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When Life Begins ---------
kept listening, with his head bowed in shame. The harshness in Saleh’s
voice produced expressions of hopelessness on Mr. Mukhtar’s face.
However, Saleh did not stop and continued further:
“Look back, Mr. Mukhtar! Your mistress is standing behind you.”
Mr. Mukhtar turned around quickly. I also looked around to see
who was standing behind him. In front of us was standing an old woman
who had a face like a witch and an extremely strong stench emanating
from her body. Saleh touched me again which caused the smell to
disappear but I could see that Mr. Mukhtar could still smell her. The
ugly woman moved forward towards Mr. Mukhtar calling him by his
first name. Mr. Mukhtar slowly started to retreat, backing away from
the woman and then without any warning, he started to run away from
us. That woman or witch, whatever she was, also started to run after
him.
“Who was that woman?” I asked Saleh after they had disappeared
from sight.
“She used to be his mistress. She was famous in her times as an
actress, dancer, and model. Her name is Champa”, as Saleh introduced
her, I was shocked. I said:
“Champa? But she used to be very pretty; she was well known for
her beauty.”
“Yes, not only did people talk about her, she was also a role model
for them. See how that ideal personality looks like now! That woman
used to promote vulgarity in the society with her explosive and
revealing dances. God has decided that she will be imposed as a
punishment in Hell on those very people on whose hearts she used to
rule”, said Saleh laughingly.
I remembered that lewdness and immorality had spread to its
highest level during my time. Television allowed these actresses to
reach the living rooms of all homes. The societies of that time had
elevated such women who spread vulgarity and nudity, to the highest
levels of respect and importance. For the owners of TV channels and
film studios, these women were the cheapest and the easiest way of
making huge profits. They filled their coffers with money by promoting
their filthy dances, enticing moves and revealing garments. Young men
were madly in love with them and wanted to marry women who looked
and acted like them. Women used to style their clothes and makeup
after them. It was because of them that, girls of good moral character
but ordinary looks lost their true value in the society. So many of these
virtuous women grew old, all alone, unable to find suitable husbands.
Many left this world in silence, hiding the scars of society’s lack of
appreciation within their bosoms, deep under the cover of their
nobility.
My face showed signs of anguish. Saleh recognised them straight
away. He held my hand and started to walk in a direction. We stopped
after a little while and he said to me:
“God has made some arrangements to alleviate your suffering.
However, before I show you that, it may be better if you see this scene
from the world bygone.”
As he said these words, a scene started to run in front of my eyes
like a movie. I felt that I was a part of the scene and was able to
understand it without any explanation.
===============
Rays of morning sun were entering the room in spite of the curtains
on the windows. It was time to go to college but on this cold winter
morning, Shaistah did not feel well enough to leave her warm bed and
get ready. It was her habit to do some study after the morning prayers
and before she got ready for college. Today, she had gone back to bed
after offering the prayers. She had not felt well since last night.
“No! I have to go to the college, otherwise my students will lag
behind in their studies…, and I need to make breakfast for Mum and
Dad as well”, she thought. She then gathered all her strength, got up
from the bed, and quietly walked over to her parents’ room situated
next to hers. She opened the door slowly and looked inside; they were
in a deep slumber. She smiled with satisfaction.
Shaistah had devoted her whole life to her family. She was only a
child when her father was disabled. She was the eldest amongst three
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