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.

Nomads - 1 ... Akbar

1. Akbar

9th December, 1637 Gowhar, Afghanistan:

Chilling winds flowing into the caves of snow covered mountains. Gowhar, which lies in the south west province of Afghanistan was famous for its difficult terrain. It was the only way for people to enter Kabul, from the South West countries.

On the foothills of Gowhar, lived many families. Amongst them was Akbar Pathan's family. Akbar was an old man who had 3 wives. He had 12 sons and 4 daughters from all of his wives. His favourite son was Alam, who was a hard working, handsome guy of 23 years, who was obidient and chaste. His other sons were not upto the mark and were jealous of Alam because of the love and partiality that his father used to do. He was the only one who got hot food with his father. The other family members had to eat food after the duo have completed it. So what was left was their fate. Akbar was strict follower of Islam and implemented on his family members too. Namaaz was compulsory for every member of the family, the one missing it was punished and no food was offered on that day to him/her for that mistake. Hence every member used to make it a point to offer their prayers to avoid their fathers’ wrath.

The village being very remote and hilly caused several problems. There were very less trees for logs of wood and this caused the family members to work hard to get the wood for cooking. Water was also a problem because of scarce to no rainfall. They had to heat up the snow and get the water. The animals that were killed, their meat were eaten as a feast and their skins were used to make shawls. These shawls were sold to local markets so that they get some earnings. Shawls were in great demand by local people as well as the travellers coming to the place, because of the genuineness of the leather in which they were crafted. Only the men of the family were allowed to work and the girls were not allowed to roam out of the house.

Akbar wasn't keeping well for the last 2-3 months. He had grown weak and pale yellow. He tried few herbs but they it didn't work. He used to pray to the almighty for his fast recovery, but it worsened. He was growing weaker and weaker. Now he didn't even have the energy to get up for his prayers. All his sons were taking care of the house and the goats that they had. One day, Alam was returning back with a pile of wood on his head and suddenly his younger brother rushed to him... said "Abba is acting strange, come fast". Alam was stunned for few seconds before the pile of wood fell from his head. He knew his father won't survive much as the deadly disease had taken lives of many in the village. He rushed home to see his father, with the axe in his hand. All the family members had sorrounded the hut and when Alam reached the door. The axe fell from his hand. He saw his father. Dead. As Alam was too close to his father and the most loved one, he was the one who was shattered. It was like some one has taken away his life. The proceedings for the last rituals started. The cemetry was a mile away from their home, opposite direction of the market place. The body was taken to the cemetry. Prayers were chanted and Akbar was given back to the soil he belonged.

Alam was the last one to leave the cemetry. He was shattered and broken, mentally and physically. He ate the minimum food for the next 2 weeks and had grown weak. He went to the cemetry every evening and prayed for his father. He had stopped collecting woods and that also was a concern for the family. Finally every thing got normal and he was getting better as days passed.

Alam was the eldest male of the family now and all the responsibilities were on him. One morning, after the morning prayers, when every one was getting ready for work, Hashim said, "These are the sounds of horses", every one went outside to see the horses marching towards the colony. They rushed into the house to get hold of their swords and shields. In Afghanistan, people have swords for their self defence. They are trained

Hashim was younger to Alam, not that handsome, but he had a girlfriend who lived couple of houses away. Their parents knew it and they were ready for their marriage. Now with the death of Akbar, the marraige was postponed to few months.

The family saw people approaching approaching on their horses, with swords shining in their hands. These swords were not normal, A golden lust was seen from far off too.. and the size was bigger than the usual ones. Their faces were covered with a cloth and finally one of them reached near Akbar's house. "Is Akbar there?", asked the stranger. "No", said Alam, "he is no more". The man got down from his horse, put back the sword in side the case, and said that he was Akbar's friend, from Turkey. He called himself Omar. All the horsemen gathered near their house. Cots were pulled out of the house for them to rest. Water and breakfast was offered to them. Alam and Omar got into conversation and then Alam happened to ask Omar, why he came to Afghanistan. Alam was told that they were warriors of the Turkish King who has ordered them to go for a survey as he wanted to expand his provice from Turkey, spreading through Iran and then enter India through Pakistan. They were not here to harm any one.

By that era, Afghanistan was ruled by a Mughal emperor. This ruler was a good friend of the Turkish King. Hence they decided to invade India and Pakistan. India was famous for the variety of spices it had, also for the repository of gold it possessed. Pakistan was to be invaded for the reason if they had to go back home, they needed some way and Pakistan was the only way that they were aware of. The Khyber Pass was their aim. All this was discussed by Alam and Omar. And finally Omar before leaving asked Alam to join him if he was interested in some quick money, but at the risk of his life. Alam was still in the grief of his father and hence was not able to decide, and he said to him, “I will think about it, not now, may be sometime later”. The conversation ended and Omar went away with his troops. Every one saw him disappearing from their site, soon there was just the dust left and every one was dissolved in those dust particles.