Uncle,The Hen-Owner

UNCLE, THE HEN-OWNER 

(MURGIWALA CHACHA) 

 Abdul cannot recollect when he dreamt last in his life. To dream the required sleep necessary is not in the fate of some people. Among these unfortunates, Abdul was one. The rain never stops pouring inside his hut on rainy nights. In the scorching heat of the dead noon, the stray dogs could not be stopped to get access to his nest through the half-opened and half-closed door. Rats were never tired to bite the new soil on the floor as if busy soldiers in the home. The squeak of rats and unprecedented dearness keep hooting Abdul despite his sincere efforts to sleep. 

Abdul had lost his Abu and Ummi at a tender age. Nikah was a dream for pauper Abdul. His lavish possession is freedom from family. Probably he just crossed sixty, but who has time to count the age of this spineless creature. He performs salah five times a day like a devout Muslim. He appeals to Allah for the betterment of his fellows who come to pray in the mosque and as a consequence gets alms for his corporeal survival. Thus, time flies. 

But after sixty years. Abdul dreamt for the first time in his life. In front of his hut, so many healthy goats are grazing grass and in the fall of the day, returning to his house. It means, he is the owner of the precious goats and is wealthy. Owning a few goats is a status symbol for hapless Abdul. Beyond this contemplation was not possible for him. He looked at Suliman man with scorn as he was the only rich man in his village because of few goats. Although Abdul dreamt, to bring to reality was beyond his reach. He recollected the proverb, where there is a will, there is a way. He was unaware of his entrance to the central room of richness. 

One day, while sweeping the floor of the mosque, a wonderful idea struck his fertile brain. He was saving a few coins in an earthen pot for a long time, only to caress his urgency or for an important purpose. Hey! Allah! This money is too meagre to go to Mecca for Umrah. I am not so lucky. But at regular intervals, he weighs the pot by hand and assumes the possible fortune inside and spontaneously. These sentences emanate from the dry lips of Abdul. 

That day he hurried to his hut and broke the pot. His lips were moistened. He squatted and counted the treasure. Still, a chubby smile exuded, ‘if not enough for a goat, I can purchase a hen at least.’ 

In his village, so many villagers were selling hens. But in his opinion, the best of the lots is Hamid mian. His forehead was wrinkled by this erudite decision. His eyes stared up. He purchased a hen. Salma was the assigned name by Abdul.  Abdul's dream was boundless, too exaggerated for his humble job. He is the common man. Salma shall one day lay eggs, eggs shall hatch, chicks will grow and he will sell all these. Wow! he will cast a roof of straw, repair the door and purchase a white kurta for him. 

Nowadays the three dreams perplex him, awaken him at night and make his life miserable. At times a whole night, he counts stars in the far sky through his roof. New colours were painted on him like seven colours of the rainbow. He conceived faintly half-drawn face of beloved. Lifelong Abdul has not seen a wife and kids of his own. Now he is struggling to paint them in his dreams. 

Abdul falls in love with Salma. Someone has joined his solitude to reverberate it with plenty of noise; Cock! Cock!! Cock!!! what a soothing hooting of a damsel Salma. One living being at least has come close to him besides the broken aluminium plates on the door and repaired utensils. This was the most wonderful experience in his life. Watching Salma with her golden wings, and round sparkling black eyes, Abdul's half-drawn figures come to life. 

Salma must mature quickly to fructify the dreams of Abdul. So, he offers a part of rice to Salma. Tells earnestly, 'you grow fast to youth and my miseries shall elope.’ 

The saddest news is that Hamid mian has sold a small hen as he could not afford the higher price. So, Salma is not worthy enough to realise his dreams soon. 

Probably Salma understands the pathos of Abdul. So, she sleeps near the head of Abdul moving all around under the scorching heat of the day. Abdul cuddles her pain and allows her to behave as she feels. Keeping her in a cage outside his palace is not without risk of being stolen. Rather he watches Salma lovingly till she falls asleep. Abdul slowly grazes his palm on her wings. 

Once Abdul did not find Salma in the evening. He was not asking for golden eggs. He only had a small dream. He forgot his three dreams. It was unbearable to find the dream so quickly shattered. He was searching for a solution! 

Salma! Salma!! Abdul ran amok the entire village in search of his dearest hen. He asked anyone he came across. Also explored is the cage of Hamid mian. Salma was nowhere. He could contemplate, Salma flying to the forest, where she might have been devoured by a jackal or torn apart by a forest dog. Nothing is impossible. OH! She could have been sold to the butcher Rashid. 

Abdul's eyes moistened. After searching nook and corner, he scuttled to Rashid's mutton shop late at night. He discovered that tin made cabin was shut. The only howling of jackals was heard. He squatted there till the dawn. Before dawn, the call for azan was heard from the mosque. Inhabitants of the slum started to march toward the mosque. Brief pause. Namaj also flew in the air. Yet Abdul sat there like a statue waiting for Hamid. He admitted all his mistakes in life in front of Allah in his mind. 

The moment Hamid arrived to open his shop, he found Abdul sitting there. This wretched old man must not have come here to purchase mutton. Very likely, he is here for pecuniary assistance. Any way out of this disdain, I must explore first. 

Rashid cast a suspicious look at Abdul. Then cautiously looking at the sky, Salam Chacha! How could you be here at such an early hour? 

Beta! The worried voice of Abdul. Salma is missing from yesterday. My kitchen has not burnt too. 

Rashid threw answer carelessly, Oh Chacha! If you marry at this ripe age, is there a chance of Chachi returning back?  

Abdul rectified himself, ‘Beta, Salma is not your aunt. My hen. Someone might have sold her to you. I came only enquire at you. He nodded twice his head with his beard on his chin swinging a few more times. 

-I have not purchased your hen. He brusque. Started to polish the cleaver. Suddenly his smiling face turned rude. 

That day Abdul returned back to his home frustrated with a hobbling walk and cried a lot gagging his mouth. When he was pacified, he went to clean the surroundings of the masjid. Read namaj and prayed to Allah for a long time for the happy return of Salma. 

After 2 days, Cock! Cock!! the sound awakened Abdul. He rushed outside to find Salma sitting on his open porch. Abdul picked up Salma. She is heavier. She clucked and ate pecking whatever she got Infront of his house, but didn't go far away. Possibly, she was scared. 

The happiness of Abdul has returned back in form of Salma. In a brief span, Salama laid a dozen of eggs. Eggs hatched and chicks followed Salma. Chicks pecked insects that were unearthed by Salma. Abdul was the happiest man on the earth. When chicks grew to be hens, he sold these in the weekly market and built the thatched roof. Still, he could not repair the door, through which a bitch enters and ate food he received in the mosque. He sleeps many nights without a grain. 

Abdul was contemplating Salma to lay eggs next time and he would repair the door to keep out the bitch and purchase a white kurta. 

This time Salma's 14 chicks grew to be hens. So, he repaired the door and locked it. He could muster the courage, as his hut was locked. Before he was watching others on Friday coming to the weekly market putting perfume, kohl in eyelines, mehndi on hands and purchasing sweet beetle. No one cared to look at poor Abdul. Nowadays, people call him ‘Murgiwala Chacha. (Uncle, the hen-owner) and salaam him. Businessmen request him, Oh! Mian, purchase from us some kohl, mehndi, perfumes, sweet beetle and so many other items. 

Abdul is excited to find him prestigious on this unknown earth. To date, he was living in this illegible world as a stranger. Neither he had a name nor he was loved. He is a revered personality now. Commoners consider him one of the few persons who salute. Abdul's life is self-sufficient. From dawn people queue in front of his house to purchase hen. So, he feels the necessity of a white kurta, as his popularity is on rise in the slum. Is he the same Abdul, who goes to the mosque to recite namaj, putting-on coloured clothes given as gift. 

He was unaware of his gradual transformation. His necessities were climbing and so also his self-confidence. 

Salma frequents Hamid mian's home and returns back with new hopes. Abdul consoles Salma, are you worried about your loneliness here? I shall keep a chick this time to be your companion and Salma equally replies, cock, cock. 

Abdul moves his rough and tough beard on the body of Salma. No one knows, what Salma fathoms, but she stays attached to Abdul. 

As promised, this time Abdul did not sell all the chicks of Salma but had one for her. The cock had a red colour crest on his head, a sharp beak, tall legs and a bunch of colourful feathers as the main tail. Abdul named it Abude like a living name of a boy in Muslim families. 

Simulating a kingly cock in the cage of Hamid mian, Abude became the majestic cock in the cage of Abdul. Some persons offered significant money to Abdul to engage Abude in cock fight in the arena. But steadily Abdul refuses the bait. Abude too also exposed his vigour day by day and tried to fly within his home.  No one has seen kindled candle in Abdul's home. Nowadays a kerosene lamp burns inside his hut. Abdul complains at Salma with great annoyance, 'look Salama, your son is trespassing all limits. Either I or he will stay in this house. Control him. Salma's reply, 'cock, cock.' At least Abdul could assert his manliness on someone. Establish his guardianship. The unwanted life of Abdul has some meaning and fragrance. His significance was enhancing two lives. 

The strangers passing by his house feel that there is a big fight in his family. The Oldman reprimands his young wife and his son is also wayward. 

The acquainted people jest fully tell, 'Abdul, Salma and Abude are husband, wife and son.' 

A few days later, on a Friday Abdul woke up early in the morning when his hut was shrouded by darkness. He was going to purchase a white kurta for him for the first time in his life. Then he was vigorous in planning to purchase a cheap variety so that the money saved can be invested in purchasing a goat. 

The sound of azan was not heard yet. Abdul was set to complete his daily rituals. Salma closely chased him. He could see Abude was dozing on the cardboard. 

After completing nature's call, Abdul returned back to his house and found it burning. He tried to extinguish the fire by drawing water from a nearby pond by a bucket. While leaving the home, he forgot to put out the burning kerosene lamp. The fire could have caught the thatched roof when Abude tried to prove his manual dexterity and masculinity. 

Finally, the blaze settled down. Opening the door, he hurtled and discovered Abude whimpering half burnt and trying to move his body in agonising pain. Abdul forgot the pain of the colossal loss of his money and scuttled to Abude to pick it up on his lap. Tear of his entire life was drowning him. Till today he didn't have sorrow of loss, but today, he is going to lose the infrastructure on which he has built the edifice of his empire. Mopping his tears, he alleged, 'Hey Allah! you are so cruel to snatch a young son from his old father. Oh! Merciful, an old father is begging his son. His shivering fingers opened the beak of Abude and poured a few drops of water. He was vehement to infuse some part of his life into Abude by the soft touch of his emasculated hand. Abude's round eyes were brimful with tears and his remorseful eyes were looking at Abdul with lots of regret. His wings flapped a bit as if he wanted to speak something to Abdul; 'Abu, I was playing only. Forgive me. His crackling Cock! Cock! I devastated all your dreams. I wanted to join mama only. Will not you forgive your disobedient child in the departing moment? I love you Pa. Tears poured from Abude's drowsy eyes. He made a tryst to be further close to Abdul as if he does not want to leave this world. Closer and closer. Abude looked at Abdul with pathos. His mouth was partially open.

Abdul started to cry loudly, the scream from his cage was bespattering the burnt-out hut. Abude! Abude!! In the penultimate moment in the lap of Abdul, Abude clucked a few times. Probably he was calling dearest mama for the last visit. Then his eyes were further fixed up, his body shivered a bit in panic on final departure. Abude shut his eyes and fell down on Abdul's lap. For some time, an earthquake under Abdul's feet and a deep breath expired shivering his chest wall. Abdul pressed Abdude's dead body emotionally to his chest. He closed Abude's eyes to suck all its sorrows into his body and then he hurtled towards the cemetery. He was stumbling often and hobbling like a father carrying the dead body of his son. 

To repair the burnt house, Abdul didn't have money. Hence onwards he sleeps on the porch of the mosque. Eats whatever is offered. Still, he prays to Allah for the betterment of others. When Allah did not listen to his prayer, why will He oblige to his prayer offered for others? He was suffocated for nights. 

The memory of goats suffuses his eyes. I make a promise not to dream again. I was better off in my misery. He doesn't have sorrow, doesn't have an ambition or apprehension to lose. He was a happy man. The dream to be rich and respected, has made him a pauper. 

But one night Abdul dreamt for the second time. Many enthusiastic goats were rushing towards him. He is calling these by different names; Reshma, Amla, Alisha, Nada, Nahala...

 

Abdul woke up. It's wee hours only. Terribly hot outside. Except for the green light on the tower of the mosque, darkness prevailed everywhere. The chirping of night birds was harsh to his ears. With drowsy eyes, he got up and looked at the reflected green light falling on the porch. He was baffled to find Salma sleeping near his head side. He picked up Salma and pressed her under his armpit, and brushed his senile beard on young Salma's golden feathers. Fondled her a lot. Salma is weighing heavy, which means a bright future is winking at him. Abdul went out with Salma on his waist and started to dream once more to actualise his broken dreams. 

*****Dream ceases with life. Dream rescues from tragedy. Dream stands between the impossible and the possible. A dream is life and life is a dream.