The Duff

Peer pasha was a full-time sexton at the Jumma masjid grave yard but during the holy month of Ramazan he tours the lanes of the city alerting those observing fast to complete their pre-dawn meals which he believes is an act of charity and provides him with a seasonal income as well. He wears a sleeveless apron on a long white kurta and a chequer lungi. He ties a green turban over a skull cap with few amulets across his fatty neck and plenty of ring in almost all of his fingers with colourful stones embedded that he supposed brings charm. He smells floral from a distance as he puts on a strong jasmine fragrant scent all over his kurta, his salt-pepper French beard shines on his dark-skinned puffy face also a sling bag made up of cotton swings over his left shoulder in which he stuffs alms. He carries a duff that he plays while he sings in the local dialect praising the almighty and his blessing that he showers on those who observe fast.

Ameer owns a tea corner at the city centre where people assemble in decent number to have a sip of the beverage and chit chat on random topics, it is a favourite hangout among masses of all age groups. His tea stall remains open all through the night during the Ramazan month and it was during which his friendship with Peer pasha bonded when the later regularly stopped to have a sip of tea at Ameer’s tea corner. Ameer never accepted money from Peer pasha as he believes that Peer pasha is serving the community and in turn Ameer desires to serve him a bit by offering free tea and snacks.

Ameer is married to Rahima who is expecting her second child in a week or so and this time she wishes to have a baby girl as her first child is a boy who is now of over four years of age. Rahima was a very crafty lady, she learnt stitching from a nearby ladies’ tailor. She also was a part of a self-help group which manufactures papads, pickels, other homemade snacks and sells them to the local vendors earning a few rupees to support their families. Rahima wanted to start her own tailoring shop and she many a times discussed this with Ameer. Though she was uneducated yet she had bigger plans of educating her kids and leading a prosperous life ahead. She wanted her family to be financially stable to lead a decent life ahead and that is why she tries different earning options.

On the other end Peer Pasha was a very orthodox man who believes women are only meant to look after their family and home, according to him earning was supposed to be the sole proprietorship of men. He lives along with his wife Amina and Sada his five years old girl, he never led Amina to be a part of the work force not even part time jobs. No matter how weak their financial position was yet he never allowed his wife to take up work.

A couple of days ago Rahima once again brought out her wish of starting a tailoring shop to which Ameer vehemently opposed as he was influenced by Pasha and his ideology of not allowing women to take part in any economic activity. In fact, there was a heated argument between the couple and finally as the delivery date was nearing Ameer sent Rahima to her parent’s home to have someone to take care of her. That was the reason why Rahima hated Pasha and always discouraged Ameer from befriending Pasha.

Since the very day when Rahima went to her parent’s home even Peer pasha was missing from the same day. A couple of days passed still the alarming voice of Pasha which used to reverberate the lanes of Jamia masjid was lost and it was quite unusual. Ameer enquired with a few common friends but none was to know the where abouts of Pasha. It was a on a Friday afternoon sermon by the Imam that changed the thought process of Ameer, he listened as to how Prophet Muhammad was married to a merchant woman Khatija and how the Prophet survived the life of being an orphan. He was also confused as he couldn’t understand the logic when the Imam addressed to the people asking them to lay their hand over the head of a orphan only to tenderize one’s heart which was hardened with pride, jealousy and ego.

Ameer didn’t speak to Rahima since she went to her parents and the sermon at the Masjid made him realize that he can’t be so tough to his partner. He took out the mobile and dialled to Rahima only to be attended by his mother-in-law informing Ameer that Rahima is been shifted to the hospital just an hour ago and she is expected to have a C-Section as she developed complication for a normal delivery. That evening Ameer was informed by his in laws that he was blessed by a baby girl and that both the baby and mother were doing fine. Ameer was anxious to visit Rahima but couldn’t do as the Ramazan month was a blessing for his business and he couldn’t afford to miss the opportunity.

Naming his new born baby girl was like a puzzle to Ameer and he missed his friend Pasha who could have helped him in naming as the later was quite aware of Urdu and Arabic languages. The holy month of Ramazan was nearing its end with only a week more to go but still Pasha was not traced. Ameer was busy brewing tea at his stall and it was around three in the early morning that he could hear the throbbing of the Duff accompanied with a much more painful song in the local dialect. Yes, it was the same lyrical syllable and the same rhythmic beats of the Duff that Pasha used to play. Ameer grew anxious and an unknown fear started gripping him as the sounds of the Duff started approaching him closer.

He handed over the tea station to his helper and stood at the road side gazing curiously at the end of the street. It was not Pasha but could surely sense the vibes of him, he could not wait till the singer could approach him and so he moved himself towards the throbbing sounds. Ameer struck numb when he saw a woman clad in a burqa with a five years old girl tied with a mini scarf and holding her mother’s burqa tightly fearing she would get lost.

“Assalamualikum Sister” greeted Ameer to the lady

“Walekumassalam” greeted back the lady with a shivering hesitant voice

The sleepy little girl wrapped her mother in fear when she saw her mother speaking to the stranger.

“I am Ameer and I run a tea stall at this corner and I could not stop myself after I heard this song of yours which is actually of my dear friend Pasha” said Ameer

As soon as the lady heard Ameer, she could not control herself and broke down in tears while letting him know that his friend Pasha pass away recently.

“I am Ameena wife of your deceased friend Pasha and this is his orphan kid Sada” cried Ameena

Ameer was shocked to hear this and after recovering himself took Ameena and Sada to his tea stall and offered them tea and snacks. People surrounded them at the tea stall few condoled the lady and a few even provided her help monetarily. Ameer took aside Sada who was frightened by the crowd, he laid his hand over the orphan kid only to fill his eyes with the brine. He could remember the Imam of the masjid who spoke of turning Stones to heart by being with orphans and he promised to himself that he would surely help his deceased friend’s family.

        That incident shook Ameer and though Ameena left the place, Ameer was still grieving and he was also pondering what if he meets the same fate as of Pasha’s and how horrible was it for him to imagine his wife seeking Alms along with his kids. Later in the afternoon he dialed to Rahima and enquired about her health and that of the baby.

        “What name did you think of naming our princess” asked Rahima

        “Sada” answered Ameer will a lull

        Ameer went to his in-laws to celebrate the Eid and took back his family along with him a day after. Rahima got down the autorickshaw holding the baby in her arms with Ameer carrying the luggage, she stood shocked with tears dripping over her chin and falling on Sada only to awake the sleepy baby. A flexy was hanging in front of their door written in bilingual…

                              “SADA LADIES TAILOR”

After Ameer narrated the whole incident to Rahima, the couple later decided to employee Ameena and other such women at their Tailoring shop.