When I was a baby child, I was lovely and friendly, a fighter and trouble maker in my childhood , when grew up young, I became shy but romantic. Nonetheless, I liked my childhood the most. Why? because in childhood , you are aware of things that are wrong and you are still persistent to do it, you get slap on your face and still get love. Good old days, I must say.
The rise of sun and the sight of sunset, moon sighting and moments of rainbow on sky always mesmerised me. However, the nights of those years always got me closer to someone I loved most, my grandma. Her name was "Bakhtwara", which meant, a lady of good luck in my language. Pashtun/Pathan are strange people, so are their names. They are no less than seven wonders of the world, so they give strange names to their children on their births, like 'gulsheera' which means Lioness of flower, 'Brekhna' which means Thunderlight, 'Gul makai' which stands for sun flower,' Kawtara' pigeon, and many more. Anyway, Bakhtawara was a lady of good luck like her name. She died two years ago. For me, everything became meaningless after her death. I felt very lonely.I felt deprived not only of a grandma, but also a nice friend, very good listener and above all, a very sweet story Teller of long winter nights.
She was a very persuasive, intelligent and humble person. She was a womam like no other women of her age. I had a habbit of asking stupid questions, none but she was the best one to give reasonable answers, for example, once I asked my English teacher as to why Mughal emperors married poor girls from a poor social background, he replied , "they all were crazy". I wasn't satisfied with that answer, but that didn't stop me asking the same question from grandma. Farid zwya,"My son Farid', 'love make you humble, no matter if you are a king or slave, rich or poor, white or black, once you fall in love for someone you become humble, you speak soft, you treat others gently, you don't weigh people of who they are, what they do, you just do what your heart and soul feel right. She continued,'since Mughal emperors and princes fall in love with poor girls, they became humble themselves like poor girls, and once they reached to this status of love, only then they married those girls". I was now satisfied and happy.
One evening, when I fought with my little sister over an issue and slap her for nothing, I got the just reward from my mum. In anger, I locked the door of the room from inside, and cried for long. I didn't eat up the dinner and literally refused to talk to every one. The only person at home, who could have convinced me was grandma. Everyone knew that I could cross swords with anyone but not with grandma. She asked me to open the door so that I may have my dinner. I cried, and refused to listen to her. After a while,she said that she had something new to tell me tonight. I was reluctant like a stubborn boy, but never resisted her love and charisma. After a while, I opened the door, I was hungry then. She took me to the kitchen and I ate up there. No one came to me, because they knew if they saw me in kitchen eating up food alone and not with them ,I would stop eating then , for I was, after all a stubborn Pashtun boy, who can go empty stomach if angry.
After having my dinner, I went to my room, which I only shared with my grandma and then to my bed to sleep. My eyes were red because of tears,and my heart was soft to be loved. My grandma was happy that I had my dinner, but was unhappy for the slap. She after all loved me. Mums love their children, but when they have their grand children they make friendships with them. After all they both want attention and love. So in that pursuit, both generations becomes closer and closer, such was the nature of my relationship with her. She of course loved my father, because he was the youngest of her children, and me the first grand child. And I had no options, for I had only one grandma!
"Shall I tell you a story?" She asked. "No grandma", I replied. "Story of birds?", she smiled. She knew I always loved birds, birds that talk, birds that feel, birds that show their feelings and emotions, like you and me. "Grandma, what if I fall asleep?" I asked with a low and croaky voice. "That's good then, I want you to sleep deep and forget everything about that fight", she smiled again.
She starts,"there once in a small forest lived two birds, one male, the other female. They were good friends, one day while making love female asked male birds, why not shall we marry after all those years that we have spent together?. Male bird was delighted to hear that. They got married and enjoyed their time for the rest of their lives. One morning while flying for hours , the wind took them to a strange land, they were tired but happy to travel. Female bird suggested to take a rest in a forest. They went down in the forest, there were birds, flowers, water stream running in the forest, plants, forest fruits, herbs, shrubs, and literally everything. They were so impressed of the place and it beauty that decided to live in the forest.However, male bird suggested that they would make a visit to the forest once every year. They left the forest with sweet memories.
A year later, female bird suggested to visit the same place as a mark of celebrating their wedding. They flew early in the morning, when some of the birds were still in their nests. Finally they got into the forest. "same forest grandma", I asked with the same low and husky tone. "Yes", she continued, "but they were very unhappy to see that once a lovely forest became deserted place, no chirping of birds, no flowers, the water of the stream was dirty, trees no more there."Who could have done it?"asked the female bird under the shadow of the only tree left in the forest. "Owl", replied the male bird with great anxiety.
An Owl up in the tree, sitting on a branch was listening to them. Feeling that the forest was no more the same forest, they thought of leaving for their own nests.The owl asked couple to stay with them for the night, for they were tired and the journey back home was long and dangerous. They first were persisted to go back, but knowing the fact , that the journey back home is not safe when sunset was there to come, they agreed to stay with Owl for the night. However, in the early morning when they were leaving for their own nest, the Owl asked male bird, "You can go, but not the female bird, for she is my wife". "Why and how?" asked the male bird in great surprise that reflected his anger, "she is my wife, we wed a year ago, we celebrated our honey moon here in this land, and we are back here with same memories this time". Poor female bird was crying and male giving her consolation.
"But one thing can happen", asked the Owl. "What is that?" asked the male bird. Owl continues, "There is a court for justice in this little kingdom , that may give you cheap and speedy justice, if you deserve. You may take her away if you prove that she is your wife". Poor couple reluctantly agreed. "But who is the judge?", asked female bird. "Wise Jackal", replied the owl. They became more worried and concerned when heard who will decide their fate.
All three flew for the judge to decide what was truth and what was lie. In the court of judge were some cunning advisers to the judge. They heard both parties, and decided in favour of Owl, after the owl assuring the jackal of giving a bounty share, if she decide in favour of owl.Poor couple, only could cry while leaving the court. They said many things to prove their points, but pointless."Don't you see we birds are different from owl?" asked the male bird. But useless.
Miserable male bird decided that he would stay in the deserted forest and at least would have a chance to see his partner, once in a while. As they were having their final kiss with deep love and tears of separation , Owl smiled and said, 'You both are couple I knew that , and you should be together and as happy as you were, but when you said that I was the culprit for the destruction of a peaceful and nice forest which you saw once, and which I wanted to see again. I took you to the court, wanted to show you, who the culprit are. Places where judges are as shrewed and cunning and corrupt as Jackal was, those forest are bound to destroy. Go and enjoy your life and never decide for yourself to appoint someone who is corrupt and cunning, otherwise your nice forest would be no less than my once a dreamland forest...
Poor me was enjoying grandma story, and slept after that bit. Hope she didn't say something which I missed, for she is now dead and I can't ask her if she said something after I slept or not, which I had to share with you. Today, when I look at my country- my dreamland , which was once as peaceful as the bed of my grandma, and as sweet as her sweet stories in long winter nights, I only can pray for the return of those days. It reminds me grandma story of birds and owl....and that cunning jackal and shrewed advisers, who are there today with the pursuit to destroy my dreamland- my country with their vicious desires.
F.Gul
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