Question

When the question was raised on..................

Moon sighted

Ramadan Mubarak was all on the page of Fajahad.

 

And the two offered Tarawi beside each other.

                         -

Kashif phoned him after Tarawi, 11 PM.

Kashif: “Hello Faraz beta! Kaisay ho?”
(Hello Faraz beta! How are you?)

Faraz: “Main theek hoon uncle. Aap kaisay hain?”
(I am fine, uncle. How are you?)

Kashif: “Beta tum se ek zaroori baat karni hai, kal tumharay office aaon ga”
(Beta, I want to talk to you something important. I will come to your office, tomorrow.)

Faraz: “Jee uncle.”
(Okay Uncle)

                        --

Sehri time

Everyone was at table

Farkhanada: (indirectly to Fajahad) “Is baar sub ko rozay rakhnay hoga meray ghar mein!”
(This time, everyone has to fast in my house!)

Fajahad: (while having French fries) “Rozay se pehlay sach aata hai.”
(Truth comes before Fasting.) 

Farkhanda: “Yeh mera hukum hai!”
(It is my order!)

Fajahad: “Hukum se pehlay samjh aati hai. Aap matric kar k college mein gai thi college k baad matric nahi kiya.” 
(Understanding comes before order. You went into college after matric. You did not clear college before matriculation.)

And she remembered the day when she, being 19 year old girl who ran upstairs in his room letting the stairs to feel purpke colour of her dresstold her father "Silk pehana mardon pe haram hai" (It is haram for men to wear silk.) and her father said "Yeh sub tou baad ki baatein hain pehlay sach bolna seekh lein baad mein is par aayein gay" (It, all comes afterwards. First comes truthfulness. First we will master in it then work on the rest.)

The brothers left the table.

                      ---

Office

Kashif: “Main apni factory tumharay naam karana chahta hoon. I want to give my mini empire to you. Kiya tumhari ijazat hai?”
(I want to give rights of my factory to you. I want to give my mini empire to you. Do you give me permission for it?)

Faraz: “Main aap ko soch k batata hoon.”
(I will tell you after some time.)

                     ----

After Iftari

Kashif's place

Kashif in his bedroom

Kashif: (standing in front of his wife) "Chahay kuch bhi ho jaye Rakshanda main factory Faraz ko hi doon ga sambhalanay k liye.”
(I will give my factory to Faraz to run at any cost, by hook or by crook! Rakshanda!)

Rakshanda: (sitting on bed) “Humara beta abhi zinda hai.”
(Our son is still alive.)

Kashif: Ali (laugh) “Woh tou itna kabil bhi nahi hai k ek accounts ka kaam sambhal sakay aur tum kehti ho main ussay apna empire dey doon!
Faraz behtareen intakhaab hai. Aur ab main kuch nahi sunoo ga.”
(He is not even that capable to look over accounts and you ask me to give him my empire!
Faraz is the finest choice. And I will not listen, anything, now!)

And he left the room banging the door behind.

Azaan was going on, tears were rolling down and shadow was forming behind the cabinets up.

                        -----

Next day

At college

In class

Fajahad and his friends were sitting on back benches. Fajahad was eating and biting chips while his friends were fasting.

Farhan: “Sharam kar tu rozaydaaron k saamnay kha raha hai”
(Have some shame! You are eating in front of those who are fasting!)

Fajahad: “Sharam tu kar k tu meray chips ko dekh nafs pe kaboo nahi kar pa raha”
(You need to be shameful! Because you cannot control yourself just by looking at food!)

He in return looked down and then at teacher.

Teacher: (giving lecture) “Surah Bakrah mein hai Allah tallah nafarman k dilon par mohar laga detay hain, woh andhay na ho kar bhi andhay hotay hain aur behray na ho kar bhi behray hotay hain.”
(Surat ul Bakra says that Allah seals the heart of disobedient people and they get blind despite of having eyes and get deaf despite of having ears.)

Meanwhile Fajahad and Essa were busy in having chips at very last bench where they were snatching chips.

He snatched it finally and cleaned the packet completely and raised his hand.

Teacher: “Jee Fajahad”
(Yes Fajahad)

Fajahad: “Nafarman pe mohar kyun, moqa kyun nahi? Bijaye unko samjhnay k unke halaat ko dekhnay k khuda ne tou unse sarai resources hi cheen li! That’s not fair.”
(Why seals towards disobedient? Why not chance? Instead of observing and understanding their situations, God snatches all resources away! That’s not fair.)

Teacher: “Kiya unki nafarmani sahi hai?”
(Is their being disobedient fair and right?)

Fajahad: “Bachay bhi tou maa baap ki nafarmani kartay hain jab tak unko unkay orders ki waja samjh nahi aa jati. Khuda ne hum itni khubsurat dunya mein bhej kr hum sey kyun yeh umeed lagai k hum unki baaton par amal karein ge bagair reason janay?”
We are human beings man. Ek taraf khuda division na karne ka hukum deta hai aur dusri taraf khud hi partiality kartay hain. That's not fair. That's totally not fair.
(Children, also, disobeys their parents until they understand the reasons of their orders. Why god expect us to obey his commands after sending us in his beautiful world without knowing the reasons? We are human beings, man! God himself orders us of not getting divided, on one hand and on the other hand, he creates partiality himself. That’s not fair! That’s totally not fair!)

Teacher: “Fajahad! Aap Quran pe sawal utha rahay ho!”
(Fajahad! You are raising question on Quran!) 

Fajahad: “Tou? Yeh mera right hai.”
(So! It is my right.)

Teacher: “No! It is not your right to raise questions on Quran!”

Fajahad: “Mujhay apki ijazat ki zaroorat nahi kyun k mujhe ye ijazat meray khuda ne dee hai k jab chahoon jahan chahoon main sawal kar sakta hoon!”
(I don’t need your permission because my god gives me the right to raise questions where and whenever I want to!)

Teacher: “Leave the room, I said leave!”

And when he was going stepping downstairs to leave 

Teacher: “Get out!”

But while going out he turned again and said

Fajahad: “Aur haan ek aur cheez sach se ziyada namaz kyun sekhai jati hain?”
(And yes! There is one thing more. Why Namaz is taught more than truthfulness?)

And he left.

                   ------

After class

Farhan and many of them running to him many were appreciated him 

"Waah Faji waah! Tu ne tou sach mein Rukhsana ki baja dali!"
(Wow Faji Wow! You have literally sealed Rukhsana comepletely!)

But Farhan, he shouted

Farhan: “You are raising questions on Quran!”

Fajahad: “Tou?”
(So?)

Farhan: “You have no right to do this!”

Fajahad: “Listen, mujhe yeh haq meray khuda ne diya hai!”
(Listen! My God has given me this right!)

And marched away.

It went on for days. He was even offering Tarawi beside him. He started to stand away from him. Shela was noticing all of that because he and rest of the class was not even ready to sit with him.  Then, one day as the class got over.

Fajahad, the last one to leave, was stopped by

Shela: “Fajahad, tum ruko, tum sey baat karni hai meray office aao.”
(Fajahad! You stop. I want to talk you. Come to my office.)

Shela, on the other hand, walked out to ground towards Farhan, Essa, Qasim, Junaid and other few fellows of PE-II 0

Shela: (patted on his shoulder from behind)”Farhan!”

Farhan: (turned around) “Jee Ma’am”
(Yes Ma’am)

Shela: “Yeh sub kiya chal raha hai? Tum and Fajahad baat kyun nahi kar rahay?”
(What is going on? Why you and Fajahad are not talking?)

Farhan: “Main naraz hoon uss say”
(I am upset from him.)

He said thoughtfully

Shela:  “Kyun? Kiya hua? Tum dono kyun jhagra kartay rahtay ho?”
(Why? What happen? Why you both always fight?)

Farhan: “Jhagra main nahi who karta hai! Woh Islam pe sawal uthata hai main nahi!”
(I don’t fight! He fights! He raises questions on Islam! Nott me!)

Shela: “Iska matlab hai wo waqai bohat smart hai! Waqai mein woh insaan hai!
(It means he is really smart! He is really a human being!)

She was slowly moving forward.

Farhan looking at her and listening her words. He and others were shocked to listen complementary words from her for Fajahad still.

Farhan: “Insan!”
(Human being!)

She, holding books and notebooks, turned and nodded.

Farhan: “Aur hum?”
(And we?)

Shela: “Robots! Sub ki tarhan!”
She smiled

Shela: “Sahi suna hai! Haan insaan. Wohi tou ek insaan hai baqi tum sub tou robot ho jo wahi kartay hain jo kaha jaye!”
(You have listened right! Yes human being. He is the only hman being here otherwise all are robots who do ehat they are asked to do!)
She understood that Farhan and others were still in shock and to really realize them she said loudly while footing it to a building.

                       -------

He went to her office

Fajahad: “yup, you have called me?”

Shela: “Haan main ne tumhe bulaya tha.”
(Yeah, I called you.)

Fajahad: “kis liye?”
(For what?)

Shela: “Suna hai tum ne Qur'an pe sawal uthaya tha?”
(I have heard you had raised question on Quran?)

Fajahad: “Kis ne bataya?”
(Who told you?)

Shela: “Pooray staff room mein dou hafton sey baat chal rahi hai.”
(All staff has been talking about it, since two weeks. )

Fajahad: “Jee uthaya tha,”
(Yeah, I raised.)

Shela: “Let them say what they want to say tum ne jo kiya bilkul sahi kiya.”
(Let them say what they want to say because you did right.) 

Fajahad exchanged smile.

Shela: “Aaj ghar pe ek choti see celebration hai Iftaari k baad behan ne ACCA mein gold medal liya hai.”
(There is a little celebration today at home after Iftaari because sister got gold medal in ACCA.) 

Fajahad: Hey congrats!!

Shela: “Tum zaroor aana.”
(You should come”

    --------

“Thank you Farheen”

“Ek baat boloon Fajahad?”
(Will I say one thing, Fajahad?)

“Haan bolo”
(Yes say.)

“Tum bohat ro gay aur tumharay pass koi bhi nahi hoga.”
(You will cry a lot and there will be no one with you.)

“Acha! Tum bhi nahi?”
(Really! And you?)

“Mujhe koi rehnay hi nahi dey ga tumharay pass.”
(No one will let me to remain with you.)

“Aur yeh sub kyun hoga?”
(And why this will happen?)

“Kyun k sachai ko kabhi rehnay nahi detay.”
(Because no one let the truth remain)

“Aur sachay ko?”
(And what about honest?)

“Jab tak uska khoon na bahay, tab khamoshi tari nahi hoti.”
(Silence won’t prevail until his blood shed.)

And he woke up, suddenly came out from the corridor of college where he sat with her last day to bed where he was sitting with straight legs, flooding in sweat. While rubbing his eyes, hands approached the alarm clock which opened his eyes because there was written “4:00”

       ---------

Farhan: “tou kiya main bhi robot hoon?”
(So, am I robot too?)

Shela: (turned) “Haan tum bhi!”
(Yes, you are too.)

Farhan: “Aap aisa kyun keh rahi hain?”
(Why are you saying like this?)

Shela: “Kyun k tum ne har bachay ki tarhan ussay judge kiya ussay samjha nahi aur kyun k tum ne bhi yahi socha k Quran pe sawal utha na galat baat hai.”
(Because you, like other kids, judged him not tried to understand him and because you, like others, thought that it is wrong to ask questions regarding Quranic verses.)

And, he, on dining table while waiting for Maghrib Azaan, remembering his conversation with her.

        ---------

Night

Shela introduced him in his family. 

He gave bouquet to her sister, Hiba. And took part in their celebration keeping his eyes open.

 

After celebration. He and Shela sat together on sofa.

Shela: “Note kiya kuch?”
(Did you observe something?)

Fajahad: “Aap ki ammi ko. She seems to revolutionist. Kafi chup thi, andar se.”
(Your mother. She seems to be revolutionist. She looks alone, from inside.)

Shela: “Ammi 16 ki thi jab unko ghar se nikal diya gaya tha kyun k mere Nana ko laga tha k unki beti baghi hai. Bohat sawal karti thi. Aath saal akeli rahin kyun k doston ko bhi sawal bardasht nahi thay. Phir ek din unkay cousin Uzair bhai unko rastay mein malay. Humesha se ammi unko pasand thi aur unkay ilawah ammi kisi sey handle bhi nahi hoti thi. Ghar bhar sab chor k unho ne ammi se shadi kar li. Ammi ko sub ne na pasand kiya par unho ne utna pasand kiya. Aur ammi ne bhi unko. Ammi ko bohat samjhte thay. Har ek ek sawal ka jawab detay thay isliye unki death par ammi bohat roi thi bohat bhai k ilawah kisi sey sambhali nahi jaa rahi thi. Pata hai kyun! Kyun k unho pata tha k Uzair Idrees k ilawah unko koi nahi samjh sakta! Koi unkay sawalon k jawab nahi dey sakta!”
(Ammi was only 16 years old when she was thrown out of house because my grand-father thought that her daughter is rebellion. She asked too many questions, that’s why. She lived alone for eight years, because friends did not have tolerance for questions. Then one day, Uzair bhai met him on street. Since long, he always like Ammi and no one can handle her except him. He left everything and every relation and married Ammi. Everyone disliked Ammi very much but he liked her very much. And ammi too like him. He used to understand her and answer her every question. That’s why on his death, she cried a lot that only, only bhai could handle. We all were unable to handle her. Do you know why! Because she knew that no one could understand her nor answer her except, Uzair Idrees.)

Fajahad: “Aap kyun ro rahi hain?”
(Why are you crying?)

Shela: “Kyun k main bhi nahi dey pati. Woh meray har sawal k jawab dey deti hain par main dey hi nahi pati unkay sawalon k jawab.”
(Because I, also, cannot answer her questions. She can and always answers my questions but I can’t.) 

                       ----------

Next day, 27th Ramazan

10:00 AM

The phone was ringing

Basheer Chacha's son, Danial, picked up the phone

Caller: “Farkhanda sahiba ko phone dein, unko bolo Rashida ka phone aaya hai.”
(Give phone to Farkhanda Sahiba. Tell her Rashida has phoned her.)

Danial knocked at her door

Farhanda: “Kiya hua?”
(What happen?) 

Danial: “Rashida madam ka phone aaya hai”
(Rashida Madam is calling you on phone.)

Farkhanda: “Unko bolo Ma'am sahiba so rahi hain”
(Tell her that Ma’am sahiba is sleeping.)

The 12 year old boy, dressed in faded kurta shalwar- having brown spots of dirt on it,  nodded

He picked the phone to say.

Fajahad snatched the phone

Fajahad spoke on phone

Fajahad: “Ma'am sahiba keh rahi hain k woh so rahi hain.”
(Ma’am sahiba is saying that she is sleeping.)

And banged the phone.

Farkhanda was looking at him.

Fajahad: “Yeh hai aap ka Islam! Hats off to you!”
(This is your Islam! Hats off to you!)

Then looked at left down at him

Fajahad: “Tumhein tankhua deti hain saansein nahi k jhoot bolne ka bola tou bol dou!”
(She gives you salary, not breath that you agree to say lie on her order!) 

He then looked at her furiously and marched in his room.

                      ---------

2 PM

Dad was sitting in his room, reading newspaper, when he spot Farhan walking past his room

Dad: Farhan! 

Farhan: (ran behind. Holding the border from both sides): “Jee Abu”
(Yes Abu!)

Dad: “Yahan aana beta.”
(Come here son)

He sat on sofa opposite to him

Farhan: “Jee”
(Yes)

Dad: “Kab uthay?”
(When did you wake up?)

Farhan: “Abhi thori dair pehlay”
(Recently. Some minutes before.)

Dad: “Acha, kahin jaa rahay ho?”
(Okay. Are you going somewhere?)

Farhan: “Thori dair baad Urdu bazar jaoon ga, Nida ko kitabein leni hain. Aap ko koi kaam hai?”
(I will go Urdu Bazar after sometime, Nida wants to buy books. Do you have any chore?)

Dad: “Array nahi nahi bus ek cheez poochni hai.”
(No, no, nothing. I just want to ask something.)

Farhan: “Tou poochein na Abu”
(Ask Abu)
He smiled.

Dad: “Yeh tumhari teacherein Fajahad ki itni buraiyan kyun karti hain? Woh tou kafi acha larka hai.”
(Why your teachers have so complains from Fajahad? He is a good boy, after all.)

Farhan: “Abu,”

Dad: “Haan bolo beta”
(Yes say son.)

Farhan: “Jahan Fajahad bohat acha hai tou wahin bohat badtameez hai. Kabhi principal k saath jhagra tou kabhi miss shabana k saath. Haal hi mein iss ne Quran pe sawal kar lia Miss Rukhsana se k Allah nafarman par mohar kyun lagata hai unko samjhta kyun nahi hai.”
(If Fajahad is really good on one hand then he is also insolent. All year went with his yelling on principal or misbehaviour with Miss Shabana. And recently he raised question on Quran from Miss Rukhsana that why Allah put seals on disobedient instead of understanding him.)

Dad: “Par beta sawal karna tou achi baat hoti hai phir chahay woh Quran pe kiya jaye ya khabar pe”
(But it is good to ask questions whether it is on Quran or something else.)

Farhan: “Par Quran ki apni ek respect hoti hai.”
(But Quran has its own respect, Dad.)

Dad: “Usnay kiya Quran ko pheka tha? Nahi na! Usnay sirf sawal kiya tha aur kuch nahi. Sawal kiya yani usnay Quran ko samjh kar parha sirf farz ada nahi kiya.”
(Did he throw Quran? No, right! He just asked question and nothing else. He asked question it means he really tries to understand its words not tried to just fulfil the responsibility of reciting Quran.)

“Main chalta hoon Abu”
(I have to go now, Abu)

He left with no words.

                        -----------

He was in Urdu bazaar, sitting in car, thinking while Nida was fighting with shop keeper for 50 rupees and he was unable to listen until it reach too high that he went out.

Farhan: “Bhaiya yeh lein pachass rupay aur tum chalo, dimagh kharab kar diya hai mera aur unka.”
(Bhaiya, take 50 rupees, and you, come with me! You have literally brain of me and his.)

Shop keeper: “Samjhayein apni begum ko aur aap apne shohar se kuch seekhyein.”
(Please teach your wife something. And you learn something from your husband.)

Nida: “Yeh koi mera shohar nahi hai! Bhai hai mera!”
(He is not my any husband! He is my brother!)

He pushed her hard to car and made her sit.

Farhan: “Pagal ho kiya! Sub se larti rehti ho! Woh bhi pachass rupay k liye!”
(Are you mad! You fight with everyone at every point! And this time! Only for 50 rupees!)

Nida: “Haan tou! Tumhein 50 rupay ki value bhi pata hai! Teen baar ka kiraya aa jata hai! Uss mein bhi paanch rupay bachein gey!”
(So! Do you even know the value of 50 rupees! We can sit in bus three times! And in that too, five rupees will be saved!)

Farhan, who was thinking how his friend bargain a lot at Boltan market from where he buy his monthly international expired chocolates in very less prices and how one day he spotted bargaining dramatically to an old man to lessen the price because he came to buy from his despite the fact that other sellers were selling in low price while he himself was waiting for his mother to complete her shopping, laughed “Bilkul Fajahad pe gai ho” (You are literally like Fajahad.)

                 ------------

He ran to his room. His feet stopped as he reached at its doorsteps, looking at him sleeping.

“Fajahad”, the air pushed the air outside. He was moving in.

“Haan bol” (Yes say), his patted woke him. He sat, rubbing his eyes.

They hugged when he said “I am sorry”.

                -------------

Moon sighted.

The brothers hugged and wished Chand Mubarak

Whole Facebook was flooding with it.

               -------------

Fajahad: “Yeh wala Faraz k liye.”
(This one is for Faraz)

Farhan: “Tera bhai tujhe moo tak nahi lagata aur tu uskay liye gifts leta phir raha hai!”
(Your brother don’t even talk to you and you are buying gifts for him heartily!)

Fajahad: “Chal teray liye bhi lay leta hoon, rota kyun hai.”
(Okay. Gifts can also be bought for you! Why are crying!)

And he took out another hanger from the slot of white and went for billing

Farhan: (standing beside him) “Meray liye kyun khareed raha hai?”
(Why are you buying for me?)

Fajahad: “Best friend hai isliye khareed raha hoon. Koi aur hota tou bill hath mein deta.”
(You are my best friend that’s why I am buying for you. If it would be someone else, so I will definitely give him bill directly in hand.)

And he looked.

While he took the shoppers and said "Ab chal"
(Come!)

                 --------------

“Apna gift tou leta jaa”
(Take your gift)

He dropped him and ran the car behind

                ---------------

And he was tying her hair by tightening the watch because she had henna on hands while Marium was serving Kheer and Lassi.

                 ----------------

"Bhai!" He shouted as he entered in

Faraz: “Kiya hua?”
(What happen?)

Fajahad: “Kuch nahi aisi hi”
(Nothing. Justly!)

Faraz: “Aisi kiya?”
(What justly? )

Fajahad: “Aisi bol raha tha. Par aap ko meray saath aana chahiye tha.”
(I was saying justly. But you had to come with me!)

He then sat down.

Fajahad: “Ayein bhabbi main aap ko dekhata hoon what I have bought.”
(Come bhabbi, I will show you what I have bought.)

She sat down too.

Fajahad: “Yeh raha mera.”
(Here is mine)

Then he took out another one and said

“Aur yeh teray liye”
(And it is for you.)

Faraz: (after taking it) “Main kurta shalwar nahi pehanta.”
(I don’t wear Kurta Shalwar. )

Fajahad: “Dekh tu nakhray na kar baray pyaar se tere liye khareeda hai main ne. Ek din bhi aap apne chotay se pyaray se bhai k liye nahi pehan saktay.”
(Don’t be picky! I bought it so heartily for you! Can’t you wear it for your cutest youngest brother!)

Nida: “Maan jao na Faraz”
(Please Faraz! Wear it for a day.)

Faraz nodded "Acha theek hai" (Okay)

                    ----------------

Eid day

Hugging and wishing was common and going on all around but 

The two in black and blue, Fajahad and Ali, were moving their eyes with face from one side to other side and 

Ali: “Kiya zaroorat pari thi tujhe issay kurta shalwar denay ki! Ab dekh har larki issay lift kar rahi hai! Aur humein kisi ne ankh bhar kar bhi nahi dekha!”
(Why do you need to give him Kurta Shalwar! See! Now every girl and woman is staring at him lovingly! And no one is even looking at us!)

Fajahad: !Yeh safaid pehan kar itna haseen lag raha hai, aur hum kala aur neela pehan kar bhi malang lag rahay hain.”
(He, despite of wearing white, is looking handsome, and we, despite of wearing black and blue, are still looking wanderer.)

                                     ------------------

After dinner everyone was sitting around when Kashif asked him 

kashif: “Aur Faraz mahina guzar gaya kiya decide kiya hai?”
(And Faraz! Month has passed! What you have decided?)

Faraz: “Aap Ali ko factory dein I will not take it. Ali waqai ek laik faik larka bus zaroorat hai tou bharosay ki aur aap sub hain na iskay peechay isko support karne k liye tou bus aap bharosa karein aur chabi apne betay k haath mein dein apne bhai k betay k hath mein nahi.”
(Give factory to Ali. I will not take it. Ali is really an educated guy. If he needs anything so it is confidence and you all are here behind him to support him. So, trust him and hand keys to your son, not to your brother’s son. )

                       -----------------

While putting cup in sink, Ali came in

Ali: “Sorry Faraz”

Faraz: “Sorry? (He took the sip and asked) Kis liye” (looked at him gently)
(Sorry? For what?)

Ali: “Kyun k tum meri waja se factory lenay se mana kar rahay ho”
(Because you are not taking factory because of me.)

Faraz: “Tumhari waja se kyun mana karoon ga kiya mera apna empire nahi kiya”
(Why would I disagree because of you! Don’t I have my empire?)

Ali: “Kyun k...”
(Because…)

Faraz: (patted on his shoulder) “Mera zarf bohat bara hai Ali. Aisi koi baat nahi hai”
(My morale is very high, Ali. There is nothing like this.)

He started to walk out.

Ali: “Sadaf sahi kehti hai tumharay baray mein k tum apne tou apne chore ka bharam rakh letay ho.”
(Sadaf says right about you that you keep the respect of not only relatives but also robbers undistorted.)

His words stopped him.

Faraz: “Umeed hai woh khush ho.”
(Hope she would be fine.)

                      

Author's Note

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