In the hilly region when the wheat crop begins to sprout, there comes heavy snowfall. Till the spring season these fragile plants remain lost under a think blanket of snow. As soon as the sun begins to shine and the snow melts, the plants rear their heads, welcoming the light and warmth. With the removal of the oppressive cold, they begin to grow and flourish, so that within days they become tall and proudly carry the cobs of grain on their sturdy stalks.
For Satwant too, the events of the recent past had been as blighting as deep snow. She, who had been a cheerful and carefree child, became very serious and thoughtful. She learnt to weight each situation carefully before coming to a decision, or taking any action. She believed in charrhdi kala, but circumstances had taught her to keep the concept deep in her heart and not show on her face. It was this belief which had given her courage and fortitude.
Those who practice naam simran reach to life’s adversities by becoming more introverted and by conserving their spiritual strength. At this stage their actions are marked by thoughtfulness, patience and tolerance, and there is a lessening of over and carefree happiness.
Satwant began to come into her own. Her smiling countenance spread cheer among her co-travellers. Saeenji was specially charmed by her innocent nature and began to love her deeply, but had still not realized that Jaswant was, in fact, a girl.
The caravan now reached the outskirts of Jalalabad, a town built on the right bank of river Lunda. The weary travelers were delighted to see the picturesque scene as they set up camp.
Towards the evening Jaswant and Saeen went and sat on the banks of the river. Jaswant recited the rehraas, and Saeen listened with love and devotion, automatically standing up for ardas and bowing down after its completion. Walking back to the camp, Jaswant smiled mischievously and said, “My dear friend, you have become a kafir (non-believer) today.”
Saeen: How?
Jaswant: You not only listened to the namaz (prayers) of a kafir but also participated in it and at the end even bowed to his Khuda.
Saeen: (laughing) Oh, you thought that? I did not pray to either a kafir or a momin god, but prayed with my dear Jaswant and bowed to his love and devotion.
I have always looked for a living being on whom to shower my love. This has always been my puja and my ibadat (modes of Hindu and Muslim worship).
These words were uttered with such sincerity and warmth that Jaswant’s eyes filled with tears.
Jaswant: (with a gentle laugh) This is a beautiful thought no doubt, but I feel that Khuda’s name must be taken with more respect and deference. Only love can help us to reach our destination, and at every stage He Himself is present. Those wise ones who travel on this path say it is becoming to remain silent when thinking of Him. He epitomizes love and is present everywhere, yet remains detached.
You have a priceless gift of love in your heart. But where earlier this has been centred on your father, husband, mistress and Agha Khan, a day will come when its focus will be on the Lord.
Saeen: It is difficult for me to change anything just now, because there has been too much of a gap. Maybe a day will come, when the present situation has been resolved, that I will meet a saintly person who will remove all my negative qualities. I have been serving someone since a very a long time, someone who is truly benevolent and forgiving.
Jaswant: My dear Saeenji, I can’t wait any longer. I am going to be rude enough to ask how long are you going to keep me in the dark and talk in riddles?
When you love me so much, why don’t you tell me the whole story, instead of always changing the subject? If I had not known anything about the matter, I would have kept quiet. But I have heard some bits and pieces which I keep juggling in my mind to get a complete picture. I am not asking out of idle curiosity but because I want to know and come closer to you.
(to be continued...)
