Faith (Short Story)

Faith

                                       (Umar Razi)

Abdur Rehman was driving his rikshaw, he had to drop passengers at The Data Darbar. The passengers whom he had picked up from Shahdra. They were his first passengers of the day. He used to dwell in Shahdra. He was a poor man who drove rikshaw for an earning, he had a wife and seven children. Physically he was thin and skinny, his flesh seemed as if melted towards the inside, wrinkles were everywhere on his face. He was pale, weak and feeble which implied the tyranny he bore of the cruel world and the non favoring circumstances. He suffered from cancer, he knew that he will die some day because of the incurable disease. He was not afraid of death, he was afraid of the aftermath, what would happen to his family. His poor feeble wife did not had the physical and psychological power to manage their little house and children. The bigger of them all problems were that all of their seven children were girls. The eldest girl was of age 24 and the youngest was of age 17, the marriage of all their seven daughters was not a little issue. Abdur Rehman said his prayers regularly, he was a very pious man and he had a strong faith and firm belief in The Almighty Allah. He knew that some miracle would happen and his life would enrich with happiness. The almost impossible dream of his to see his young daughters get married will be fulfilled. Abdur Rehman was regular in his Tahajud Prayer, he CRIED, CRIED and CRIED in front of Allah. Abdur Rehman never did any wrong with someone thus he was very positive that no injustice would be done to him also, in the court of The Almighty. When Abdur Rehman brought fruits to home, once a month, his little daughters had a spark of happiness in their eyes. His wife also welcomed this little happiness with open arms. Sometimes even little moments of happiness can be bigger than anything, it can bring tears in one’s eyes. One who has not seen true happiness in life, for him even little moments of happiness in life are very enjoyable. Abdur Rehman’s wife Rihana used to save money, although he used to get very little money from Abdur Rehman but she still managed to save a little amount from it and add it into her savings. They used to boil potatoes everyday and they ate it with chappatis. After their meal they used to say “ Allhamdulilah “ . They were always happy and thankful to Allah for what they had.

            Abdur Rehman was on his way Data Darbar, the idea was revolving in his mind that what would happen if he dies due to his incurable disease, what would happen to his family, would his daughters get married or not, would he live to see the marriage of his daughters or not?

            While he was in a psychological fight with himself, he lost the control of the rikshaw, the rikshaw got hit by an electic pole and he died at the spot along with the passengers.

            When Abdur Rehman opened his eyes he was in a never seen enchanted place, it was spiritual and magical. Milk was flowing in the rivers, trees of honey were everywhere. Sky was of vanilla color which was beautiful. He was alone at that enchanted place. He was having many questions to himself that where he was and where was his family, had he died? What would his family do without him.

He burst into tears and cursed his fate which did not allowed him to live and to be with his helpless family. He was uttering the words again and again.

Oh Allah ! I never wished bad for someone, then why this has happened to me. Oh Allah please help me, Oh Allah help me please !

While Abdur Rehman was uttering these lines, suddenly an angel appeared in front of him, the angel placed his hand on his shoulder and tried to comfort him. Abdur Rehman wiped his tears and gazed at the tall figure which was standing in front of him, it had a spiritual glow on its face, had big shinny and sparkling eyes, had beautiful big white wings resembling of a falcon’s but it only had the colour difference.

Abdur Rehman was utterly shocked and fell backwards. The angel spoke,

“ Abdur Rehman, you need not to be afraid, you are pious and kind, you have a firm belief in Allah “

Abdur Rehman could merely speak,

“ wh-whh- where am i?”

“ In heavens “ the angel replied

“ I never  imagined this  colossal catastrophe would stoke me this early, what would happen to my family? “ Abdur Rehman said while wiping his tears, he was in complete despair.

“how much do you love your family?” the angel asked

“ My love is beyond limits for my family “ he replied confidentially

“ how strong is your faith in Allah? “ the angel asked another one

“ La Illaha Ilalah Muhammad Ur Rasool Ullah , My Allah knows how strong my faith is, it is stronger than mountains “

The angel nodded his head and said,

“ Allah has ordered me to tell you that, you do not need to worry about anything,  The Almighty himself has took the responsibility of all of your daughters marriages. Your life is prolonged; you will live to see your grandsons and granddaughters.

Abdur Rehman’s eyes opened, he was in his rikshaw which was parked near The Data Darbar, he was waiting for the passengers to return, he fell asleep while he was waiting. His eyes were full of tears and the extreme of his happiness could not be measured by any parameter at that moment. Then the passengers returned to his rikshaw, Abdur Rehman started the rikshaw and went off to the destination happily.