Two by Gulzar

Author:Gulzar
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: null
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers India
Published: 2017-12-21T05:00:00+00:00

Lying in bed at night, Karam Singh grew restless. Finally, he did what he had done back home. After half the night had passed, he tiptoed out of the door and headed back towards Campbellpur. In the light of the half-moon, he could see a narrow path running through the fields; he followed it and eventually reached the road. But then he lost his way at some point and realized it only when he encountered a couple of pahalwans returning from their duty as guards at the masjid.

This was just outside Bundyala village. This was a village mainly of Muslims, and seeing a Sikh under suspicious circumstances, they immediately became violent. Their eyes were bloodshot. Karam Singh tried to think up a convincing story, but that made it worse. The pahalwans pulled out their axe and sword. They took off his turban and tied it like a noose around his neck. Just then, a tall, tough-looking man emerged from the back and stopped them.

‘Oye, hold on! That’s my prey. I know this fellow.’

‘Who is he?’

‘He’s one of those old Khalsa rebels from Campbellpur. I need to settle an old score with him. Chhadh de.’

He too had a large axe in his hands. Swiftly, he took hold of the turban and pulled Master-ji on to another path.

‘Come here, Sardara! I have an old score to settle with you.’

His friends cautioned him, ‘Be careful. We’ve taken away his kirpan, all right.’

They showed him the kirpan and moved on towards the village. The tall chap kicked Karam Singh with his heel and said: ‘Come on, move!’

‘Wh-where…?’

‘Move, I said! There is a butcher’s basti at the end of the village.’

They made their way to the basti. He pushed Karam Singh into a house and quickly closed the door behind him. His wife came out. No sooner had she screamed, the father rushed out.

‘Oye, Baqar! What’s this? Who is he?’

Karam Singh’s loose hair partly revealed his face. Baqar handed him the turban and said, ‘The guards were going to kill him. I caught hold of him and brought him here.’

Master-ji pulled aside his hair as he recognized Baqar’s father. He was still standing in the courtyard. His eyes filled up with tears and his throat choked. ‘Hashmat?’ Master-ji whispered the name.

Holding him by the hand, Hashmat brought him into the room.

Hashmat was a butcher by profession. At one time, he wanted his son, Baqar, to be educated. He had gone to admit him in a school. Some bigots raised objections due to his religion and status. Master-ji had fought with many to get Baqar his admission. The next year, the issue was brought up again. Karam Singh was adamant. Master Fazal had done all he could to help Karam, but Rai Bahadur Des Raj had bribed an English officer to expel the boy. Even after the incident, Master Karam Singh taught Baqar at his home for a year. Finally, the

boy abandoned his studies to participate in local dangals.

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