‘I’ll see them at night. Write out the notice and put it up. Why? Did someone inform you?’
‘Kalu Miya is quite unwell. His son Rahman wanted to take you to his house. I asked him to bring the patient over. He’s put down
his name.’
‘No, no! Why did you ask him to bring the patient? When it’s an emergency, I would have gone myself. He’s an elderly man.’
‘Everyone says it’s an emergency! Are you going somewhere, Sir?’
‘You know, I haven’t been able to visit Maruf since I returned from Nasir Saheb’s burial. It’s been almost a week, I should definitely go. Achchha, arrange my bag, I’ll go and look up Kalu Miya.’
As Jasim was entering Maruf’s house, the sound of the darood sharif being collectively recited by many people wafted into his ears. He was hesitant to enter since he was uninvited. Dr Jasim was now an eminent person of Sadnahati. Some people spotted him and rose from their seats. Jasim signalled to them to remain seated. Seeing Iqbal Ostagar nearby, he asked him where Maruf was. Iqbal indicated with his hand that he was in his room on the first floor. Jasim climbed up the stairs to the first floor and saw Maruf sitting quietly with an indifferent air. He had a book in his hand, Dwitiyo Kusumer Swapno (The Dream of the Second Bloom). The author’s name was Abinash Chandra Mukhopadhyay. Seeing Jasim, Maruf shut the book and greeted him. Jasim sat down next to him. He asked him, ‘Have you applied for the death certificate, Maruf Bhai?’
‘No.’
‘Don’t neglect that. I had given the hospital papers to Farid. Did you get them?’
‘Hmm.’
‘Is a sowab reshani taking place downstairs?’
‘Dada has organized it. He’s already planned to observe the forty-day ceremony in a big way.’
‘Really?’
‘Can my Abba attain jannat without that? Do you know what I think when I see all this?’
‘What?’
‘That our Prophet (PBUH) was a great revolutionary. One should learn everything from him.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘The battle against superstitions and blind faith has to be begun within one’s own family. And perhaps that’s the most difficult battle, but one that he had been able to wage. Changing the customs practised by one’s family is an extremely challenging task. I could not convince Dada that there’s no need to do all this.’
‘Faruk Bhai is doing what he wants, so let him do it. What’s the problem?’
‘Jasim, there are plenty of problems. I have been speaking out against all this all my adult life. And then, in my own house … Can I say anything to anyone after this?’
‘You’re right.’
‘Anyway, let it be. Tell me, how are things with you?’
‘Alhamdulillah! I shut my chamber for the evening so that I could meet you.’
‘There was no need. It might inconvenience people.’
‘Maybe. But until just a year ago, there was no chamber of Dr Jasim!’
‘That’s a different matter. Jasim, you have lit a light on the soil of Sadnahati. Don’t throw away the torch.’
‘It was your encouragement that led me to holding the torch, Dada.’
‘Do you know, Jasim, I have made a decision. After Abba’s departure, I don’t know why, but I feel I’m terribly alone. I can see some change in Dada’s conduct. I’m going to get married very soon and start a family. I’ll concentrate on the business.’
‘That decision should have been made earlier! But it’s the right decision.’
‘There’s something I’m waiting for. Farid is always with me. The other day, in the course of our conversation, I realized that perhaps he blames even me for the fact that he’s unemployed. What do you think I should do?’
‘Did Farid Bhai tell you that?’
‘Not directly.’
‘There’s something you can do. Open a pharmacy in front of my chamber. The patients have to go far away to buy medicines. Open a shop, let Farid run it, and pay him a salary. That will help him settle down. And you’ll have another business under you.’
‘That’s a good suggestion. But do you think he can do that?’
‘He’ll be a cashier. I know several youths who are pharmacists. They will take care of everything. There won’t be any problem.’
‘So let’s do that! But I will be concentrating on my own business.’
‘That’s all right. Farid Bhai is trustworthy. You need not worry. He’ll learn a lot too once he starts working.’
‘Fine! Shall I tell Dada? I’m keen on this!’
sixty-eight
Tahirul’s youthful heart, however, had another tale. One he could not reveal to anyone else. He yearned to lighten the load he carried in his breast.
