Pace

And the life grabbed pacewith......

Meeting was announced.

December 2007

Saturday

6 AM

Fajahad: "Ram bhai Collywobbles ki har class mein lag byag 16 kursiysn rakhni hain"
(Ram bhai! Put around 16 chairs in each class of Collywobbles!)

Farheen: "Collywobbles? Yeh kiya hai?"
(Collywobbles? What is it?)

Fajahad: "Aray Farheen tum yahan! Its a nice surprise!"
(Farheen! You’re here! It’s a nice surprise!)

Farheen: (she laughed) "Acha ab Collywobbles ka tou bata dou."
(Okay, now tell me what is Collywobbles.)

Fajahad: "Aao chaltay chaltay bata ta hoon"
(Come, I will tell you while stepping forward.)

They began to walk upstairs while

Fajahad: "Jaisay har school aur college mein wings hoti hain, Jinnah wing, Sir Syed wing, Iqbal wing wagaira wagaira isi tarhan humaray yahan bhi chaar wings hain: Taradiddle, Collywobbles, Gubbins aur Frondeur.”
(Like all schools and colleges have wings like Jinnah wing, Sir Syed wing, Iqbal wind and others. Similarly Daffty has four wings: Taradiddle, Collywobbles, Gubbins and Frondeur)

She was looking at him. And he took his look as confusion.

Fajahad: “Daffty kaafi purana college hai. College ban ne k 10 saal baad, wings bani thi. Naam decide karne ki zimaidari us waqt k dominant gender yani (Raised his collor) larkon ko dee gai thi.  Unho ne different aur funny naam rakhne ka socha tha, unki file se yeh pata chalta hai jaisay Collywobbles, iska matlab tou pait ka dard hai par wing ka naam is liye rakha hai kyun k Miss Taira roz aisay khana khati thi jaisay bhook k maray pait mein unko dard ho raha ho. Frondeur ka matlab political rebel aur isliye rakha hai kyun k Miss Kumari aur Miss Jenny ki jang ho gai thi.”
(Daffty is very old college. Wings were made after 10 years of its foundation. Responsibility of naming wings was given to dominant gender of that time) he raised his collar with raising brows and smiling lopsidedly (means boys. And boys wanted to give funny names, what we comes to know from their files. Like Collywobbles, it means stomach ache but it was given because Miss Taira used to eat like as if she was having stomach ache because of hunger. Frondeur means political rebel and it was decided because Miss Kumari and Miss Jenny had long fight)

Farheen: "Aur bachay support karne mein lag gai thay?"
(And students got busy in supporting each of them?)

Fajahad: "Exactly....kia hua aisay q dekh rhi ho?"
(Exactly!..What happen? Why are you seeing me like this?)

Farheen: "Nahi, kuch nahi, aglay dou ka soch rahi thi"
(No, nothing, I was just thinking about the other two.)

Fajahad: "Ooo"(Oooo) (he laughed swinging his neck up) "bta ta hn, Gubbins ka matlab hai gadget ya device ya koi useless cheez ho aur students k liye sub sey ziyada useless teachers aur lecture hotay hai. Bcha taradiddle tou uska matlab hai shor aur sub sey zida shor tou teachers krte hain”
(I will tell you. Gubbins means gadgets, device or any useless thing and for students, teachers and their lectures are useless. Remaining one is Taradiddle so its means noise and according to students, teachers make noise the most.)

Fajahad: "Ab aisay kyun dekh rahi ho?"
(Now why are you seeing me like this?)

Farheen: "Nahi..kuch nahi.. Tumhari baat sun rahi thi"
(No…nothing…I was just listening you.)

Fajahad: "Acha (Okay) (looked at his watch)chalo computer lab chaltay hain. Result aa gaya hai" (Come to lab. Result has been announced.)

Farheen: "Yup"

                         -

After typing and scrolling with eyes glued on screen and hand on mouse there was

Fajahad: "Yes! ....Farheen 70 percent!"

Farheen : "Haan Fajahad...ooh that's ......"

Fajahad: "Farhan!!! Satar percent aai hai!"
(Farhan!!! I’ve scored 70 percent!)

And he jumped in him. 

Farhan: "Oye hoye mere cheetay!" 
(Wow! My cheetah!)

And all seven were together except Farheen who was standing far from them and looking at them and smiling.

                      --

Steps entered in and stepping upstairs and suddenly there was

Fajahad: (hugged) "Mummy I got 70 percent!!"

 

And nearby friends and students looking at his feet whose toes were slightly touching the floor to reach at his mother's shoulder to hug her tightly.

 

Farkhanda: "That's great! Ab main jaon?"
(That’s great! Now, can I go?)

Fajahad: "haan haan aap jaayein"
(Yeah, yeah! You go!)

Farah: "Meri 84!"
(I got 84!)

                      ---

And then came Farkhanda and Fajahad with Farah in room for meeting with teachers.

Miss Shabana: "Ohh! So Mrs. Farkhanda aai hain aaj! Aap tou itni sabar wali khatoon hain. Beta kis par gaya hai? Kafi jazbaati beta hai aap ka aur jazbaat bhi galat nishanay par!"
(Ooh! So Mrs. Farkhanda is here today! You areso patient woman! On whom your son has gone? He is quite sentimental! And his sentiments are in wrong direction!)

 

Farkhanda side-eyed at her son.

 

Miss Angie: "Yeh rahay inkay papers aur inki report. Aap neechay principal se milne zaroor jayein ga. She have called you especially"
(Here is his test papers and report. Please, kindly go downstairs and meet principal. She has called you especially, cordially.)

Farkhanda: "Jee sure"

                          ----

Farkhanda: "May I come in, Ma'am?"

 

Principal: "Array Mrs. Farkhanda is here! Aayein aayein aap hi ka tou intazaar tha! Aayein please aayein! yahan baithyein!"
(Ooh! Mrs. Farkhanda is here! Come, come, please! There has been special wait for you! Please, come! Have a seat!)

 

She sat down with Fajahad standing near her keeping his as triangle against his stomach.

 

Principal: "Kaisin hain aap? Kaafi baatein karni hain aap se! Aray Fajahad, tum bhi baith jao kaafi baatein hoein gee aaj tou! Kiya poora time kharay raho gay?"
(How are you? There has been so much to tell you! Oh Fajahad, you also sit down somewhere! I would have long conversation with her! Will you stand all the time?)

Fajahad: "Nahi, main yunhi theek hoon. Kiya hai, rozana, itna aap k idaray mein, roz khara rehta hoon is liye, aur jab khara nahi raha, tou khaas bulaya gaya tha"
(No, I am fine with it. Actually, reason is, that I have habit of standing too much in your institute, that’s why, And when I didn’t stand, so I was called to come and stand)

Farkhanda: "Fajahad!" (She looked at him angrily)

 

Principal: (laughing to tease) "Array nahi, nahi Mrs. Hussain! Aap kiya bachay ko toq rahi hain! Mera tou roz ka kaam hai, sunna"
(No! No Mrs. Hussain No! Why you are contravening him! It is my chore of everyday to listen, his words.)

She was looking at her interrogatively. She could not understand what she was trying to say.

Principal: "Aap ko nahi pata, aap ka beta mujh par cheekhta hai? Yes Mrs. Farkhanda your son shouts on me. Fajahad aap ne apni mummy ko nahi bataya tha? Chalein main batati hoon k your son shouts on me, again!"
(Don’t you know your son shout on me? Yes, Mrs.Farkhanda, your son shouts on me. Fajahad, didn’t you tell your mother about it? Okay, I will tell you, that your shouts on me, again! )

Farkhanda: "Fajahad! Aisay koi karta hai! Yeh kiya badtameezi laga rakhi hai!"
(Fajahad! Who do like this! What slatterliness is this!)

Fajahad: "Mummy aap kiya inki baataon mein aaraahi ho!” (Mummy! Why are you believing on her words, so easily!) (And then looked at her) “Aur aap kiya kamonika wali smile k saath namak mirch laga kar har baat bata rahi hain." (And you! Why are you telling everything with teasing smile making the reality spicier than it was!)

Principal: "I am using my time mister"

Fajahad: "yeah..”(He gave her angry look and turned to her) “Aap ko pata hai, inho ne Zoya ki baat pe yaqeen kar lia k main Marium k saath involve hoon!  Zoya pehlay sey parhti hai kiya ya main pehlay se parhta hoon? Main parhta hoon. Ussay tou aaye huay jumma jumma saat din bhi nahi huay thay!”
(Do you know that she believed on Zoya that I had affair with Marium! Does Zoya study here since long or I? I study here since long! She had not even passed seven days here!)

Principal: “Saat din nahi, do mahinay ho chukay thay uss waqt tak.”
(Not seven days! She already had spent two months till that time”)

Fajahad: "Mere waqt k saamnay tou saat din hi hai na!”(Her time period is equal to a week in front mine!)(Theh turned to her) “Aur mummy, aap ko lagta hai main Marium k saath affair karoon ga! Pre- medical ki ladki k saath! Unko tou main moon bhi nahi lagata! Aata kiya hai unko! siwaye parhai k! Parhai karna bhi nahi bus dekhana aata hai, sirf dekhana! Kitabein aur ainak laga kar tou aisay ghoomti hain jaisay Kashmir ka masla bhi inhi ko solve karna ho! Poori dunya ka bhoj jaisay inhi k kandhon par ho! Par jab kitabon copyion ka akhri page khol kar dekho! Tou pata hai kiya likha hota hai? " Oh Harry Potter! I want to date with him....Umer Jehangiri- my future husband!....Salar Sikander- mere khwabon ka Shahzada!" Uff! Aur aap ko lagta hai main un se affair chaloon ga? Main tou unko hello take nahi kehta! Itnay marks centered hotay hain k marks kum aatay hain tou aath aath ansoo baha deti hain! Uski ki jaga baalti mein bhi nahi daalti k gareebon ko pani mil jaye! Waisay khair humari Farah bhi aisi hi hai, Zara bees tees marks kiya kum aa jayein peechay par jaati hai mere! "Fajahad yeh aisay kyun hoga? Aisay kyun nahi?  Aur haftay walay din mera Farhan k yahan jana mushkil kr deti hai!
(And mummy! Do you really think that I would have affair with Marium! A pre-medical student! I don’t even look at them! What they know, except studying? Infact, they don’t know studying too! They only know HOW TO SHOW OFF, only SHOW OFF! They roam around with books and glasses as if they have to solve Kashmir Issue! As if the burden of whole lie on their shoulders! But when the last page of their notebooks is opened! So do you know what is written on it? " Oh Harry Potter! I want to date with him....Umer Jehangiri- my future husband!....Salar Sikander- my prince charming!" Uff! And still, do you think I would have affair with her? I, really. don’t even say Hello to them! They are so marks centered that they shed eight eight crocodile tears on getting few less marks! And they even don’t bother to save that water for poor! But our Farah is also like them. On getting 20 to 30 less marks as usual, she eats my brain with “Fajahad,  how it should be solved? How it should not be solved?” And make my foot it to Farhan’s place on Saturday difficult!) 

Principal: "Kiya har Saturday jana zaroori hai?"
(Is it really very important to go there every Saturday?)

Fajahad: "Aur nahi to kia! He has a very interesting family! Trust me! Uski Ammi ki dhokri! Abu ki siyasat! Waah! It’s so ideal! You should try it!"
(Exactly! Why is not important! He has a very interesting family! Trust me! His mother’s Dhokri! His father’s politics! Wow! You should try it!)

Principal: "Tou yeh hai aap k betay ka attitude!"
(And this is your son’s attitude!)

Farkhanda shaking his head in anger that was boiling inside and could be seen from her straight thin and wrinkled lips and brown eyes while looking up at her son who was standing and looking down at floor and playing with his finger.

Farkhanda: (murmuring in brain) "Isko ab bhi apni galti nazar nahi aa rahi! Bohat dheet hai"
(And he still could not see his mistake! He’s too barefaced!)

                    -

Farkhanda: “Ghar chalo! Phir main tumhein batati hoon....array Miss Shela! Aap! kaisi hain aap?”
(Come home! Then I will tell you!.....Ohh! Miss Shela! You! How are you?”)

Miss shela: “Main theek, aap sunaye! And hey Fajahad, congrats for A grade! Where is the treat? Waisay your son! Yeh tou mera smart bacha hai! Haan yeh sach k yeh jazbaati aur badtameez hai par bohat honest hai aur honesty brings disrespect and emotions. Isn't it. So, basically, he is very nice, smart and loving boy! This is what I can say!”
(I am fine, you tell! And And hey Fajahad, congrats for A grade! Where is the treat? By the way you son, he is my smart kid! Yeah it is true he is sentimental and insolent but he is very honest too. And honesty brings disrespect and emotions. Isn't it? So, basically, he is very nice, smart and loving boy! This is what I can say!)

 

She nodded.

                       -----

It was then Farhan's turn

Teacher: “Farhan tou bohat hi laik aur naik bacha hai! Humein tou samjh nahi aati k iski Fajahad jaisay badtameez bachay se banti kaisay hai"
(Farhan is very decent and nice guy! We are unable to justify that how he and insolent Fajahad can be best friends!)

Farhan: “Ma'am please aap Fajahad ki burai mere saamnay na karein.”
(Ma’am, don’t say unpleasant about Fajahad, in front of me.)

Dad: “Farhan!”

Farhan: “Kiya papa, aap hi tou kehtay hain k teachers waaldain ki tarhan hotay hain! Tou phir jab main aap ko sahi kar sakta hoon tou inko kyun nahi?”
(What Papa? You used to say that teachers are like parents. So, if I can correct you then why I cannot correct them?)

                           ----- 

And he ran jumped the ribbon down first, walking clumsily forward pouring fast whole water on his and could see the whole crowd up cheering for him and he laid down finally.

Award ceremony

"So award goes to Fajahad Hussain"

He, now wearing jacket and pyjamas, walked up. The trophy was given to him and mic too.

And his speech was listened by all responding with laughter to smile because it was "Ohh so main jeet gaya! Finally! Its the fifth time I am the participant in this 40 km race or, you can say Marathon!” (Oh! So I won! Finally! Its the fifth time I am the participant in this 40 km race or, you can say Marathon!), whole crowd watching him from corridor clapped heartily. “Chaar dafa hara tha!” (I lost four times), he took all ars and eyes towards him “aur aaj, finally jeet gaya!” (And today, I finally won!), the crowd clapped even the panel too. “It is sweetest win for me!”, he was waving his trophy up. “Credit goes to my sir, my coach k har baar mujh pe, bharosa kia, aur mujhe mauqa diya.”(Credit goes to my Sir, my coach that each time he trusted on me and gave me a chance), he was looking at him straight. “Thank you soo much sir.” And continued while looking everywhere and panel then “And credit goes to time which slows down during the hours of practice”, it laughed everyone “and thank you to my very soul to keep on igniting me.”, it created silence. “Thank you to all of you"

And he was honoured with clapping.

                  --

Instructed cameramen were standing where Nida and senior employees commanded while few employees were sitting at reserved seats and waiting for the name to be announced while the five were sitting on round table together having purple and white seat covers and table cloth with Faraz and Nida in red trouser and kameez sitting beside.

The feet jumped up when the announcement was positive of all four out of three of which were saying "oopar jao!" (Go up!) and employees and other standing in horizontal and vertical rows were standing and clapping.

And when feet ran up while the lips were smiling showing his teeth, Nida walked forward near the stage and he was given not only shield but also a medal and announcement was made "Company of the year is Storage.Inc and Businessmen of the year is Faraz Hussain" and then whispered "that's why medal is in your neck" and there was a handshake and a liitle another whisper “the podium and the stage is yours now, Mr Faraz. Feel the moment”

He nodded.

The shield was put on podium, the mic was seen and the speech was started
“Tou haan Storage, mera matlab hai Storage.Inc  Company of the Year hai par har company k peechay idea hota hai isi liye shield jaati hai hai waalid sahab ko, Hussain sahab ko kyun k idea tou mera tha par tareeqa unka and medal goes to my wife kyun k it was her idea idea to expand the business , not mine. So Nida, the medal is yours. Thank you.” (So yeah Storage, I mean Storage.Inc is the Company of the Year but there is idea behind every company that’s why shield goes to Mr.Dad because idea was mine but the way of application was of him and medal goes to my wife because it was her idea to expand the business, not mine, So Nida, the medal is yours. Thank you.)

The feet walked downstairs and then very beside the stage while the public was standing and watching him going towards his wife shaking his head down at her shoulder to hug and then jumping the medal from his neck to her on which she laughed. While the cameras were capturing the moment, Fajahad’s eyes and heart were enjoying the moment and lips witnessed with “Yeh dono ek saath kitnay achay lagtay hain” (They look too good with each other.) when she was making him to look at camera and when the whisper ended between the twins and between a couple, the siblings were called and picture of four was captured having a couple between and Fajahad and Farah beside Nida and Faraz.

                -----

“Tum jao main aata hoon” (You go I am coming.)

                 -------

The gate was opened. The path was crossed. The door was opened. And the feet stepped in. The table was there exactly till where he used to run and jump up behind his father’s seat and put his arms around. He remembered his ignorance and he remembered his affection. While feet stepping forward but mind stepping backward remembering the first drugs, remembering those appreciations and words of self-confidence that “you are more intelligent than your teacher” when looked up at stairs where he used walk then in redness and at his bedroom where he was sleeping and asking him to let him go to go to school in that same cloak of redness and migraine that was shaking his head and letting voice box to witness “dad head is aching it is breaking in two”. The hands enhanced the nerves more and walked behind stairs when he looked at corner room above remembering how the same confidenc and appreciations were taken away one day with “tum ho kiya! Kuch bhi nahi! Meray tumkro pe palnay walay ek insaan ho jo in purion pe zinda hai! You can’t live a day without them! You are nothing Faraz nothing! You can’t be self-made man! You are dependent son and will be dependent man!” (What you are? Nothing! You are a human being that lives on my money who is alive on those packets! You can’t live a day without them! You are nothing, Faraz, nothing! You can’t be self-made man! You are dependent son and will be dependent man!). “Papa”, his empty handedness echoed and he reached at cupboard in corner of the house. His eyes opened. He knelt down from one leg and other making table for chin, opened that same, same cupboard which he used to see overwhelmingly letting his eyes and opened lips hug the glass in childhood whenever he eyed at. He put the shield resting beside him behind the door of cupboard and stared at and said “Yeh aap k liye Dad, this is for you dad”

                --------

“Haan” (yes)

“Kahan rah gaye, jaldi aao” (where are you? Come fast.)

                 -------------

The world is not dark because darkness is the outcome of colors the world is bitter because sweet never gives bitter.

 

                    ---------------

“Bhaoo!” (Boom!), the bloopers ran up as the door swung open and he stepped in. The huge bombing sound due to bloopers opened his eyes at once looking at one way in shock. And when there was “Congrats!” from his wife who walk to him. The shock to ears ran his eyes to meet the upper eyelid with lower eyelid and nerves to jerk and then ran to her and asked “Yeh sub kiya meray liye hai?” (Is it for me?)

“Haan yeh sub tumharay liye hai” (yes it is for you))

“Kiya hua Faraz? Tumhari aankhein kyun itni laal ho rahi hain?” (What happen, Faraz? Wy your eyes are so red, right now?) and then finding drops of sweat wetting his head and running on the edges of face down she continued “Aur yeh paseena kaisa? Neechay ho tou!” (And what this sweat is? Bend dow!).

On being bent lower than her height without questioning. He was listening “kitni dafa kaha hai k gari mein A/C on kar liya karo liken nahi tumhein tou meri baat maan ni nahi hai! Haye Allah dekho tou kitna paseena hai! Pooray bheeg rahay ho paseenay mein!” (I have told you so many times to switch on the A/C whenever you sit in car but you never listen to me! Oh my god! See howmuch seat here is! You are bathing in it!), and observing her hands rushing the sweat away from hair and drying his face from small towel. “Haan ab sahi hai, ab aao”. (Yes! Now it is okay! Come.)

The two walked to the round wooden table having Faraz stood beside Ali and Nida beside Chachi and Nida initiated “Yeh rahay CEO sahab!” (Here is Mr. CEO!) when Ali noticed. He asked “Kiya hua Faraz? Aankhein kyun itni laal ho rahi hain teri?” (What happen, Faraz? Why your eyes are so red?)

Faraz looked at him when his name came and was listening and when he came on his red eyes he laughed and said “Kuch nahi, Nida ki mohabbat ne rula diya” (Nothing. Nida’s affection brought lamentation). His volume was lower. And Ali was observing how he was asking her “Tum yahan kyun khari ho yahan aao na” (Why are you standing here? Come here.), and took her around her left arms and hold her a bit tight when he said how her love brought tears. Nida looked up slight interrogatively “Kiya hua?” and he answered “kuch nahi” (Nothing), and kissed her hairs instead of forehead. “Cake kaato” (Cut the cake), she brought the knife in front of him between them. He took the knife to cut but before cutting he asked “Tum bhi saath hath pakro na, main neechay kyun k base neechay hoti hai, tum oopar kyun k expansion oopar se hoti hai” (You also hold the knife with me. I will put hand down because base is always down and you put hands up because expansion takes place from upside). She nodded.

And the cake was cut and filled the mouth with it of her first.

                       ---------

The knob was turned. The door was opened. The feet entered in. How much the surprise sprung the blood and jumped the fear up as if it was his childhood when buckets of ice water threw on his face so hard and so fast when he was locked for days and months in room which opened his eyes at once and let the fear to reside. And what he found when he opened his eyes, no bucket no yelling, no dark room only lightning, celebration and genuine smile. While the steps were moving forward in store room having cardboard boxes right and left, he was remembering how his nerves were getting gradually cold, keeping the blood still in jaguar vein, not letting it to pass to heart, how his eyes were looking down because mind was in fear and in past remembering that water that throw that 12 years of age, that insult “tum mere tuqro pe palnay walay in purio pe dependent insaan ho aur aisay hi raho ge” (Yu will always remain a human being who lives on my money and dependent on these packets!). The blood stopped passing. The veins were boiling. The head was heating. He sat nearby chair. Hiding his face remembering that day that fight that lockup that coldness of that water and that throwing with thunder and weeping, he was weeping, holding his head. There was migraine. He looked up at sky asking “Kiya ab bhi?”  (Still?), letting saliva to connect the lips. The looked down, holding his head from two sides. He again hid his face and cried. He cried.

                         -----------

The erect papers were lying.

                       --------------

And second project of construction was at pace.

                                      ----

And he came home and found Nida and his mother sitting and watching TV togather having a great chit chat.

And very calmly, with great relieve he walked into his room.

              -----

Eid ul Azha arrived

Fajahad cut the neck

              ------

 

Author's Note

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