17th June, 1969
It was a sunny morning as always. Summers in murree (Pakistan) are always breeze. Like regular days I went for a walk. Every year I use to come to meet my ancestors in vacations. I had huge numbers in relatives. I belonged to the richest family in Pakistan. We were in textile and agriculture business not only our business was successful in Pakistan but since General Ayub Khan came to the thrown Pakistan GDP got an exceptional amount of growth this way we were into import and export business too.
It was summer and I was just done with my high school, I went to visit my relatives. My grandfather and grandmother were still live. They were one of the survivors of partition. They always had something interesting to share about that particular era.
Like every regular morning I use to go on a walk with my grandmother. The morning of murree was always fresh that one always imagined live in that air forever.
I remember 17th June 1969 clearly, they are no flashes it’s still same. I was walking on small path of mud road which was surrounded with green grass and houses which were less in those times. This place was situated in a mountain area here people way of moving from one place to another was either cycles or walking and if someone had a car so he was considered as the rich person I often use to come here because it was peaceful, smile-full people who are greeting you with good gestures as I was talking to grandma about my further plans and what subject I will be choosing for bachelor degree…and their a man came running towards us screaming.
He said, “Help me! Help me!”
We both turn around. He was wearing a brown check shirt, a light brown weskit, dark brown jeans pent with black booths; he was wearing a stylish winter brown cap. The obvious thing which was noticeable at first was his right hand which was bleeding and he must be of my age. He came near us and said, “Please help me, my father is over there he is bleeding.”
We both rushed with him. His house was 1Km far and unluckily that morning there weren’t anyone who could help him because there was a wedding festive going on. A family near in that area was having a wedding arrangements and it was ritual that everyone in the neighbors are invited and will be helping both families. So due to this that young man was helpless, we reached his home and we saw his old man lying on the floor, bleeding from the forehead.
I asked, “What happened?” He said, “He was repairing the fan and he was standing on the chair, he lost his balance and fell down.” I said, “Weren’t you near him.” He said, “No! I was outside I just heard his scream.” I angrily said, “Ridiculous how can you let this happen, look at your age and his why didn’t you help him.” He said. “I was…”
Grandma interrupted and said, “This is not the time to discuss!” She added, “What your name boy?” He said, “My name is Robeel but you can call me Rob!”
We both stared at him with anger. He got embarrassed and softly said, “Sorry! You can call me Robeel also.” Grandma said, “Get me a bowl of water and small cloth piece.”
He hurriedly went to kitchen and pours water in a mud bowl and got napkin and came back. He gave that to grandma.
Grandma started to clean the blood from his head and said, “Go to Mr. Khan’s house I’m sure all villagers are there helping him with wedding arrangements and get some help.” He said, “Ok! Ok!”
He rushed towards the door turned around and asked confusingly, “Aah! Madam where is his house?” Grandma said, “Cross five houses and turn to right than first to left, a small board which has name written retire superintendent Jahangir khan, that is his house.” He said, “Thank you!”
He ran towards house.
Meanwhile grandma cleaned his head with blood and asked me to look for another cloth. I went into the kitchen and found another napkin and bring back to her.
She tied the cloth around his forehead so that bleeding would stop. We waited for him for few minutes. He came back with three men and a lady. I guessed at first that it was her mother. She came in the house and screamed, “What happened?”
The three men held the old guy in their arms and ran towards a small clinic which was bit a far from that area.
The wife of that old man knew Grandma so she thanked us both. We left the house and came back to our own. I looked at the watch and was surprise to see that it was striking 12 noon.
Grandma said, “Oh! Look at the time, I haven’t made the meal.” She said, “Don’t worry I let the grandpa know that we got busy in helping an old man.” Grandma mimicked his voice and said, “No child he would not understand in fact he would say, that’s not my problem my things should be done on time.” I laughed and ask, “Is he still a retired business man” Grand ma smiled and said, “They never retire child!” I said, “Ok! Leave let me cook something for him.”
She paused for a second and stated, “Oh No! Everytime you cook I have to clean the kitchen twice.” I said, “That’s why I tell you get a helper.” Grand ma said, “And I tell you that I like to do my things, I’m not old.” I laughingly said, “If you say so.” I added, “Let me please, come on...” Grand ma said, “Ok! But on one condition you will be cleaning it with me after making your dish.” I lazily said, “Ok! I will.” She asked, “By the way what are you cooking?” I said, “It’s Tuesday and he eats fried vegetables so I will be making some mix vegetables.” Grandma said, “I pray his stomach is still strong as it was 8 years back.” I said, “I was a child grand ma.” She stated, “And now you are a lady!” She added, “by the way you shouldn’t have argued with that boy.” I said, “I was just trying to make him realize that he should have been standing on the chair.” She said, “There is always a right time to argue and he was panicking!” I said, “But…” She patiently said, “No lady! You are wrong here things go wrong at time you should not judge people that quick..” I asked, “Now where did the judging came from?” She said, “It’s difficult to make you understand….continue with your cooking.”
Till 1pm I was done with my dish and now I was waiting for grandpa to come and join us for the lunch. He was humble human but he was known as second. He was never late, not even once in his lifetime has never got late to anything, in fact I use to tell him to be a professor the management will love you but the students will surely hate you and he used to laugh.
A knock was done at the door and we know he had arrived the food was placed on the table just the way he wants it. I went to open the door.
“Hi, I just need to tell you that your grand pa fell on the road while getting in the car he got slipped.” Robeel said.
I shouted, “What?” “Yeah! Actually we were on our way to take my father to the clinic his car was coming from front and he stopped his car to help us, he came out of the car and told his driver to help us, me and him were the last one I told him to sit inside and at back seat I sat but before he could sit, he fell on the road..” I angrily said, “And you were sitting at the back, right?” He said, “Yes! Madam.”
I asked, “Where is he?” He said, “In the same clinic and he send me with his driver to let you know both so that you both should get worried about him.”
Grand Ma also came to the main door and said, “You again son, is everything fine with your father.” I said, “No Grand ma he is here to tell us that grand pa is also admitted in the clinic.” She worriedly asked, “What happened?” I said, “Mr. Rob why don’t you tell my grand ma the whole story and I run along with the driver.”
His eyes were looking at the ground. He said, “I’m sorry.”
“Come on grandma, let’s go to the clinic I will tell you what happened and Mr. Rob thank you very much for information.” He said, “Your welcome.” I said, “You may leave.” He said, “But I was hoping…” I said, “Nope don’t hope, your hope has already done enough to the day!”
We both left the house and went for the clinic.
In about 20 minutes we reached in a royal blue foxy. We went inside the clinic it had huge a room which had four beds on two were two old man, one were my grandpa and another one was Robeel’s father both were fine as doctor gave them pain killers. Grand pa was conscious but his father was still in a sleep.
I asked, “Are you fine.” He said, “Oh! I’m fine it just a little scratch and they got me here, you know I am a tuff man.” I smiled and said, “I know..”
Grand Pa went to see the doctor and get done with legal requirements while sit on the chair near his bed.
I said, “By the way tuff man you missed the special lunch today..” He took a pause and guessed, “No! you cooked.” I said, “Of course!”
He gave signal and told me to come near and whispered in my ear so that grandma does not hear he said, “Did you add my level of spice.” I whispered, “Yes! And like always she didn’t caught me.”
We both silently laughed…
He said, “Can you?” I said, “I will make a soup.” He said, “Yuck! I’m a strong man.” I said, “who said you are not but you know she won’t let me..” He said, “Ok! I will tell you a way…”
Later that day we took grandpa back to the home and told him to take some rest.
I came back to the lounge and turned on the radio to hear some news but before I could there was a knock again on the door. I went to open the door.
It was him again. He was holding a tray with bowl which was covered with a plate and his face was again seeing the ground.
He said, “Hello, I wanted to apologize again for the whole trouble I gave to you and your grandmother, this is soup for your grand pa I hope he gets well soon.”
I said, “Thank you! And it’s ok…”
I took tray and told him to wait. I went in the kitchen, pour the soup in another bowl, clean the bowl nicely and went back to the door. I gave the bowl with the tray to him and stated, “Hope your father gets well too, good night..”
