Every evening, Rahim and his wife Hajera had the habit of taking tea and biscuits. While serving them tea and biscuits, when Hajera asked Kulsum to take a biscuit for herself she refused. She said she was going to pay a visit to Hoson’s shack. Not even five minutes had passed after Kulsum’s departure, Karim’s mobile began ringing. Like he always did, very early in the morning Rahim took the mobile to the bazaar to get it fully charged for the day. Rahim grabbed the mobile from the table next to their bed. For a second he stared at the number which was being displayed. It was the same number which was used earlier to communicate with them. A storm raged inside Rahim and his wife as he received the call.
From the other end, the voice of his son sounded like the sweetest of all music. Hajera couldn’t stop herself from crying when she saw that smile on her husband’s countenance, the smile she had not seen for so long. Rahim asked his son, “So, how is everything?”
“Father, don’t worry about me, by the grace of Almighty I’m just fine. I would like to know how you people have been doing over there.”
“Talk to your mother, she has been longing to hear from you.”
“Son, where are you right now? Your associates, what kind of people are they?” Hajera inquired.
“I don’t know the name of the place I am at the moment. My associates are all deprived people like us.”
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“I’ve heard that they roam around with firearms in their hands. If they’re really nice people, why do they roam around with firearms?”
“They say, if we cannot gain independence, we won’t be free from this kind of tyranny and injustice. So, they have taken up arms to liberate our homeland. I have joined the struggle because I have the same opinion. If we cannot gain independence, indeed our existence as a nation will cease to be.”
“If something happens to you, have you ever thought of the consequence of it upon Kulsum and your unborn child?”
“That I do not know, but one thing for sure, life does not stop for anyone. The same is true for us as well. Mother, would you let me talk to Kulsum? It has been quite some time.”
“As of today, Kulsum doesn’t know that you’re still alive. We didn’t let anyone know that you’ve joined the rebels.”
“This is not right. You should let Kulsum and Rafiq know that I’m still alive.”
“What if it leaks out? It might put us in greater trouble.”
“Why will they spill the beans if you tell them not to?”
“Alright, let me fetch Kulsum, she’s at Hoson’s shack. In the meantime, talk to your father.”
When Kulsum rushed back, she looked almost insane. Rahim told her to calm down before handing her the mobile. The few words they exchanged carried with them the feelings of a lifetime. Hajera and her husband moved to the veranda so that their son could privately talk to his wife. Their conversation continued for about ten minutes. Most of the time, Karim did the talking. It comprised mostly of advices and statements aimed at consoling his wife. Kulsum was hardly in a state to talk, so her speech was limited to saying yes or no. She had surrendered the destiny of her husband to fate, at least that’s how Rahim and Hajera perceived her as she came out. She had still been sobbing when she said to them, “Mother, the path he has chosen, there’s very little chance that he’ll return home alive. He has suggested the name of his unborn child, if it is a girl or a boy.”
A prolonged silence followed Kulsum’s speech. No one noticed the passing of sunset, and the arrival of darkness. In the hearts of these three helpless refugees, one single face kept burning like a torch.