Mother

"Surah-40 Al-Mu’min," said Ustad Akhlaq, touching the Holy Quran with his forehead. "Begin with the name of Allah, who is very kind and merciful. This Holy Quran is descended from Allah, who is awesome. He is the knower, forgiver of sin, acceptor of repentance. He is severe to punish but very natural. There is no God but He. Ultimately, we have to return to Him."

All children are listening attentively. Akhlaq is beautifully imparting the teachings of the Holy Quran to the orphans. Some children who did not learn the previous lesson were standing outside the room and listening to the next lesson.

"Akhlaq Sir, just look at the watch. It is time for your evening tea and children to play. ”Said Sabina, the babysitter (Ayah) of the orphanage, standing near the door of the room. The children were happy to hear that it was time for games. A joyful noise echoed throughout the study hall. The faces of Sabina and Akhlaq reacted to the noise made by the children as if both had remembered their childhood. Immediately all the children ran outside to play.

The children of a Muslim nation, orphaned by the American bombing, are populating the deserted orphanages of the town playing and making noise. At first, there were only twelve children. Now including the children who have been orphaned recently, the orphanage is made lively by sixty four young orphans. The young Fatima, aged six to seven years, is also one of those unfortunate children who have recently been orphaned. Within two days, the new children have got mixed up so well with the old children of the orphanage that they make merry playing and merry making. The orphanage has become lively once again.

"You have become very chic now, Hamida " Akhlaq said after taking down the sip of tea.

"Chic!." Hamida Khatoon who is In charge of the orphanage said shrinking her nose and eyes. "The children have made the life miserable. Ever since the new children have arrived I have no time for bath or wash. Hope you listen to the noise, made by the devils, which is still continuing? They do not have an interest for study. Throughout the day they are busy playing, jumping and running. “If I have the power I shall rectify them by beating”. Hamida continued to say while holding her forehead. Hamida is a tough woman who is feared by the old children of the orphanage. But the new children have not felt it because they have not been given any punishment so far.

It is time for sunset, As usual, the children are playing with the ball in the orphanage complex. In the middle of the garden, on one end of the complex, the staffs of the orphanage are enjoying evening tea with gossip. The existing orphanage is government aided. Earlier it was an airy two-storied mansion of some old rich man. Now a slight change has taken place. Earlier it was called Altaf House, whereas nowadays it is identified as Altaf Orphanage.

"Children play carefully. There are glass windows. See that they do not break". Sabina, who has a soft corner for children, works as a babysitter( Ayah) in the orphanage. She is kind- hearted, noble and a virtuous woman. She is sad if the children are sad and happy if they are happy. She instructed the children while playing but it had no effect on them.They continued playing there.

"Why do these Americans interfere in our affairs? These ba****ds have ruined so many houses. How many people, in their youth, have been killed by them ?. How many children have become orphans? ”Sajjad Bhai, sitting next to Akhlaq, said with great anger. Sajjad Bhai bursts out with pain from time to time. This is known to all people of the orphanage.

“All these are all economic warfare. It is an attempt to establish market and supremacy in other countries. "Akhlaq reacted in a resolved manner and took down the sip of tea again.

“These Americans will never succeed in their plans. Bhaijaan, if our Arab community is successful like this. Insha Allah, they will never be able to take possession of our oil wells. "Sajjad's fiery voice was still aloud.

"Buddy, leave it. Why are you spoiling the evening tea? ”Akhlaq said with the aim of pacifying Sajjad.

"You are absolutely right!" Sajjad Saheb always has a fiery temperament. ”Hamida also supported Akhlaq's remark. After taking a sip of tea she put the cup on the table again. Hamida always drinks tea slowly according to her nature. Every new sip of tea will be colder than the previous..

"Look how many beautiful flowers bloom in the front garden!" It seems the nature has written the verses of Quran in Arabic. ”Akhlaq said in a very romantic way. Hamida and Sabina giggled.

Both of you make the weather even happier when you laugh. On this, a poet has said beautifully – “Only the crazy people smile, God bless them with prosperity. Otherwise who comes to the world and smiles? ”Akhlaq said in a very beautiful way.

"Of course I am a hundred percent in agreement with your words, Akhlaq Bhai Jaan. In such a weather, only a crazy person can laugh. ”And Sajjad laughed loudly saying these words.

"What do you mean Sajjad Sir!" Are we both mad? ”Hameeda asked this question on behalf of her and Sabina.

"The verse of Akhlaq Sir means only this.” Sajjad Sir said, raising up his cup of tea, and began to enjoy the sip of tea. Hamida got furious.

“Hey, why are you so serious? Sajjad Sir is only joking.” Akhlaq said with a smile.

The gossip was on. Then an accident happened. The ball, played by the children on the side, suddenly fell on the table. Taking a rebound, the edge of the ball hit Hamida's cup of tea which fell on the ground with a bang and cracked. The splatter of the tea spoiled Hamida's clothes. Now Hamida's face glowed with anger. All the children stood still in fear.

"Who threw the ball?" Hamida shouted angrily.

"Fa… Fatima." He said trembling with fear.

"Hey girl, come here." You have gained too much fat. It is not even two days and you show such audacity? ”Hamida asked the girl to come closer.

“Leave it. After all she is a child. It was a mistake” Sabina said defending Fatima

"Sabina, you are a baby sitter" Don’t try to pose like an In charge. If I do not punish this girl harshly today, all the new children will become a problem for me”. Hamida gave a big slap on the cheek of the little girl, Fatima. Poor thing fell two feet away on the ground, "Sabina take her and dump her in the dark cell and don’t give her any food."

Akhlaq and Sajjad knew Hamida's anger.Therefore, they remained silent. Hamida often tortured children.The older children, when alone, used to call her Lady Saddam Hussein. Ali urinated in his pant as he remembered that day when, as a punishment, he was kept standing the whole day under the scorching sun on the harsh summer month of May. It took a full day for him to come to his senses and become normal as he had become unconscious due to the dizziness. Rehmat standing next to Ali could refresh the scene of being made a cock and kept for hours. He had a muscles pull on his thighs for three to four days, the unbearable pains of which have not been forgotten by him till date. The lean thin Alam remembered the ten rounds of the orphanage. The rest of the children also remembered the caning, blows, punches, slaps used as punishment by Hamida from time to time. Children had heard about the terror of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. How did Saddam torture his opponents brutally and put them to death? He threw many of them in front of hungry lions. A person suffering from knife’s injury was tortured by applying salt. It was common for him to kill his enemies with his gun and sword. The children began to compare Hamida with Saddam Hussein while sleeping at night. They did not miss to call her Lady Saddam Hussein privately. .

"Fatima will die today at the hands of Lady Saddam." Ali muttered in a very low voice.

"Buddy, do you want to die? Her ears are very sharp! If she listens, we must be ready for your funeral. ”Rahmat Mian interrupted Ali in his own way.

"When Fatima was slapped, I had urinated in my pants itself." Ali had pulled his shirt out so that no one could see his wet pants.

"You are a born coward," Rahmat said smiling softly.

"How lion- hearted are you? You were also made to be a cock for an hour. You were ready for chopping.”Ali said sarcastically.

"What are you conniving at my back?" Hamida said suddenly turning away the attention from Fatima and looking at the children.

"Nothing Madam." Rahmat said with great difficulty, swallowing his spit.

"What are you watching? Go and learn the next lesson of Holy Quran. Whoever did not learn the lesson will not get food. Understand. ”The lioness gave her strong command.

Thankfully, after the slap, Fatima has been punished by making her starve for one night in a dark cell. The people present there breathed a sigh of relief. As ordered, Sabina took Fatima away from the scene, as soon as possible, so that Hamida’s intention do not change to give her harsher punishment. The rest of the children also moved towards the study room without losing a single moment.

In the dark room, just a zero watt bulb spread its dim light. It seemed to be struggling with the darkness prevailing in the cell. In solitude, Fatima began to have strange fears. She sat at one corner with her arms and legs folded. The memory of her parents was fresh in her mind. Whenever she was scared, she would hold her mother tightly or go to sleep clinging on her lap. Her mother used to massage her head and ask her to take the name of 'Allah' which removed her fear. 'Where have you gone mother. Come back my dear mother.” saying this tears welled her eyes.

"Allah-Allah". Fatima tried to overcome her inner fear. Don't know how long she sat there repeating 'Allah-Allah'. She suddenly realized something lying in her frock's pocket. She had a piece of chocolate and chalk in her hand. She remembered the events of that day.

"Shabas Fatima, you have learnt your lessons very well. Your melody is sweet." Repeat it once again. ”Fatima chanted again at the behest of Akhlaq Sir. The whole class was spellbound listening.

"Take this chocolate." Akhlaq gave Fatima as a reward. Fatima went to her seat and sat down.

"You guys learn your lessons. I shall come now. ” Akhlaq walked out of the class saying this.

Fatima felt something on her back. She turned around and saw. A piece of chalk was thrown by Reshma.

"What is it?" Fatima asked Reshma while putting that piece of chalk in her pocket.

"Will you eat the chocolate all by yourself?" Reshma said with wide opened eyes and her head shaking.

"You too may eat but after the school is over." Fatima said smiling, "Now learn your lessons."

In the dark cell, she tore the chocolate wrapper and started eating the chocolate.

The sound of eating echoed in the atmosphere. Fatima had now overcome her fears to a great extent.

She started drawing curved lines on the floor with chalk. Firstly she painted a cat, which she did not like, so erased it. Then she thought why not make a picture of my mother. She could not create the image of her mother. But somehow after a little effort she could bring out an image of a woman.She finally wrote 'Mother' in Arabic language at the bottom. This made her feel the presence of her mother in the picture. The picture was so big that she clung to her lap. It was enough for the little girl to realize that she was sleeping with her late mother.

Many happy memories of the past started floating in her young mind like the little Fatima running behind butterflies, her playing in mother's lap, swinging on father's shoulders, insisting for toffee, chocolate, biscuits, sometimes playing with dolls in the midst of many toffees, chocolates and biscuits. Then suddenly there was a blast outside the house which made her leave the toys and peep outside the window. Fatima was shocked. There was fire all around outside There was a chaotic sound of stampede and mayhem. People were dead here and there. Many people were injured and suffering. Blood was scattered everywhere on the road. Carcasses of flesh was seen everywhere. Seeing all this, Fatima stood there confused. After that explosion, the anxiously waiting little Fatima could not see her parents returning from the market. Fatima spent many days crying and thinking about them. Fatima is amidst those orphans now who too had the same fate of losing their parents.

As usual, Chef Mahmood was calling the children for food in his hoarse voice after serving food in plates for them in the dining room. All children came, but not a single child had partaken the food. Don't know what was the matter?

After some time, Hamida washed her hands and mouth and came to the room for food. Even then the children showed the same attitude. The children, who broke down like vultures for food, were not even touching it today, standing in front of it.

"What happened to you children? Why are you all not eating the food. ”Hamida asked in a loud voice.

“In charge Sahiba, there is a demand from children. Till Fatima doesn’t eat, not a single child will eat. ”Cook Mahmud said in his hoarse voice.

"Akhlaq Sir is not seen!" Hameda asked Sabina standing by the side of the dining table next to her.

“I told many times but every time he kept on saying that he was not hungry” Sabina said in a sad tone.

"Okay, either they eat or die hungry." It doesn't matter to me. I am very hungry. I shall eat well. ”Hamida said breaking a piece of bread from the plate kept in front.

"Yes In charge Sahiba, well said. Let them starve to death. They will learn a lesson when they will feel hungry at night”. Chef Mahmud said in his hoarse voice. He laughed with wide opened mouth in a crude manner.

"Have you served food?" Hamida asked Mahmud very sternly.

"Yes Madam" Mahmud replied in a hoarse voice, checking his laughter.

"Then what are you doing here? Go back to the kitchen”. Hamida said to Mahmud in the same stern tone.

He went to the kitchen drooping his neck. Hamida dipped the bread in the vegetable curry but could not take it to her mouth.

"Shall I say one thing?" Sabina wanted to tell Hamida something in her mind.

"What?" Said Hamida, keeping the piece of bread back on the plate.

“Forgive Fatima. You did no good by putting that little child in a dark cell. Perhaps this is the reason why Akhlaq Sir did not eat his food". Sabina placed her personal opinion.

Only this morning Akhlaq Sir gave chocolate to Fatima as an award.

"For what?" Hamida had the same rudeness in her face.

“Fatima touched everyone’s heart by her sweet voice. At her young age she has recited her lesson so beautifully that Sir got impressed and gave her a chocolate as an award. But on the same day you gave her the punishment by dumping the little child in the dungeon. Perhaps this is the reason why, like all children, Akhlaq Sir has not eaten.

"And Sajjad?" Hameeda asked.

"He too has decided not to eat. He is studying the Quran loudly in the study hall” Sabina said with sadness. Hamida knows that when Sajjad's heart is filled with pain and sorrow, he recites the Holy Quran in a loud voice to get relieved from pain.

"Let's go to the dark room for bringing Fatima." Hamida said softly. Sabina’s joy knew no bounds.

When the light was switched on in the dark room, Fatima was found sleeping comfortably in the middle of her mother's image, drawn out of chalk.She looked like a little angel from heaven sleeping. Hamida captured that beautiful scene in her mobile phone.

"Look, In charge Sahiba, the girl has written 'Maa' at the bottom of the picture." Sabina said in a very emotional tone. Tears welled up in her eyes.

"Open the door quickly, Sabina." Hamida felt about her harshness for the first time. Her heart was filled by a sense of guilt. A great deal of sympathy for Fatima came forth from the bottom of her heart.

"Allah! Forgive me”. Apologizing for her mistake Hamida said, “From today, I will not be strict on any child. ”Fatima's sleep was disturbed by the commotion. She woke up. Sabina and Hamida were standing in front of Fatima.

"Come on my child." Said Hamida in a guilt-filled voice. Both her arms moved towards Fatima to embrace her in a motherly affection.

The little Fatima clung to Hamida, saying "Mother." The girl was also hungry for the mother's love for a long time.

"Yes, my dear child, from today I am your mother. You will always be with me”. ”When the motherly love gave its expression after many years of slumber, the Lady Saddam Hussein within Hamida died instantaneously. Sabina standing next to the scene became emotional. She was just busy wiping her tears with a handkerchief.

THE END

माँ (प्रतिनिधिकहानी) 

★★★★★ 

© Mahavir Uttranchali

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