Chapter 2

Haji stayed in a small hut in the farthest part of his village. He hurriedly walked towards his house eager to show the one paisa tightly clutched in his fist to his wife.
Kulsum Bi was the apple of his eye, his life.Haji had seen her once in a wedding and he knew she was the one. He had pushed his mother a lot to get married to her. Kulsum was the only reason for Haji to be alive and no matter what befalls them he was aware that she would always be there to support and comfort him. The only thing he disliked and feared was her shrill voice which could even make Lajjo, his goat stop from may bleating.
Kulsum was a fine young lady. But lately she had become impatient as hope was diminishing and she could see no further respite from her misery till Mairaj came.
What irritated her more was Haji’s laidback attitude. With every night her kids sleeping empty stomach, the mother in her had become more vocal.
Tonight she had fed her kids with some dal and roti and as they wanted some more she kept an empty pot on the fire till the kids slept.

“Asalamwalaikum”, said Haji as he entered his hut which was illuminated by a single lamp.
“Walaikumasalaam” the pain in her greeting was noticeable
“Meri Jaan, look what I have got” showing her the coin which Kishan Lal gave him reluctantly after a strenuous session of coloring.
Kulsum though relieved to know that the next two days her kids wont go unfed still dint react.
She said plainly “Have your food. I have cooked something, and what have u done to your kurta, it’s all dirty. Where have you been”.
Haji told her everything while eating whatever little Kulsum could keep for him.
“You know this is not enough Haji, We must do something”
“Have Faith in Allah Taala, my dear, Things will get better” Haji said softly while kissing his sleeping kids.
“Chand Bi is giving me five paisa for selling off Lajjo”
“Kulsum”, after a long pause Haji said “You can’t possibly do that. She is family. How could you even think of it? Will you sell of your kids too”.
This comment angered her and she started shouting “Yes I will. It’s better to sell than to see their faces every Morning & Night asking for food.
“They clutch this all the time telling me Maa khaana do Maa khanaa do” showing him the Pallo of her tattered sari.
“It’s a Test from Allah. He wants to see if we still remember him and worship him in this time of ordeal. And does He not say In the Holy Quran that No man would be burdened more than that which he can’t handle.”Haji was trying hard to make her understand.
Kulsum started crying “you don’t understand my suffering. What do I do when I see the eager look in their eyes, their gulping throats, their sighs and how much do I lie?”
Haji came forward to comfort her.
Wiping her tears he said“Kulsum you are my life. If you start losing hope I will be shattered. You think it is easy for me. Its not. But I am patient”.

Hours passed. Haji, lying down was looking at a lizard walking on the roof of his hut as it tried to catch a fly. It was Kulsum’s time to soothe her husband. She lied down beside him and kissed the noble mark on his forehead and said sorry
“You can go to your mother’s house for some time”
“I am not going anywhere”Kulsum whispered back, nuzzling his neck
Haji took her in her arms and tried to sleep again.
After a long time he whispered “I see a dream”
“What?”Kulsum, half asleep murmured.
“I see a dream every night. For the last three four days”
“What dream? Different dreams or the same dream?”
“The same dream, everynight”
Kulsum moved him from her arms and got up, now interested “what do you see? Why did you not tell me?”
Haji now lying back looked at the lizard which had gulped down the fly and said “Because it doesn’t make sense”
“What do u see? Tell me. Tell Me now”