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Photo illustration by Faraz Aamer Khan/Dawn.com
“Take off your shoes.”
I looked behind me. He stood silently silhouetted in the doorway.
I feel like I don’t know anything about Asad. I don’t know his age or when his birthday is. I don’t know where he goes to school. I don’t even know what his hobbies are. But for a few hours each day, I feel like we have been friends for years. We play cricket together at dusk in the dusty street outside our house, surrounded by the rolling mountains of Abbottabad. Not much is said – his Hindku is far superior to mine – but we play until the mosquitoes become too vicious to bear. When he does speak, it’s clever and spiked with a wicked wit.
We go inside where a rusty bike lies butchered on its side, one wheel separated beside a tangled chain. He disappears into the kitchen and returns with a bowl of cooking oil, a knife and a piece of string. He sets about mending the bike, forging parts where there were none before. This is his element.
I sit and watch, trying to outsmart him with a more inventive idea to attach the wheel to the bike. But he is far ahead of me, already hammering the axles into shape with the butt of the knife. I go to the kitchen to get us both a glass of coke. He doesn’t touch his.
The time approaches 11pm and the crickets chirp a cacophony of sound among the bushes outside our house. The bike is fixed in the Pakistani sense of the word, held together with string, bent metal and hope (mostly hope). I ask him if he will ride the bike into school. He shrugs in reply. I’m thinking that he won’t go to school tomorrow; history, mathematics, geography. These things mean little to him. He likes the affirmation of creating something out of nothing, of fixing something that was previously broken. At least I think he does.
“Take off your shoes.”
He’s still there, silhouetted in the doorway of a friends’ house. He obediently takes off his shoes. I am allowed to enter with the honour of retaining my sandals. To them he is just our servant, our kaam wala’s son. I look at him but he is staring at his bare, calloused feet contrasted like the moon to the night sky against the bright marble floor.
We return home and play Frisbee in the dying light as the sun evaporates on the hills. His hand-eye coordination is terrible. He drops it often, and I have to dive to catch his wayward throws. I’m thinking that he only plays because I want to. I see his new project leaning against the fence – a vintage lawnmower with rusty razorblades. I finish the game and he immediately fetches the screwdriver. His hands, so clumsy minutes ago, now twist and alter with precision and grace. I’m still two steps behind.
I realise now, for what it’s worth, that despite all our arrogance against them, the meek shall inherit the earth.
Abdul-Rehman Malik, an aspiring literature student, is currently taking a year off between high school and university to travel.
The views expressed by this blogger and in the following reader comments do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Dawn Media Group.
My friends this is a very touching and spiritual real life article.
The holy scriptures all talk about'
, that meek shall inherit the earth.
I think most of the mankind will know this in the next life.
Some blessed saints and walis know this in this life.
Keep writing my friend , keep up the good work. Allah Ho, Allah Ho.
Thank you for sharing this beautiful piece.
I was truely touched.
Well done my brother.
Wow!! what a poignant narration…
Very well written!
Could have been very well a story from anywhere in South Asia.
Very well written.
Great article!! don't know why but your article reminded me of Amir and Hassan, the two characters from the novel, The Kite Runner.
Well done. Keep your torch alight young man. Keep exposing the real face of our society.
Engaging and Moving.
wow, great article. love the ending line. quietly shows 2 talents in pakistan right there (writing and fixing stuff). well done sir, enjoy ur vacations and keep on writing!
If there are more sensitive young men like you, then I am confident Pakistan has a bright future. Keep up the good job, in particular sensitizing your friends about your 'meek' friends. They are our shame, a shame we are not even aware of.
Over a lifetime, I began to say:"The meek shall inherit the dust",because the arrogant will not give an inch. They are the power majority and the meek merely the numerical majority kept alive to serve.
Cynical, but look around. Some do manage to crawl out of the "swamp" but too many are kept down–It's the capitalist way.
All the same, I am deeply moved by your keen sensitivity. May it become infectious!
so well pointed out,so true of our complex class ridden society
Im sure the aim of the artcle was good, but it was a bit too brief, i did not understand it fully, be clearer with the point that you are trying to make and then you will be brilliant, as your language is simple but precise.
good try though.
The meek shall inherit the earth indeed. A joyous read!
good read
Amazing, after a long time a story which really click's somewhere in mind and this also add to my old collection of stories from my school time. And it's a bit of relief as well, to see our new generation is doing something other than facebook
Wow…. Amazingly written I am surprised in the most pleasant way that a high school graduate from our country can write so well. You are amazing better than most of the professional lot. keep it up!
Very refreshing writeup.
Surely will be looking for reading more of your articles.
Well written. Thanks for sharing. Looking forward to see many more stories through you. Peace.
short, comprehensive and precise! really good job!
plus it's good to hear i'm not the only crazy one taking a year off after school
Have fun!
Loved it. Will be waiting for more!
fantastic.. superb.. so easy and smooth.. pls do continue to write..
What a great article!! I thoroughly enjoyed reading it, thank you! Enjoy your year of travels, I hope it brings many adventures leading to more great articles like this one.
You my friend are a good human and a you just made me a proud Pakistani! Enjoy your vacations while you can Rejoice with that awesone scenery around you! I hope everybody gets the hidden message from this article! Only if we all were a little considerate towards them!