauziya paid another compulsory weekend visit to Minhaj’s house.
Minhaj’s Saudi Arabia trip was scheduled to take place within the next few days. Every arrangement has been made by Mohideen Hajiyar. He was taking care of Minhaj’s visa and other official arrangements. However, this was the first time he was ever going to travel beyond the national borders of Sri Lanka. It was somewhat terrifying though, it was stressful in a pleasant sense.
Minhaj had wanted to keep the news of his business trip a secret until the last minute. But, it was not possible. Helplessly the news got leaked to uncle Shareek and aunt Fauziya.
Mr Shareek was tasting his hot tea sitting on an old sofa placed in the main hall of Minhaj’s house.
“Minhaj, the news of your business trip isn’t a rumour. It’s a fact, isn’t it?”.
“Yeah, uncle, it’s true”.
“So, you never wanted to discuss it with us?”
“It was like, uncle, a quick decision, you know. It’s a good opportunity. I didn’t want to lose it”.
“How much will they pay you for this trip? I mean the salary”.
“No, uncle, there won’t be any salary. I am not recruited as an employee. I go with him as Mohideen Hajiyar's business partner”.
“Business partner? You are Mohideen Hajiyar’s business partner?,” asked Mr Shareek sarcastically and laughed loudly as though Minhaj told a joke.
Minhaj felt awkward and remained silent.
“Minhaj, how come Mohideen Hajiyar becomes your business partner?”.
“He travels abroad looking for business opportunities”.
“So which business you and Mohideen Haajiyar are going to do in Saudi Arabia?”
“Uncle, there isn’t going to be any business. This trip is just to gain some business ideas”.
“So you won’t earn anything?”.
“Probably no”.
Mr Shareek laughed in a mocking tone, “So, Minhaj, tell me what is the point of this business trip, if you don’t earn anything”.
“This is not going to be the end. It’s going to be just the beginning”.
“Aaha… so, have you got any employment contracts signed?”
Minhaj’s patience was crossing its red line. Why should Minhaj give all this information to this annoying man? He took a painstaking effort to pose himself calm.
“Uncle, I already told you. I am a business partner. Not an employee to sign an employment contract”.
“Oh, yeah, sorry. Extremely sorry. You are Mohideen Hajiyar’s business partner, aren’t you?”, Mr Shareek said sarcastically, “so, have you signed a business contract?”.
“No, we haven’t started any business yet. How can we have a business contract?”.
“So, you are going to travel four thousand kilometres away without any contracts signed?”
“Yeah…”, said Minhaj, and then, there was a long awkward silence.
“Have you consulted with someone about the legal and financial implication of this so-called business trip of yours?”.
“No, Uncle, but, I don’t think it’s so important”.
“You must, Minhaj. You must consult with a lawyer or a business consultant. You could have talked to me, Minhaj. Many businessmen seek my consultation. But, you never do”.
Oh, my god, please make this man leave.
Minhaj kept silent.
I should find a way to get rid of this annoying man. Why should this man marry a woman of our family? Why is he behaving this way? Has he got any problem?
****
Hamdha Mohideen’s diary
My parents seem to be very actively searching for a suitable groom for me. They are so worried about my marriage. Especially my father. I am his only daughter. He doesn't want anything to go wrong in his daughter’s life because of his negligence.
My brother is also there to get married. He is already twenty-seven. If he had agreed to get married earlier, he would have been the first one to get married in our family. But, now it’s too late. Now I am also in the line.
I have mixed feelings about getting married. Marriage is any girl’s teenage dream. Rather getting married is a natural human aspiration I would say.
We have been programmed in a way to search for our soul mates. It is an unavoidable need for the continuance of the human race. Marriage is a fairy tale, heaven created down in the material earth.
It is an extraordinary feeling when there is someone besides you to care about you and to share your life with. Married couples sometimes may not see marriage in this positive light. But, I would say they often take their spouses for granted.
A sizeable number of my school friends have already got married. Actually, I am somewhat late only because of my university studies. There are many years ahead for my university years to get completed, given the strikes and protests held are taken into consideration. But, girls can’t wait for such a long time. Then, all potential grooms would already have taken their brides for their share.
Sometimes I feel too worried. I have heard stories of alcoholic husbands, drug-addicted men, persons having extramarital affairs and violent personas. What if my husband happened to be one of those… May God protect me from all sorts of evils.
Many men are there who are ready to grab my hands in marriage. One reason was that I am pretty. I am aware of it. I resemble my mother’s family where men are handsome and ladies are pretty. On my father's side, people are not so physically appealing. My father and Shakira’s father look alike. Shakira is more like her father. Most people would not consider her pretty. It could be one of the reasons why she has been envious of me for all this time. Even Rushdha is not so pretty at a glance.
The first priority for most of the men in marriage is being pretty. They demand their wives be pretty as beautiful as the moon if you want me to sound poetic.
I have an added advantage as well in the marriage market. I have a reputed financial background. Many people view marriage as a vehicle to be rich.
The thought had never occurred to me that I would never get married. I was mostly worried about the sort of person to whom I would get married. I hate anybody who wants to marry me just because I am pretty or rich. What if we suddenly flop financially? I cannot be this pretty throughout my life, could I? Then, what would happen when I get older and my appearance fades away with time?
I want a soul mate who likes me with pure-hearted love just because of the beauty of my soul. I couldn’t spot any such men, at least so far. That’s why I am worried. That’s why my father is worried.
What about someone from our own village? we must be familiar not only with his characters but also with his family?
I just think about Minhaj, my best friend Rushdha’s brother. Will he be a suitable soul mate?
I had decided earlier to be rational in this matter. So, I realized my parents would not accept him as a potential groom, as he was not affluent. Then, the news of his business trip with my father came up. If he could build himself up financially, things could change and there would be a chance, I hoped.
I can’t deny the fact that the seeds of hope had started growing within me. But, alas…! What sort of poor soul I am…! The hope didn't last long. This time it was my brother who shuttered my dreams with a blasting announcement.
****
Sunday, Morning
Mohideen Haajiyar is a busy man 24/7. He had decided to take a day off this Sunday. He was a family-oriented man. Despite his busy business schedules and community responsibilities, he never fails to regularly spend sufficient quality time with his family.
This time his day-off unexpectedly turned out to be a disaster.
Their house is usually a happy home. But, not on this Sunday. It looked empty just like a funeral house.
Mohideen Haajiyar, his wife and his daughter Hamdha were seated in sofas facing each other. But, they rarely looked at each other’s face. Their faces were tightly shut for any emotions.
His elder son, Hamdha’s brother, had called his mother that day morning and had conveyed the blasting news. The whole chaos was about him.
“We can’t be thinking for the whole day like this,” Hajiyar’s wife said, “we have to make a quick decision. I don’t understand the point of your silence”.
Mohideen Hajiyar coughed. He had taken hundreds of important decisions in his life. But, this one was rather sensitive. It was about his own son, his flesh and blood.
“We have to think, Ziyana. This is about our son. We can’t utter anything suddenly”.
“Nothing to think about here. Just tell him in his face this is not going to work out. His idea is ridiculous. I can’t understand how his brain got this much corrupted”.
“Ziyana, listen. Now I am happy about him because he is interested in marriage at last. He wasn’t brought up properly. I didn’t spend enough time with him. He grew up on his own”.
“Don’t blame my son. It is that vampire's daughter who convinced him".
"Ziyana, mind your words. Our son is the one who wants to marry that girl. That girl is innocent".
"Who knows? You cannot believe innocent-looking girls," Hajiyar's wife uproared.
"Ziyana, please don't forget we also have a daughter".
"I know about my children. They are twenty-four-carat gold. That girl - this Minhaj's elder sister. She won't bring any dowry. But, I don't care. We don't expect dowry. She is not pretty. No issues. But, what about the age difference? She is one year older than our son", said Ziyana, Mohideen Hajiyar's wife, "wouldn't you at least consider this fact of the age difference?".
Mohideen Haajiyaar kept silent. Hamdha spoke for the first time. "My brother wants to get married to Rushdha's sister. I haven't known her personally. But, I know Rushdha very well. She is a very good girl. Her sister also must be a good girl. She is from a good family, isn’t she?".
"Here you come for your part, you princess. Haven't you understood what I just said? Are you deaf? She is older than your brother", said Haajiyar’s wife angrily while drops of tears were flowing from her eyes, "He is my only son. I can't sacrifice him. You two, the father and the daughter speak like Sufis. But, I am not. I am an ordinary human being just like everyone. I can't be helpless without considering these ordinary things''.
"Please, calm down, Ziyana. We will take time and think about this".
"You may take as long as you wish. There won't be any change in my decision. There is one more thing".
"What?"
"Forget about taking that girl's brother with you on your business trip to Saudi Arabia”.
"You are talking about this Minhaj?"
"Yeah. I am talking about this boy Minhaj. Who else am I talking about?".
((To be Continued...))
_ _ _ _ _ _
Next chapter: chapter 19 - can I lead the funeral prayer, Hazrath?
Previous chapter : chapter 17 - business trip
* Characters, events and the places in this story are fictional and a mere product of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to real-world events or characters is merely coincidental.
** Vijayapura and Marudur are fictional places.
Riza Jaufer
Akurana -Kandy,
Sri Lanka
