I wrote a short story more than thirty five years ago, which was published in a number of newspapers in Pakistan. One of the publication was the Sunday Magazine of an English daily newspaper dated November 8, 1985, published from Islamabad, Pakistan.This shorty story reflects the culture of Pakistan, where having a girl friend as young boys in middle or high schools in the western countries can, is unthinkable and rarely happens, even now. So, now I want to share with the readers of this blog. I would appreciate your comments.
MONA was gazing at the clouds from the balcony of her house. Tears rolled down her eyes and she was lost in meditation. She gazed and gazed, till the sun went down in the horizon. The yellow rays of the sun seemed to embrace the sky and the clouds shone in the sun’s retreating rays. Mona wandered aimlessly in her thoughts. The events of the last five years began to unfold like a film, in her imagination.
She first saw Raj when she was studying in the 8th grade, how charming he looked, when he first entered the room and looked for an empty seat. His shinning eyes seemed to search for a seat in the first row, but when he could not find an empty seat in the first row, he headed for the back rows. “Listen,” said Mona softly.
“Yes,” Raj said, “did you call me?”
“You can sit here with me, if you have no objection,” Mona said smilingly.
“Oh! Thank you, but …”
“I will hear no butts,” said Mona.
Raj became friendly with Mona in a couple of days. His witty comments were a source of laughter to the class and at the same time they made Mona smile. One day when the Math teacher did not come, and there were very few boys and no girl in their class for a few minutes, as most of the class had gone to the canteen to buy some snacks, Raj looked at Mona. Mona smiled. The rain had stopped. The lovely weather, the green washed trees could enchant anyone. Raj caught Mona’s hand and led her to the corner of the garden. They enjoyed talking about the movies, friends and poetry. Mona quoted some very romantic couplets, to which Raj replied in the same coin.
Days and months passed and soon it was the end of the school year. After the summer break they started classes in the 9th grade. One day, Mona told Raj in the class that that day was her birthday and she had persuaded her father to have a birthday party at their house that evening and he should come to her birthday party, otherwise she would not cut her cake. Raj was horrified. He knew how difficult it would be for him to get his father’s permission to go alone in the evening to attend his class mate’s birthday party, especially a girl’s birthday party, because he had never told his father about Mona, and how much he liked her, but he did not want to hurt her feelings. She was so sweet and very dear to him.
In the evening when his father came home, Raj told him about Mona—his class mate and that she had invited him to her birthday party this evening and then asked for his permission. At first, his father was reluctant to give Raj, as this might open door for him and Mona to meet frequently and this might blossom into an emotional attachment, which will have adverse effect on his studies and future career. But after some persuasion and recommendation from his mother his father gave him the permission, but reminded him to come home before 8:00 PM, so that he could finish any homework before going to bed. Raj was very happy to get the permission, but now the question was, what present he would get for Mona and from where would he get the money. He knew that her younger sister always saved some money from her daily pocket money, so he went to her and borrowed Rs. 10 from her, with a promise to return to her next week from his weekly pocket allowance. After buying a beautiful photo album from the local book shop, he went to Mona’s house which was less than a mile from their house. She was delighted to see him, and introduced him to her friends and her parents.
“Mona, your chief guest seems to be scared of me,” Salma joked.
“Yes, who would not be scared of such ferocious eyes as yours,” retorted Mona.
“Salma, why are you so jealous of Mona’s friend, don’t you have any of your own?” Shahnaz wanted to know. Mona was looking very beautiful in her pink shalwar-kameez and a matching dupatta. Her friends and cousins had gathered around her and when she began to cut her birthday cake, they all started to sing, “Happy Birthday to You, our dear Mona… Happy Birthday to you.” Mona took the piece of cake on which her name was written with pink cream, on a plate which was also pink and gave it to Raj. After wishing her “Happy Birthday,” he took that plate and said, “Even the icing and the cream on the cake matches with the color of her very beautiful dress.” He then he whispered in her ears, “Mona, you look gorgeous today, may Allah keep you safe from all evils and I see the smile and happiness on your face as long as you live.”
“Mona, would you mind giving some attention to your old friends and cousins,” shouted Salma.
“ Salma, had you been Raj, you would surely get so much attention.” Mona came running and pleaded them to stop acting like children. What would Raj think? When the party came to an end and guests started leaving, Raj also took leave with a smile. Mona was tired, but she was so delighted that Raj had come. The first present that she opened was his. Two months later, Mona and Raj took the Matriculation Examination—conducted by the Secondary Education Board at the end of 10th Grade, the highest grade in High Schools. When Mona came home after her last exam, she thought of inviting Raj to her house for a friendly chat. She did not have a phone in her room, so she came downstairs and dialed Raj’s number, from the home phone.
“Hello, who is calling and whom do you want to speak,” a young girl answered from Raj’s house.
“Raj”, was all Mona could say.
“May I know your name.”
“Mona.”
“All right, just hold on a minute.”
When Raj’s sister told him that there was a girl named Mona on the phone and she wanted to speak to him, Raj was happy, but also surprised to get her call, and wondered how she got his home phone number, as he had never given it to her.
“Hello, Mona. Nice to hear your voice, but how did you get my phone number, and what is the reason for your call,” Raj spoke, without pausing for her reply.
“I can’t answer all your questions on phone. Why don’t you come to our house this evening? We can chat and celebrate the end of our high school era, answer all your questions and discuss about college studies.”
“OK, that would be fine with me, but what about your parents. Will they not object to my coming to meet you today?”
“Oh, no. My parents are not as conservative as yours,” was Mon’s quick reply.
Mona’s parents were not conservatives like those of Raj, and they did not object to Mona’s being friendly with Raj and her inviting him home. Hence, Raj became a frequent visitor to Mona’s house. Mona, her two sisters and Raj went on picnics, to movies, and other places. Mona’s two sisters would sometime leave their Baji, (elder sister) and Raj alone for chatting. On one occasion, Mona took Raj’s hand in her hand and told him that she was afraid that her meeting of hers with him might become a nightmare for her, would he be hers always, as he is now? Raj assured Mona that as long as he lived he would be only hers and no other girl would ever interest him.
That day, both Raj and Mona were impatient like thousands of other students, because according to reliable sources, the Matriculation results were to be announced. Mona telephoned Raj to ask if he knew anything about the result. Raj had a friend whose father was working in a local newspaper, but he could not contact him by phone, as his phone was not in service due to some technical problem in the wiring, so they have to wait for the newspaper the following morning.
Early the next morning Mona telephoned Raj and congratulated him on his brilliant success. How he had labored to get First Division (equivalent to A grade) with very high score in each subjects. Mona passed with Second Division (equivalent to B grade), but she was happy that now she would be able to boast among her friends that Raj, her best friend passed in First Division and that he was no ordinary student.
There was a big party at Mona’s house and also at Raj’s. He could not invite Mona to his party, because he was afraid of his father. Anyway, Mona did not want to Raj to displease his parents for her sake. Mona joined a women’s college and Raj a men’s college.
T wo years passed, and Raj after passing the college exam, commonly known as Inter-Science, was to leave for England to study Engineering. He had been awarded a scholarship by the Oxford University, one of the best university of England, so everybody at Raj’s house and the extended family were very happy. After getting the scholarship letter Raj called Mona to tell her about his plan to go to England. He said he was helpless. If he had to make his career, then they have to bear this separation. He knew that she would find it very difficult to live without him.
Mona wept for a few minutes, but then consoled herself that this separation was to enable Raj to get a good job, after completing his engineering degree from England, and one day he will come and take Mona to live with him forever as his wife. She was lost in the world of the future and did not realize that she had been sitting in this chair for more than fifteen minutes, and had completely forgotten about the farewell party at Raj’s house. She got up and went to her bedroom to get ready for the party. Raj has succeeded in getting permission from his parents to invite her to his farewell party. After putting her best dress, Mona got her best photograph, which Raj has requested, and then went to his house.
Raj was sitting surrounded by his class fellows, and he did not seem very happy. He was looking at his wrist watch. His most close friend Arif knew why he was so sad and impatient. He said to Raj, “Don’t be sad in leaving your friends, parents, brothers, sisters and Mona, because you are not go to London for ever. Four years is not a very long time. You will be so busy with your studies, new friends and settling in a new city, that suddenly one day you will realize that you are going back home.” At this moment Mona entered the drawing room, and Raj rushed to the door to greet her. After the party, everybody took their leave, giving their best wishes and blessings to Raj.
The next day Raj was very busy, because he was trying to pack his things. His parents, brothers and sisters were helping him in the packing. “Bhaijan, won’t you take some of your books?” shouted Farzana from her room.
“Oh, yes, bring them to me.”
“Bhaijan, did you put the handkerchief that I put on your bed this morning in your suitcase,” Farzana reminded him from her room.
“Thank you for reminding me, I had really forgotten to pack those.”
“Raj Beta, come here and have your lunch, otherwise you will be late,” his mother called from the dining room.
Raj had a hasty lunch, got dressed and took a last look at his bags and then left, along with his family for the Airport. When the announcement for the departure of Raj’s flight was made, Raj bade goodbye to everybody. His mother and his sisters were all weeping. Raj assured them that he will take care of himself and that they should bid him goodbye with a smiling faces. Without caring what people would think or say, Mona dropped two tears on the hands of Raj, when he turned towards her to say goodbye to her.
Mona and all those who came to see him off at the airport, watched the plane take-off, and they remained there as long as the plane was within their sight.
The next day, when Mona picked up the daily newspaper, she was stunned to read the headlines—British Airways plane crashed, all passengers killed. She did not read the details, because she knew that there was only one flight of British Airways that had departed yesterday. She felt as if she was dreaming and it was all happening in her dreams. She did not want to believe it, but it was true. She could not even cry, because when you hear, see or read something so suddenly, which you never expected, you are speechless and your mind virtually stops and does not give any instructions to other parts of your body, and thus no tears fall from your eyes. You are in a state of shock.
She looked out of the window. It was a partially cloudy and the small clusters of bright shining clouds were floating in the sky. She looked at the passing clouds, but the clouds were oblivious of her grief. She kept gazing at the passing clouds for a long time and then at her life. What a similarity. Raj came into her life and went away just like a passing cloud. You cannot catch or stop a cloud. They do not stay long at any location and their existence ends when they fall as rain. Raj’s life also ended when his plane crashed and fell in the ocean.
Rambler's Corner 