Nomads - 2 . Migration

2. Migration

Every one was back to work after seeing off Omar and his troop for their journey. Alam was very concerned about the future of the family; after all, complete responsibility was on him. He was growing weaker. And to add to his concern was the death of his 31 goats. They died because of the deadly cold wave that went across Afghanistan. After Alam came back in the evening, Rumaiza, Alam’s mother asked him to sit for food. He freshened up and then sat for food. The smell of the food was tempting but it didn’t affect Omar. It was goat’s meat and huge chapati’s in the menu. After eating half of chapatti that too at a slower speed than usual, his mother found him lost in thoughts, and asked him, “What are u thinking?” Alam was very tensed and said that he plans to leave Afghanistan so that he can earn something for the family and he wants to take 2 of his brothers with him. After a stretched argument he wasn’t able to convience his mother, Rumaiza said, “Your father would have gone away, It was me who didn’t wanted him to go, and it’s the same for you too, I won’t let you go out of here, Alhamdolillah (Praise be to Allah) we are happy with what we have, We don’t want any thing extra” Tears started felling from her eyes. She started looking outside the kitchen window and talking to Alam about his father and his business ideas, to sell goats outside Afghanistan, for that extra money. But the whole family would break if something of that sort happened; this is what was explained to his father. That half chapatti was almost over by then, and Alam didn’t wish to eat more. He went out of the house to roam in the village alone at night, thinking more about his family’s future.

Days passed; months passed every thing was pretty normal. Suddenly one day Rumaiza woke up early morning to find Alam not on his bed. “Hashim! Get up Hashim” said Rumaiza, his mother, “See where is Alam”, Hashim got up and went out of the house, by that time every one in the house was awake and didn’t know what has happened. When Hashim came back, he didn’t find Alam outside and saw his mother weeping as if something wrong has happened. Rumaiza got a letter that was kept beside the bed where Alam used to sleep. She didn’t know what was written in the letter and neither did any one in the family as they were not literate. So Hashim rushed to one of their neighbours, Ali Baba who knew something to read and write.

It was still dark. “Ali Baba, Ali Baba!”…. shouted Hashim. Ali Baba was getting ready for the morning prayers when Hashim reached his home. “Salaam Baba”,said Hashim “Walaikum-as-salaam, Come in Hashim, What’s wrong?” He showed Ali Baba the letter. Ali Baba was an old man, he glowed the lantern intensely so that he could read what’s present in the letter. The letter was written in a good clear handwriting and said, “I am leaving Afghanistan, please don’t search for me, Insha Allah, I will comeback some day, but don’t wait for me”.

Hashim was amazed as there were a handful of people in the village who knew to read and write. Alam too didn’t know to write and the question, who wrote this letter? was haunting him. Hashim returned home, with his eyes wet. He didn’t say a word but his eyes said it all. A wave of silence was across the whole family. The whole family was very sad as they were not ready for this mishap.

Alam, by evening had reached somewhere around Kabul. He searched for Omar but didn’t find him. He started moving towards Pakistan. It took him two weeks to reach the Pakistan Afghanistan Border. He entered Pakistan and then waited under a tree. While leaving his house he managed to take some food and water. His resources were almost exhausted. He didn’t know what is to be done from here. His search for Omar was getting intense as he was desperate to work and earn some money. Next morning he went to the market. He started enquiring about Omar from Turkey, but no one knew about him, he went from one shop to another but no one knew him. Alas he was tired and sat outside a grocery shop. He asked for some water to the shop keeper, who happily gave him the Mashak (Water Bottle made up of leather). He drank the water and thanked him for it. He held the horse and started walking back to the tree where he rested, when he heard the voice of some one calling him out, not by his name but a generic call. He turned back and found a guy was calling him. He went to him. The guy was called Haider. Haider had over heard Alam asking for Omar in the shops. Haider was Omar’s friend and knew where he was. So he took Alam with him to his place. Omar was to come to Pakistan within couple of days and then they were to march towards India through the Khyber Pass.

Alam was invited by Haider to stay with him for those two days. He had also heard of Akbar, Alam’s father. Delicacies were offered to their guest, Alam who became a very good friend of Haider. After three days, Omar arrived at Haider’s place early morning. He was delighted to find Alam there. After their meeting, they decided to leave for India the next early morning before dawn. In the afternoon when every one was resting, Alam was sitting outside, sharpening his sword. And suddenly a person from Omar’s troop came from behind and attacked Alam and ripped off his long shirt (Kurta). Alam was furious but managed to escape his second strike. Alam got up, positioned himself and asked him the reason for attack. The man said he didn’t like him and hence didn’t want him to come to India. Alam was confused as he didn’t know what was wrong with that guy and why he didn’t like him as Alam didn’t know who he was and had seen him for the first time. The fight started and it got intensified. The sound of swords bothered others and few of them came to see what was wrong. By that time, Alam has used his fathers trick and was about to kill the guy when he heard the voice of Omar “Stop!”, after a pause Omar said “Marhaba, Alam” which means Congratulations, Alam. It was a test that was meant to test his fighting skills and he surpassed the test without a scratch on his body and won the battle. Omar was pleased with his skills and appointed him as the Commander. They all were happy. Alam helped the guy, who fought with him to get up. They became good friends. They got ready to leave for India.