story: ABDUL

It was the black time in Indian History, the worst India had ever seen. To fulfill the greed of a few politicians, LIVES were lost in plenty. Yes, it was the time of partition when this incident took place. I came to know about it from a senior person. A recent movie 'pinjar' also deals with a similar incident. This has also appeared as a publication somewhere, of which i don't know. But i will go on to narrate the incident as it really touched me.

During that time when India was partitioned, Muslims here were moving to Pakistan from India and Hindus from Pakistan were coming to our side. Hindus living in that region recieved the wrath of the muslims. Muslims looted all the property. Killed the men, and children. Women were raped and kept as servents in their homes. Empty homes of Hindus were taken over by muslims. Had it been for just homes, i wouldn't have even bothered to write this, but all the homes were not empty. Men in the fields were slaughtered and their women abducted. That is what pains me.
This is about a man, a muslim, named Abdul and about a woman, a sikh, named Puro.

Abdul was a man not of accomplisments. He was lazy. He did not know much about war or looting. He was one of those seedha saadha type guys. During the time of partition his friends used to go to nearby villages and bring back the loot and women with them. In evening they used to discuss about how much loot each guy had got.... discussions on how they accomplished their dirty ideas of raping and molesting used to be the hot favorites. And sitting with his friends Abdul always felt left out. All his mates made fun of him. They teased him by saying lot of things, but today they crossed the limit. They teased him by naming him "CHAKKA"( meaning ........). This shook him and he decided that next day he will also be a part in discussion and prove that he is also a man. Pathetic how easily a man with weak character gets provoked to walk to wrong path. Is a Man, man only if has a mistress or talks about sex or indulges in such activities? Well, Abdul had got his motivation.
Next morning with the first ray of light he went to nearby village. All the houses were either empty with no property or were occupied by muslims. Getting nothing he went to the next village and then the next. His intense desire to have something to show to his friends did not even allow him to have lunch or rest. He search all along but got nothing. He did not want to return empty handed but it was evening now. Just as he was returning home he saw a home in which he saw very dim light coming from a window. Cruel smile was on his lips.
He raced towards that home. The door was open. The house was empty. It was getting dark and he did not find anyone. How could that be, he had seen light there. Thinking that it might just be his halucination, he was leaving when he heard a pot fall. AHA! He ran to the top of the house where there was just a little room. Such rooms are often used as graineries. He opened the door and there lay the treasure. There was a woman sitting with a pallu on her head as done in traditional hindu homes. She was sikh lady. She would give her life but not give herself to the lust and enjoyment of others. She had a dagger in her hand, READY. As soon as she saw that Abdul had come up, she warned him that if he came near her, she would kill herself. Abdul desparately wanted his prize but was also intelligent enough not to throw it away. He said that he was there not to hurt her, but because he was very hungry. Puro was no fool, 'stay away even if you are hungry, and i know what are you hungry for', she growled .
Abdul became calm and sat down like a innocent child because he knew that he will not be able to get her if he uses force. He begged to Puro saying 'bebe, i am a innocent man, tired and hungry. Have been searching for my sister who had gone to work in fields yesterday and is missing since then. I have come a long way but have not been able to get any news of her. When i saw light in this house i came in thinking that may be because of fear she might have come in this home and locked her up. But then i found you. Bebe, if you can prepare some food for me i will be very grateful to you'. A bit of silence prevailed which Puro broke "I will make some food for you but you stay at a distance from me.' She broke the silence again 'Stay near the door of the house. When the food is prepared i will keep it in the near the enterance. Take it from there and don't even try to get close to me. If you try i will..." Abdul obeyed her like a child. He sat near the door while Puro prepared food for him. His mind was thinking of ways by which he will be able to capture her but the dagger kept near Puro always prevented him from doing anything foolish.
Food was prepared and Puro kept it in the kitchen and left the place. All the while she had her pallu on her head. Abdul had not been able to see her face and his suspense was ever increasing. Abdul came in the kitchen and started eating. The first bite he took, took him back to the memories of his childhood. His mother had died when he was young and the food that he was eating was of the similar taste to what his mother cooked. He got lost while eating. By the time he finished Puro had left. He could not find Puro in the house and straight away rushed to the top. There he saw that Puro was sitting on a chaddar with Guru Granth Sahib in front of her. He saw Puro's face. Light with which she was reading the holy book also revealed her face. He remembered seeing her how his mother fondly used to sit with him and read out verses from Quran. He sat there for a while. He kept looking at Puro and kept remembering his Mother. After a while, when Puro had finished he said, 'sister, my dear, you have fed me and seeing you i remember my mother. I promise you that i will take you to a safe place after which you can join your family. I know about a camp of Hindus. We will go in the mid night so that no one see us.' Puro was a bit scared but there was no one else she could believe. She asked Abdul to go to the enterance and wait for her. Abdul asked her to put a blanket around her so that if any one saw them, they might not start doubting. And then Abdul followed her orders like a faithful son.
Puro got ready when it was nearly mid night. She kept the dagger with her. Put a blanket on herself and went towards the door. She was not sure about Abdul. But Abdul was now firm in his mind. He was now ready to hear all the taunts of his friends but was not ready to cheat on Puro. It was a dark night in which they disappered. Next evening when Abdul was sitting with his friends, everyone was laughing because he could not get anything and had returned empty handed. Abdul was smiling at all of them who returned home with hands full of blood, money and if lucky a women but all of them did not have a heart. And today Abdul's heart was full of happiness.