By Asadullah Ghazanfar
Translated by Gulalai Ahad
The doctor had advised Haji Usman to stay clear of sweets, give up smoking, watch his fat intake from foods and walk regularly. Haji faithfully followed these orders for eight months and was now feeling much better than the previous year.
Some days he would even walk for half an hour straight. Now that the winter months were nearly over and the air was slowly warming, Haji was also trying to increase his walking distance. Mamoor Latif had told him, “you are acting like a young man, I refuse to accompany you any longer.” Like Haji, mamoor was also eighty-four years old. Their health problems, however were very different. Mamoor was having heart trouble while Haji suffered from Diabetes.
One spring evening, as he set out on his daily walk, Haji was feeling somewhat courageous and free. The weather was so much to his likeing that he took off his jumper, folded up his sleeves and unbuttoned the top few buttons of his shirt. The light spring breeze encouraged Haji to change his regular route, and instead explore the streets of the city. His wanderings eventually led him to the park situated in the center of the city. For a great number of years Haji had only visited the park during the mornings.
Mamoor Latif had once told him that during the mornings the parks belong to the old and in the evenings to the young. Haji had been amused by this comment and always managed to abide by this unwritten rule. Yet today it had somehow slipped his mind. At the entrance of the park, Haji’s eyes fell upon a young woman sitting alone on a concrete bench. He began to study her face; she had a wide forehead, a small nose, thin lips and big eyes. Above everything else, Haji was most facinated with the soft look of her skin which was a blessing of her tender age. As Haji passed her, he said to himself, “why should I ignore a fresh flower? I am not looking at her with bad intentions.” with this passing thought he smiled to himself, as if laughing at the poor excuse for his lust and desire.
As soon as the young woman was out of site, Haji stopped walking. He took a moment to analyze what he was feeling. For some odd reason He could not get the young woman out of his mind, his long walk had increased his blood pressure and left his brain overly active.
Suddenly he thought of a trick to get her attention. He turned around to face her and she looked right back at him. Her eyes appeared even larger and brighter than before, yet this didnt manage worry Haji in the least bit. “Do you have the time?” he casually asked. While she lifted her hand, he focused opon her wrist. She glanced at her watch as Haji admired the raising of her eyebrow. When she turned her eyes towards him once again, Haji longed for the same movement in her brow.
She responded,” quarter to six.” As she spoke, he could feel her breath and became aware of the scent of her perfume. Haji began to thank her and was suddenly hit with a realization, the young woman could see his watch as well. Haji’s left wrist, bound by his watch, was so obviously positioned on his walking stick that her sharp eyes could detect it within seconds.
Haji quickly turned from her and moved towards the center of the park. He rested on an empty chair and moments later dozed off. After ten or fifteen minutes of peaceful rest, Haji opened his eyes and once again remembered the young woman. He went after her, walking to the entrance of the park, yet she was no where to be found. His heart began to fill with a mad thirst to see her again, as if it would be his last chance.
He wandered around the park, checking each and every chair and looking behind each tree. He searched the narrow paths between the rose bushes. The fragrance of the flowers and grass was prevelant, yet the scent of her perfume was missing. With a great sense of disappointment, Haji left the park. On his way home he realized where he had gone wrong; he should have searched for the girl at the other entrance to the park. He remembered now that the park had two entrances, one at the north end and one at the south end. Overtaken by fatigue and already on the road leading home, he allowed his desire to see her slowly slip from his mind.
For his evening prayers, Haji went to the local mosque. “How come you are so happy, what’s going on?” Mamoor Latif asked him there. “Don’t ask, I am so tired,” he replied. Mamoor stared at him with questioning eyes. “Come with me tomorrow and I’ll definitely tell you why,” Haji added. Mamoor’s eyes seemed to smile as he nodded his head. “Dont worry, I won’t take you on the walk, I will teach you something to make you happy, something which will take you back to your youth,” said Haji reassuringly.
That night Haji listened to the news, as was his habit. During the health news, he heard of Chinese Scholars in northern China who had found an herb, which if dried, boiled and taken, was considered the best treatment for diabetes. This news seemed of great importance to Haji. Early the next morning, well before breakfast, he put on his glasses and began reading the newspaper, which was also covering the Chinese story. Haji read the story twice, once again with a great deal of interest.
Later on in the day Mamoor Latif came to visit his friend. Haji immediately told him of the Chinese Scholar’s discovery. Mamoor then asked him of the other news. “What news?” Haji responded. “The one you were mentioning in the mosque last night,” Mamoor reminded him. Haji couldnt remember. In an effort to jog his friend’s memory, Mamoor added,” you were saying it was something which would make me very happy.” Haji became silent, trying desperately to recall the previous day’s news and events. Yet nothing came to mind. Mamoor once again murmered,” you were saying it was way to freshen the heart.” Haji could not remember a thing. The young woman was out of his mind just as youth was from his life. After a few moments Haji contently mentioned,” Dont you think China has progressed a lot?”
